On The Good List:
AREC - ANIMAL REFERRAL & EMERGENCY CENTRE
Why GDS loves it
Mostly because they're there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When something is seriously wrong and your regular vet is closed, knowing exactly where to go matters.
AREC has been providing emergency care in Newcastle since 2004 and is privately owned, locally operated and non-corporate.
Not somewhere you're particularly hoping to visit.
Very glad it exists.
Things you need to know
📍 11 Perth Road, Broadmeadow
🚨 Emergency: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays
📞 Before you arrive: Call ahead where possible so the team knows you're coming
🏥 Care: Emergency, critical care, surgery and hospitalisation
🩻 Diagnostics: Advanced imaging including CT, MRI and ultrasound
⚕️ Specialist + referral: Surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, rehabilitation and veterinary behaviour
⏱️ Important: Emergency patients are triaged, so the most critically ill or injured animals are treated first
Good for
Emergencies, serious illness or injury, after-hours care and complex cases requiring specialist investigation or treatment.
The GDS verdict
Open 24/7. A fact you ideally never need to remember.
Website: https://arecvet.com.au/
Location: Broadmeadow
The short version
The one to know about at 2am.
AREC is Newcastle's 24/7 animal emergency and referral hospital, providing emergency and critical care every day of the year alongside specialist and referral services.
You hopefully won't need this listing.
Save it anyway.
WESTLAKES VETERINARY HOSPITAL
Location: Fennell Bay
The short version
A locally owned Lake Mac vet with some fairly serious capabilities behind the consultation-room door.
Westlakes Veterinary Hospital has been looking after local animals since 1981, offering everyday veterinary care alongside in-house diagnostics and advanced orthopaedic, spinal and soft-tissue surgery.
Your local vet, with a considerably bigger toolbox.
Why GDS loves it
They're locally owned and have been part of the Lake Mac community for more than 40 years.
We also like that a lot can be handled in-house. Westlakes has pathology, X-ray and ultrasound facilities and performs more advanced surgical procedures alongside general veterinary care.
They also deliberately offer longer consultations.
More time to ask why the dog has started doing that.
Things you need to know
📍 1 Bay Road, Fennell Bay
🩺 General veterinary care, vaccinations, dentistry, preventative health and senior care
🔬 In-house laboratory, X-ray and ultrasound
🦴 Orthopaedic, spinal and soft-tissue surgery
⏱️ Longer consultation times are part of their approach
⭐ Locally owned and operating since 1981
Good for
Everyday veterinary care, diagnostics, more complex medical issues, second opinions and dogs requiring advanced surgical treatment.
The GDS verdict
Local vet. Considerably bigger toolbox.
Website: https://www.westlakesvet.com.au/
Instagram: @westlakesvet