Hunter Valley
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The Hunter Valley stretches from the Goulburn
River and Wollemi National Park to the South right upto Barrington
Tops National Park to the North. Not only does the Hunter boast
wonderful scenery, but it is also home to a large wine and coaling
industries.
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The majority of the vineyards can be
found in the Lower Hunter, although the Upper Hunter also
has its own attractive quality with its vast horse breeding
and racing as well as several vineyards.
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The Lower Hunter is divided into 5 main
areas, including the Wollombi Valley area to the South west,
the Mount View area just North of this, the Cessnock area
to the South east, leading into the Pokolbin and Rothbury
area in the North west and the Lovedale and North Rothbury
area in the North east. |
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The heart of the Lower Hunter wineries
and vineyards is based around Pokolbin, North west of Cessnock.
There are around 50 wineries in the whole area with the
majority open for wine tasting and, of course, sales. The
Hunter is one of the oldest and most famous wine regions
in Australia, boasting many of the large names in wine,
including Lindemans Wine, Tyrell's Vineyards and Wyndham
Estate. |
Although some wines can only be bought from certain
wineries, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon, Shiraz and
Verdelho can be found in most of the vineyards. The best vintage
years in the Hunter for both red and white wines include 1979,
1983, 1996 and 1999, although both the 1980's and 1990's have
also seen several other good years.
Food and accommodation also aren't a problem
in the Hunter. There are a wide variety of restaurants for any
occasion, serving a selection of local grown vegetables, Upper
Hunter bred game and delicious seafood from Port Stephens. There
is also a host of accommodation around the Hunter ranging from
pubs and guesthouses, to private cabins and luxury hotels.
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The wineries aren't the only attraction
that the Hunter offers. Along side the Hunters natural laid
back and relaxed atmosphere you can also find an array of
excitement. There are plenty of other attractions to suit
every taste, from horse riding and golf to hot air ballooning
and sky diving set amongst wonderful landscapes.
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The Hunter is also a great place for music and
entertainment during one of its many festivals. Whatever you are
interested in you are sure to find something to suit your needs,
from folk, jazz and even opera.
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Many spectacular buildings can also be
found in the Hunter amongst the marvelous scenery, along
with several galleries and museums. Specialities seem to
have no end in the Hunter with galleries displaying various
antiques and crafts including glassware, jewellery, paintings,
sculptures and wrought iron. It is also worth trying one
of the local delicacies which include bread and pastries,
cheeses and chocolates.
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The numerous towns around the Lower Hunter all
offer something different and unique to the visitor. Branxton and Greta are popular for their markets and festivals. Cessnock
has a range of accommodation as well as modern shopping areas,
set amongst its heritage buildings and craft shops. Kurri Kurri hosts several heritage country pubs as well as a mining museum.
It is also popular for a mixture of sports including bowls, golf,
squash and tennis.
The rural community of Wollombi still lives in
the 1930's, the time in which it was settled. You can wander along
taking in the historic atmosphere, go horse riding, or even explore
the nearby bushland. For wonderful views of the Brokenback Range
head to Broke, or for museums and antique shops go to the old
river port of Morpeth.
Denman is a good base from which to explore the
Upper Hunter, as are nearby Singleton and Muswellbrook. A selection
of accommodation can be found around Denman, as well as a rather
unique information centre. It is situated in the Old Carriage
Restaurant, which is actually inside an old train carriage.
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Muswellbrook is an historic town hosting a range of interesting historic buildings. Singleton is also an historic town, founded in 1820, and one of the earliest to be founded in New South Wales. Singleton is a coaling town, with a museum telling its history from within the old jail. |
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If you are interested in horses and horse racing then Scone is a place you must definitely visit. Scone is the thoroughbred horse breeding centre in the Upper Hunter, although you will also find horse breeding to be popular throughout the Upper hunter. There is a range of accommodation and a number of restaurants in Scone, although the main attraction is the race course. There are numerous races throughout the year so you should be able to watch one whatever time you visit. |
PLEASE NOTE: The New South Wales travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for New South Wales Holidays can be found on the main New South Wales Holidays location guide. |
