Wollombi & Hunter Valley Blog

Visit historic Wollombi on the holiday Monday of each long weekend (Easter, June and October) and on Australia Day for this great market of over…

Any time of the year is the perfect time to hop on your bike and tour around Wollombi Valley, then relax in the architecturally designed,…

“Author Tea Cooper has two more reasons to smile after taking out two Romance Writers of New Zealand Koru awards earlier this month. The Wollombi-based…

“Heading south, spectacular bush vistas are the theme of choice for both Kudos Villas in Hepburn Springs, Victoria, and Wild Edge Retreat in Wollombi, Hunter…

“We were looking for a unique experience in the bush not too far from Sydney and came across this Sydney train on Little Valley Farm…

“Historical Wollombi village is just under two hours drive from Sydney, or a little longer if you take the scenic route on Tourist Drive 33.…

Our new Autumn menu is here and she has been proving very popular with visitors and locals alike. Here at GNTP we do our best…

“Multi-ARIA and Golden Guitar-winning artist Shane Nicholson will headline a bumper lineup for the 2018 edition of Wollombi’s Paddock Sessions festival. Now in its third year,…

“Cedar Creek business Hunter Valley Produce is celebrating after winning a bronze medal at the 2018 Australian Food Awards. The award are conducted by the Royal Agricultural…

“Wollombi-based theatre company Valley Artists is staging Under Milk Wood at Laguna Hall for seven 8pm performances between March 30 and April 7. The production…

“Melon mania has hit Newcastle in a fruitful bid to save food waste and get some tasty fruit into the bellies of locals. A sale of…

“A heart-warming romantic comedy is coming to two Hunter Valley venues, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Bare Productions will present AR Gurney’s Love Letters at Kevin Sobels…

“As December loomed, Xavier Huitorel and Bastian Storch had “made peace” with the fact that same-sex marriage would not be legal in time for their…

“I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve visited the NSW Hunter Valley over the past 40 years or so. Perhaps 50, perhaps more.…

  The recent Brides Choice Awards were held at Pullman Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club on the Central Coast as part of the Australian…

“Wollombi’s annual celebration of art, wine and culture, Sculpture in the Vineyards opens this Saturday. Now in its 15th year, Sculpture in the Vineyards is one of Australia’s longest-running regional…

“For the past 10 years a couple from Sydney have been working tirelessly during many of their weekends to create their dream home and business…

“THE Wollombi Music Festival will move to a slightly bigger venue “down near the millpond” this September to cater for the growing appeal of the…

“The crafty collaboration known as 4 Directions have welcomed a fifth member for their next exhibition at Wollombi Cultural Centre’s Old Fireshed Gallery. This year’s…

“Five-piece outfit from Sydney’s Northern Beaches Lime Cordiale and soul/rhythm and blues songstress Caiti Baker will headline the Wollombi Music Festival later this year. Organisers announced…

We have just launched a crowd-funding campaign on Chuffed to raise funds for our sanctuary expansion project, which will allow us to save more animals in…

Wollombi Music Festival  returns for its 8th year with a stellar lineup of Australian talent sure to further enhance its reputation as one of the…

“Wine, a picnic and live music among the poplar groves. Sound tempting? Then bring your picnic blanket or chair to Stonehurst Wines, just outside Wollombi,…

“Community programs including a mobile preschool will return to the former Wollombi Public School site after the Wollombi School Community Education Trust secured an ongoing short-term licence…

“Occasional showers were not enough to keep anglers from far and wide away from the third annual Wollombi Tavern Carp Fishing Competition. A total of…

“Wollombi-based not-for-profit theatre company Valley Artists next production, The Business, opens at Laguna Hall this Friday night. The Business is a family drama and black comedy by…

“If Australia’s convict-built roads and sandstone cottages could talk, one could only imagine what they would say. Romance writer Tea Cooper has spent countless hours in museums…

“Wollombi will roll out the red carpet this week for three days of classic cinema. After a fantastic inaugural year in 2016, the Wollombi Classic Film Festival…

