Grey nomads could soon be heading towards The Hunter Valley Way.
A new tourist drive – complete with free and budget camping options – is being planned in eastern New South Wales as a way of maximising the benefits from the ‘whale-like migration’ of grey nomads.
The small towns of Branxton, Broke and Mulbring will form part of the Hunter Valley Way north-west of Newcastle, and it could be up and running in as little as six months.
The initiative from the Kurri Kurri and District Business Chamber will run in parallel to Maitland’s ongoing plans to capture more tourism.
“The Hunter Valley Way takes in all those picturesque valleys and places of interest between Freemans Waterhole and Merriwa,” Chamber president, Councillor Rod Doherty told the Maitland Mercury. “Maitland could be part of it.
The newspaper reports that Kurri may form the hub of the drive with the potential for a free or very cheap campsite at its sportsground, an area which has already become an informal parking spot for motorhomes.
However, Cr Doherty says any new camp shouldn’t operate to the detriment of a commercial van park.
The Hunter Valley Way steering committee has registered a domain name for a website and will advertise and promote the route heavily.
“Lots of people leave Victoria every winter for the warmer states,” Cr Doherty told the Maitland Mercury. “It’s like a whale migration and the Hunter has never capitalised on it in the past.”
Just last week, plans for a free campsite at Harold Gregson Park in Maitland were unveiled and have been warmly received. The McNamara campsite on the Wollombi River at Broke is already popular with travellers. There are 10 sites available for a maximum of three days.
If, and when, the full vision for the Hunter Valley Way is realised, will it tempt you to spend time in the area? Comment below.
Sounds great, don’t fall for the myth that freedom camps are in oppostion to CPs, they are different strokes for different folks. This sort of drive is EXACTLY what my hubby and I are looking for as we travel.
Why did they close some free camps along the pacific highway rest areas near Medowie and further north.
Meryl Kerslake said “Why did they close some free camps along the pacific highway rest areas near Medowie and further north”.
Most problems are cause by Van packers craping up and down our Highways,
The penny dropped. The new freeway bypasses these towns now so a huge drop in passing trade. These towns need to convince travellers heading north to get off the freeway and stop in their towns. Since they didntdo anything for us “migrating whales” in the past..its a bit of too little too late?
All the free overnight stop along the Pacific Hwy where closed to all camping a couple of months ago, I enquired through a CMCA and it was because of some bad behaviour plus some problem going on so they closed them help control the problems. So if you fatigue when heading South from Qld it become a problem once you get to Taree as there no overnight spots from there on.
Yes ! At last common sense reins !
A very clever and welcome move by this group.
I agree with Madelon, Don’t get hung up on the CP’s vs freedom camps. I have a fully self contained motorhome, would not stay at a CP and have just driven straight through the Shire of Dandaragan with the ‘No Camping in Dandaragan’ signs at regular intervals along the highway. Now stopped at a rest area in the next Shire where I will buy fuel, fill my gas bottle, get some groceries and restock the fridge. If there is a laundromat, I will probably spend some money there too.
If we are tired there will be no Cop or Council Ranger moving me short of hooking us up to a tow truck, it would rely good in court if a accident took place due to being to tired to drive on.
There will always be folks that will do the wrong thing, We hope that it happens even if it cost a few dollars but NOT $30.00+ per nite for a bit of dirt to park on
Our local council is run by a joker who has no idea what people want. Only interested in giving away our parks etc. also just wants big business to buy and destroy our community.
We have had our MH just 4 weeks and last weekend camped for 2 nights right in Broadbeach for the Blues Festival. We spent just on $1000 for the weekend albeit we did buy some clothes. Notwithstanding that if every person spent on average a $100 a day there not a bad earn for the area. We made no mess and in fact cleaned up empty cans of alcohol around us each morning that were not ours. We had no hassle from the Council or authorities either if every town had the same attitude more money and profit would be attributed to their community. Most of us are good responsible people so for the sake of a few bad eggs why close down free camps.