Pokolbin, the heart of the renowned Lower Hunter Valley wine region in New South Wales, north west of Newcastle is a locality or district rather than a distinct village or town. Pokolbin is located between the townships of Branxton and Cessnock about 145 km north of Sydney. The Pokolbin area is renowned for its vineyards, some of which are over one hundred years old and it is a separate wine district in its own right. The Pokolbin district and the surrounding area has a diverse range of wonderful attractions and fabulous facilities supporting a diverse range of tourist activities such as bushwalking, restaurants, cafes, antique, arts and crafts and other specialty stores, winery tour operators, cellar doors, horse riding and hot air ballooning. Some of the major events in the district are:
# The Hunter Valley Harvest Festival in March-April # Hunter Valley Garden displays # Jazz in the Vines and Opera in the Vineyards in October # Discovering the delights in the heritage towns of Maitland, Morpeth and Wollombi # Taking an unusual way of touring the award-winning wineries on a bike, on a horse, a carriage tour or a mini-bus tour # Tasting the cheese and other diary products at the Hunter Valley Cheese Company. Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock and the many towns dotted through the Hunter Valley offer a wide range of entertainment and amusement options.