Tourism

The greater Hunter Region, which includes Newcastle, is one of the strongest markets for national and international tourism in NSW, ranking as the most popular tourist destination outside Sydney. It is the sixth most visited place in Australia, attracting more than 5.2 million daytrip and 2.1 million overnight visitors in the year ended June 2010. Over 3 million were domestic or international tourists visiting for ‘holiday or leisure’. (Tourism NSW)

Tourism is a key economic driver for the Hunter, worth approximately $1.4 billion in 2009 (Australian Bureau of Statistics), and the region has enormous potential for growth in this sector. Its proximity to Sydney, Australia’s most populous city and main gateway for international visitors, makes it accessible to important domestic and international markets.

The Hunter Valley Wine Country is one of the premier destinations within the region attracting 2.77 million visitors in 2009, comprised of 1.76 million day visitors and 1.01 million overnight visitors for a total of 2.5 million visitor nights (Hunter Valley Research Foundation).

With the opening of the Hunter Expressway in 2013, the Wine Country steps closer to both the Sydney and Newcastle markets. The area has grown in popularity as a meeting and convention destination, enjoying consistent growth over the past decade. Anvil Creek’s location at the gateway to the Wine Country, its signature golf course, large open spaces and beautiful setting make it an ideal choice for conference organisers.

The growth of Hunter tourism goes beyond the expansion of the wineries and cellar doors, with many hospitality and tourist related developments emerging in recent years. The Wine Country offers a range of tourist activities including international standard golf courses.

The Graham Marsh designed golf course at Anvil Creek will be the third international standard, signature course in the vineyard area, alongside Cypress Lakes and The Vintage, providing the critical mass of high grade facilities needed for the Wine Country to become a major golf tourism destination.