So we've been doing this late-summer jaunt for 3 years now. It's very enjoyable. A bunch of us catch the Newcastle train from Sydney or Hornsby, chat/relax and eat whatever nice snacks people bring along (we have several members of Overcaterers Anonymous in our group, so we never go short). We get to Newcastle about midday and meet with the locals. Sometimes random friends and members of other reenactment groups drop by. We drink pints and eat food, followed by a walk around the foreshore. Pleasantly merry, we catch the train back to Sydney in the evening.
This year's list of attendees: Me, Spike, Puppy, Wayne, Glenda, Vic, Andy, 2 sproglets, Richard, The Captayne, Mary, Helmut, Louise. Guest appearances by Ben & Cathy.