LIFESTYLE - something for everyone

The Hunter is a vibrant, cosmopolitan region. With Newcastle as its capital, the region offers the services and facilities of a city with the convenience and relaxed lifestyle of a regional centre. Some six hundred thousand people, Australia's largest regional population, enjoy a lifestyle of city, beach, lakeside or rural living. The Hunter has it all, and all within easy commuting distance of Sydney, just two hours South.

A perfect combination of vibrant city life and relaxed regional living, the Hunter is the ideal place to work, rest and play.

Sub-tropical climate

The climate is mild all year round with average temperatures of 15-24 degrees Celsius.

The great outdoors

The superb waterways, national parks and wildlife reserves of the Hunter beckon outdoors enthusiasts.

For water lovers, the region has pristine beaches, the largest saltwater lake in Australia, the Hunter River which flows from the Upper Hunter and the beautiful bays of Port Stephens. Residents and visitors can indulge in all kinds of water sports including sailing, waterskiing, surfing, fishing, swimming, white water rafting and even dolphin watching.

Sailing on beautiful Lake Macquarie	World Heritage Barrington Tops

For those that prefer the land, world heritage listed Barrington Tops National Park, Myall Lakes National Park and Watagan State Forest will not disappoint. Their bushwalking trails and eco-tourism facilities are sure to excite even the most seasoned adventurer. Blackbutt Reserve, just 15 minutes from Newcastle CBD, is another must see for nature lovers. Its native flora and fauna is showcased in vast unspoilt bushland.

Wining and dining

The Hunter's culinary delights are sure to tempt, with a vast array of dining experiences to enjoy throughout the region. Choose from alfresco dining in cosmopolitan cafes to seafood restaurants by the ocean. There's a place and taste to suit any mood and any budget.

Of course there's no better way to enjoy the local cuisine than with one of the region's world famous wines. Vineyards stretch throughout the region, where you'll find gourmet restaurants, world class resorts, quaint B&B's and cellar doors.

Arts and entertainment

Art, music and theatre lovers can feel right at home in the Hunter.

Fine art collections are housed in galleries in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland as well as in more intimate galleries such as Newcastle's Von Bertouch gallery.

The Conservatorium of music regularly hosts national and international musicians and performances while Newcastle's fully restored Civic Theatre is the venue for local, national and international theatrical performances. The Newcastle Entertainment Centre accommodates rock concerts, exhibitions and conventions.

Shopping

Anything you can buy in the metropolitan cities, you can buy in the Hunter. Retail shopping complexes and 24-hour supermarkets are conveniently located across the region.

In the larger centres of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Westfield and Lend Lease shopping centres feature major retail department stores and outlets including David Jones, Myer, K-Mart, Target, Coles and Woolworths. Maitland's Greenhills complex services the Lower Hunter's burgeoning population. For a more exclusive retail experience, boutique shopping is available in a myriad of suburbs.

Sports

The Hunter will delight sports fans with its exceptional sporting facilities.

Glendale Sports and Athletic Centre and the University's Forum Sports and Aquatic Centre were both utilised by visiting Olympic teams in their Sydney 2000 Olympic preparations.

An impressive selection of beaches makes surfing a high participation sport in the Hunter. Surfest, an international surfing event held at Newcastle beach annually, attracts the world's elite surfers.

The region has produced numerous elite athletes and is home to the Newcastle Knights National Rugby League club as well as the Newcastle United National Soccer League club. Both of these teams have strong fan bases and junior development programs.

Sporting teams at all levels from junior to adult compete across the region in sports such as cricket, soccer, netball, basketball, rugby league, rugby union, AFL and hockey. Sailing, both recreational and racing, is also enjoyed on all the waterways.

Education

The Hunter has an excellent educational system with public and private primary and secondary schools spread throughout.

Private schools include: Hunter Valley Grammar School at East Maitland; Newcastle Grammar School; Scone Grammar School; St Catherine's Catholic College at Singleton; Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, Fletcher; Macquarie College, Wallsend; and St Phillips Christian College which has campuses at Waratah, Salamander Bay and Cessnock.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland provides educational services throughout the region. The diocese extends from Lake Macquarie to Taree and as far inland as Merriwa and Murrurundi with primary schools, high schools and colleges in all main towns.

At the tertiary level, the Hunter remains highly competitive. The University of Newcastle is one of Australia's leading universities, with five faculties and over 20,000 students. It is renowned for its medical, engineering and architecture faculties.

The Hunter Institute of Technology (TAFE) offers over 500 courses and annual enrolments total 50,000.

Medical Services

The Hunter has a reputation for providing quality health care, with one of Australia's newest teaching hospitals - the John Hunter - at the core of its health care sector.

In total the region has 24 public and over 20 private hospitals, including major private hospital, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital at Waratah.

Other health care services in the region include: aged care services, aboriginal health services, children and youth care, emergency care, mental health care, migrant health services and mother and baby care. The Hunter also offers physiotherapy, chiropractic and alternative therapies.

Transport

Serviced by the fastest growing regional airport in Australia, Newcastle and the Hunter are easily accessible by road, rail and air.

Newcastle airport is just 25 minutes from major metropolitan areas. It is serviced by Jetstar, QANTAS and Virgin Blue airlines with daily direct flights to Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast, Canberra and Coffs Harbour.

Commuter rail services operate suburban passenger trains within the Hunter and link the region to the East Coast of Australia via Cityrail and CountryLink.

While public transport links are extensive, most residents choose to drive because of the uncongested roads and ample parking facilities.

Religion

The Hunter has a predominantly Christian community with 31 percent of the population Anglican and 25 percent Catholic. Newcastle is the seat of the Anglican and Catholic Hunter bishops, with stately Christchurch Cathedral one of the region's best known icons. Other religions, including Buddhism and Islam, are also represented in the region.

Real Estate

The Hunter is experiencing a real estate boom, especially in the harbour and inner city urban renewal precincts. Despite this, owning a home is still very achievable with Hunter residents enjoying high rates of home ownership. Whether you're looking for lake or ocean views, a rural retreat, a house in a new estate or established housing in one of the major metropolitan areas, the region has something for everyone and every budget.