Binnorie Dairy
A premier producer of soft cheeses, Binnorie dairy is open seven days a week for retail sales and tastings or just drop in for a coffee.
A: 25 Lodge Road, Lovedale NSW 2325
Ph: (02) 4998 6660
W: binnorie.com.au
Chocolate & Dessert
If you have a sweet tooth, drop into the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company or Cocoa Nib for a chocolate fix, or expand your options at Sabor Dessert Bar for an extensive range of other treats.
Fawk Foods
On Broke Road in the heart of Pokolbin, Fawk Foods is a top spot for coffee and exemplary café fare from the team behind EXP. Restaurant (next door), but it’s particularly regarded for house-made pastries and sourdough bread to go.
A: 2188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Ph: (02) 4998 6585
W: fawkfoods.com
Golf
The Hunter Valley is particularly well-supplied with golf courses, The Vintage Golf Course (pictured), Crowne Plaza Golf, Hunter Valley Golf and Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club all offer 18-hole courses, while Aqua Golf & Putt Putt provides a more casual and economical experience, including launching balls in the lake for cash prizes, as well as a more leisurely 18-hole putt putt course – no cart required.
Hope Estate
The cellar door at Hope Estate offers the estate’s wine, naturally, though many visitors come for the dozen or so house-made craft beers and ciders, or for the crammed calendar of events. With significant catering facilities, Hope Estate is host to all manner of food, wine and music festivals and events, with picnic hampers available to pre-purchase.
A: 2213 Broke Road, Pokolbin 2320 NSW
Ph: (02) 4993 3555
W: hopeestate.com.au
Hot Air Ballooning
It would seem remiss to go to the Hunter and not assess its glory from the vantage point of a hot air balloon. And there’s no shortage of options, try Balloon Aloft, Beyond Ballooning, Wine Country Ballooning or Adrenaline.
Hungerford Meat Co.
Founded in 1937, Hungerford’s Butchery and Smokehouse was run by the same family for over 60 years. In 2016, Michael Robinson took over the business after having run the kitchen at Margan for several years. Robinson is a chef with a glittering resumé, having worked in London and Los Angeles, as well as heading up Justin North’s Becasse as co-head chef. Robinson works closely with local farmers, makes his own comprehensive range of smallgoods and smoked meats, and dry ages his beef. He champions ethical farming and has a nose to tail philosophy.
A: 47 Maitland Street Branxton NSW
Ph: (02) 4938 1435
W: hungerfordmeatco.com.au
Hunter Valley Zoo
With kids in tow, spending all your days tasting wine and extending lunch through a lazy afternoon is an unlikely scenario. Luckily, the Hunter is well equipped with family activities, including an impressive zoo. The Hunter Valley Zoo prides itself on housing all its animals in “a safe, caring and natural environment” and offers a range of experiences from quiet observation to getting up close with meerkats, tamarins and marmosets, as well as feeding kangaroos and birds in one of the interactive yards. There are no elephants or gorillas here, but you’ll find African lions, some of the more compact primates, as well as many Australian mammals and birds.
A: 138 Lomas Lane, Nulkaba NSW 2325
Ph: (02) 4990 7714
W: huntervalleyzoo.com.au
Potter’s Hotel & Foghorn Brewery
Potter’s Hotel offers simple motel-style accommodation, which is also reasonably priced and well maintained, but it’s the onsite brewery that captures our interest. The Foghorn Brewery is very much in the vein of most modern brewery bars, with gleaming brewing kit looming next to high tables and stools in a converted factory setting. Burgers, pizzas, steaks, live music and tap after tap of small-batch beer complete the picture.
A: Wine Country Drive, Nulkaba NSW 2325
Ph: (02) 4991 7922
W: pottershbr.com.au
Roche Estate
The McGuigan family’s Tempus Two winery at Roche Estate opened with much fanfare, and now makes a significant amount of wine, much of it for export. Their strikingly angular cellar door is also home to Oishii Japanese restaurant, The Goldfish Cocktail Lounge, the frankly titled Smelly Cheese Shop and Meerea Park’s cellar door. It’s also the venue for many of the Hunter’s major music events – think Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Lionel Ritchie… you get the picture.
A: Cnr. Broke Rd & McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Ph: (02) 4993 3999
W: rocheestate.com.au
Walks & Sights
For some spectacular views of the valley, walk up the Pokolbin Mountains Road walking track to the Mt Bright Lookout, or take in the Hunter from the Len Evans Memorial Lookout at Constable Estate. If you’re willing to brave a dirt road, drive up the road to Amelies on Pokolbin Mountain; the views are the best in the region and it’s a spectacular place to watch the sun set. You can stay at Amelies, too, which is out of the main Hunter action, but it’s a stunningly serene place to be, and the walking and nature watching opportunities on the private property are unrivalled.
Wine House Hunter Valley
You could spend a lot of time at Wine House. Acting as a tasting facility for many small wineries, Wine House conducts structured tastings on a theme, or you can choose your own adventure with the guidance of a local expert. There is also a range of ever-changing premium wines delivered via Enomatic wine serving systems. All of this can be accompanied with food to graze on, or more substantial food and wine matches can be tailored to suit the individual.
A: 426 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Ph: (02) 4998 7899
W: winehousehuntervalley.com.au
