Shiraz to Shore – The Hunter’s Cycle Tourism Opportunity
The Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils in NSW is made up of the ten local councils that cover the entire Hunter region, from Newcastle and Lake Macquarie cities in the south and east to Upper Hunter Shire in the west and Dungog and Mid-Coast councils to the north.
Cycle tourism and active transport has been identified as a key priority for the region through the Hunter JO’s Strategic Plan, presenting a fantastic opportunity to deliver regional benefit for the communities through collaborative efforts.
A unique opportunity exists to link existing and planned cycleway infrastructure, local businesses, and points of interest across five council areas; to create a 100km integrated region wide cycle network and iconic tourism product called Shiraz to Shore.
In 2023, Hunter JO received funding from NSW Government to develop a Business Case and Concept Design for the Shiraz to Shore initiative, as well as a Hunter Cycle Tourism Strategy to position the region as a premier cycle tourism destination.
Recently, the results of these studies were announced to enthusiastic support from elected representatives of all three levels of government, the business chamber and Committee for the Hunter, and from the community at large.
The Shiraz to Shore concept envisions using the proposed Richmond Vale Rail Trail (initially planned at 32km) to connect trails from Belford in Singleton shire through the vineyards of Pokolbin, the mining heritage region of the South Maitland Coalfield and the Sugarloaf Range to the shores of both Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle. Whilst the focus of the concept is the 100km “core” trail, the enabling connections to current and future pathways such as the Fernleigh Track, Fassifern – Toronto Greenway, Glendale to Wallsend Tramway track and Stockton to Williamtown shared path promise to easily double that length.
More information, maps and a promotional video can be found on these links:
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