The rise of food artisans
The Hunter Valley is famous not only for its wine but also for its handcrafted products with its offerings of artisanal coffee roasters, beer brewers, chocolatiers, pasta makers and many others.
Here are some of our favourite Hunter Valley artisanal finds.
Location
2320 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
15-min drive
Opening Hours
Monday – Sunday: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Rightly known as one of the best chocolatiers in the Hunter Valley region, the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory is a stop not to be missed for true chocolate lovers. The handmade chocolates here are made fresh with great attention to detail. Using only the finest Belgian couverture chocolate, choose from their range of quality chocolate products and freshly made fudge. Visitors are also able to view the chocolate production process and watch Peter the chocolatier and Lorraine, the fudge maker in action as they expertly churn out decadent treats. There’s also a line-up of other sweets available including chocolate barks, brittles, candy, nuts and liquorice.
Location
Roche Estate Complex, 2144 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
15-min drive
Opening Hours
Sunday – Monday: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Friday – Saturday: 10.00am - 5.30pm
Founded in 2004, Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese is a one-stop shop for everything gourmet. This place offers both local and imported cheese including their own “Smelly” range. Customers also love their cured meats and other accompaniments such as oils, herbs and spices. A leading purveyor of artisan food products, their selection is second to none and is bound to leave you wanting more. This gourmet shop is also home to the Hunter Valley Gelato Company. Their claim to fame? A 200-year old gelato recipe made on-site using imported Italian ingredients. If you are having a party, give their delicious gelato cakes a try. But for some truly Instagram-worthy moments, the gelato cart for hire is hard to beat.
Location
1616 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
17-min drive
Opening Hours
Monday – Sunday: 10.00am – 5.00pm
A match made in heaven, Hunter Belle Cheese Room is where the pairing of wine and cheese comes together in perfect harmony. Explore flavour combinations of three premium DeIuliis Hunter Valley wines with six Hunter Belle cheese varieties to get your taste buds singing. If beer is your drink of choice, you can also pair various cheeses with four IronBark Hill IPA Hunter Valley beers. Alternatively, you can also book a picnic basket and enjoy a sumptuous meal outdoors in good company. The picnic basket for 2 includes mixed olives, crackers, salami, sparkling water, a fudge taster pack and of course, a trio pack of tasty gourmet cheeses. Pre-bookings are recommended as this place is very popular.
Location
Shop 2A, Hunter Valley Shopping Village, 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
11-min drive
Opening Hours
Monday – Sunday: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Unique, handmade delicious liqueurs is what KissOfire is all about, offering 24 different butterscotch flavours for chilli and non-chilli lovers alike. Delicious on its own, it’s also the perfect addition to a cocktail and great for cooking. Owned and operated by an Australian family who knows their craft inside out, KissOfire has been voted best chilli liqueur for 3 consecutive years in Australia and New Zealand by Mr Chilli after gaining global recognition and attention from chilli lovers.
Location
Shop 20, Hunter Valley Shopping Village, 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
11-min drive
Opening Hours
Monday – Sunday: 10.00am – 5.00pm
100% Australian-made and owned, Small Mouth Vodka is a globally recognised, award-winning handcrafted vodka. Free from preservatives and carefully distilled using only premium, organic ingredients, this vodka boasts a full flavour with a long, smooth finish. What makes this Hunter Valley vodka a standout is the production of it - Small Mouth Vodka is produced in small batches using a traditional copper pot to ensure they maintain the same high quality they are famed for.
Location
Shop 17, Hunter Valley Shopping Village, 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
11-min drive
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday : 9.30am – 4.00pm
Friday & Saturday : 9.30am – 4.30pm
Browse an array of specialities, including cheese & deli, milk & eggs, honey and fresh produce. Drop in for breakfast or lunch - with a fabulous selection of fresh bread, gourmet pies, sausage rolls as well as house made sandwiches and toasties. Get all the essentials you’d expect from a modern convenience store and more. Apart from gourmet groceries, this place also sells beautiful homewares and has a great selection of clothes, books, toys and accessories for kids and toddlers.
Everyday essentials
Find everyday essentials just minutes away in Huntlee Shopping Centre or Branxton Village. Singleton, Maitland and Cessnock are a 25-minute drive away and well-connected to large-scale shopping centres, such as Stockland Greenhills. The region is also well connected to health services, with GPs, and public and private hospitals easily located nearby in surrounding suburbs.
