help is anyone else living in this area, may be moving there from w.a , due to hubby getting a job for Rio Tinto , or can anyone give me some insight on this area ???

its excellent if you like wine

The Hunter Valley covers a huge area, so do you have any idea where his job is actually located.

* Cesspit is bloody awful – a real dump.

But just 20 minutes down the road you have the very small township of Wollombi, which is absolutely gorgeous.

If you like food, there are some great restaurants in the Hunter Valley.

* Really Cessnock, but called Cesspit because thats what it reminds me of!

Actually I think the Rio Tinto plant is about 27kms from Singleton, and this area would be classed as Upper Hunter Valley.

Singleton is about a 40 minute drive from the main wine hub around Pokolbin, and this wine hub area would be classed as Lower Hunter Valley.

I personally dislike Singleton very much, but there are some lovely little towns nearby.

Plus in the area you are fairly close to the gorgeous Barrington Tops – great for camping and bush walking.

Have a look in the Hunter Sub-Regions:

http://www.huntertourism.com/

The area would be a pretty good place to live, and really only 2 hours from Sydney.

hi thanks for that, we are aware that the mine is nearer to singleton , but thought of maitland as it seems a bigger town with more on offer,as we both lived in melbourne city before bunbury we thought this the better option ,we will go and check out the area before we make any rash decisions,

Even Cesspit would be better than Singleton - and that is saying something.

I find people in Singleton to be very parochial towards outsiders.

Muswellbrook and Gresford are both nice little towns.

As well as Wollombi, I also really like Broke - a small village about 20 min drive from Singleton.

But Maitland sounds like a good choice - pretty little place. Plus they have a coffee & chocolate festival on soon - yummy.

On the whole Cessnock vs Muswellbrook vs Singleton thing, from my own experience I have never been offered out by a 70 year old woman or seen 2 women beat the crap out of a rapist in Cessnock or Singleton. Muswellbrook has the worst reputation for drink and drug related violence. All the area's that have been spoken of are all much of a muchness, with the city centres being dives at night, Maitland cannot really be described as a little place either i don't think

I think my favourite town there is Patterson, it's bloody lovely. Dungog's pretty nice too, if a little out of the way

I really like Dungog too. But I did not mention it, as it is little out of the way.

Cesspit has a terrible heroin problem and a terrible obesity problem and terrible crime due to the local jail (families of inmates apparently) – so I can imagine that other bigger towns in the area are the same.

That is why I like the quaint little towns / villages like Dungog, Wollombi and Broke. They are away from the main drag and in pretty locations.

Like anyway - there are good, bad and ugly places in the region.

totally agree, definitely worth looking around. I've not been up there for a couple of months now but am looking forward to my next visit

Sorry but I am going to TOTALLY disagree with the above. I live in Singleton and have found people to be exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Sure, Singleton isn't anything special but then again I don't think any mining towns really are. Living there is what you compromise for the mining income. It has the advantage of being close to the mines, has all the basic facilities you need on a weekly basis and is close enough to the wineries, Newcastle, the coast and even Sydney for day trips.

In my opinion (I'm 30) there is absolutely nothing in Wollombi or Broke. They are tiny villages with little more than old houses and a village shop. Ok for a look but would hate to live there. Muswellbrook again in my opinion is a dive plus it has the added disadvantage of being another 30-40 mins inland which makes the coast/ Newcastle etc that bit less accessible for a day trip.

I would probably look at Maitland if I were you. Maybe try Morpeth, a lovely little town which is just outside of Maitland. I'm not sure I would describe Maitland as 'a pretty little place' It is quite spread out and the centre is nothing special. I think it would be about a 45min commute Maitland to Singleton. It is one straight road but the speed limit varies and you have to slow down for 3 towns etc.

Anyway, happy to help if you need any more info.

I live in Morpeth/Maitland we moved here in January down from Mackay Queensland and i love it there is so much around this area to do as a family
All you can do is get a map of the area and drive around and check out places for yourself thats what we did.
Good Luck

We live in the Morpeth/Maitland area too. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else truthfully. When we first arrived from the UK we had a rental at Warners Bay, That was lovely but very expensive for what you get and is always busy. We then moved to another rental at Cameron Park, personally i didnt like it as there was no shops within walking distance and all the kids seemed to just hang around on street corners ( in their PJs ) Half way through the rental we found a beautiful house in a lovely area. ( Wallalong ) and bought it. i have never looked back. Both our kids are settled too, they are in nice schools and are loving it. Hope this is a help.

just had coffee with Lindzi, and she is fab. will definitely having a second dose of caffeine and maybe going to see sex in the City too come on you pomz

Thank you! same to you

Sent you a message

Hi Have just moved to muswellbrook for husbands work and just wondered if anyone is still around this area......