The Big Ugg Boots
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Hunter Valley subregions. How to get here. SELF DRIVE FROM SYDNEY Drive over Sydney Harbour Bridge and follow the A1 (Pacific Highway) towards Hornsby. Before Hornsby (at Wahroonga) take the M1 (Pacific Motorway) north towards Newcastle and take one of three exits to the Hunter Valley Vineyards. ROUTE �: After 120km (1 hour 15 mins), exit the M1 at the Newcastle Interchange and take the M15 (Hunter Expressway) and follow the M15 until you reach the Lovedale Road exit (24km), the Wine Country Drive exit (36km) or the Hermitage Road exit (48km). ROUTE �: After 100km (1 hour), exit the M1 at the B82 (Freemans Drive) exit ramp and follow the signs along the B82 to Cessnock/Hunter Valley Vineyards. hile it is the Hunter Valley as a whole that is recognised and remembered as a world-class ROUTE �: After 40km (20 minutes), exit the M1 (Pacific food and wine destination, the region is made Motorway) at the Calga Interchange (Peats Ridge) W and follow Tourist Route T33. This route will take you up of a number of smaller subregions. Each has its own secrets to reveal and subtle nuances in terms of through scenic mountains and into the Hunter Valley at the historic town of Wollombi. wine characteristics. They can be discovered on their A15 B84 own or as part of the Hunter Valley food and wine trail. HUNTER A1 BY TRAIN � BUS EXPRESSWAY CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CESSNOCK'S ���� ARTS BUILDING; SINGLETON FARMLAND; THE VILLAGE OF WOLLOMBI; KURRI KURRI MURAL. Arrive by train at Maitland, Newcastle or Morisset stations BROKE FORDWICH POKOLBIN with connecting buses available. For train and bus B133 B82 The Broke Fordwich region, a 20-minute drive from Pokolbin isn’t a town or village, but it’s hailed as the timetables, call 131 500 or visit www.transportnsw.info B69 Pokolbin, is nestled at the foothills of the Brokenback hub of the Hunter Valley because it has the highest Towns & villages. BY PLANE Range in the shadow of the majestic Yellow Rock concentration of wineries, restaurants, accommodation B82 Cessnock Airport – by private charter. Newcastle Airport escarpment. It has a rustic charm and is pin-drop and activities in the region. The first vineyards in the TAKE THE TIME TO EXPLORE SOME OF THE SMALL VILLAGES AND LARGER TOWNS – flights daily from Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and quiet, making it the perfect destination for a relaxing Valley were planted in Pokolbin in the early 1800s, WITHIN THE HUNTER VALLEY AREA. Melbourne, call 02 4928 9800. rural retreat. Peppered with boutique and biodynamic and it continues to play a pivotal role in winemaking vineyards, olive groves, cosy accommodation options today with winemakers producing the region’s award- BRANXTON established in 1902 to service the coal-mining industry GETTING AROUND and restaurants, it has two big-ticket events: A Little winning flagship wines – Shiraz and Semillon – as well Located in the north of the Hunter Valley on the New and is home to the Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival, held Once you have arrived in Wine Country, getting around Bit of Italy held each April and the Broke Village Fair as new varieties that receive widespread acclaim. While England Highway, this small town has friendly locals, every year in March. visitkurrikurri.com is easy. There are a number of tour operators to choose M1 & Vintage Car Display in September. Pokolbin revolves around Broke and McDonalds Roads, a great pub and several arts and crafts stores. It also CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: THE VINEYARD AT LINDEMAN’S, POKOLBIN; from to show you the Hunter Valley (check our website it also includes established trails such as Palmers ‘Wine plays host to a monthly market on the third Sunday THE MAGICAL VISTA FROM MOUNT VIEW; CELLAR DOORS APLENTY IN SINGLETON winecountry.com.au or ask at the Hunter Valley Visitor POKOLBIN, INCLUDING PEPPER TREE WINES; BROKE BOASTS OLIVE GROVES Lovers’ Lane and the Around Hermitage Trail. of each month, which showcases locally sourced Centre). Hertz also offers rental cars if you would like to LOVEDALE ALONGSIDE VINES; LAKE ST CLAIR NEAR SINGLETON IN THE UPPER HUNTER. Singleton was founded in 1820 on the banks of the produce and handmade wares. drive yourself. When you exit the Hunter Expressway at Lovedale Hunter River and still retains many impressive 19th- Road and turn left you’ve arrived in Lovedale, a relaxed UPPER HUNTER century buildings. Pick up a Heritage Walk brochure neighbourhood east of Pokolbin. The winding country The Upper Hunter is the largest horse-breeding region CESSNOCK from the visitor information centre on the New England roads are lined with cellar doors, eateries and an eclectic in Australia with an extensive viticultural industry Cessnock has a history firmly linked with mining Highway and stroll along the posted walk. Visit the SCHEDULED WINERY, VINEYARD � BREWERY TOURS collection of places to stay – pick up a copy of the Tour based around Denman, Muswellbrook and Jerrys Plains. and