Delight in Hunter Valley chocolate and cheese tastings

Elevate pure liquid gold with the finest Hunter Valley chocolate and cheese experiences.

Milk and cookies. Beer and burgers. Coffee and cake. To me, drinks taste better washed down with their ultimate counterparts. In NSW’s bountiful Hunter Valley, a wine stop is more fulfilling when chased with a generous dollop of dessert. From silky smooth chocolate, crafted here and throughout Europe, to impossible-to-resist cheeses, my two most beloved treats always compliment a long, hard day of winery hopping. Here, I round up the most delicious Hunter Valley chocolate and cheese retailers, tastings and experiences to keep the indulgences flowing.

In short

If you only try one Hunter Valley chocolate or cheese experience, make it Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop. I can’t count how many afternoon cheese platters this place has facilitated over my years as its gigantic range always provides something new to try.

1. Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory

artisan chocolates at Hunter Valley Chocolate Company — Slip into chocolate heaven at Hunter Valley Chocolate Company.

No visit to the Hunter Valley is complete without sampling the silky-smooth goodness these guys have churned out for decades. The Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory delivers truffles, pralines, fluffy fudge, and much more, and I can never get get enough of it. You can devour it all at their main store and also at Petersons House, one of the Hunter Valley’s best wineries, where the operation extends its edible art. The menu never ceases to amaze me: blocks, bark, bars, brittles – you name it, they nail it. My top recommendations include their chocolate-coated pretzels, chocolate-coated coffee beans and milk chocolate macadamias, but if my list sounds snoozy, things get far crazier in the kitchen. Dark chocolate ginger, anyone?

Address: 2320 Broke Rd, Pokolbin, and you can sample more at Peterson House, cnr Broke and Branxton Rds, Pokolbin

2. Cocoa Nib

Cocoa Nib Artisan Chocolates, Hunter Valley — Cocoa Nib’s chocolates come in a range of vivid colours. (Image: Destination NSW)

What started as a passion project for pastry chef Aymee Slaviero at Newcastle’s Olive Tree Markets has blossomed into two shopfronts, one of which I never miss during a visit to the Hunter Valley. Selling exquisite handmade creations out of a flagship store at Keith Tulloch Wine, in the heart of wine country, Cocoa Nib ’s founder crafts some of the most splendid sweets in the entire region (her other shop is at Newcastle’s Junction Fair shopping centre). The Hunter Valley chocolate stalwart utilises a premium French couverture (that translates to fancy chocolate) to whip up Cocoa Nib’s crowd favourite – melt-in-your-mouth artisan bonbons splashed Jackson Pollock-style with vivid colour – and an array of other beautiful bites. Tarts, barks, bags of coconut rough, peanut brittle, honeycomb and so many more are just heavenly.

Address: Keith Tulloch Wine, 989 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin

3. Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop

Smelly Cheese Shop, Hunter Valley — Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop offers a smorgasbord of gooey goodness. (Image: Destination NSW)

My favourite, a smorgasbord of the world’s finest cheeses, Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop is a non-negotiable every time I’m in town. Built with legitimate fromageries and filled with a larger range than most other Hunter Valley cheese retailers, the titans opened their doors in Pokolbin Village in 2004 and continue to draw tourists from across the globe. I drop in to stack my charcuterie with the likes of blue (particularly the sharp yet melty Saint Agur), cheddar, hard and unavoidable soft varieties including Fromager d’Affinois in all its pudgy, buttery goodness. Cured meats, top-notch olives, pastes, tapenades, pâtés and other delicious platter accompaniments are also found.

Address: Shop 3, Pokolbin Village, 2188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

4. Gelato and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Peterson House

wine and gelato at Peterson House, Pokolbin — Gelato pairs perfectly with sparkling wine. (Image: Destination NSW)

I loved Peterson House for its easy-to-sip bubbles long before I learned of its Gelato and Sparkling Wine Tasting, but the cellar door addition is now one of my highlights. Extending the giddy fun of this well-trodden Hunter Valley establishment (it’s one of the first wine country stops when you’re coming in from the Pacific Highway), the experience pairs four of its sparkling wines with four gelato flavours sourced from a nearby supplier. It’s priced at $35 per person and I love that you can book it any day of the week. Visitors with dietary requirements should note that the team can’t cater to anybody but full cream milk devotees.

Address: Cnr Broke Rd and Wine Country Dr, Pokolbin

5. Pokolbin Chocolate Company

Once I’ve stocked up on savoury, I’m a sucker for next door’s sweets. The Pokolbin Chocolate Company houses an impressive collection of Hunter Valley chocolate and it’s one door down from Smelly Cheese. Putting smiles on dials for more than two decades, these chocoholics sell a beautiful range of hand-painted Belgian chocolates, gooey fudge, jams and chutneys, chocolate-dipped fruits and nuts, classics like rocky road and truffles, and seasonal specials. They’ve also got an unusual range of sweet teas, including flavours like Berry Cocktail and Citrus Punch.