Location
1 Molly Morgan Drive, East Maitland
Travel Time
30-min drive
Opening Hours
Monday, Wednesday & Friday : 9.00am – 5.30pm
Thursday : 9.00am – 9.00pm
Saturday : 9.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday : 10.00am – 4.00pm
With plenty here to keep everyone happy and entertained, Stockland Green Hills is a Hunter Valley shopping haven with over 230 retailers, specialty stores and entertainment options. Boasting an impressive 74,000m2, this revamped centre includes a 6,000m2 David Jones and a two-level H&M store. Visitors can also find the finest quality fresh food and everyday essentials at Woolworths and Coles. In addition to the vast array of retail shops, visitors can refuel and replenish from a line-up of eateries from fresh sushi to gourmet burgers at The Courtyard on Level 1, which is adjacent to the food court for even more food options. Within the Courtyard is also an inclusive play area for kids. In terms of facilities, Stockland Green Hills has over 3,000 car parking spaces with designated spots for the differently-abled and parents with prams near entrances. Personal shoppers are available for booking to help enhance your shopping experience.
Location
2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Travel Time
12-min drive
Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village features a unique collection of bespoke shops that will keep shoppers happily browsing for hours. Search for one-of-a-kind gifts, quirky souvenirs, bespoke jewellery and more via a range of independently owned stores and specialist boutiques.
Wilson & Hunter
An Australian brand with over 25 years in the business, this store brings a selection of well-made Australian and international styles to customers. From classic to quirky, you are bound to find something you love whether it’s unique pieces you can wear with pride, or distinctive handbags, shoes, jewellery and accessories that you won’t find anywhere else.
Southon Styles
If you love beautiful, floral prints, Southon Styles is the place for you. Established in 2014 by Tracy Southon, this boutique specialises in clothing for women of all shapes and sizes. From sun dresses, and kaftans to sarongs, there’s something for everyone with the latest fashions, designs and accessories.
Peppers Creek Antiques
A wonderful place to check out if you’re on the hunt for unique collectibles and all things vintage. It sells everything from fine and antique jewellery, furniture, tapestries, clocks, and hats to handbags in eye-popping colours! The Hunter Valley antique collection here is ever-changing so pop in every once in a while to see what treasures you can discover.
Hunter Valley Toy Chest
Hunter Valley Toy Chest offers an excellent selection of high quality, educational toys, games, books and collectibles for children of all ages. A treasure trove filled with items aimed to inspire and educate, kids are bound to find something that will keep them engaged and occupied. Most of the items sold here are catered to children’s different learning styles so take your time to see which toys or games help stimulate key areas of development. Get them to experiment, discover and learn through play. Need to find a present for a child’s birthday party? Get it all here at the Hunter Valley Toy Chest.
Australian Alpaca Barn
What’s not to love about alpacas? They are gentle, smart and curious and their fleece is one of the most prized natural fibres anywhere in the world. Specialising in quality alpaca products, this boutique features luxurious alpaca coats, sweaters, shawls, blankets, alpaca teddies and more. Treat yourself to the perfect gift or make someone’s day with a truly unique item from this Hunter Valley specialty store.
Byvonne
Fill your home with beautiful handmade candles, resin art and watercolour paintings by award-winning artist, Yvonne. The products are high end artisanal, lovingly handmade and guaranteed one of a kind. Other in-house products include custom platters, cheese boards and charcuterie boards that are bound to be a conversation starter at your next party. Byvonne also stocks brands like BoldB handmade jewellery, Swedish gourmet salt, pepper, and spice sets from Rivsalt, bath and body products from Cosse, Australia and many others.
The Elephant Shop
Gemstones are known for their healing properties. Whether you believe in the energy they hold or otherwise, the crystals available at The Elephant Shop are hard to resist. Featuring a beautiful and extensive collection of gemstones from rose quartz, amethyst, smokey quartz and selenite, to malachite, aquamarine, tourmaline to chrysocolla in various designs. Salt lamps, decorative homewares, soapstone items and books are also available here.
Daisy Lane Gifts
Shopping for a gift is always hard. But it’s now made easier with this little gem of a boutique. Daisy Lane Gifts features a unique collection of giftware for all ages with a vast selection of board games, puzzles, cards, candles and diffusers from popular brands such as Ecoya, Jessica Bear and Peppermint Grove plus wine glasses, Turkish lamps, dinnerware and much more.
British Lolly Shop
For a taste of England, head straight to this whimsical Hunter Valley lolly shop. At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by two life-sized toy British soldiers guarding the storefront. Upon entering, expect to see stacks and stacks of the most delicious confectionery and gourmet products imported from the UK. Bonbons, lemon sherberts, toffee, nougat, Choo Choo bars, and Jaffa cakes are some of the offerings available. Sugar lovers, rejoice!
