'Download the Hunter section from the Pacific Coast Touring Route guide, or email: info@huntertourism.com to request a copy of the entire guide.'

The Hunter is the gateway to the North Coast and is blessed with the vast deep blue Lake Macquarie, the cosmopolitan city of Newcastle, the gourmet food and wines of the Hunter Valley, the World Heritage-listed Barrington Tops National Park.

Nestled between the Central Coast and Newcastle, Lake Macquarie is the largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia. At 24km long, it’s perfect for water sports, scenic walks and sailing. More than 90 villages are dotted throughout the area - on the eastern shore Belmont and Swansea, on the western shore Toronto and Morisset with a backdrop of the Watagan Mountains and in the north Warners Bay.

Perched between a working harbour and beautiful beaches, Newcastle is a vibrant city bursting with energy and creative activity. The 5km coastal walk from Nobby’s Lighthouse to Merewether Beach takes in the city’s beaches and the Merewether Ocean Baths – the largest ocean baths in the southern hemisphere with views out to sea. The newly transformed Harbour Foreshore and Beaumont Street in Hamilton is where to find the restaurants, cafes and bars, and there are no fewer than 30 galleries in the Cooks Hill and CBD.

The Hunter Valley is renowned for its fine wines and gourmet food and it still retains an authentic country charm.  Home to some of Australia’s iconic wines, the region boasts over 120 wineries – many offering complimentary tastings. The fresh local produce – olives, oils, cheeses and award winning restaurants combine to create a memorable dining experience. The Hunter Valley Gardens, four years in the making, is a tribute to the great gardens of the world and is not to be missed.

Upper Hunter Country represents genuine Aussie country life and includes historic towns and tiny villages. Experience world class wines, stroll through National Parks, enjoy the thrill of a country rodeo, hunt wild trout in the high country, tour fabulous horse studs to see world champion track stars, mountain bike in real mountains or just relax along the shores of magnificent Lake Glenbawn.

Barrington Tops National Park is perfect for a scenic drive with spectacular views. The more energetic can enjoy activities such as horse riding, canoeing and bushwalking. Covering more than 120,000 hectares of unspoilt wilderness, visitors can set up camp for the night or explore the historic towns and villages offering wilderness resorts, eco-lodges, farm stays and guesthouses.