Address: Next door to Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop at Pokolbin Village, 2188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

6. Sabor Dessert Bar

After winning my heart through their original Hunter Valley Dessert Bar in Lovedale, Sabor Dessert Bar on Broke Road’s Lambloch Estate cemented itself as my go-to sweet pastry hero. Growing their inventive desserts to a menu filled with 50+ creations, these local wizards are renowned for their award-winning Portuguese Chocolate Mousse plus other Instagram-friendly showstoppers. Don’t miss the glistening Green Apple Royale or the Flaming Choc Caramel Brownie, which you can savour on-site in a large seating area or take away for at-home indulgence. They also offer a tasting plate of favourites and a kids’ menu for the littlest of visitors. Large groups are welcome as set menus and packages are available with seven days’ notice.

Address:  2342 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

7. Hunter Valley Cheese Factory Co

cheese tasting at Hunter Valley Cheese Factory — Pop in for a tasting paired with wine, chocolate, olives and preserves. (Image: Destination NSW)

The much-adored Hunter Valley Cheese Factory Co is a great pit-stop while visiting McGuigan Wines on McDonalds Road. It churns out its own seasonal handcrafted ranges that span a wonderful washed rind, cheddar, gorgonzola, brie, goat’s cheese and more. You can pop in for various tastings paired with wine, chocolate, olives and preserves, or shake up your visit entirely by booking a small batch cheesemaking workshop, priced at $200 per guest, that includes eight matching beverage samples. Better still, you’ll take two self-crafted cheeses home with you to share (begrudgingly) with your people.

Address: 447 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin

8. Binnorie Dairy

Binnorie Dairy, Pokolbin — Binnorie Dairy boasts a range of award-winning cheese. (Image: Destination NSW)

Famed for its ultra-creamy, completely irresistible labna and multi-award-winning marinated feta, Binnorie Dairy is always a good idea. The Hunter Valley cheese pit-stop was opened by cheesemaker Simon Gough in 2003 after he’d spent significant time making the good stuff in Europe and the Yarra Valley. His Hunter Valley operation is home to so many indulgences including those said superstars, plus goat’s cheeses, washed rinds, one exceptional triple cream brie and homemade sweet treats. Drop in to see the team hard at work through a viewing window or grab a table on the deck to stare lazily at your gorgeous surroundings.

Address: 25 Lodge Rd, Lovedale

9. Hunter Belle Dairy Co.

Jason and Annie Chesworth, a pair of passionate dairy farmers, bring a wealth of experience to their Hunter Belle Dairy Co. cheese room. A family business passed down by Jason’s parents, Geoff and Tania, who still work on the retail side of things, it’s home to a busy deli, bar and cafe on Broke Road. House-made bries, cheddars, yoghurts, fetas and more are too tempting to resist, plus there’s picnic packs to take advantage of, and cheese and fudge tastings. There’s also plenty of lush grass to laze upon if you choose the picnic route and you’re right next to the vines, so every vantage point is quintessentially Hunter Valley.

Address: 1616 Broke Rd, Pokolbin

10. Fat Cow Hunter Valley

A gorgeous timber lodge overlooking the vines, Fat Cow Hunter Valley is a haven for gooey, more-is-more indulgence. While their famed cheese boards are best enjoyed on the deck with a glass of wine, what I love about this spot is its family-friendly attitude as kids are also offered their own ‘Chocolate Dipping Board’, priced at $15 and loaded with marshmallows, lollies, fruit and dippy chocolate. Don’t let your little ones have all the fun, however, as an on-site gelato fridge provides the perfect chaser once all the cheese is devoured.

Address: 16 Pokolbin Mountains Rd, Pokolbin

11. Chocolate Escape Room at Sutton Estate

Inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Sutton Estate Hunter Valley’s Chocolate Escape Room is unlike any other chocolate-tasting experience I’ve ever seen in wine country. Locked in a room, you’ve got 60 minutes to work through a series of puzzles and uncover your exit, and the best bit? Those puzzles involve a little chocolate tasting. Five unique tastings are included in each session, which costs $60 per person (but the price goes down to $50 per person if you’re bringing in between five and 10 guests). While you’re on-site, electric bike hire, axe throwing and a smash room (where you can safely swing at random objects to unleash your inner beast) also invite family-friendly fun.

Address: 381 Deasys Rd, Pokolbin

12. Wine and chocolate pairings

While they’re better known for fermenting over tempering, a solid lineup of Hunter Valley wineries offers irresistible sweets alongside famed drops.

Pokolbin Estate roll out a very popular Wine Paddle (I was surrounded by tables full of them during a recent visit) stacked with samples and one of two choices: five chocolates or five cheeses. Expect 30ml wine samplers and tasting notes, but what I love about this Hunter Valley chocolate and cheese experience is you don’t need to book — walk-ins are catered for right away. It costs $26 and lasts for 45 minutes.

Extras

Glandore Estate Wines, Pokolbin — Glandore Estate Wines offers a delicious chocolate and wine pairing experience. (Image: Time Out)

Tulloch Wines stages a 45-minute wine tasting of five drops paired with five local handmade chocolates, priced from $35 per person.

Wild Wren Wines do a wine and chocolate pairing that lasts for one hour and costs $30 per person. You’ll be treated to six wine samples and four unique chocolates.

Binet Family Wines offer a wine and chocolate tasting that costs about $45 per person and includes four to five wine samples that are each served with Cocoa Nib’s signature bonbons.

Glandore Wines do a one-hour chocolate and wine pairing priced at $40 per person. It includes six wine samples and handmade Adora chocolates to match.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

A foodie’s guide to the divine Hunter Valley chocolate and cheese trail