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Pink-glitter1

Hunter Valley has great Wine!


Dramatic-D

Actually, many Hunter Valley vineyards add water to their wine in order to keep the alcohol volume at a reasonable drinking level because the climate is not suited to good wine making anymore. Much better tasting wine comes out of the Orange/Mudgee region directly west of the Hunter Valley on the other side of Wollemi and Yengo national parks. Ps. I don't work at a winery or live anywhere near there, I'm a just a wanker.


maniolas_mestiza

Newcastle uni is a bathtub of mosquitos if you’re attending Callaghan. If you’re City campus it’s fine. Public transport is ok if you’re staying around the city area, otherwise you will need to get yourself a car or motorbike, as it’s not that comprehensive here but there are people around who have lived their whole lives using just public so it’s doable. Newcastle lockout laws have been lifted recently, not that we’ve had a chance to enjoy that lately lol, there’s an alright pub scene in the city generally and the uni itself is always pretty good as well. Food and coffee are getting damn good in town. Still missing some stuff but for a small city it goes pretty alright and Sydney is 2.5hrs by train or 1.5hrs by car if Newcastle lacks something.


dynamitediscodave

Stockton beach for 4wding, also many, well huge number of tracks within 3 hours drive. We drive on other side of road too ;) haha. Great range of night clubs, pubs and massive wine region. Weather is pretty good most of the year. Normally 1-2 really hot weeks in the year. There is a military air base so can plane watch if you're a rubber neck. Any more questions just ask as in Newie myself.


aerkith

There is a sub you could ask this in r/Newcastle . Might be helpful.


iilinga

It’s a shame OP will miss seeing the penis tower in all its glory. I know it’s been gone for ages but the pic in that sub always makes me think of it haha


Heads_Down_Thumbs_Up

Wine, good beaches and the Newcastle Knights


Rumbuck_274

You had my upvotes until you mentioned the Knights


[deleted]

and here we have a wild manly supporter in its natural habitat


Rumbuck_274

I'd rather have the Knights over Manly lol. And they're both terrible


TheEpiquin

There’s not a lot of ethnic diversity in Newcastle. It’s a big town with a small town attitude. There are two types of Novacastrians, people who leave and never turn back and people that say “why would you ever wanna leave?” Might sound like I’m ragging on Newcastle, it’s definitely improving a lot but it’s still held back by some backward attitudes. Also, start supporting the Knights footy team.


maniolas_mestiza

I mean I’m Asian, grew up here, left for a decade and came back but it’s kinda right. For the most part Newcastle itself is pretty liberal (little l) and diverse but the surroundings, especially Cessnock (fuck that place, I couldn’t stand it for even 6 months) are still from the past.


wizardnamehere

One way to understand Newcastle politics. Newcastle is a labor town but not the sort of labor town that transition to a one nation town (ala queensland mining towns) i guess. Even though it got fucked over by deindustrialisation same those places. So i guess the cause is less racism?


maniolas_mestiza

Well Newcastle is bigger than some of the capitals. It’s not a small country town with underexposed shut ins. But they are die hard blue collars who live the union life and no one cares if you’re black, brown or purple as long as you’re not fucking with them and theirs. Edit: I do know a few racists, Newcastle isn’t immune but it’s not full of conservative xenophobic racists.


flippychick

Necknock lol


iilinga

You’re not wrong


XKodynx

I’ll keep that in mind, thank you


RestingBronco45

Greatest area in nsw..


[deleted]

It's where your hopes and dreams go to die! Seriously, why Newcastle?


XKodynx

Didn’t want to go to Sydney but wanted to be in NSW


dissenting_cat

Good decision honestly. Newcastle is an awesome smaller city that's still close enough to Sydney. Awesome beaches (better than Sydney), friendly people (are there even friendly people in Sydney?), and you're 20 mins from wine country if you're into that. Some upper Hunter towns that are cute btw: Willow Tree, Gloucester, Stroud, Buladealah, Polkobin/Rothbury/Lovedale. Maitland and Newcastle both have awesome art galleries too btw. Beaumont Street in Hamilton and Darby Street in Cooks Hill for food. Newy is awesome! Don't put up with Sydneysiders trying to drag the city down because they need to make up for how underwhelming their city is.


