Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley Wine Country is a Mecca for food and wine enthusiasts. Explore the wineries by horse-drawn carriage, hot air balloon or bicycle. For a slice of the good life, look no further than the Hunter, just north of Sydney. Great wines, gourmet food, superb restaurants and cafes, rustic cottages and romantic beachside retreats. Get away from it all and relax on a houseboat on Lake Macquarie, or explore the broad ocean beaches and extensive forests nearby. For a taste of culture and nightlife drop into Newcastle, Australia's second oldest city.

The Hunter Valley offers accommodation types to suit all styles and tastes.

The lower Hunter Valley’s 70 wineries harvest grapes in February and March but welcome visitors all year. Some combine boutique accommodation or guesthouses and restaurants with local fare. The Hunter Valley houses dozens of major wineries and boutique vineyards offering tastings and fine cuisine. A peaceful area of lush valleys and hills, it also offers cosy guest houses, resorts and motels, as well as some of Australia's best restaurants.

Cessnock

Located less than two hours drive north of Sydney, the area of Cessnock includes small towns such as Paxton, Millfield and the wonderfully named Bellbird. Originally, Cessnock was a service district for travellers and farmers but has built its more recent reputation as a mining centre. It is also adjacent to Pokolbin ­ one of New South Wales' most vital wine-making areas, so a short trip out of Cessnock is as far as you need go for a pleasant afternoon spent tasting the local produce.

Hunter Wine Country

Hunter Valley Wine Country is a two hour drive north of cosmopolitan Sydney. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Brokenback Range, the area now yields more than a hundred wineries and cellar doors, embracing areas such as Pokolbin, Rothbury, Broke Fordwich, Lovedale, Wollombi Valley and Mount View.

The Hunter Valley is known for its award winning wines, however the valley now supports a burgeoning olive industry with cold pressed olive oil and other olive products. You will also find wood fired bread, delicious Hunter Cheeses, stone fruits, table grapes, honey, home made condiments and sauces, and even chocolate made with chilli. What ever your taste and budget, accommodation is in abundance with self contained cottages and cabins set amongst the vines, superb guesthouses, charming bed and breakfast, and five star resorts.

Maitland

Maitland, in the heart of the Hunter Valley is the perfect destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and discover the many spoils of the Hunter region. Famous for its diversity; from the rich selection of fresh local produce, fine restaurants and dining, and boutique shopping to our historic architecture, landscapes and festivals, Maitland offers something for everyone and is the perfect base as you explore the Hunter.

Newcastle

Just a leisurely two hour drive north of Sydney lies Newcastle, a vibrant city built around the beaches and the harbour. Newcastle’s fabulous beaches, laidback lifestyle, fascinating harbour and eclectic arts scene have helped the city triumph over its industrial background. The 200 year old city is undergoing a renaissance - many of the former working wharves becoming places of play and the air of excitement at the transformation is palpable.

Nobbys Beach, adjacent to the entrance of Newcastle Harbour, marks the start of the Bathers Way, a spectacular 5 kilometres signposted coastal walk which stretches to Merewether Beach and takes in five spectacular beaches, historic ocean baths and unforgettable views. A highlight of the Bathers Way is the Bogey Hole, a hand-hewn ocean rock pool carved into the cliff face below picturesque King Edward Park. Newcastle boasts some of Australia’s best surfing beaches and these have proved a fertile breeding ground for world champions. Merewether Beach is now home to ‘Surfest’, Australia’s longest running international surfing competition. Enjoy a surf at Newcastle, Dixon Park or Bar Beach and you may find yourself sharing a wave with a local surfing legend who still calls Newcastle home.

Pokolbin

Pokolbin is in the heart of the Hunter Valley, the area is renowned for its world class vineyards with some being in operation for well over one hundred years. Pokolbin is Australia's oldest commercial wine producing area with many large and small wineries. Pokolbin has a wide range of tourist activities from antiques and souvenirs to restaurants and hot air ballooning. With this wine region around two hours from Sydney this area is popular with Sydneysiders taking a short break or day trip.

The Junction

The inner city suburb of The Junction is so called because originally it was the junction point for converging trains on their way to the port from the outlying coalmines. Later it was a junction point for the trams which once operated throughout the city. Today this area is a junction for designer labels, fascinating jewellery and hip home wares. Known as the "Double Bay of Newcastle" this upmarket shopping precinct also has a plethora of classy restaurants and cafes, sure to tantalise all tastebuds.

Vacy

The tiny town of Vacy lies on the banks of the Paterson River about 1 kilometres upstream from the junction with the Allyn River. Vacy is between the Hunter Valley and the Barrington Tops National Park.

Warners Bay

Warners Bay is positioned on the northern side of Lake Macquarie and is very well known for its relaxed lakeside lifestyle. This popular village boasts a diverse boutique shopping experience, a variety of lakeside restaurants and cafes and a stunning waterfront walking path and park area. This is the perfect place to indulge over a meal, hit the shops and take a leisurely stroll along The Esplanade. Warners Bay hosts many special events including free music concerts held in the warmer months from November to March on Friday nights. Warners Bay is home to the Lake Macquarie Performing Arts Centre, the International Half Marathon, Loop the Lake and the Sydney to Lake Macquarie Cycle Classic.

Wollombi

Historically Wollombi has always been an important centre for travellers along the Great North Road. Today it retains its fine architectural heritage bolstered by cafes, wineries and comfortable guesthouses. Nearby are national parks with great bushwalking trails and lookouts and ancient Aboriginal rock carvings.