So you bid farewell to the impressive Dangar Falls, NSW, the first stop on your road trip. Carry on following the New England highway south. Where do you go now? How about something completely different?
How about a couple days in the
Hunter Valley?
You have lots of time to do what you want on this trip so a stint in some accommodation will wash off the campground, refresh you and you can go enjoy the famous valley for all it has to offer. If you time it right and get a room during the week the prices are more reasonable and give you some flexibility on how long you can stay for.
The Pokolbin Village
You must pass through the business end of the valley where coal mining employs thousands, through to the lower end where the breathtaking, rolling green hills pass by your car window and you are immersed in vineyards.
The scenic valley
Have you ever seen so many vines? There must be thousands of them accompanied by wineries, large and small.
Have you ever seen so many grape vines?
On the wine tours you will not only learn about the wines but the producers themselves and all the different dynamics that go into the valley. For instance, there are 150 wineries in the Hunter but of them only 5 grow, pick, manufacture and sell their own wines. Others grow grapes and sell them, some grow grapes and send them to a winemaker who will make the wine then return it to the winery who will sell it on. Almost all of them only sell their products through their cellar doors.
There are numerous accommodations attached to wineries so if you do your homework you will find a divine spot to stay. Some of these even have concerts on the green. Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Ritchie, John Farnham and Dolly Parton all played there recently.
The
Pokolbin Village is a self contained area. It is accommodation, café (not open for dinner), pool, bottle shop, general store and gift shops all in one. They sell some of the delectable delights the Hunter Valley is famous for. Cheeses, crackers, homemade olive oils, sauces, fresh produce, jams, and more that make your mouth water. There is even a chocolate shop.
The chocolate shop
So in this wondrous land of delectable delights you would expect a restaurant or two that will tantalize your taste buds and you would be correct.
Views from the restaurant
One such place is the multi-award winning Ill Cacciatore. With outstanding cuisine made from the valley's fresh produce, views that seem to enhance your dining pleasure, the authentic Italian menu is served with wines that add to your dining sensation.
Some of the delectable delights from Ill Cacciatore
With all your senses appeased it is time to move on, once again, to someplace that you have only seen in the movies, a place that beckons you to come and climb. The Blue Mountains are waiting for you.
