Climate protesters in Australia blocked ships at the world's largest coal port.

Hundreds of activists kayaked into the Port of Newcastle for Rising Tide's annual climate demonstration, halting coal ships, while many more watched from the beach.

At least three vessels arriving at the port were prevented from docking during the protest, which began on Thursday and continued until Tuesday, December 2.

Demonstrators urged the government to cease new coal mines and introduce a 78 per cent coal export tax to fund new industries and worker retraining.

New South Wales police said on Sunday evening that 141 people had been arrested since the rally began.

Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield said: 'Today's protest is a victory for people power. Our aim was to stop coal ships entering or leaving the Port of Newcastle, and we succeeded.

'By continuing to approve new coal and gas mines, the Albanese government is failing to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change. When the government fails us, the people must rise.'

Early childhood educator Allison Stockman, one of those arrested, added: 'I swam into the shipping channel today because I've seen firsthand the impacts of climate change around the world.

'I see so much potential in the children I teach, and the fact that they may not be able to fulfil that potential because we're destroying their future is absolutely devastating for me.'

Followers of the climate agenda have resorted to increasingly aggressive public attacks in recent years - often using violence and intimidation to cause chaos on roads, at events, and in art galleries.

The Oxford Languages dictionary defines a terrorist as 'a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims'.