Pokolbin

The Pokolbin district, in the Lower Hunter Valley in New South Wales, is one of Australia's premier wine regions. Viticulture in the region has a long history, the first vineyards being established in the 1850s.

Pokolbin is something of a cross between a village and a district: it's a collection of vineyards and very small villages (Lovedale, Mount View and Rothbury), it doesn't have a single center that could be thought of as a township.

Get in
The route is about 2 hours from Sydney, 1 from Newcastle and 0.4 from Branxton.
 * From Sydney, use the M1 Pacific Motorway, then continue onto the M1 until B82. Take the exit onto B82, and continue on B82 til; Cessnock. Once past Cessnock, follow Tourist Drive 33/B82 until Broke Road. From Broke Road, turn left, and at the end of the road, you have arrived at Pokolbin.
 * From Newcastle, follow A15, until the M1 Pacific Motorway. Then, continue straight onto M15 Hunter Expressway for around 30 minutes. Take the exit onto B82 Wine Country Drive, and then immediately turn left. Then, turn left and follow the road for about 15 mins. Then turn right on to Broke Road, and at the end of the road, you have arrived at Pokolbin.
 * From Branxton, continue down on B82/Tourist Drive 33 for 15 mins. Then turn right on to Broke Road, and at the end of the road, you have arrived at Pokolbin.

Get around
Pokolbin is large, and thus, you'll need your own vehicle to get around. Walking is quite ineffective.

Buy
Wine is the most obvious item to buy here, although the estates and farms also offer cheese and olives.

Eat
Be aware that many restaurants pay to be listed in tourist guidebooks and are exorbitantly priced. It may be better to ask a local for recommendations. Rock Restaurant and Bistro Molines at Tallavera Estate are the only restaurants in Pokolbin to be awarded a chef's hat and both have a very good reputation. Other excellent restaurants are Shakey Tables, Esca at Bimbadgen Estate (especially for the wood-fired duck, which is the restaurant's speciality) and Cracked Pepper at de Iulius Estate.

Go next

 * Visit the historic village of Wollombi.
 * Explore Tourist Drive 33