Easter in the Valley

Have an Eggcellent EASTER in Wine Country!

Easter is almost upon us again, and with the celebration falling at the start of the school holidays, this year it’s a fabulous time for getting out and exploring all the region has to offer. There will be plenty to do across Hunter Valley Wine Country throughout the Easter long weekend (10 to 13 April), with some eggcellent activities for the kids and a few tasty treats for mums and dads as well.

April is a beautiful time of year to visit the Hunter Valley Gardens, with bright sunny weather anticipated and an array of entertainment on offer for the whole family to enjoy. Over the Easter weekend, the kids will be peering through bushes and under trees to find the famous giant golden egg which will win a lucky visitor an annual family pass to the Gardens. Plus, don’t forget the enormous easter egg hunt on every day over the long weekend.

Introducing the Hunter Valley's

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A few more unusual eggs will also be on show at the Gardens this Easter thanks to the Mega Creatures display, which is running across the long weekend and throughout the school holiday period. Spot a Stegosaurus, tiptoe past the Triceratops and try not to tremble at the sight of the giant T-Rex! It’ll be difficult to avoid the six-metre-long winged dragon or the toothy two-headed dragon – so stay on your toes! Check out the new additions to this popular prehistoric event including archaeological fossil digs, the secret dinosaur egg-hunt daily and the fabulous Dino Mights stage show. If that’s not enough thrills and excitement for one visit, why not get into the carnival vibe and take a ride on one of the Gardens’ amazing rides with a ride-pass (purchased from the event area). There’s the Venetian carousel, 25m Ferris wheel, super speedy swing chair or giant slide, or bounce off that chocolate-induced sugar rush in the kids’ inflatable world. If you’re looking to add a few more eggs to your basket before you leave Hunter Valley Gardens, make sure you stop by Shop 5 in the village and check out the gourmet delights on offer at the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company.

The destination of choice for those looking to indulge in something truly special, the artisan chocolate makers have been lovingly crafting their wares since 1999 using only the highest quality Belgian or Swiss couverture chocolate, together with Australian dried fruits and nuts, and distilled pure fruit oil infusions.

There’s something to cater to every taste bud, with dark, milk and white buttons and blocks a staple of the range. Easter is undoubtedly their busiest time of year, and during this period Hunter Valley Chocolate Company branches out to include a few sensational seasonal lines including the ever-popular freckled eggs, and a more novel product, which uses a real rainbow-dyed eggshell that kids can peel off to discover a delicious praline nougat underneath.

Hunter Valley Chocolate Company’s amazing array of handcrafted products are available seven days a week online as well as in-store at their “Twenty-3-Twenty” Chocolate & Fudge Factory on Broke Road and their retail outlets at Hunter Valley Gardens and Peterson’s House.

Parents keen to pick up a treat for themselves that isn’t chocolate related should check out The Garden Cellars, with an Easter Long Weekend sale not to be missed. There will be tastings available and wine dozens on offer from $144, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Merlot and more, while stocks last.

Once you’ve had your fill of the fun at the Gardens, don’t forget to stop by Kevin Sobels Wines just down the road and check out the handcrafted treasures on offer at the Handmade in the Hunter Markets. To celebrate Easter the markets will run all weekend, from 9am–3pm on Saturday and 9am–2pm on Easter Sunday.

Organiser Karen Rowe promises plenty of zany Easter fun, with bunny ears galore, a sprinkling of chocolate and “whatever else we can dream up to make your visit to the market a festive time”.

Alongside the Easter craziness will be a market full of passionate

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Nadine and Jean Brochut welcome you to Thélème Wines at Black Creek Farm.

A boutique Wine Producer in the Hunter Valley situated on a gentle easterly facing slope.

We produce premium red Cabernet-Merlot and Shiraz, a Rosé and white wines including Semillon and Chardonnay. .....

Our Cellar door is open by appointment, or Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

WI NES ME ÈLÉTH

HUN T E R VA L L E Y

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stallholders who love to chat about what they do and show you their work.

