The historic village of Wollombi only recently came onto our radar and we’re very glad it did. It really does have everything for the perfect Sydney weekend getaway.
Set in a less visited part of the Hunter Valley, Wollombi has heaps of rural charm, convict history, Aboriginal art and engravings, laid back wineries and unique shops all a stones throw from the hustle and bustle of Pokolbin. It’s an absolute must visit.
Oh and we can’t talk about Wollombi without mentioning the really friendly locals. If you’ve become a little jaded with the busyness and commercialism over in Pokolbin, you need to hop in the car and pay Wollombi a visit.
We absolutely loved it and are already looking forward to returning.
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1: Description text The historical village walk
2: Marvel at the incredible Aboriginal engravings
3: Check out the local wineries
4: Catch a sunset with a stunning view from the Trig
5: Visit the Forge - Wollombi’s most unique shop
6: Have a drink at one of Australia’s oldest wine bars
7: Learn a little of the area’s convict history
8: Get your caffeine fix at Myrtle House
9: Spot the local wild roos
10: Unwind on the nature trail
11: See the beautiful Aboriginal art at the Wollombi Cultural Centre
12: Head to Broke for a vineyard tour of Whispering Brook
The best things to do in Wollombi
Wollombi can be done as a short trip from Sydney, Newcastle or other parts of the Hunter Valley, but we recommend a weekend here to have the time to explore and relax in this picturesque part of NSW.
These are the 12 best things to do in Wollombi:
1. Explore the area on the historical village walk
The best way to start your visit is to see what Wollombi is best known for - it’s well preserved historical village.
The historical walk is really just a good look around the village, so you don’t need to follow it to the letter - although we did to make sure we didn’t miss anything! If you take in all the gorgeous historic buildings you’ll have walked for around a kilometre, but it might take longer than you think as it’s hard to resist popping in to many of them.
There’s a little sign outside each of the buildings with information about when they were built as well as other little anecdotes and it really brings the village to life.
Whatever you do, don’t miss popping into the General Store which was like entering a time warp. We’d just had a coffee or we would have tried one here as they also had a sweet little cafe onsite.
One of the last stops on the walk is the cemetery, just before you get to it on the left hand side of the road, look out for the one solitary grave in the cottage garden.
This belonged to Jane Pendergast who was not allowed to be buried in the main cemetery due to a liaison with a priest! We don’t think she did too badly in her current spot though, it’s surrounded by the most beautiful flowers!
The whole walk is completely flat and wouldn’t take long if it weren’t for the many stops. If you do want to see the main buildings you can use the map below, or follow the exact route here.
2. Marvel at the incredibly well preserved Aboriginal engravings
Wollombi has significant Aboriginal heritage and it’s proud of it. There are sites scattered throughout the area, but few are known to the public - we actually tried to find one we’d read about in a 1930’s paper, but that’s for another story!
We recommend heading out to the Aboriginal engraving site known as the Finchley Cultural Track in Yengo National Park, as it’s well known and easy to find.
It’s a mapping site which means it was used to give guidance to other sites and areas.
We love Aboriginal art and have seen many sites, this is the best engraving site we’ve been lucky enough to see yet. Many of them have been fantastically well preserved and there is a great range of different depictions.
Although we weren’t completely sure of exactly what each one was, they were extremely clear and a joy to walk around. It would be wonderful to go up there with an Aboriginal guide who could tell you the stories behind them!
The site is just 200m from the car park at the campground on a flat trail through the bush, with a couple of information boards along the way.
Although it is said that the route does not require a 4WD, we thought the track was really rough and the first time we tried to visit in our tiny car, we turned back. Personally we’d recommend something with high clearance.
Please be careful when visiting not to step on the engravings, it could be easily done but will really damage them over time.
I couldn’t find a definitive answer on the traditional owners of the land but the Aboriginal nations of the region are the Awabakal, Darkinjung, Darug, Gumalroi, Guringai, Wonnarua and Worimi.
3. Have a relaxed wine tasting
We love the Hunter Valley, but the more times we’ve visited, the more we’ve found ourselves drawn to the quieter area of Broke. It’s only recently that we discovered that Wollombi has its own vineyards and they are even quieter than Broke!
