Posing as a 14-year-old boy, detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit spoke with the man over a number of weeks and will allege that he made sexually explicit comments and sent pictures depicting child abuse material and inappropriate images.

The man was arrested at 9am on Friday morning at Caves Beach in the Newcastle area, after detectives arranged for the man to "meet" the 14-year-old boy.

He was taken to Charlestown police station where he was charged with using a carriage service to groom persons under 16 years of age for sexual activity, using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to persons under 16, and possessing child abuse material.

He was refused bail to face Belmont Local Court on Friday afternoon.