“When Phillip Noyce first drove into the Wollombi Valley almost half a century ago, he recalled how he clattered over colonial history. “Parts of the…

“IF you could somehow drain the colour from what you are looking at as you stand in Wollombi’s main street, you would create a picture of…

“Chefs can be artists beyond the kitchen. Armando Percuoco, owner of Sydney dining institution Buon Ricordo, has a keen appreciation of sculpture and gardens –…

“Australia’s longest-running regional sculpture exhibition returns to Wollombi this weekend. Now in its 14th year, Sculpture in the Vineyards celebrates the essence of the Hunter Valley’s…

“Well what an amazing Wollombi Festival for 2016! The smiles on the faces leaving the festival are a credit to the promoters, all the acts…

“Escaping the drudgery of the daily grind is always front of mind for me. I excel at, and thrive on, planning holidays, getaways, escapes, trips…

“The Hunter Valley’s Wollombi Music Festival has announced its 2016 line-up  including Australian artists Hot Potato Band, Lachy Doley Group and Kallidad. The family-friendly festival will…

“Beset by an ever-quickening pace of life, city-dwellers sometimes lament the loss of simpler times and contact. They needn’t, writes village-dweller Marguerite Winter. A short-break…

“At Wild Edge Retreat, it seems, you propose. The engagement you celebrate together at Somewhere Unique and some time later you join immediate family at…

“Love it when things go bump in the night? Then get your heart pumping and pulse racing with a ghost tour in historic Wollombi. Start…

Blair Athol Estate Wollombi in partnership with Wollombi Valley Tourism are giving you the chance to win an exclusive luxury 3 night stay indulgence package…

“Your correspondent has never been, is not and never will be a MAMIL. I did however participate in a mountain bike race on the weekend.…

“The spirit of community will light up Wollombi during the town’s annual country fair this weekend. Second only to New Year’s Eve, the fair draws…

Two projects worth $1.07 million have been approved for construction by Cessnock City Council un- der the 2015-16 Australian Government Black Spot Programme. $460,000 has…

Settlers Kitchen at Mulla Villa (c 1840) is a new dining experience in Wollombi – the restaurant is in the old house that was built…

100 AMAZING PLACES YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO YET – #7-10 “Route 33 is ‘the back way’ to the Hunter Valley, and it’s a place of…

100 AMAZING PLACES YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO YET – #6 “The sleepy Hunter Valley town of Laguna may look small but it’s hiding some seriously…

For a paddock to plate experience right in the Hunter’s gateway, join the guys at My Father’s Table. In their cooking class you’ll learn to…

“From building boutique lodging to growing grapes and farming deer and cattle, this local is proving variety is the spice of life. Inheriting a property…

“THE Hunter is known for attracting big rock acts in the vineyards, such as the Rolling Stones, the Eagles and Bruce Springsteen. Adrian Buckley wants…

“IT’S a dream thrashed out over many a glass of fine chardonnay or shiraz — to sell the city house and buy a vineyard in…

“IT’S not quite La Tomatina, but Newcastle will host its own tomato festival in Honeysuckle this month. A whopping 700kilograms of the rich red fruit…

“TAKE a wander about 30 kilometres south-west of Cessnock and what will you find? Picturesque Wollombi, rich in Australian history, both indigenous and colonial. The…

“CESSNOCK has earned sixth position in a list of Australia’s best travel destinations of 2014. Compiled from travellers’ ratings and reviews, the TripAdvisor list puts…

“Michael Noyce knows a thing or two about wine. The Wahroonga vineyard owner runs Noyce Brothers Wine in Wollombi with brothers Peter and Phillip, who…

“Construction of a new and improved toilet block and picnic shelter at Wollombi is well underway to increase convenience for locals and tourists alike. Cessnock…

“SCARECROWS dressed as characters such as Darth Vader and  Dr Who’s Tardis will welcome visitors to Wollombi this weekend. The Small Farms Fair started life…

