Five years of planning and collaboration came to fruition on Thursday, December 18 with the official launch of new tourist drive ‘Hunter Valley Way’.
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Starting at the M1 at Freeman’s Water Hole in Lake Macquarie, Hunter Valley Way covers the small towns and villages throughout the Hunter finishing in Merriwa on the Golden Highway.
The drive is web-based and encourages visitors to make stops at various destinations throughout the Hunter.
The idea for the drive first came with the announcement of the Hunter Expressway in 2010 and the formation of the Kurri 2030 (now 2040) committee.
Committee member and Cessnock councillor Rod Doherty, said that the group of like-minded people represented various aspects of the Hunter region who wanted to ensure the area stayed at the forefront of tourism in NSW.
A ‘soft’ launch of the website was held in December with the full project expected to go live over the New Year.
Contributors to Hunter Valley Way include the Hunter Business Chamber, Cessnock City Council, Singleton Council, Kurri District Business Chamber, Kurri Towns with Heart, Branxton-Greta Business Chamber, Around Heritage committee, Broke Fordwich Tourism and the Denman Chamber of Commerce.
Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent congratulated the committee on the achievement, and said that it was great to see the vision become a reality.
“Cessnock City Council are great supporters of this initiative,” he said.
“The bottom line is that this is going to bring more people here and that’s what it’s all about.”
As well as the online version, signs will now be installed at various checkpoints along the drive including 12 aluminium signs provided by Cessnock Council.
See more at www.huntervalleyway.com.au.