If you feel like something a bit more substantial than a chocolate egg or two, why not grab a bite to eat at one of the region’s fine dining restaurants or gourmet cafés. Bimbadgen will be open every day throughout Easter (excluding Good Friday). There will be lawn games and kids colouring in available along with a family deal in the pizza café. Enjoy two Pizzas and two glasses of beautiful Bimbadgen wines PLUS two kids pizzas and two kids drinks and four (yes four!) Gelato’s – all for only $60. Hunters Quarter (HQ) is a relaxed and elegant dining destination, located in the Cockfighters Ghost Vineyard of Pokolbin. With a dining space that has something for everyone, including a private terrace in the

vineyards, it’s the perfect place to while away a few hours with family, friends and fantastic food this Easter. Over the Easter weekend (excluding Good Friday), Hunters Quarter will be serving up an Easter feast for diners with a scrumptious three-course menu. Bookings are essential – phone 4998 7776. T

To stay up to date with Easter opening times and events as they are announced, visit www.yourhuntervalley.com.au

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VISIT OUR CELLAR DOOR

Established in 1921 by legendary winemaker, Maurice O’Shea – Mount Pleasant is one of the great wine estates of Australia. Enjoy a true Hunter Valley wine tasting experience or simply take in the beautiful surrounds with a glass of wine and a cheese platter.

WALK-ABOUT IN Wollombi

WORDS Michelle Meehan

Bordered by pristine national parks and spectacular state forests, Wollombi is a nature lover's paradise.

But as the southern gateway to the Hunter Valley, and the point where the convict-built Great North Road diverges to usher travellers north towards Singleton, and north-east to Cessnock and Maitland, the tiny rural hamlet is also a haven for history buffs.

Prior to European settlement, the land around Wollombi was a significant meeting point for various coastal Aboriginal peoples.

When colonial settlers arrived in the district, the village that was established was named Wollombi, after the Aboriginal word for meeting place or meeting place of the waters. Visitors keen to explore the region’s rich indigenous heritage are in for a treat, with more than 300 significant Aboriginal sites dating back over 13,000 years in the area. Many sites in Yengo National Park and surrounds are well-preserved and can be visited via walking and driving tracks.

The Finchley cultural walk in the Yengo National Park offers an easy 1km-return trip packed with amazing ancient Aboriginal rock art and a wealth of insights into local Aboriginal history.

Taking in the Finchley Aboriginal engravings, renowned as one of the best Aboriginal sites in Australia, the walk also features a number of informative signs along the way that give insight into the Aboriginal culture of the area.

GIRRI GIRRA offers Aboriginal guided bush walks through Yengo and the Wollombi Valley, with the tours taking in a host of indigenous sites including caves, carvings and the mind-blowing view from the Finchley Trig lookout, as well as sharing local cultural stories and experiences. Farmers moving north from the Hawkesbury River district and the MacDonald Valley were among the first Europeans to settle in the Wollombi area, which was established as the administrative centre of the district in the 1830's.

Wheat became one of the core agricultural industries from 1844 until rust disease devastated the area in the 1870's, and by the early 1900's the coal mining industry was taking off in the wider Hunter Valley, with Cessnock taking over from Wollombi as the commercial hub.

Farming activities continued in Wollombi, although crops were replaced with livestock operations, while timber from the local area was felled and sent to Cessnock for use in the mines.

The Historic Wollombi Walk offers the perfect introduction to the colonial heritage of the picturesque village, covering just 1km with an easy trail that meanders past 19th-century sandstone buildings and timber slab constructed cottages and sheds.

The walk kicks off at St John’s Anglican Church, which was designed in a pointed Gothic style by Edmund Blacket and consecrated by Bishop Tyrrell in 1849. Stained glass windows within the church provide memorials to past parishioners. This is one of two local churches featured on the walk, with a later stop taking in St Michael’s Catholic Church, which was built at Cunneens Bridge in 1840 but relocated to its current position on higher ground following the flood of 1893.

The diversity of Wollombi’s early colonial history and everyday life in the village can be seen on the third stop of the Historic Wollombi Walk, which visits the Endeavour Museum.

The museum is located in the former police station and courthouse, which was built on the site in 1866. The building features fine timber fittings made from locally-sourced red cedar, including the courthouse doors, railings and magistrate’s bench, while the rear of the structure features two cells, which were once used to house prisoners, as well as a wire exercise yard.

The former police station was converted for use as a museum in 1970, with an additional building constructed at the rear in 2008 to showcase local agricultural machinery and equipment.

A popular stop on the walk will no doubt be the historic Wollombi Tavern (once known as the Wollombi Wine Saloon), which has been the focal point of social activities in the town since 1868. The original building was owned by Mel Jurd, the creator of the locally-renowned alcoholic concoction Dr Jurd’s Jungle Juice. It burned down in 1959 and was replaced by the current building.

Other historic sites on offer along the 1km trail include a former blacksmith and wagon building business (The Forge), the police residence (built in 1900), the former overland telegraph office, which was established in 1860 as part of the Sydney to Brisbane telegraph line, and Ken’s Folly, a two-storey stone building built around 1890. Part of the building was leased in the early 1900's to district road engineer Robert Gordon Edgell, who went on to establish the Edgell food canning company near Bathurst.