It’s a well-trodden wine region but surprises flow along this lesser-discovered Hunter Valley itinerary.

We’re all familiar with the Hunter Valley, NSW’s largest concentration of wineries and cellar doors. But beyond the beaten track lies a trail of secret gems, many of which I discovered during a recent visit that steered inland much earlier than the Cessnock exit from Sydney. Let my Hunter Valley itinerary whisk you off on an adventure you never knew existed while still retaining the rollicking good times this region rolls out in spades.

Day 1: Wollombi to Broke

Driving distance: 30 minutes

Rather than turning off the M1 where most people typically enter from, I steer off at Calga’s Peats Ridge Road exit in search of Tourist Drive 33 which takes me straight to a small sub-region of the Hunter Valley. Here, the historical Wollombi enchants through a small collective of quaint retailers, gourmet pantries and, of course, untapped wineries.

Twine Collective

Best for: One-off homewares

A gorgeous little store that stocks sustainably crafted products from all over the world, Twine Collective is run by Kellie Jones who handpicks her treasures. You’ll find luxurious blankets and throws, kitchen and bathroom accessories, candles, one-of-a-kind fashion and jewellery carefully presented within a heritage-listed Colonial building.

Address: 2881 Wollombi Rd, Wollombi

Wollombi Endeavour Museum

Best for: Cultural insight

Everything in this towns looks as though it’s frozen in time but nothing more so than Wollombi Endeavour Museum which I find inside a 1800s sandstone building that once served as a courthouse. I stickybeak fascinating old photos before checking out the original courtroom, a prison cell and an exercise yard, each of which transport me to an era when swilling wine publicly as a woman was socially unacceptable. Good riddance, I say, but nonetheless an eye-opening pit-stop and well worth checking out on the way to wine country.

Address: 2896 Wollombi Rd, Wollombi

Noyce Brothers Wine

Best for: Elegant wine tasting

Noyce Brothers Wine is a beautiful 19th-century sandstone building that sells boutique wine and operates as a cellar door for most of the products it stocks. Owned by Phillip Noyce, director of the Australian film Rabbit Proof Fence, and his lawyer brother Michael, the store is such a great spot to discover fabulous new labels you likely wouldn’t bother with elsewhere, especially in Hunter Valley where big names converge.

Address: 2884 Wollombi Rd, Wollombi

Wollombi General Store

Best for: Last-minute platter fillers

I can’t resist snapping a selfie at Wollombi General Store, just next door to Noyce, as the original 1860s building is picture-perfect from every angle. Inside, I find a selection of locally made honey, jams, oils and relishes plus homewares like chopping boards and crockery. There’s also an on-site cafe serving hot and cold dishes and very decent coffee, and if you’re dropping in over a weekend, the team serve booze from midday.

Address: 2886 Wollombi Rd, Wollombi

Stonehurst Cedar Creek Vineyard

Best for: Vineyard wandering

A popular wedding location for obvious reasons, the stunning Stonehurst Cedar Creek provides over 550 hectares of blissful wine country to bask in. Producing a collection of organic drops, the team dabble in semillon and chardonnay (renowned regional all-stars), plus rose, reds and a handful of fortified creations.

Address: 1840 Wollombi Rd, Cedar Creek

Accommodation tips

Grays Inn Wollombi for a centrally located stay and Stonehurst Cedar Creek’s Cottages for ultra-tranquil self-contained lodgings on that magnificent property.

Day 2: Broke to Pokolbin

Driving distance: 15 minutes

I cruise from Wollombi along a rather windy road, originally built by convicts, that’s dotted with thriving farmland, picturesque houses and barns, roadside cattle, farm-gate stalls touting local produce, and clusters of weird and wonderful letterboxes. The tell-tale signs all point to Broke, which is arguably even prettier than Wollombi thanks to those mountainous backdrops. Additionally, I discover it’s packed with some of the region’s most magical culinary offerings…

Krinklewood

Best for: Spiritual transportation to French vineyards

Inspired by the Provincial charms of the French countryside, Krinklewood steals my heart from the moment I lay eyes on it. Utterly romantic and deserving of ample time beyond a tasting, the winery delivers rose-speckled vines, olive groves, sandstone sculptures, flowing fountains and — the piece de resistance — standout biodynamic wine I can’t resist taking home with me. There’s even resident peacocks strutting their stuff across the pebbled grounds which centre on a sunny courtyard made for languid lounging. Scissor, paper, rock off for designated driver duties before you settle in because parting ways with this beauty will, I guarantee, prove easier said than done.

Address: 712 Wollombi Rd, Broke

Kawal Rock Distillery

Best for: Gin on the lawn

One of the best Hunter Valley distilleries, Kawal Rock Distillery concocts the hard stuff out of 60-year-old vines. Sample gins, moonshine, brandy and a crowd-pleasing Moscato amid the property’s vineyard where a cellar door opens to spacious grass littered with chairs and wine barrels.

Address: 260 Milbrodale Rd, Fordwich

Nightingale Wines

Best for: Wine tastings with a view

Grab one of Nightingale Wines’ silky smooth drops and head straight for a table overlooking the vines, just like I did when I last visited. Not only did the leafy procession feel limitless, but a horizon dotted with dramatic mountains made for a magnificent floor-to-sky marvel. Each tasting will set you back just $10 per person but you’ll sample most of the range. Additionally, there’s a restaurant the does set menus (if booked in advance) and antipasto platters.

Address: 1239 Milbrodale Rd, Broke

Whispering Brook

Best for: Flavour-packed wine

I follow an unassuming laneway to Whispering Brook, a stellar vineyard serving up highly acclaimed wines and one knock-out chardonnay. They prune their vines by hand, cutting back bunches of grapes so plants are free to plump up their blossoming fruit, which results in amazing quality and flavour. There’s also on-site dining and accommodation if your indulgences know no limits. Tastings start from $15 per person.

Address: Rodd St, Broke

Margan

Best for: A special occasion meal

It’s not entirely undiscovered, but no visit through this neck of the woods can neglect Margan. Placing strong emphasis on sustainable dining and winemaking is this Hunter Valley hero, which I love for both its restaurant and cellar door. Home to a sprawling kitchen garden and orchard producing up to 90 per cent of the fruit and veg that feature on its menu, this road trip standout also raises free-range chicken and their own lambs so you’re going to be absolutely spoiled if you take up my recommendation and indulge without regret. There are also beehives for fresh, unfiltered honey and an olive grove, plus the award-winning team, naturally, nail wine, designed to pair perfectly with every culinary stroke.

Address: 1238 Milbrodale Rd, Broke

Greenway Wines

Best for: Hard-to-find wine

You won’t miss the red barn in Broke, otherwise known as Greenway Wines, a small-batch winery that only offers its creations via cellar door. I favour an excellent merlot (when in the Hunter, where it excels) but am equally taken by their pinot grigio, which I’m told is very popular, and the non-alcoholic Red Barn Verjuice. Whatever you fancy, take it into the lovely garden to soak up the serenity amid lush greenery and blooms.

Address: 350 Wollombi Rd, Broke

Accommodation tips

Nightingale Wines’ Villas feature private spa baths while the Whispering Brook Guesthouse sleeps up to 18 guests so it’s a dream spot for milestone celebrations.