“The heat and the afternoon storm that hit the Hunter on Saturday did not deter the Wollombi community from turning out to the official opening…

“Quirky farm vehicles lead the fun as a Hunter town celebrates. The Blue Mountains celebrates its assets with garden festivals, Young has its cherry festival,…

“Wollombi Valley’s spectacular Sculpture in the Vineyards is back again for 2014, launching this Saturday. The Hunter Valley’s largest sculpture festival, this year’s edition is…

“At last weekend’s Middle Eastern Extravaganza, we were joined by a film crew who, along with eating some yummy food, were busy capturing us having a…

“If too much classic (and cheesy) Australian pop is barely enough, prepare for double helpings as ageless icons John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John go on …

“Thanks to perfect ripening conditions in the Hunter Valley, winemakers are declaring this a year to remember. The 2014 Hunter Valley vintage is being hailed…

“My Father’s Table “Middle Eastern Extravaganza” workshop is held in Laguna Valley local resident Rita Dixon’s gorgeous home. Located just 4km’s south of the Hunter…

“Wollombi has much to offer those seeking a memorable and unique weekend escape, writes LISA ROCKMAN. On a cliff-top plateau overlooking the valley are lounge…

“Cutting-edge works by the Valley New Art Group are on display at Wollombi Cultural Centre’s Old Fire Shed Gallery until August 31. ‘Symposium’ – an…

“Hunter Valley operators have once again succeeded at the Hunter Central Coast Awards for Excellence in Tourism, held at Wests New Lambton last Wednesday. Wollombi…

“HUNTER Valley wineries have been named among the top 20 must-see destinations on the Australian east coast by travel content provider Lonely Planet. Just three…

“LEGENDARY rocker Jimmy Barnes has announced he’ll come back to the Hunter for the second time this year as part of a concert series to…

“MUSIC legends Sting and Paul Simon will perform together in the Hunter Valley in February. The duo bring their acclaimed On Stage Together tour to…

“FARMER’S gate roadside stalls are my favourite place to shop. Buying direct from the farmer is a great way to source local seasonal food. The…

An eco-certified accommodation business located in historic Wollombi in the NSW Hunter Valley is doing their bit for the environment on World Environment Day, announced…

“Amateur cooks, serious foodies, wine lovers and lifestyle enthusiasts are gearing up for the year’s ultimate celebration of flavour, the famous Hunter Valley Wine and…

Somewhere Unique, a couples-only accommodation property in the NSW Hunter Valley, announced today that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award for 2014.…

“The Eagles are heading back to Australia and New Zealand for a tour. The seven-date Australian leg of the History of the Eagles tour will…

“Have you ever wondered about the talented and crafty hands that created your favourite bottle of Shiraz? Wonder no more. June 14th will see the…

“Legendary Swedish rockers Roxette will return to Australia next year for eight dates. The duo of Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson will play arena shows…

Join us on a 2 or 3 day camp at some of our culturally significant sites. Our camps are ideal for people looking to develop…

“STAND-UP funny man Alan Glover is engaged in a very different sort of comedy in Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita, which is being staged by…

“Returning Saturday the 27th of September is the 5th (Day/Night) Wollombi Music Festival. The festival is fast becoming one of the most loved small festivals…

“The Rolling Stones will play two additional shows, one in Perth and one in the Hunter Valley, when the rescheduled 14 On Fire tour arrives…

“THE Hunter has been named Australia’s best food and wine region in the latest instalment of the Gold List Awards, a nationwide survey conducted by…

“A new map of the Great North Road was officially launched at the Wollombi Museum. Designed to encourage more people to visit the 240-kilometre stretch…

Wollombi Tavern now has evening meals available 7 days a week! As well as our Friday and Saturday night menu, from Sunday through to Thursday,…

“THE Hunter Valley has the wine industry abuzz with calls that this year’s crop is producing the “best vintage of the century”. Heavy rains in…

“Animals have a nice life in the Broke Fordwich wine region, a subregion of the lower Hunter Valley in NSW that has been planted with…

