This hidden Hunter Valley lavender farm just opened for summer- Australian Traveller

Something beautiful is blossoming in the Hunter Valley this summer.

Hitting the beach, tackling a coastal hike, firing up the barbecue with friends – they’re all classic ways to fill your summer weekends. But if you’re craving a change of pace, we know of a soothing little detour that’s well worth the drive.

Just two hours north of Sydney, the picture-perfect Hunter Lavender Farm is hidden in plain sight among the region’s undulating green vineyards. The property bursts to life come summer, but the window to experience its fields in full bloom is surprisingly short.

The Hunter’s best-kept summer secret

Chances are, you haven’t heard of Broke. The tiny Hunter Valley town is oft-overshadowed by big crowd pleasers like Wollombi and Pokolbin – where visitors flock to check out the region’s famed wineries. But venture off the tourist route just a little and you’ll find it, as well as the Hunter Valley’s only lavender farm.

Backdropped by the Yellow Rock Escarpment and Brokenback Ranges, this peaceful pocket of paradise spans 14 acres – with rows upon rows of blooming lavender. You’ll catch it on the breeze before you see it, the heady scent greeting you at the gates and invoking an instant air of calm.

Hunter Lavender Farm in the Hunter Valley, NSW — Hunter Lavender Farm is tucked in the tiny town of Broke, NSW.

The farm is run by local couple Marianne and JR, who combined their love for the Hunter Valley, where they married, with their memories of a honeymoon in Provence, France. After starting off small, the duo now cultivates three species of lavender – English, Lavendin and Spanish – all grown using organic methods of farming and permaculture.

It’s a sustainable approach that’s helped Hunter Lavender Farm flourish, with the property now preparing for its fourth season. Like many lavender farms across Australia, the flowers here typically bloom between early and mid-summer, leaving roughly four weeks to catch the fields in full colour. So while the window may be small, it’s officially open!

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Your guide to Hunter Lavender Farm

Hunter Lavender Farm is designed for unhurried days, with more to experience than you might expect. Kick things off among the rows of blooms, like a sea of purple stretching out in all directions. For just $16 per person, you’ll get full access to the lavender fields for an hour.

For anyone celebrating, the mini photo session delivers the perfect keepsake. A professional photographer will guide you through a 20-minute shoot, from which you can choose up to 15 images. You’ll then have the next hour to wander the fields at your own pace, snapping as many photos as you like along the way.

If you want something more hands-on, sign up for a beekeeping workshop. Held at the farm’s sustainable beehive, you’ll learn the basics before donning a protective suit and inspecting the hive for yourself.

Or try your hand at honey harvesting, where you can collect your own raw honey from the hive to take home. Classes are priced at $115 and $65, respectively.

For those keen on reaping the natural benefits of their surrounds, join a morning yoga class among the blooms for $88 per person. Breathe in the calming scent of lavender as you bend into downward dog, stretching your body and awakening your senses.

The 60-minute guided session is completed with a ceremonial cup of lavender cacao, followed by a soothing sound bath and breathwork lesson. Held on 31 December, it’s the ultimate way to release the year that was and welcome 2026 with a fresh perspective.

On your way out, be sure to stop in at the Farm Shop. All products are made using lavender from the farm, including perfume, candles, oils, eye pillows, soap sets, honey, tea and lollies.

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Know before you go

Hunter Lavender Farm is located in Broke, a 2.5-hour drive from Sydney or just over an hour from Newcastle. It is now open for the summer season, running from 6 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, 10am–5pm. It will close for Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Lavender flows in bloom — Three species of lavender are grown at the farm. (Image: Getty/Kisa Markiza)

The best way to reach the farm is by car, with plenty of parking available on-site. The nearest train station is in Singleton, around half an hour away by taxi. For bigger groups, local charter bus companies are the best option.

To ensure each guest/group has the time and space to enjoy their experience properly, bookings are essential and walk-ins are generally not accepted. To make a reservation, head to the Hunter Lavender Farm website.

Address: 125 Adams Peak Road, Broke, NSW 2330.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

This hidden Hunter Valley lavender farm just opened for the summer

Something beautiful is blossoming in the Hunter Valley this summer.

The Hunter’s best-kept summer secret

Your guide to Hunter Lavender Farm

Know before you go

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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.