Medowie Macadamias is located just outside the Port Stephens town of Medowie, less than
10 minutes from Williamtown (north of Newcastle) and
30 minutes from Nelson Bay. The property is family-owned and run, with five varieties of macadamia tree planted in rows over their 12 acre farm. They offer
group tours and a wide range of products that you can buy at the cafe gift shop, or purchase
online and have it sent to your home.
When you first walk into Medowie Macadamias, there are macadamia trees lining the driveway and all around the inviting cafe, that is located near the front of the property. On my visit, I was driving past and thought I would stop to have a look at the trees and see if I could buy some macadamias, to enjoy with the family later. When I saw the cafe however, my stomach started to grumble and it was clear that I was going to have to stay awhile to explore this interesting property a bit further - for research purposes of course!
A light and airy café, with views out to the macadamia trees...
...and a large playground around the corner for the kids
Information on the wall explaining the timeline of harvesting macadamias (unfortunately I arrived on the last day of October!)
The cafe was light and airy, with plenty of tables in the shade under the roof, as well as beneath the shade sails that were positioned over the dining area. When I walked in I was welcomed straight away with a smile, and was drawn to the display at the counter which had a wide range of delicious-looking cakes, cheesecakes and scones. Although there was an extensive
menu to peruse, I had been craving scones after a recent visit to
Inner Light Tearooms in Nelson Bay and couldn't wait to have them again. I ordered a Devonshire Tea for one, which felt very decadent (considering I was just going in for some nuts!) and settled back in my shady oasis and listened to the lorikeets in the trees.
Plenty of shade - both indoors and outdoors
The size of the dining area was bigger than what I expected, as around the corner were more tables and also a large and colourful playground - it was one of the biggest I had ever seen at a cafe! If you have kids, this is a major drawcard for this quaint cafe - as there were many families with young children enjoying morning tea while their kids had a play. The tables were also visited by a rooster and a chicken, who casually wandered around the property, quietly going about their business.
Colourful playground and a quiet chicken, just looking around
When my Devonshire Tea arrived, it was presented beautifully with a mountainous mound of cream, a slice of orange twisted in the centre and containers of butter and jam. My pot of tea was also welcomed gratefully and had a chocolate on the spoon, which was a nice extra touch to the presentation. Although I ordered one date and one plain scone, you can make up your own combination, at a reasonable price of $8.50 for the tea and scones. The scones lived up to my expectations and both were delicious with a lather of cream, that was a soft as a cloud.
Devonshire Tea for one - a feast!
As I sat and thoroughly enjoyed my Devonshire Tea for one, I vowed to return with family and our daughter, who would particularly like the playground and wandering chickens. The birdlife in the trees was also relaxing to sit and listen to, and occasionally there would be a roar of the fighter jets overhead, from the Williamtown RAAF base nearby. It was clear to see who the locals were, as they didn't bat an eyelid when one did a low fly-by!
If you are looking for a detour off the highway, or are holidaying in the area and looking for a unique venue for lunch, stop in at Medowie Macadamias Cafe and take a moment to yourself to relax and unwind. When you leave, if you are looking for a tasty snack for the drive home, you won't be able to go past the chocolate covered macadamias which you can buy from the cafe. Believe me, there won't be many left when you get to your destination!
Buy some delicious macadamia snacks for your drive back!
