martes, 14 de agosto de 2012

Plenty Hunter Valley Accommodation Choices Can Meet The Needs Of Every Visitor

By John Bryce-Thornton


The Hunter Valley is an acclaimed wine producing region and popular tourist destination an easy drive of about two hours north of Sydney along the Sydney-Newcastle expressway. A longer, more picturesque route can be enjoyed by turning off the freeway at Peats Ridge and driving along the historic, convict-built Great North Road through Kulnura, Laguna and Wollombi where the Pokolbin-Cessnock turn-off takes visitors into the vineyards and the many other attractions of the region. A plethora of Hunter Valley accommodation options are spread throughout the area to satisfy the style needs and budget of every visitor.

About seven hundred convicts laboured almost a decade to build the Great Northern Road from 1826 to around 1836. Prior to its completion, the only transport connection between Sydney and the Hunter region was by ship through the Tasman Sea to Newcastle and then up the Hunter River to Morpeth. Pastoralists started settling the area during the 1820s.

There are scores of vineyards in the valley. Virtually all open their gates and cellars to visitors. They have guided tours of their estates that convey interesting insights into how they operate, grow their grapes and craft their wines. Tastings are common and many vineyards also have a restaurant on the estate.

In addition to visiting the wine estates, there are a myriad of other activities to enjoy. A large number of cafes and restaurants are dotted throughout the valley. There are several championship golf courses and golfers will be impressed with their standard. There are hundreds of craft and art galleries as well as antique stores. Gourmet providors offer delicious homemade chocolates, sauces, condiments and cheeses.

Cycling, skydiving, health spas, hot air ballooning, kayaking and canoeing are all on offer. Bird watching and bush walking in the Brokenback Range are also popular activities. These mountains form part of the Great Dividing Range and mark the western boundary for the valley.

Morpeth is another town with a rich history. Its Aboriginal name is Illalung. European settlement dates back to the 1820s. The town site formed about one third of a land grant made by Governor Brisbane to Lieutenant Edward Charles Close. It is located on the banks of the Hunter River about 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Newcastle and just a few kilometres east of Maitland, also on the river. Both towns are located mainly on the southern bank with a bridge spanning the river. Both towns can be reached by boat from Newcastle.

A public wharf was completed in 1833 under orders from the Colonial Secretary, Up until the 1890s, Morpeth remained a heavily trafficked port. Its main thoroughfare, Swan Street, echoed with the hubbub of a thriving trading centre that handled the agricultural products from the valley. By the 1890s, new rail and road connections diminished the importance of Morpeth as a shipping port.

In conclusion, Hunter Valley accommodation options include quaint guesthouses, friendly B&Bs, cosy self-contained cottages, serviced apartments, motels, backpacker hostels as well as full-service, resort style hotels. Visitors to the area can feel confident of being warmly welcomed and thoughtfully served during their stay.




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