What to Do in Wollombi Valley & Laguna NSW - A Local Guide
This is a local's guide to things to do in Wollombi Valley and Laguna, NSW - written by Daniela, host of Little Valley Farm, an architect-designed alpaca farmstay in Laguna, 90 minutes from Sydney and an hour from Newcastle and the Central Coast. Whether you're staying at the Little Valley Summerhouse or just exploring the valley, this is everything I'd tell you in person: where to eat, drink, walk, wine trail, and why you should probably book ahead. Last updated 19 May 2026
Trading Post Laguna (4.5 km) It’s our local and our favourite place. So discover this hidden gem for your next coffee, lunch, tipples, or Friday night dinner. It is located just 4.5 km from Little Valley Farm, nestled along Great North Road near the Laguna Public School. Take a seat on the verandah and soak up the natural beauty of Laguna Village.
This unique establishment, run by Rosa, is a fusion of a bar, cafe and restaurant. You can start your day right with breakfast (brekkie rolls are a must), from 8 am and enjoy a casual lunch any day of the week.
They also sell frozen lasagna, curries, soups, and pizza, all of which are delicious if you want to bring back to the Summerhouse. There is also a Tesla charger on-site.
Note that dinner service is only on a Friday night. The last seating for dinner is 8:30 pm; reservations are recommended. Menu here. 4998 8244. The Trading Post
Laguna Village Providore at the Trading Post Laguna
Laguna Village Providore has fresh produce, local treats, cheese and grazing platters.
You can also pre-order breakfast packs, grazing boxes, cheese platters and BBQ meat packs. Open until 4 pm daily. Give them at least one week’s notice and visit their website to order. If you can’t pick it up before 4 pm, drop me a note, and I will pick it up for you once you have processed the order with them.
For large grocery shops, the nearest supermarkets are Aldi Berowra (Sydney side) or Cessnock (40km north), but our Laguna Village Providore is a great backup.
Wollombi Village, a 10-minute drive
Wollombi Village is just a ten-minute drive away. The village may be small, with only a few daytime dining options, but that's all we need and love it this way.
Wollombi General Store (Your first stop).
The Wollombi General Store has new owners and a whole new feel. Think great coffee, good casual cafe food and a spot you’ll want to linger. They’re pouring Peaberry coffee, scooping Carnival Gelato, and serving up classic café bites, (yes, there are GF and vegan options available). Nab a seat in the window of this beautiful 1851 building and watch village life roll by.
The menu changes daily, so check their blackboard. Delicious pizza, dine-in or takeaway, is also recommended. Open daily from 7 am. Wollombi General Store website here.
You will also find the Artisan Collective by the garden area.
The Wollombi General Store Est. 1851
The Artisan Collective at the Wollombi General Store Open 5 days (closed Tue/Wed)
SIP Wollombi Village from April 2026 was (Noyce Brothers Wine). Is now a curated tasting room showcasing boutique Hunter Valley wine, spirits and craft beer. Bookings recommended for a tasting experience, or pop in for a takeaway bottle service.
While you're there, take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking formal garden at the back and indulge in a fun game of giant chess by this Georgian-style building. Closed Tue/Wed.
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TIP: Now, if you have reserved your stay at the Summerhouse via our Little Valley Farm website, you can book in a tasting and transfer to SIP. This service is not offered to bookings via Riparide/AirBNB and is exclusive to direct bookings only via our Little Valley Farm website.
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Myrtle & Stone is a gem of a country cafe that serves mouthwatering breakfast and lunch dishes, with warm, welcoming country hospitality, in this sunny 1832 building. Open seven days a week, you can enjoy their delectable menu starting at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. Be sure to stop by before their last lunch serving at 2 p.m.
Wollombi Tavern: The courtyard is a popular spot for afternoon drinks and live music.
“Make sure you plan and book in advance, as some businesses are not open daily and cafes and restaurants close early in Wollombi Valley. So be prepared.”
Restaurants in Pokolbin, Lovedale, Mt View and Broke. 40-minute drive.
It’s best to self-drive to these places.
Bistro Molines, - quintessentially Hunter Valley and an outstanding lunchtime experience with amazing vineyard views. Secure your booking via their website, or you will miss out. It’s a dining experience not to miss when in the Hunter and one of our FAVOURITE places. Casual chic dress code. Book this place in advance as its always booked out.
Muse Restaurant, - outstanding and the finest place to dine for true food connoisseurs. Book late afternoon or early dinner and make it a memorable dining experience not to be missed for foodies. Smart casual attire as it’s a more formal dining experience.
Leaves & Fishes is a charming, casual restaurant in Lovedale with great light snacks, friendly service, and a relaxing location. Go for a casual lunchtime sitting by the dam. Table service on the balcony can be booked early, or you can drop in to enjoy a light snack in the serene garden area.
Other restaurants to check out:
Margans, Pigs Peaks, Amanda’s on the Edge and Lovedale Smokehouse & EXP.
Cessnock (near Pokolbin) is a service town where you will find all the supermarkets, chemists, and petrol stations.
