'''Cessnock''' [http://www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/Cessnock/default.asp] (population 18 000) is located adjacent to Australia's oldest wine growing region, the Lower Hunter valley vineyards (including Pokolbin). The town has a strong working-class feel, which contrasts markedly with the nearby tourist's playground that is the Lower Hunter wine country.

Get in

By car

Sydney - Cessnock = 120 km

Canberra - Cessnock = 521.7 km

By train

The Morisset train station is the most convenient for most travellers, as it offers direct trains from Sydney without changing at other stations. However, Cessnock is a 40 minute drive from Morisset and at the time of writing, there were no bus services between Morisset and Cessnock. Travellers may prefer to take a train to Maitland, as a regular Rover Motors bus service operates between Maitland and Cessnock from Monday to Saturday.

Keens Travel offer a bus service between Sydney and Cessnock, which departs from Central Station at Sydney and has a number of drop-off points through Cessnock and neighbouring Nulkaba. However, it is advisable to book a seat as the bus is often crowded. The bus is also quite expensive at approximately $30 for a one-way ticket between Sydney and Cessnock.

Travellers may also reach Cessnock via Newcastle by train to Maitland (followed by a bus from Maitland to Cessnock) or by bus. Rover Motors buses travel between Newcastle (departing outside Newcastle train station with a pick-up at the Hunter Street Mall bus station) and Cessnock (terminating at the Cessnock bus depot) between Monday and Friday. It is not necessary to book a seat on this bus.

Rover Motors also runs bus services within Cessnock and between Cessnock and Kurri Kurri. A number of taxis also service Cessnock. Travellers wishing to explore Pokolbin and the neighbouring vineyards should consider hiring a car or should contact the Tourist Information Centre on Wine Country Drive for information on vineyard bus tours. Please be aware that Australia has strict drink driving laws that are policed throughout Cessnock and the Hunter Valley, so unless you have a designated driver who has agreed to stay sober, you should join an organised bus tour.

See

There are a number of historically interesting buildings built between the turn of the century and the second world war that survive in the centre of Cessnock. A walking tour brochure is available from the internet cafe on the main street.

Cessnock can also be used as a base from which the surrounding vineyards can be explored. For information on the vineyards, visit the Tourist Information Centre on Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin, and be sure to pick up a free copy of the official Hunter Valley guide which lists most of the vineyards, restaurants and other attractions and includes a detailed map of the area.

Do

Cessnock is in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine-producing region, so most visitors end up doing tours of the vineyards. Most vineyards allow tourists to casually turn up and start tasting, however an organised tour is recommended. These tours tend to be in small groups, and have the advantage of coming with a designated driver!

The town of Cessnock is a good place to access basic services before heading into the vineyards. Banks, cheap lunches and internet access are all available on the main street, and two supermarkets stocking a wide variety of food and other necessities are also located in the centre of the town. A number of motels are also located along the main street of Cessnock which, while basic, are much more affordable than the accommodation available in Pokolbin and should be considered by anyone travelling on a budget.

As well as visiting the vineyards, visitors to Cessnock can take a hot air balloon ride over the town and Pokolbin, skydive, play aqua golf, go clay pigeon shooting, watch glass blowing, dine in one of Pokolbin's award winning restaurants, take a horse and buggy ride, visit one of Pokolbin's boutique art galleries, visit a gourmet cheese factory or shop at one of Pokolbin's many boutiques.

Eat

  • SSS BBQ BARNS. ssbbq.com.au. Steakhouse with wonderful atmosphere, food and service
  • Star of India is popular with the locals and serves inexpensive, authentic Indian food.
  • Aloi-Thai is located on Vincent Street, next to Star of India, and serves fantastic Thai food, also BLUE Thai on Mount View Road (near Mt View High School) also has a reputation for serving great Thai cuisine.
  • The Kee Ho restaurant at The Cessnock Supporters Club[http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~ddmjk/dining.html] is a great place to go for Chinese, with both bistro style meals and banquets available.
  • However, the best food in the Hunter Valley can be found in Pokolbin's restaurants, most of which are a short drive or taxi ride from Cessnock. Be aware that many restaurants pay to be listed in tourist guidebooks and are exhorbitantly priced. Robert's is marketed to tourists as one of the oldest and best restaurants in the area. Leaves and Fishes at Lovedale is a fifteen minute drive from Cessnock and serves excellent, reasonably priced food.

    Cafe Crocodile at De Iulius Wines is also worth a visit, particularly for lunch. The desserts in particular are noteworthy.

    Drink

    Vincent Street is home to a number of pubs, including the Irish pub, the Wentworth. In general, these are best avoided as the crowd can be rough and fights are not uncommon.

    Sleep

    The Wine Country Motor Inn[http://www.cessnock.bestwestern.com.au/] (Part of the Best Western group) is a new, 4 star, hotel located on the Supporters' Club complex, centrally located near the CBD of Cessnock.

    There are a number of inexpensive motels on Wollombi Road, Vincent Street and Wine Country Drive. In general, these are basic but affordable and should be considered by any traveller visiting the area on a budget, as the accommodation available in Pokolbin and the vineyards can be extremely expensive. Unless there is a festival or concert in Pokolbin, it is not generally necessary to book at one of these motels in advance.

    There are also a number of bed and breakfasts in the area, particularly in Nulkaba, which is a 5 minute drive from Cessnock or a thirty minute walk along Wine Country Drive. Nulkaba House in particular is beautiful.

    A new backpacker's hostel has also opened in neighbouring Nulkaba, on Wine Country Drive. You can reach the hostel by taxi or bus or, if you are feeling energetic, it is a thirty minute walk from Cessnock.

    Get out

    There are a number of things to do around Cessnock:
  • Winetasting, skydiving, visiting galleries and shops, clay pigeon shooting, horse and buggy rides, aqua golf, hot air balloon rides, horse riding and restaurant dining in Pokolbin
  • Visit the beach, historic Fort Scratchley, the cafes and boutiques on Darby Street, the art gallery and the restaurants at Honeysuckle in Newcastle
  • Day trip to historic Wollombi - visit the historic cemetery, lunch at the old pub and visit Wollombi's tiny museum.
  • Antique shopping in Morpeth, just outside of Maitland.