AFF Gathering #15 in NTL 2021 **Rescheduled** to 21-23 October 2022

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Newcastle has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2021, occurring over the weekend of the 22nd to 24th October. The average temperature range for October is 14.1ºC – 22.1ºC. The average rainfall is 72.5mm with 11 rainy days. It is NSW's second most populated area and Australia's seventh most populous, representing 1.95% of Australia.

The weekend is likely to take in a wine tour, owing to the proximity of the Hunter Valley. Please note if you are interested in attending a wine tour when indicating your interest for the weekend as this will help organisers make a good start on venues that can cater to our group size.

The lead organiser this year is a member that has turned up to many previous events, @Bindibuys.

Members that have offered help include: @support @Bindibuys @Princess Fiona

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Activities​

Friday 22nd October​

The dinner venue is The Landing Bar and Kitchen, located next to the Rydges on the water front. We will have the outdoor marquee all to ourselves, with the sides down for privacy. Menus are available online, and the exact kickoff time will be advised closer to the weekend.

Saturday 23rd October​

During the day will be a wine tour for those who have indicated interest/are booked for the tour and another tour – possibly dolphins – for those not attending the wine tour.

The dinner venue is The Wickham Boatshed, where some canapés will be followed by a two-course meal. There is a cash bar. The special guest is a local Newcastle breakfast DJ.

Sunday 24th October​

A tour of the city will follow on the last day, ending at Fighter World, located conveniently next to the airport.

Tentative Attendees​

This list simply indicates an interest in attending the event and additionally, the wine tour. Members are in order of response to the thread and are not ranked from silver to platinum (least likely to most likely to attend).

Username	Arrival Details	Accommodation	Wine Tour?	Departure Details
I love to travel			Yes
Bindibuys
Congewai
Lynda2475			Yes
AIRwin
kpc
Doug_Westcott	22/10 VA1593	Rydges	Yes	25/10 VA1594
samh004	22/10 QF1776	Novotel	Yes	24/10 QF2424
Townsend	Driving		Yes	Driving
Townsend +1	Driving		Yes	Driving
Mattg			Yes
kookaburra75	22/10 Driving	Noah's on the Beach	Yes	24/10 Driving Noon
kookaburra75 +1	22/10 Driving	Noah's on the Beach	Yes	24/10 Driving Noon
Matt_01			Yes
oz_mark
Drakecula			Yes
Drakecula +1
NM			Yes
NM +1
Eija			Yes	24/10 QF1567
RooFlyer		Novotel	Yes	25/10 QF1565
tuapekastar			Yes
serfty	22/10 VA1593			25/10 VA1594
JessicaTam			Yes
CaptJCool
Sprucegoose			Yes
Jacques Vert	Driving		Yes	Driving
Gem56	Driving		Yes	Driving
ellen10
Hvr	22/10 QF1564	Holiday Inn Express		24/10 QF1567
Major
Major +1
justinbrett
Simo			Yes
motef	Local	Local	Yes	Local
motef +1	Local	Local	Yes	Local
sharpinjr			Yes
sharpinjr +1			Yes
Fifa		Holiday Inn Express	Yes	24/10 Afternoon
Princess Fiona	Local	Local		Local
penegal			Yes
Ade			Yes
drron
mrs.dr.ron
BVT			Yes
admin
admin +1
Glider_	22/10 Train?			24/10 Afternoon
straitman
straitman +1
aleaf			Yes

 

[support]

Updated to this post, 25/39 now.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Rydges has announced another of their "Flash Sales". Rydges Newcastle is currently $240 per night for these dates (apparently 30% off).

 

[Mattg]

Any thoughts on the Holiday Inn Express in Newcastle? It's only 12,500 IHG points/night.

 

[justinbrett]

Any thoughts on the Holiday Inn Express in Newcastle? It's only 12,500 IHG points/night.

I imagine it’s more “express” than “Holiday Inn”. Never stayed there so can only speak for it’s location.

It’s in Newcastle West, which is the “new CBD” - in a busy area with the main road Stewart Ave (Pacific Hwy) going past it and near Newcastle Interchange (Heavy & Light rail terminus and main bus station).

So quite a practical location but not particularly nice - but you’re still not far from Honeysuckle for the main nightlife area - and you are close to Marketown which is the main shopping centre in the CBD (mainly just Coles / Woolworths / Big W / Dan Murphy’s and a few small stores).

 

[Hvr]

Any thoughts on the Holiday Inn Express in Newcastle? It's only 12,500 IHG points/night.

That's where I've booked for Friday and Saturday night. Able to be cancelled without penalty until 1800 hours Thursday night.

 

[Mattg]

That's where I've booked for Friday and Saturday night. Able to be cancelled without penalty until 1800 hours Thursday night.

Location and price are more important to me than bells & whistles - I really just want a place to sleep and the reviews seem OK - so I may join you there.

Edit: I've booked and can cancel for no penalty until 3 days out if something better comes along.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Any thoughts on the Holiday Inn Express in Newcastle? It's only 12,500 IHG points/night.

A hard pass from me.
It’s not in a great area.

 

[motef]

I imagine it’s more “express” than “Holiday Inn”. Never stayed there so can only speak for it’s location.

It’s in Newcastle West, which is the “new CBD” - in a busy area with the main road Stewart Ave (Pacific Hwy) going past it and near Newcastle Interchange (Heavy & Light rail terminus and main bus station).

