Tourism and Visitor Economy

Singleton Council’s vision for tourism is to “double the value of the Singleton Visitor Economy by 2036”.

This will be achieved by:

  • Building on our reputation and attraction as one of Australia’s premier visitor destinations, offering a high value experience based around providing quality food and wine experiences.
  • Extend its visitor experiences in the areas of nature, adventure, golf and sports tourism, culture and heritage.
  • Expand camping and caravan tourism
  • Develop Lake St Clair and surrounds as an adventure tourism precinct
  • Improve wayfinding signage and roadside facilities
  • Expand boating and water related tourism
  • Connect tourism to our National Parks
  • Document and display our Culture and Heritage
  • Attract and expand sports tourism opportunities
  • Deliver a high quality customer service as a hallmark of the destination.

This vision is complementary to the Singleton Council Vision of a vibrant, progressive, connected, sustainable and resilient community

Singleton Council is taking an active role to expand the tourist offerings within the region by promoting our unique natural features, showcasing heritage and culture and by expanding community events. Council and our partners will continue to progress our vision for an improved visitor destination and booming visitor economy.

Destination Singleton 

As a visitor destination the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest and most visited surviving commercial wine region. Located in the heart of the Hunter region, it is made up of two local Government areas - Cessnock and Singleton, surrounded by World Heritage National parks but also with a rich heritage of colonial, indigenous and industrial history.

Singleton is a vibrant and diverse regional town, located at the centre of the Hunter Valley, 200km North West of Sydney and 75km from Newcastle via the Hunter Expressway. Singleton is surrounded by the natural beauty of Glennies Creek Dam, Lake St Clair, Mt Royal, Yengo and Wollemi National Parks.

The Singleton local government area has the advantage of being geographically close to the two largest urban populations of NSW - Sydney and Newcastle, yet seen as a clean and green visitor escape. That advantage, with its wine and food experiences, has translated into a well developed visitor economy driven by a large day trip market and a growing reputation for leisure events.

Hunter Visitor Demographics are:

  • 96% of Hunter visitors are from within Australia
  • 35% of Singleton visitors will be from family and friends
  • 47% of visitors will be on holidays
  • 13% will be on business                            
  • 65% of visitors to the Hunter were day trips
  • 49% of visitors are 45 years and older

Hunter Valley Destination Management Plan

The Hunter Valley Destination Management Plan 2022 – 2030 was developed be Singleton Council and Cessnock City Council in partnership with Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association. This plan sets the strategic vision and framework and is a blueprint for development for the Hunter Valley destination for the next eight – 10 years. Click here to view the document.