Hunter Valley Christmas Shop
Make your Christmas extra special with unique decorations you’re not likely to find in any big chain stores. Offering a great selection of Christmas trinkets and baubles in abundance - from vintage to contemporary, you'll be hard-pressed to find another store with so much passion and dedication when it comes to the festive season! You can also find brands from around the world such as Jim Shore, RAZ, Katherine’s Collections and many more. And it’s not just Christmassy stuff, they also have a selection of Easter and Halloween decorations too.
Exclusive Diamond Co.
It’s no secret that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. You can wear them with anything and they’ll never go out of style. The Exclusive Diamond Co. has a striking range of European and contemporary jewellery, showcasing a beautiful collection of stunning natural diamonds, tanzanite and gemstones to the exclusive Larimar range - a rare stunning blue stone from the Caribbean.
Location
22 Empire Street, Branxton
Travel Time
5-min drive
Opening Hours
(Some stores may trade outside these hours)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday : 9.00am – 5.30pm
Thursday : 9.00am - 9.00pm
Saturday : 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday : 9.00am - 4.00pm
The Huntlee Shopping Centre, located on Wine Country Drive, is a rising retail hub with 11 speciality retailers that include Huntlee Coles, Liquorland, a coffee shop, medical centre, dental practice, an optometrist, a chemist, a tavern, a gym, hardware store and KFC due to open this year.
Location
1 Keene Street, Cessnock
Travel Time
16-min drive
Opening Hours
Monday & Saturday : 9.00am – 5.00pm
Tuesday & Wednesday : 9.00am – 5.30pm
Thursday : 9.00am – 7.00pm
Friday : 9.00am – 9.00pm
Sunday : 10.00am – 4.00pm
Your local neighbourhood shops, Cessnock Village has an array of shops that cater to your everyday needs – from a pharmacy, nail salon, barber, Woolworths and more.
There’s also a selection of food and beverage outlets available for a quick bite. Can’t function without coffee? The Coffee Emporium is a cosy spot to get your caffeine fix or to meet up with friends. Cessnock Village offers amenities such as mobility-impaired washrooms and parents' rooms. There are also three ATMs available including one outside Greater Bank. Parking here is also a breeze with over 250 parking spaces available.
Location
1 Gowrie Street, Singleton
Travel Time
25-minute drive
Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday : 10.00am – 4.00pm
Wednesday & Friday : 9.00am – 5.30pm
Thursday : 9.00am – 9.00pm
Singleton Square is a popular, local shopping centre that provides easy access for residents. Whether it’s a quick trip to the salon, clinic, or supermarket or to get your morning cuppa, Singleton Square is all about delivering convenience at your doorstep. Anchored by Woolworths, Coles, Big W and First Choice Liquor, other retailers from varying categories include Priceline Pharmacy, Nutrition Warehouse, Just Jeans, Subway and more.
The art of adventure
Apart from being a destination for hatted restaurants and wineries, the region is also rich in arts, crafts and culture. See the work of Hunter Valley artists or check out the latest new exhibits in town on weekends.
Location
5 Green Street, Morpeth NSW
Travel Time
39-min drive
Opening Hours
Thursday – Sunday : 10.00am – 5.00pm
A beautiful place to visit, Morpeth Gallery is one of the Hunter region’s most popular destinations and it’s easy to see why. This charming spot features a diverse collection of art from artists with a combined 1,114 years of professional experience. Since its establishment 26 years ago, the gallery continues its focus on selling only traditional Australian art by renowned Australian artists from all over the country. Situated on the first floor of the gallery, the art pieces here comprise landscapes, seascapes and wildlife. If you are looking to make a purchase, you’ve come to the right place as Morpeth Gallery specialises in investment art. Speak to their knowledgeable staff to help you pick pieces that will appreciate in value over time. You can also find beautiful giftware including prints, tea ware, jewellery, handbags & wallets, candles and many more located on the ground floor of the gallery.
Morpeth Bears joined the gallery in 2011 and is home to some of the world’s most premium teddy bear brands such as Hansa, Charlie Bears, Gund, Merrythought, Hermann Green Red, Schildkrot and Steiff, making this gem a treat for teddy bear collectors.
Location
230 High Street, Maitland
Travel Time
30-min drive
Opening Hours
Tuesday – Sunday: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Spanning over 3000m2, Maitland Regional Art Gallery or locally known as MRAG, is one of the most active and vibrant art galleries in regional NSW. Offering a total of eleven exhibition spaces in three separate wings across two levels, this Hunter Valley art gallery houses over 7000 art items including paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs by local and international artists. Art exhibitions and installations rotations occur every eight to ten weeks to ensure visitors get a different line-up of art experiences each time they visit. The MRAG building is steeped in history and features a combination of restored heritage and contemporary architecture. Foster a deeper appreciation of diverse, vibrant contemporary art in the region by making a stop at MRAG. Entry is free.