It’s vintage time, a bit early but good. Here is the Noyce Brothers Wine Homestead Verdelho being picked with the historic and restored James Milson…

“I THINK it was my regular visits to my grandparents’ farm at Wollombi when I was a child that got me interested in food, farming…

Wollombi village proper has a range of buildings which make up a heritage precinct. In our beautiful green valley, it is this core – amongst…

“THEY call it the “Uluru of the east” – a sacred Aboriginal place within a world heritage area in the Hunter. Mount Yengo is a…

Fashion Photographer Sonny Vandevelde visits Mystwood Retreats in Wollombi … “Camera in hand I venture around and enjoy the things I see” … “we check…

“HAVE you ever driven down an old country road only to wonder how it was built back in the day? Let’s set the scene. It’s…

“Fans are going to be Dancing on the Ceiling when John Farnham teams up with Lionel Richie for a show in the Hunter this March.…

“Sydney-sider, I adore skirmishes around our beautiful countryside in NSW. I marvel at the fact that I can be in the bush within an hour…

“A Day On the Green’s annual classic Aussie rock show has once again proved popular with all 8,000 tickets sold out on the first day.…

“The inaugural Mower Mardi Gras proved a major highlight of the Wollombi Small Farms Fair held over the weekend. On Sunday dozens of creative entries…

“Organisers are expecting this year’s Wollombi Small Farms Fair to be the biggest one yet. Everything that is great about Wollombi and its surrounds will…

“LARGER than life singer, songwriter, musician, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton will bring her world tour to Hope Estate in February. The Tennessee-born singer was…

A great new Wollombi Map and Business Directory is now available. Plan your trip to Wollombi and find out where everything is around the Valley.…

“The beloved Aussie post-punk rock icons will play 10 winery gigs around the country in 2014 – scenes a world away from the grotty pubs…

For guests of accommodation in the Wollombi valley area, Timetravellers always provides free hire of helmet, jacket, boots & gloves for Half Day and One…

“BRUCE Springsteen has added another three shows to his one-off tour of Australia in 2014 to satisfy demand as scalper tickets flood resale sites. While…

“GRAMMY award winning singer songwriter Alicia Keys will perform at Hope Estate in December. Keys will be joined by John Legend on the final leg…

“Local operators shone brightly at the 2013 Hunter and Central Coast Tourism Awards last Wednesday. Gold award winners included Esca Bimbadgen (tourism restaurants and catering),…

Somewhere Unique was the GOLD WINNER of the ‘Unique Accommodation’ category at the 2013 Hunter & Central Coast Tourism Awards, and was entered into the…

“ONLY months after playing a string of sell-out shows across Australia, The Boss is returning and this time he’s coming to the Hunter Valley. The…

Wollombi Valley Arts Council (WVAC) invites entries from all emerging artists of any age in any medium! The WVAC is a non-profit volunteer community group…

“SONGWRITING legend Leonard Cohen is set to return to the Hunter Valley in November for an encore performance at outdoor concert series A Day On…

Two Wollombi businesses have just been announced as Finalists at the 2013 Hunter & Central Coast Tourism Awards – “Somewhere Unique” is a Finalist in the…

Billy Law (MasterChef contestant 2011) enjoys a day out with Ngurra Bu Aboriginal Cultural Tours … “The Ngurra Bu cultural tour is definitely one of…

“If you imagine the Hunter Valley to be a big circle, then Wollombi is down the bottom on the left. Depending on how you arrive…

‘We’re delighted to have received this award and thank you to our valued guests who have submitted such great reviews’. Winners of the Certificate of…

Cycle Torque Magazine is teaming up with the businesses of the idyllic Hunter region of Wollombi Valley to offer readers the chance to win a…

Somewhere Unique, a couples-only accommodation property in the NSW Hunter Valley, announced today that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award for 2013.…

“THE voice of Powderfinger, Bernard Fanning, will kick off A Day on the Green’s next series of outdoor concert events. Fanning will headline the event…

