Blue Cockatoo Traveller: Loving Wollombi and Lake Macquarie NSW 2020

I've recently been rendered speechless (in print!!) by politics in general and the bushfires in Australia, particularly those surrounding me in the beautiful, historic Wollombi Valley NSW. How to support our own backyard and businesses affected by the bushfires? Currently my comrades in the ASTW (Australian Society of Travel Writers) are busy reporting from areas including Stanthorpe in the Queensland Granite Belt, the beautiful NSW South Coast, the iconic Blue Mountains and more. I'm on the case in the Hunter Valley/Wollombi and have been further encouraged out of my bushfire-induced apathy by some great updates from nearby Lake Macquarie, the largest coastal salt-water lake in the southern hemisphere (who knew?) with over 30 kms of coastline!

Wollombi, Hunter Valley NSW

Twine Home Store and Myrtle House (on the left), Wollombi NSW.
Photo: Ken Martin.

It's raining just now (yay!!) and everything will be open for locals, weekenders and visitors including our cafes, cellar doors on the Wollombi Wine Trail, the Wollombi Tavern, Laguna's GNTP, Panino Caffe Restaurant and Myrtle House cafe and bookshop. We have the Providore at GNTP, Laguna, for fresh produce, cheeses, oils and yummy things and the lovely Wollombi General Store and cafe for all kinds of things including delicious gelato!! There's divine shopping at Twine Home Store (above) and innovative upcycled jewellery next door at Kes Harper's Studio Gleaned.

Noyce Brothers cellar door and Panino Caffe Restaurant, Wollombi NSW.
Photo: Ken Martin.

Fossick for all manner of collectables and second hand things at The Forge, find art at the Little Yengo gallery (Aboriginal), the Fireshed and others. For a snapshot of fascinating local history duck into St Michael's Church and the Wollombi Endeavour Museum. 'Our' wildlife includes kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, glossy black cockatoos, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, gang-gangs, our celebrity lyrebirds, king parrots, eagles, tiny wrens, yellow robins, honeyeaters and heaps more. Wildlife angels are currently hard at work with feed and water stations in the burnt areas of Wollemi and Yengo national parks and in my neighbouring Corrabare Forest.

Book a Valentine weekend away in the Wollombi Valley in accommodation including 5-star indulgence and cosy cottages and cabins to explore this special place!

https://www.visitwollombi.com.au

The Hunter Valley region is famous for its vineyards and wine, but we have coastline, too. The City of Lake Macquarie is a government region within the Hunter and part of the Greater Newcastle area. So 'Lake Mac' is our neighbour for a taste of coast and country.

Lake Macquarie, NSW

Pulbah Island. Photo courtesy of Lake Macquarie Tourism.

20 reasons to Love the Lake!

1. Lake Macquarie sand islands (swim, explore by boat)
2. Caves Beach (extensive network of sea caves)
3. Speers Point Park (think kids play space, flying fox etc)
4. MACMuseum of Art and Culture (arts, culture, fresh ideas)
5. Gap Creek Falls, Watagan Mountains (hidden in rainforest)
6. Belmont Baths (lagre netted swimming area)
7. Creative LAKE (sculpture trail)
8. Redhead Beach (red, rocky headland, iconic shark tower, Cargo Espresso Bar)
9. Float Your Boat (June, when the boats light up!)
10. Warners Bay (9km Foreshore Shared Pathway)
11. Catherine Hill Bay (historic mining town, wreck diving , surfing)
12. JetBuzz (jet boating)
13. Dora Creek (kayaking, picnics)
14. Skydiving (Newcastle's beach skydive)
15. Blacksmiths Beach(sheltered swimming beach)
16. Glenrock State Forest (beach, bushwalking, skydiving)
17. Fernleigh Track (restored heritage railway corridor for walking cycling)
.18. Matt Hall Racing (aerobatic joyflights)
19. Pulbah Island (only accessible by boat, bushwalking tracks, picnics)
20. Rathmines Aviation Heritage (Catalina seaplane heritage)