So quite a practical location but not particularly nice - but you’re still not far from Honeysuckle for the main nightlife area - and you are close to Marketown which is the main shopping centre in the CBD (mainly just Coles / Woolworths / Big W / Dan Murphy’s and a few small stores).

As @justinbrett says this area, Newcastle West, is undergoing gentrification but its really not quite there yet.

There are some nice places to eat within walking distance like The Edwards, Parry St Garage, and some areas within Markettown Shopping area but there isnt really anything to see per say within walking distance.

I would question walking late at night from the area this hotel is in up to Honeysuckle, would be best Uber'ed

 

[Major]

I think I'll wait for more info on the dinner locations before I look at accommodation.

 

[justinbrett]

I would question walking late at night from the area this hotel is in up to Honeysuckle, would be best Uber'ed

I don’t fully agree, if it’s before midnight. The area is pretty busy until the pubs start shutting.

After midnight walking is still OK but stick to the main roads - down Stewart Ave and then down Honeysuckle Drive. I live on Honeysuckle Drive and it’s perfectly safe late at night, it’s busy enough. Hunter/King st are much more sketchy - basically north of the old rail line.

On a few occasions I’ve got the train home from Sydney arriving anywhere between midnight and 3am and I’ve never felt unsafe walking home.

5-10 years ago I would have given very different advice. It’s a lot safer now due to the large number of residential buildings in the area.

 

[Doug_Westcott]

Booked at Rydges. Can change later if dinners etc are located at an inconvenient distance from there.

 

[drron]

We wouldn't mind coming to this gathering but far too earlyto make a decision now.So if there are any late cancellations we could possibly slot in.

Of course in my day Newcastle was a very different place.We left the Hunter in the first days of 1992.

Or the full version.

 

[motef]

I don’t fully agree, if it’s before midnight. The area is pretty busy until the pubs start shutting.

After midnight walking is still OK but stick to the main roads - down Stewart Ave and then down Honeysuckle Drive. I live on Honeysuckle Drive and it’s perfectly safe late at night, it’s busy enough. Hunter/King st are much more sketchy - basically north of the old rail line.

On a few occasions I’ve got the train home from Sydney arriving anywhere between midnight and 3am and I’ve never felt unsafe walking home.

5-10 years ago I would have given very different advice. It’s a lot safer now due to the large number of residential buildings in the area.

I wouldnt walk past the park out the front of Marketown (King St) or past Civic Park (King St) or Hunter St near Steel St but yes you are right if you duck straight down to Stewart Ave to The Knowledge Tree and along Honeysuckle Drive but the Holiday Inn Express in that rate for a reason and one of the large factors would be its location.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I wouldnt walk past the park out the front of Marketown (King St) or past Civic Park (King St) or Hunter St near Steel St but yes you are right if you duck straight down to Stewart Ave to The Knowledge Tree and along Honeysuckle Drive but the Holiday Inn Express in that rate for a reason and one of the large factors would be its location.

Agreed. It’s disappeared from the news websites now but there was an infamous interview with one of the locals who frequent the little park across the road. She described herself as “A princess, I don’t do stairwells”. Just about sums up that area.
Admittedly I do a lot of my grocery shopping at the nearby Woolies and ALDI but the area that hotel is in is a block away but a million miles scarier.

 

[craven morehead]

Any thoughts on the Holiday Inn Express in Newcastle? It's only 12,500 IHG points/night.

@Mattg don't discount the ibis in Hunter Street. Plain and cheap and a great location for the price. I've stay there often for work.

ibis Newcastle

Newcastle has something for everyone from beautiful beaches to vibrant dining. Explore this NSW city and surrounds on a budget with ibis Newcastle Hotel.

all.accor.com

 

[Fifa]

Please count me in for the weekend and the wine tour.

 

[justinbrett]

Agreed. It’s disappeared from the news websites now but there was an infamous interview with one of the locals who frequent the little park across the road. She described herself as “A princess, I don’t do stairwells”. Just about sums up that area.
Admittedly I do a lot of my grocery shopping at the nearby Woolies and ALDI but the area that hotel is in is a block away but a million miles scarier.

Marketown is generally fine - it's always really busy (especially with the adjacent McDonalds) but it can attract some odd characters at any time of the day.

It's like any city centre - stay in well lit areas with lots of pedestrian traffic and don't approach strangers. I think there's far more dangerous areas of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne city centres.

That area where the HIE has changed significantly in the last 12 months - I personally don't think you would have any problems there as it's so built up and busy, just stay north of the park for good measure

 

[Hvr]

She described herself as “A princess, I don’t do stairwells”. Just about sums up that area.

Maybe her grandmother featured in this song?

 

[tuapekastar]

Interesting reading about the more and less salubrious areas of Newcastle. Must admit I thought what I've linked was your standard Saturday night out in Newcastle.

 

[motef]

Hahah

Interesting reading about the more and less salubrious areas of Newcastle. Must admit I thought what I've linked was your standard Saturday night out in Newcastle.

It was representative perhaps 30 years ago

I don't have enough days in a weekend to try out all the new bars, whiskey joints, pop up restaurants and new establishments that have been opening in Newcastle over the last 5 years or so. It certainly has changed for the better.