boasts a streetscape of historical buildings, Singleton Historical Society & Museum, the Sacred Spaces De Lovedale map, painted by local artist Megan Barrass, Stretching from Singleton in the south to Murrurundi in First Creek Wines McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Estate bookended by grand old pubs. Today, it is Wine Museum at the Convent of Mercy Singleton and the Royal Daily winery tour, 10.30am, $5pp Daily, 11am, $5pp (weather dependent) and follow the self-drive route. It’s also home to mobs of the north, it has a bevy of paddock-to-plate produce to Country’s hub for business and shopping, but also has Australian Infantry Corps Museum at the nearby Hermitage Road Cellars & Winery Tallavera Grove Vineyard kangaroos and wallabies, and the Lovedale Long Lunch, sample, including olives, cheese and boutique wines, as a mix of entertainment options with several cafes and barracks. In July the town holds the Singleton Festival – a Daily vineyard tour, 9am Weekends, 10.30am which takes place on the third weekend in May each year. well as outdoor and water-based activities at Lake St Clair restaurants, a well-respected art gallery, performing arts celebration of arts, music and culture. visitsingleton.com Hunter Beer Co. Tyrrell’s Wines and Lake Glenbawn. centre and local arts and crafts displays at Cessnock’s Weekdays 4pm; weekends 12pm & 4pm, Daily, 10.30am, $5pp, children free $10pp MOUNT VIEW oldest sawn-timber homestead, the Heritage-listed WOLLOMBI Vinden Estate Wines Marthaville. Pick up more information from the Hunter McGuigan Wines Wednesday to Sunday, 11am & 3.30pm As far as idyllic rural backdrops go, you can’t ask for WOLLOMBI VALLEY This historic village was a stopping-off point for travellers Valley Visitor Centre on Wine Country Drive. Weekdays, 12pm; weekends, 11am & 12pm, Whispering Brook much better than Mount View. Weaving its way past Drive 30 minutes south-west of Pokolbin to the quaint along the convict-built Great North Road in the 19th $5pp (enclosed shoes required) Weekends, 11am & by appointment terraced vineyards, tasting rooms and charming B&Bs, village of Wollombi and you’ll be transported back to century. You can admire its well-preserved sandstone Mount View Road takes you up to the Bimbadeen and a bygone era. Established in the mid-1800s, the pretty KURRI KURRI buildings and timber slab cottages by following Mount Bright Lookouts, with breathtaking views in every hamlet is famed for its colonial architecture and old- Kurri Kurri is best known as a town of murals with the Wollombi Village Historical Walk and visiting © Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association. Published in March 2016 by Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association (T: 02 4990 0900, winecountry.com.au). Printed in Australia by Offset direction. It’s off the beaten track, but the mountaintop world general store. The gateway to the Wollombi Valley, 54 magnificent outdoor artworks illustrating the area’s Alpine. Circulation of 150,000 and distributed by Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association. While every endeavour has been made to ensure the absolute accuracy of the information, Hunter the Endeavour Museum. It hosts two must-see events: the Valley Wine & Tourism Association and their agents cannot be held responsible for any consequences resulting from misdescription or inadvertent errors contained herein. The publication outlook, peaceful setting and memorable food and wine it offers a mix of attractions from farmgate produce and history and culture. Rich in heritage with distinctive is representative of members of Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association only. Photography: Dean Mackenzie, Chris Elfes/Photography on Hermitage and Ken Duncan. All images are the Wollombi Music Festival in September and Sculpture in copyright of the respective photographers/members and may not be copied or used in any other form. experiences are worth seeking out. Aboriginal sites to the Great North Road convict trail. country pubs and a railway museum, Kurri Kurri was the Vineyards in November. visitwollombi.com.au Calendar of events. THE BIG A ROUND-UP OF MUST-SEE EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS. MARCH HUNTER VALLEY WINE FESTIVAL BROKE VILLAGE FAIR � VINTAGE Welcome to Wine Country. KURRI KURRI NOSTALGIA FESTIVAL This one-day festival brings more than CAR DISPLAY A fun-filled day with 50 UGG BOOTS 40 Hunter Valley wineries and producers market stalls, amusement rides, petting A fantastic line-up of rock ’n’ roll bands, Leisurely 20 min drive from the vineyards. rockabilly dances, classic cars, hot rods, together in the one place at Crowne zoo, whip-cracking demonstrations, Plaza Hunter Valley. Wine, beer and cider bush poetry, vintage and classic cars, OFFICIAL MAP � TOURING GUIDE THE HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS AND WINE INDUSTRY AWARDS CELEBRATES THE OUTSTANDING fashion and market stalls. kurrikurrinostalgiafestival.com.au tastings, gourmet food, entertainment motorbikes, trucks and tractors.