There are quite a few to choose from but we’d recommend starting with Undercliff Winery, not only are the wines great, but the views are stunning and the service is incredibly friendly. Unlike most of the Hunter, Wollombi doesn’t yet charge for tastings and it’s all very relaxed.
We sat in the garden overlooking the vines and chatted to the owner whilst enjoying a range of red, white, rose, sparkling white and red, and topped it all off with a desert wine.
If you’re up for another, we’d suggest heading to the Stonehurst Cedar Creek Vineyard, just 10 minutes from Wollombi village.
Rather than a set tasting you can pick any you like and enjoy them sat at one of the big wine barrels in what feels like a wonderful historic building (I’d never have known it wasn’t original if I had’t asked).
It doesn’t have the personal touch of Undercliff but it’s still a great choice.
For our other Hunter Valley winery recommends, as well as some non wine related hidden gems in the area, check out this post.
4. Catch a sunset from the trig
Wollombi locals love a good chat, which is perfect because so do we! And without fail they all recommended we had to catch a sunset (or a sunrise) from the Finchley Trig in Yengo National Park.
We headed up for sunset and had the whole viewing platform to ourselves - there’s also a picnic bench here and it would make a lovely lunch spot.
You are surrounded by endless bushland and a huge array of mountains in the distance, including Mount Yango, which is as sacred to Aboriginal people as Uluru.
As well as over 20 mountains you can see Broke and Singleton in the Hunter Valley too.
We ended up leaving a touch before sunset because the road isn’t in the best state for driving in the dark, as we’re not used to potholed dirt roads!
The trig is on the same road as the Aboriginal engravings, so again we’d recommend a car with some clearance, we were told we didn’t need a 4WD but to be honest we felt we did……!
5. Visit Wollombi’s most unique shop - The Forge
If you’re a lover of all things eclectic, then a poke around The Forge (the site of an old blacksmith and wagon building business) is pretty much mandatory. In a small space, this shop has everything you can imagine and some you probably can’t.
I’ve never been in a shop quite like it. It’s full of everything from old dolls (many are the creepy kind!), skeleton mannequins, vintage records, jewellery, a gramophone and a whole array of other weird and wonderful things!
It’s the kind of place that you find less and less nowadays and it’s yet another reason to love Wollombi! All the buildings have retained their original character and the inside of them is usually pretty interesting too!
The Forge can be found at 2891 Wollombi Road, in the heart of the village.
6. Have a drink at one of Australia’s oldest wine bars
So originally we were told that Laguna Wine Bar is the oldest in Australia, and when you see it, you wouldn’t quibble.
However, after doing a bit of online due diligence, we couldn’t verify it, but the Hunter is Australia’s oldest wine region, so it makes sense to us!
Anyway, let’s say you will be having a glass of wine in one of Australia’s oldest wine bars in Australia’s oldest wine region!
Even without that accolade, it would be worth popping over to see the charming tin shed exterior, wooden floors and ceiling and not forgetting the outhouse which is quite something!
They also do food, and prices are reasonable if you’re feeling peckish.
7. Learn a little of the area’s convict history
This area of NSW is packed with convict history and it doesn’t take much effort to find all kinds of 19th Century constructions. Just the drive from Sydney alone will take you past some remnants of the convict built Old Great North Road.
The easiest to spot are the two abandoned loops - the first is 7km south of Laguna and the second is not long after.
They have lay bys for you to pull in and take a closer look. There is an 100m stretch of dry stone wall just after the Bucketty intersection, before you reach the abandoned loops, but there’s nowhere to stop so it’s a blink and miss it type affair.
Just outside of Wollombi village you’ll see Mulla Villa which was the old magistrate’s residence, built by convicts in the 1840’s. It also contains old convict cells.
It used to be a restaurant which is when we visited, today it’s a private residence, but it does have a cottage for rent and campsite, which would allow you to explore the cells and other points of interest.
Opposite the villa is an old convict built bridge.
