Visit Wollombi, Hunter Valley Wine Country
Wollombi is located at the southern gateway to Hunter Valley Wine Country, less than 2 hours from the Sydney CBD, and only one hour from Newcastle or the Central Coast. It is a unique region, rich in both convict and Aboriginal history.
WOLLOMBI CAFES & RESTAURANTS
Wollombi has a number of cafes, and if you’re looking for a restaurant meal why not book a table at Panino Restaurant? You can enjoy a midweek evening meal at either the Wollombi Tavern or GNTP at Laguna.
Panino Restaurant – Fine dining at its best. Enjoy a light lunch or book for a delicious dinner. Open for breakfast and lunch, Wednesday to Tuesday and dinner Friday to Sunday.
Cafe Wollombi – Sit out on the verandah and enjoy the picturesque views. Open 7 days breakfast and lunch.
Great Northern Trading Post – Enjoy the taverna style bar and dining in a great atmosphere. Music is every Friday night. Open 7 days and evenings.
Wollombi Tavern – The ‘pub’ provides a great atmosphere for a quiet drink with pub food provided during the day and weekend evenings.
Further Afield – Margan Restaurant in Broke provides a quality vineyard and restaurant alternative. Pokolbin, with it’s many restaurants and vineyards is only 25 minutes away.
Planning to dine in? Motty’s Farm Cuisine can come to you and cater a wonderful meal at Gypsy Willows. Enjoy a full-service 3-course meal from only $65 per person (minimum 6 guests).
HISTORIC WOLLOMBI
The name ‘Wollombi’ is derived from the Aboriginal meaning ‘meeting place or ‘meeting place of the waters’. The valley is rich in both convict / colonial history and Aboriginal cultural sites.
Wollombi is located at the junction of the Great North Road and was established in the 1830’s as the administrative centre of the district.
Colonial History – By the 1870’s, 50 years after white settlement in the Hunter Valley, Wollombi was a thriving township with two churches, a court and police force, a school with nearly 100 students, two general stores, a butcher, blacksmith, wagon builder and harness maker.
The Convict Trail – This is the name for the Great North Road, a 240km convict built masterpiece constructed between 1826 and 1836 to provide an overland route from Sydney to Newcastle.
The Endeavour Museum – Our local museum contains an interesting collection from the colonial past of the Cessnock and Wollombi districts. The museum is right in the centre of the village, with a shaded picnic area in the grounds.
Aboriginal History – Today rock carvings and cave paintings found in the area stand as a visual reminder of the spiritual ties Aborigines held with the region. The Hunter Valley is home to over 300 Aboriginal sites dating back over 13,000 years, and well-preserved Aboriginal engravings can be viewed in a number of locations in Yengo National Park and the Watagans.
WOLLOMBI ATTRACTIONS
Hunter Valley activities include; wine tasting and tours, horse riding, helicopter flights, golf, and bushwalking. Wollombi holds a number of annual events, such as Sculpture in the Vineyards.
There are a huge range of activities in and around Wollombi and the Hunter Valley!
- Wine tasting along the Wollombi Valley Wine Trail
- Shop for local produce in the village, enjoy an art exhibition at the Wollombi Cultural Centre
- Attend one of our great annual events, such as Wollombi Country Fair, Sculpture in the Vineyards or the Wollombi Markets
- Play a round of golf or go horseriding in the vineyards, bushwalking, enjoy a game of tennis in the village
- 4WD and scenic drives, explore the Watagan Mountains or Yengo National Park
HUNTER VALLEY WINE TASTING TOURS FROM GYPSY WILLOWS
There are a number of tour options available where you can be collected from Gypsy Willows, including Full Day Wine Tours, and Helicopter Lunch and Cellar Door Tours