Folk and country ensemble Bob Corbett & the Roo Grass Band will be making their way to Wollombi during their national Lucky Country Hall Tour…

“Iconic 1840 convict-built Guesthouse Mulla Villa will open its doors to the public this Sunday afternoon. Don’t miss out as this historic monument is now…

“Torrential rain hit Cessnock City on Saturday, resulting in flash flooding and a number of road closures. Wollombi was one of the worst affected areas,…

“Whilst I was back in Australia I had a lovely day out with my mum for her birthday which involved a drive to Wollombi on…

Karen Ledbury from Sydney Weekender visits Somewhere Unique in Wollombi, and also enjoys a tour with TimeTravellers Motorcycle Tours. Imagine somewhere so unique it takes…

“Distinguished Australian film director Phillip Noyce is set to attend a special outdoor screening of his critically acclaimed 1978 film “Newsfront” on Saturday, January 19,…

The Hunter Valley has been named as one of the 10 Best Wine Destinations for 2013 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine!! “Each year, our editors travel…

“The combined efforts of four local volunteer bushfire brigades to protect and educate residents have been recognised at the Resilient Australia Awards. The Wollombi Valley…

“THERE is much excitement in the historic, and renowned motorcycling destination of Wollombi, as Timetravellers has finally won its two year wrangle with Cessnock City…

“The Hunter Valley is celebrating being recognised as a world-class wine and tourism destination in a bumper year of accolades. The region scooped up several…

The Hunter Valley was recently voted one of the 5 best Wine Destinations in the world by the popular Traveller’s Choice Awards on TripAdvisor. Find…

Somewhere Unique was announced as the GOLD WINNER in the ‘Unique Accommodation’ category at last night’s 2012 New South Wales Tourism Awards. “We are very…

“With the reassuring combination of the new T-QUAL Tick and the recently-updated STAR Rating Scheme, you can relax in the knowledge that an establishment delivers…

Noyce Brothers Wines are giving away a Weekend for Two in Wollombi – simply visit their Facebook page, Like them and Enter to Win! The…

Guesthouse Mulla Villa will be opening for dinner some nights over the next couple of months. The menu is only $45 per person for a…

“ONE hundred outdoor sculptures will be a feature of the Wollombi Valley Country Fair this weekend. While the fair is only a two-day event, the…

“FOR a small village, Wollombi has a rather large reputation as a must-see destination for visitors to the Hunter Region. To the west is the…

“THE streets of Wollombi are set to ripple with activity this weekend, November 3 and 4, during the Wollombi Valley Country Fair. Negro Street will…

“Sculpture in the Vineyards 2012, an exhibition of large scale out-door sculptures along the Wollombi Valley Wine Trail, opens on November 3 and will run…

Have you seen all the new shops in Wollombi? Here’s your chance. The retailers of our fair hamlet introduce Twilight Trading. On Friday 26th October,…

Somewhere Unique was announced as a Finalist in the ‘Unique Accommodation’ category at the 2012 New South Wales Tourism Awards. The winners will be announced…

The Wollombi Wild Ride has had another successful year! A great day was had by all, and the village was a busy little place on…

Somewhere Unique was announced as the GOLD WINNER in the ‘Unique Accommodation’ category at the recent 2012 Hunter & Central Coast Tourism Awards. The Awards are held annually to celebrate…

“Classic Australian rock returns to Bimbadgen Winery in November, led by the Hoodoo Gurus. Day on the Green has announced that its first concert for the…

Today we launch our Win a Wollombi Experience for 2 valued at over $900! Thanks to all the local businesses taking part including the fantastic…

“Simple Minds and Devo will headline the first A Day On The Green show at Bimbadgen Estate this summer. The line-up has a retro feel…

Somewhere Unique  have become the first Australian accommodation property to supply guests with 100% biodegradable BioFootwear slippers! Following a number of guest comments in the colder…

Somewhere Unique , a couples-only accommodation property in the NSW Hunter Valley, announced today that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award for 2012.…