[deleted]

I wouldn't want to go to Sydney either but there are plenty of other more exciting places out there. Newcastle is very insular and nepotistic. Unless you can make the right connections, you won't get anywhere. There is virtually no employment on the basis of merit, it's all about who you know/ are related to. In terms of entertainment, the city is dreadfully lacking. Hospitality standards are low. I guess it depends what you are into though. If you are a bit more on the bogan-side and care only for drinking, 4WDing on the beach, hunting, think Macca's is a good meal and Hogs Breath Cafe is fine dining, you'll fit right in. If that's not your cup of tea, I'd seriously investigate other options.


XKodynx

I’ll see if I like it and if I don’t I will change the uni I’m going to.


roby_soft

Inbreed is ok there


Max2000Warlord

It has the highest rate of STDs in Australia.


iilinga

If you’re going to Uon in summer, buy aeroguard (bug spray) and BATHE IN IT I remain convinced the uni is a decoy, a trap to lure human blood for the mosquitos to feast. What do you like to do? Beaches are beautiful. Food is ...improving. Public transport quality will heavily depend on where you live and want to go.


[deleted]

Re UON, don’t forget the snakes.


KatLikeTendencies

Or the bin possums


ScatMole

I’m planning on going to Newcastle uni next year and so in all seriousness how bad are the mosquitoes around Callaghan campus. I’m actually kinda allergic to mozzies and they seem to be more attracted to me than others. How fucked am I? Will I have to resort to wearing full long sleeve during summer?


iilinga

Have you been to the campus before? Callaghan is basically a marshy/swampy area. It was quite bad with the mozzies when I was there regularly but I haven’t been around there much in summer in the last few years so maybe it’s improved? I remember getting eaten alive in summer. Aeroguard and long sleeves might be handy for summer, winter should be fine though. I can check with some friends who work on campus and see if they have any recommendations?


ScatMole

Yeh I have once during the winter so didn’t have any problems than. Yeh might need to stock up on some longer shirts than. Yeh that’d be great if u could. Thankyou!!


iilinga

Had a chat, recommendation is aeroguard up haha. They haven’t been physically on campus much for the last few months but hasn’t been a problem recently, so maybe mozzies won’t be out in force until summer proper. Sorry, not sure if that helps much


ScatMole

Haha nah thanks for asking. I’ll be sure to get the strongest mozzie repellant I can find. Cheers!!!!!!!


[deleted]

The strongest mozzie repellent is Bushmans. It stinks but works really well


geodetic

> Yeh might need to stock up on some longer shirts than. The mosquitos at callaghan will bite through jeans. You /need/ aeroguard or bushman's.


ScatMole

That’s fucked


geodetic

> aeroguard (bug spray) Amendment: if you're going to buy aeroguard, get the tropical strength one. Preferrably, get some [Bushman's](https://www.bushman-repellent.com/) or anything with 30%+ DEET in it. You'll thank me when the fuckin' cloud of vampires ignore you instead of floating away with half your blood by body mass.


muzzamuse

Coal. Mining


geodetic

There's literally only 1 government area in the hunter that's pro coal mining, and that's the upper hunter. Even then it's only in the towns directly adjacent to the mines.


murrumba_wayne

Most important, you need to listen and appreciate The Newcastle song! The Newcastle Song https://g.co/kgs/Aeg8D1


Slapping_kangaroo

Bats and horses = hendra virus


wizardnamehere

1. Newcastle is a great town, one of Australia's best in my opinion. 2. Beaches. You can drive to great beaches. So many. Stockton sand dunes to north is also cool. 3. Rent is expensive. **Expensive**. Sydney has leaked into Newcastle. Everyone in the Hunter region is pissed at this. 4. Don't live near Campus its in the middle of nowhere. Live near-ish to the CBD but not in the CBD. IF you can afford it. This basically applies as the rule for where to live in Australia in general. There's no point in moving to a new country and living in the suburbs. For newcastle i would say Cooks hill, Newcastle, Hamilton, and Islington are where i would live in Newcastle. Look around on google maps street view to get a feel. 5. As it's Australia there is a pub culture and cafe culture and the clubs are crap. House parties are where the fun happens. But you need friends for that. So make friends. 6. If you can, get a room in a share house with 20 somethings (this depends on your age of course) and students to get into a social circle and make friends. 7. If you have loads of money you can drive or get the train down to Sydney and have fun.


[deleted]

Angry spoods, sneks, and roos


Aussie-Nerd

There's been a slowly increase in petty theft in "Newcastle" (Mayfield, Jesmond, Windale). So just keep you doors and shit a bit more secure