8. Try Wollombi’s best coffee at Myrtle House
If you’re looking for the best coffee in Wollombi, you’ll find it here, along with a range of baked goodies and other more substantial dishes.
We liked Myrtle House from the moment we saw it. It’s a pretty 1920’s building with a lovely wrap around balcony surrounded by trees.
Inside you’ll also find a small second bookshop which is something I can never go past!
We only popped in for coffee and cake and both were great. The staff were all super friendly and gave us lots of recommendations for the local area.
9. Spot the wild roos
If you’re like us and you’re a fan of seeing roos in the wild, then you’ll be spoilt in Wollombi. It’s one of the few places where we see them even in the day time.
If you’re around early morning or just before sunset you’ll see them in many different areas, but if you’re looking for them in the day, head to the Yango Creek Road. They can be found in the fields on either side of the road just past the Undercliff Winery.
No matter how many times we see them, it’s always special!
If you’re really lucky around dawn or dusk you might spot one of the resident wombats around the village too. We didn’t sadly, but there are enough signs everywhere about driving slowly that there must be quite a decent population in the area.
10. Unwind on the short Wollombi nature trail
We originally headed out to the nature trail in Wollombi to look for a wild swimming spot we’d heard about. It turned out the water was a little on the brown side for us (this didn’t deter the locals), but the Wollombi nature trail turned out to be lovely!
It’s literally just behind the road through the village, but it feels miles away with birdsong and the sound of trickling water.
It’s incredibly lush and green and offers the opportunity to have a countryside stroll right in the village itself.
The path is 500m long (one way) and completely flat. We saw some lovely King Parrots along the way, and we’re sure there is more wildlife if you’re not walking in the middle of the day.
King Parrot on the nature trail
11. See some beautiful Aboriginal art at the Wollombi Cultural Centre
Sadly, this is a place we couldn’t showcase through photos, but the cultural centre in the village has a beautiful display of Aboriginal art across two rooms.
Whilst there isn’t a huge amount of information on display, you can ask any questions to the knowledgable volunteers there.
If any of the gorgeous pieces takes your fancy, they are for sale, and it’s run as a not for profit so you know your money is going back to the artist.
There’s also a room open to any artists - the Old Fireshed Gallery - including some as young as 9 years old, which is well worth a look!
12. Head to Broke for a vineyard tour at Whispering Brook
Just half an hour’s very scenic drive from Wollombi, you’ll find one of our favourite areas in the Hunter - Broke. We love the wineries around here, but as you’ll no doubt have visited the ones in Wollombi, we thought we’d suggest something a little bit different.
Rather than just tasting the wine - although you get to do that too! - why not learn a little about the history of the area as well as the wine making process on a vineyard tour?
We were initially planning just a tasting at Whispering Brook, but when we saw we could do a vineyard tour we decided to give it a try.
You’ll start by heading out for a short stroll to the vines and the olive grove before heading in to the wine making area for a look at how the wine is produced.
The tour is really personalised so you can ask as many questions as you like and we loved learning about how the wine is made from vine to bottle.
After the tour you can sit in the garden overlooking the olive grove and taste the fruits of their labour. Much like the vineyards in Wollombi it’s super relaxed and friendly and you are encouraged to feel at home and stay as long as you like.
It’s definitely been one of our most memorable Hunter Valley experiences from our five visits to the area.
Where to stay in Wollombi
Capers Guesthouse, Barn and Cottage
Capers Guesthouse is completely in-keeping with the village and offers character in spades. Each room has a balcony and there is free wifi which you won’t find in all of the self catering options. The owners get rave reviews, which doesn’t surprise us because Wollombi is such a friendly town.
Check out the reviews and prices on:
Getting to Wollombi
Wollombi is 130km and just under a two hour drive from Sydney, in the Hunter Valley. It’s 30 minutes from Broke and 35 from Pokolbin.
You really do want to come by car as even if you take a train to the nearest station, you’d have to get a taxi to Wollombi and then you can’t explore anything other than the village centre.
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Have we missed anything in Wollombi you think we should see next time? Let us know in the comments below!
