Cessnock

Travel Guide

Hunter Valley featuring street scenes and a city
Cessnock featuring café lifestyle, signage and street scenes
Cessnock
Cessnock featuring street scenes and signage
Cessnock

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.

Cumberland Motor Inn
Cumberland Motor Inn
3 out of 5
57-61 Cumberland St, Cessnock, NSW
Book a 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 ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (642 reviews)
"Motel is clean and tidy, We were given the option of ground floor due to being heavily pregnant, which was lovely to see the care provided by the owners."

Reviewed on 23 Jun, 2025

Cumberland Motor Inn
Wine Country Motor Inn
Wine Country Motor Inn
4 out of 5
5 Darwin Street, Cessnock, NSW
The price is S$125 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
S$125
8 Jul - 9 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star motel in Cessnock. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (705 reviews)
"Great room Layout. Clean. Lovely staff. Highly Recommend"

Reviewed on 29 Jun, 2025

Wine Country Motor Inn
Cessnock Vintage Motor Inn
Cessnock Vintage Motor Inn
3 out of 5
300 Maitland Road, Cessnock, NSW
The price is S$101 per night from 9 Jul to 10 Jul
S$101
9 Jul - 10 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star motel in Cessnock. Enjoy free parking, daily housekeeping, and a garden. Popular attractions Roche Estate and Hunter Valley Gardens are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (60 reviews)
"The room was clean and tidy and close to everything"

Reviewed on 8 Jun, 2025

Cessnock Vintage 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.
Jesmond Executive Villas
Jesmond Executive Villas
4 out of 5
189 Newcastle Road, Jesmond, NSW
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Newcastle. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an airport shuttle (surcharge). Popular attractions Newcastle Beach and Allowah ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,844 reviews)
"Some road works at the moment but when finished it will be good"

Reviewed on 6 Jun, 2025

Jesmond Executive Villas
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 parking, 3 outdoor pools, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,153 reviews)
"The whole area where cabins were located was unique in itself. I took a party of 14 there only to find some of the rooms dirty and no eye to detail with cleaning. A unusable wardrobe due to the vacuum cleaner in one side and an ironing board and doona on the other side stopping the doors from even ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jun, 2025

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort
H Boutique Hotel
H Boutique Hotel
4 out of 5
770 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin, NSW
Stay at this 4-star golf aparthotel in Pokolbin. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an attached winery. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (630 reviews)
"Was a excellent stay great value for money only down fall the heater wasn’t working"

Reviewed on 29 Jun, 2025

H Boutique Hotel
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

Things to do

Reviews of Cessnock

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3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Cessnock is a convenient base for the Hunter Valley with all the facilities you’re likely to need. There are some nice old buildings but generally the town has seen better days