“Today Wollombi is a quaint village, that is steeped in Australia’s convict history, with many fine buildings that have stood the test of time, including…

Ben Stubbs walks to Wisemans Ferry along the Convict Trail, a 43-kilometre remnant of mighty road works begun in the 1820s. “We have a real…

“Tempted to make a tree-change but not sure how to bridge the gap between your lifestyle and the lifestyle you want to lead? Angela and…

“The view from the little villa’s front deck is of silvery-leafed olive trees planted in parades. It could be somewhere deep in Italy were it not…

“Pop Star George Michael will wrap up his Australian tour in the Hunter Valley in December. The British singer has announced he will return to Australia…

“It has been nine years of sometimes nail-biting anxiety, but the Wollombi Cultural Centre’s Inside Art show, which brings the works of prison inmates to…

Join Haydn Scullin of Divinity Tarot, psychic & tarot reader par excellence for a cuppa home grown peppermint tea & a reading on the Australia Day Saturday…

“We were headed, in particular, for Wollombi, a small country town hiding some famous locals like ex-News Limited CEO John Hartigan, John Newcombe, Philip Noyce…

Somewhere Unique was announced as the GOLD WINNER in the ‘Unique Accommodation’ category at the 2011 New South Wales Tourism Awards. The NSW Tourism Awards are held annually to celebrate…

“Hunter Valley artist Paul Selwood was announced at this year’s launch, on Thursday 3 November, as the winner of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011…

Sculpture in the Vineyards has received Regional Flagship Events funding for 2012. A big congratulations to the organisers who work tirelessly to create this fantastic…

Somewhere Unique was announced as a Finalist in the ‘Unique Accommodation’ category at the 2011 New South Wales Tourism Awards. The NSW Tourism Awards are held annually to celebrate…

“SCULPTORS have mixed cheese, wine and the countryside to bring artwork to the public. Sculpture in the Vineyards has opened along the Wollombi Valley Wine Trail…

“Wollombi attracts many tourists over the summer period and this exhibiton is a way of showing the world what we can do. This year’s contemporary…

“IN just two years emerging Marks Point sculptor Joanna O’Toole has won several awards for her work. Now the mother of three is bringing one…

“Joel Gibson introduces his daughter to the farmyard at a stylish retreat near Wollombi. Avoca House B&B Farmstay … seem to have struck the perfect…

“Melissa Singer takes the opportunity to advance the romance at a bush retreat in the Hunter. New owners have given Wild Edge a nip and…

“Catriona was surprised to see that Wollombi is a bustling village. It’s rich in Aboriginal and colonial history, there is a museum, historical buildings and…

“THE fires of history and tradition will burn brightly in the Hunter Valley tonight at the annual Wollombi Corroboree. More than 100 people are expected…

“It may have taken two years but Wollombi has finally clawed its way out of tough economic times, and a special event tomorrow will signal…

“Debra Jopson finds herself on the edge of wine country and in the middle of deer mating season at Cedar Creek Cottages. There are six…

“We have just come from checking into our tranquil haven, Somewhere Unique … touches are abundant and thoughtful: Natio bath products, candles, local soaps and…

“THEY might keep birds off crops, but Wollombi is hoping they do not scare away tourists. In its fourth year, the event was a bit…

“Our destination, Settlers Cottage at Undercliff Winery, is on a well-used dirt road just outside the village. It’s dark when we arrive but the winery…

“Cedar Creek is a 220-hectare property with seven hectares of vineyards, 40 head of cattle, more than 200 deer and its own cellar door, Stonehurst…

“Valleyfield Escape is the perfect spot for doing absolutely nothing. A villa on a 100-plus-hectare property owned by restaurateur Armando Percuoco, who operates Paddington’s revered…

“It doesn’t take long before you feel like a local in this friendly country town, writes Louise Southerden. This is Wollombi, a little country town…

“Catriona was surprised to see that Wollombi is a bustling village. It’s rich in Aboriginal and colonial history, there is a museum, historical buildings and…