Cessnock Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Cessnock showing a small town or village, a church or cathedral and religious elements
The largest town in the Hunter Valley wine region is your gateway to all the best wineries in the region and a great place for a rural holiday.

Cessnock is known as the gateway to some of the best wineries in the country. The town’s restaurants and bars serve local produce and wines from the area. The colonial heritage buildings and rural surroundings are the other perfect ingredients for a relaxing holiday in the Australian countryside. Popular activities in the Cessnock area include skydiving, hot air ballooning and playing golf.

Cessnock, the largest town in the Lower Hunter Valley, was once a thriving mining town. Discover the history and creativity of the region at the town’s many cultural institutions, including the Marthaville Arts & Crafts Centre and the Cessnock Court House. Of course, most people come here for the gourmet food and drinks many wineries and farms are within a short driving distance from the township.

Explore the Hunter Valley’s famous wine region by renting a car or joining a coach tour. Visit the wineries and cheese factories in Pokolbin and Mount View, and stop at cellar doors and farm gates to taste fresh local produce. Many have on-site restaurants and some offer behind-the-scenes tours.

Cessnock is surrounded by natural beauty, with the Brokenback Mountains visible from the town. Nearby Werakata National Park is great for bushwalking and mountain bike riding, so pack a picnic and enjoy a day outdoors.

Bring your binoculars because Cessnock is situated within the Hunter Valley Important Bird Area, and is home to many endangered species. See if you can spot a regent honeyeater or the colourful swift parrot.

To get a bird’s-eye view of it all yourself, glide over the town in a hot air balloon as the sun comes up, or sky dive above the wineries. Book these adventures through one of the operators in the township. The Cessnock golf club is near the town centre and welcomes visiting players.

Cessnock is just over 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Newcastle, in the Lower Hunter Valley wine region. Visitors from Sydney can reach the town by car in about two hours or book a seat on the Rover Coaches bus service.

Hunter Valley Motel
Hunter Valley Motel
3 out of 5
30 Allandale Road, Cessnock, NSW
The price is AU$102 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
AU$102
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly motel in Cessnock. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a terrace. Popular attractions Oaks Golf Course and Saddlers Creek ...
8/10 Very Good! (174 reviews)
"Easy check in, friendly staff"

Reviewed on 24 Mar. 2024

Hunter Valley Motel
Cumberland Motor Inn
Cumberland Motor Inn
3 out of 5
57-61 Cumberland St, Cessnock, NSW
The price is AU$115 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
AU$115
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly motel in Cessnock. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 15 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (538 reviews)
"Good value for the price"

Reviewed on 18 Mar. 2024

Cumberland Motor Inn
Wine Country Motor Inn
Wine Country Motor Inn
4 out of 5
5 Darwin Street, Cessnock, NSW
The price is AU$160 per night from 16 Apr to 17 Apr
AU$160
per night
16 Apr - 17 Apr
Stay at this 4-star motel in Cessnock. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (610 reviews)
"The shower was amazing! Fantastic pressure. Bed extremely comfortable. It's just a great place to stay and reasonably priced."

Reviewed on 24 Mar. 2024

Wine Country Motor Inn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort
Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort
4 out of 5
15 Thompsons Road, Pokolbin, NSW
Stay at this 4-star golf aparthotel in Pokolbin. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 3 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,998 reviews)
"Nice"

Reviewed on 13 Mar. 2024

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort
Florence Cottage, 10 minutes from Hunter Valley Vineyards. Family friendly.
Florence Cottage, 10 minutes from Hunter Valley Vineyards. Family friendly.
Cessnock
Stay at this cottage in Cessnock. Enjoy onsite parking, a TV, and a kitchen. Popular attractions Oaks Golf Course and Saddlers Creek Wines are located nearby. ...
10/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
"My family loved our stay at Florence Cottage! Even with the house being renovated it still had a beautiful old style cottage feel. It felt nice a spacious, clean and is well accommodating to a family. Unlike other places, the bedding was comfortable with a great option of pillow firmness and plenty ..."

Reviewed on 10 Mar. 2024

Florence Cottage, 10 minutes from Hunter Valley Vineyards. Family friendly.
Vale View Mansion Cessnock, in the heart of the Hunter Valley
Vale View Mansion Cessnock, in the heart of the Hunter Valley
Cessnock
Stay at this vacation home in Cessnock. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and an in-room DVD player. Popular attractions Werakata National Park and Oaks Golf ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2 reviews)
Cessnock stay
"Happy with the accomodation and communication with the host, just will be good if they can improve the parking space and access."

Reviewed on 22 Mar. 2024

Vale View Mansion Cessnock, in the heart of the Hunter Valley
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Cessnock

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
29
" "5 - Excellent 25.43859649122807%
4 - Good
60
" "4 - Good 52.63157894736842%
3 - Okay
22
" "3 - Okay 19.29824561403509%
2 - Disappointing
1
" "2 - Disappointing 0.8771929824561403%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 1.7543859649122806%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
23 Mar 2020

I like Cessnock, nice town and easy access to the Hunter wineries

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
31 Jan 2020

Friendly, helpful staff in every shop we went into.

4/5 - Good

Ann
8 Jan 2020

Horse riding was great - children enjoyed that - staff very friendly at horse riding next to hunter valley resort. Go carts Go were are too. Hunter Valley gardens are always great to walk through and smell the roses. Local shops and eateries great!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
17 Nov 2019

Pretty town with a great atmosphere

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
21 Sep 2019

A lovely area with good shopping & road system. Very impressed with what we saw.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
19 Sep 2019

Very nice cute small town

Cities near Cessnock