Getting to the Hunter

You can fly directly into Newcastle from Adelaide, Ballina, Brisbane, Canberra, Dubbo, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney.

For domestic flights, Newcastle Airport is approximately 45 minutes drive from the Hunter Valley. Flights depart from Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane & Melbourne daily direct to Newcastle.

Jetstar flies direct to and from Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and Brisbane.
QantasLink operates direct flights to and from Brisbane.
Virgin Australia flies direct to and from Brisbane and Melbourne.
FlyPelican operates direct flights to and from Adelaide, Dubbo, Ballina, Canberra and Sydney.
Regional Express also flies to and from Sydney.

CLICK HERE to view the Newcastle Airport Flight Schedule

DRIVING FROM SYDNEY

Over Sydney Harbour Bridge and follow the A1 (Pacific Highway) towards Hornsby. Before Hornsby (at Wahroonga) take the M1 (Pacific Motorway) north towards Newcastle and take one of three exits to the Hunter Valley Vineyards.

ROUTE 1: After 120km (1 hour 15 mins), exit the M1 at the Newcastle Interchange and take the M15 (Hunter Expressway) and follow the M15 until you reach the Lovedale Road exit (24km), the Wine Country Drive exit (36km) or the Hermitage Road exit (48km).

ROUTE 2: After 100km (1 hour), exit the M1 at the B82 (Freemans Drive) exit ramp and follow the signs along the B82 to Cessnock/Hunter Valley Vineyards.

ROUTE 3: After 40km (20 minutes), exit the M1 (Pacific Motorway) at the Calga Interchange (Peats Ridge) and follow Tourist Drive 33 (TD33). This route will take you through scenic mountains and into the Hunter Valley at the historic town of Wollombi.

For up to date traffic details visit Live Traffic NSW

RENTAL CARS

Hiring a rental car from Newcastle Airport is the best way to see the beautiful scenery that surrounds Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley, Barrington Tops National park and many other stunning destinations throughout the greater Hunter Region.

The average cost of hiring a car over the conference days (Wednesday to Saturday) is AUD$300.

Car rental services at Newcastle Airport are provided by the following companies. The car rental desks are located at the arrivals end of the terminal.

• AVIS – 136 333
• Budget – 1300 362 848
• Europcar- 1300 131 390
• Hertz – 133 039
• enterprise – 1300 035 807
• Thrifty – 1300 367 227

Rental Car Discount – Rhino Car Hire

Delegate car rental discount available from Rhinocarhire.com, for exclusive access to the discount, click here.

TRAVELLING BY BUS/COACH

Newcastle Airport is serviced by two public bus companies.

Hunter Valley Buses – Hunter Valley Buses operates a public bus service from Newcastle Airport to Maitland, Raymond Terrace, and Stockton.
For further information and timetables contact Hunter Valley Buses:

Tel: (02) 4935 7200 | Go to Hunter Valley Buses Website

Port Stephens Coaches – Port Stephens Coaches operates a public bus service from Newcastle Airport to Newcastle train station up to 11 times a day, as well as a service to the Nelson Bay area.

Tel: (02) 4982 2940 | Go to Port Stephens Coaches Website

Click here to view several local & Sydney based tour operators that pick up & and drop off from Sydney.

For a public coach, Rover Coaches can pick up from Morisset Train Station & they match their transfers with the train timetable.

Opal cards

Opal cards are not sold at Newcastle Airport, passengers do not require an Opal card to get to/from the airport.

• Port Stephens buses accept cash payment or Opal cards for all routes.
• Hunter Valley Buses accept cash for single trips (point to point only, cash cannot be used for return or continued transport requirements eg train, change of bus route) for Adults and Concessions (pension, child, disability etc).
  Also accept Opal cards.
• Trains Trains only accept Opal cards.

BY TRAIN

To travel by train, the most convenient stations are at Maitland, Newcastle or Morisset. There are connecting buses from each of these stations to the Hunter Valley.

Cityrail service to Maitland or Morisset with connecting buses from each of these stations to Cessnock.  From Cessnock it is 20 min (approx) taxi ride to your desired location in Wine Country.

Countrylink express service (7 stops) from Sydney Central to Singleton Station. From Singleton it is 20 min (approx) taxi ride to your desired location in Wine Country.

Timetables:

Cityrail to Maitland or Morisset – click here

Countrylink express service to Singleton – click here. For information on connecting taxi call 02 6572 1133. For information on an all inclusive train package with transfers – click here

TAXIS

Newcastle Airport’s taxi rank is adjacent to the departures end of the terminal.

A taxi from Newcastle Airport to the Conference venue will cost between $145 and $204, traffic dependent.

There is also a taxi service in the local area making it easy for you to visit the region’s wineries, restaurants and special events. Maxi taxi and wheelchair accessible vehicles are available on request. View Cessnock Cabs website for more information

UBER

ber operates from Newcastle Airport. Please use your Uber app to order your ride. Our designated pick-up area for ride share services is the public pick-up zone out the front of the arrivals end of the terminal. Click here to go to the Newcastle Airport transport map.

To minimise your wait time, order your Uber via the app before proceeding to the designated pick-up area.

There is a $3 plus GST airport levy added to all ride share services leaving Newcastle Airport.

An Uber from Newcastle Airport to the conference venue will cost on average AUD$91, traffic dependent.