Located 166 kilometres north of Sydney, in the lower Hunter Valley, Maitland is one of Australia’s oldest cities. Maitland was established in 1820 as a port where goods were unloaded for, and distributed to, the prosperous river land of the Hunter Valley. Because of this, until the Victorian gold rush, Maitland was the second largest town in Australia.

The original inhabitants of the area were the Darkinjung tribe; John Swan was believed to be the earliest settler, when he first visited the area as part of a timber getting gang, and returning later to start his own farm.

The local area of Maitland has a humid subtropical climate, with hot humid summers and cool drier winters. With the city centre situated on banks of the Hunter River, the area has experienced periodic flooding since settlement in 1820.

With a population of 64,207, Maitland’s economy relies on the agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing, transport, and construction industries. The local area between Maitland and Cessnock, once known as the Coalfields, is now commonly referred to as the gateway to the vineyards of the Hunter Valley. The region has experienced dramatic growth with the introduction of vineyards and their associated tourism.

Attractions are as diverse as the region itself; historic Maitland Gaol is increasingly popular for tours and functions, Walka Wildlife Reserve has an abundance of birdlife in its natural habitat, and Wyndham Estate is a well-known winery, drawing many visitors to the region. The area is also surrounded by parkland, with Mount Royal, Yengo National Park and Barrington Tops proving the most popular with visitors to the area.

Events are also pulling tourism to the region, with Hunter Valley Steamfest catering to the train enthusiasts, the Bitter & Twisted Beer Festival and the Morpeth Fiery Food Festival catering to the foodies, the Grand Southern Cross Model Area Rally catering to the model plane enthusiasts, and the Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival and Groovin’ the Moo catering for both young and old tastes in music.