WOLLOMBI VALLEY
Follow in the footsteps of the early pioneers along the convict-built Great North Road to the picturesque Wollombi Valley.
Apart from the unspoilt natural countryside, Wollombi Valley has a heady mix of attractions from rugged national parks, quaint villages and boutique wines to a lively arts scene and ancient Aboriginal sites.
“Wollombi” is derived from the Aboriginal, meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘meeting place of the waters’. It is a site of great indigenous significance, located in a narrow valley junction containing Wollombi Brook and Congewai Creek.
Historic villages are dotted throughout the Valley – Laguna to the south, Millfield to the east, and the Heritage-listed Wollombi at its centre. Quaint, historic and sleepy are oft-used words to describe this pretty little village with its well-preserved sandstone buildings and timber slab cottages. You can explore them by following the Wollombi Village Historical Walk and then visit the Endeavour Museum and old-world general store.
There’s also a Wollombi Wine Trail, where you can taste award-winning local Hunter Valley wines at boutique wineries off the beaten track. The village also hosts two must-see events – the Wollombi Music Festival in September and Sculpture in the Vineyards in November.
With several national parks on the doorstep, including Yengo and Watagans National Parks, it’s also popular base for active adventure holidays with bushwalkers, birdwatchers and campers drawn by the craggy escarpments and tree-lined mountains filled with birds, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats.
Planning a visit to Hunter Valley Wine Country and hoping to take the road less travelled? Why not enjoy a scenic drive on Tourist Drive 33, along the Great North Road or Convict Trail, and through the beautiful countryside. Tourist Drive 33 is the scenic gateway to the spectacular Hunter Valley stretching from the Peats Ridge exit on the M1 near Sydney, to Branxton in the heart of wine country along the historic Great North Road.
Whether you stay for a weekend, or a week, you’ll wake up to the sound of birdsong, mist-filled valleys and a friendly community.