Drivng from / to Sydney check out
Saddles Mt White
If driving from Sydney along the M1, book an early lunch at Saddles Mt White. It is a must for foodies and people who appreciate elegant Australian homestead architecture. The design is inspiring, and the food and service are always outstanding. There is a coffee van, so you can sit by the lovely dam if you want something casual.
Wine Trail
Make sure you drive the wine loop trail - self drive in this valley.
Laguna - Wollombi - Broke - Pokolbin or
Laguna - Wollombi - Cedar Creek - Mt View - Pokolbin
Start with a casual wine tasting at SIP Wollombi Village, then drive 2 kms to Undercliff Vineyard (phone first), in Yango Creek Road; a must-visit is Krinklewood in Broke (40 mins drive); there are heaps of places to stop and enjoy, so take your time. Next, check out the Mt View drive and head to Pokolbin, where all the big cellar doors are and lunchtime places. Drive back via the loop road Cessnock-Wollombi or vice versa. You can use google maps once you are in the mobile range in Wollombi.
Other places to enjoy around Pokolin and Lovedale, Broke.
Saddlers Wine Creek, I highly recommend…. VAMP by Lisa McGuigan. Have you tried the decadent, inspirational cellar door that takes you to another dimension? It's one of my favourites, so I highly recommend checking it out.
Audrey Wilkinson and Winemark Wines / Krinklewood Vineyard. Stonehurt Cedar Creek Wollombi
Wine Tours/Transfers
Grape Experience Tours 0414 457 956 or Hunter Valley Small Group Tours 0439 766 441
Hunter Valley ToursNCargo 0499586877, The Suss Bus 0439766441 or The Andy Bus 0499558 288
Wine Fairy Tours 0419 181 816 - Will only pick up if there are 4 guests.
Hunter Valley Tours 0419 419 931 - Will only pick up if there are 4 guests.
Two Fat Blokes 0414 316 859 - Will only pick up if there are 4 guests.
Wine Party Tours 0480 451 733 (for large groups of 7 only from $880).
4WD Tours or transfer with Shane of Wollombi Valley Tours. 0438 712 840
There is no Uber out here, and Cessnock Taxi Company is not always available.
Please note that you’ll need to park your car on Watagan Creek Road, where our letterboxes are, and they will pick you up there, as they won’t drive down our driveway.
Photo credit Tourist Drive 33
Get Active
BYO Bicycles. The best and most relaxing rides are down Watagan Creek Road, which are road & gravel (20-40 km). Wollombi rides are for experienced riders only, especially on the weekends when there is a lot of traffic on the narrow road between Laguna and Wollombi.
Horse Riding
If coming from Sydney or the Central Coast, book a horse riding experience at Glenwoth Valley, just off the M1 on the Tourist Drive Route 33. If you are heading up to Pokolbin or Lovedale, book horse riding at Hunter Valley Horses, about 40 mins from our farm.
Bush lookout, small hikes and art walk
Finchley Lookout. Looking out across the remote wilderness from Finchley lookout, you would never know you were just a few hours from Sydney or Newcastle—drive time approx 35 minutes.
*If there has been rain, expect some creek crossings, and you will definitely need a SUV/4WD.
The other lookout and hike is Flat Rock Lookout Correbare State Forest. Hikes and lookouts. Please Google and do your online research for this, as you could get very lost on a hike.
Wollombi Village Brook is an easy 1 km nature walk. Start at the village Museum and head down to the brook. Download the map here.
Art Walk in Wollombi Village
If you love art walks, start at the old Endeavour Museum. Across the road is the quirky The Forge for curious finds, The Fireshed for rotating art, and the Little Yengo Room for Indigenous Art. Then head up to Wollombi General Store for the Artisan Collective and Polina Karuso Art Gallery. Opposite the General Store, Jodie Usher Gallery prints of local birds and wildlife, and then walk down to Roadside Gallery near the old cemetery, then casually stroll back up to the village.
Photography
For those who love to take photos, check out Euan's photos of the Wollombi Valley on Instagram.
Join us on Instagram - Little Valley Farm Instagram here.
OTHER INFO
*Pokolbin vineyards, concerts, and hot air balloon rides are located 40 minutes away.
*Hot air balloon rides can be a 3-4 AM start so please do check with the event company.
*Rain equals mud at concerts and on the farm, so bring boots.
*No mobile reception in Laguna, only at Wollombi Village.
*Fill up your car before you leave, as the Trading Post Laguna can run out of fuel.
*Businesses close early in the country, so pre-book and plan your dining options.
*Bring cash for small businesses, as Wollombi Village has no ATM.
Book direct is best!
If you haven’t already, reserved your Little Valley summerhouse stay directly for up to four adults to enjoy our best rates and services.
Please note that booking via Airbnb/Riparide gives you a proxy mobile number for hosts, and we are not allowed to discuss direct bookings via their app messaging services. Yes, they read each message. So before you book any accommodation, Google it and try to book directly.
Please be advised that the prices above are recommendations only and are subject to change by the service providers. It would be best to contact them directly for accurate & updated information. We sincerely thank you for supporting the local businesses in the valley.
Laguna and Wollombi surrounded by National Parks and State Forest.