| Pokolbin is located in the eastern part of the Australian | | | | Gardens. Created by Bill and Imelda Roche, |
| state of New South Wales. It rests in the internationally | | | | award-winning gardeners and landscapers. Here |
| famed wine region of the Lower Hunter Valley. | | | | twelve themed gardens cover over twenty-five |
| Pokolbin is in fact a rural area rather than a town, | | | | hectares of land. A famed holiday spot, the Mercure |
| though it is situated between two towns, Cessnock | | | | Resort provides accommodations and there are many |
| and Branxton. It is a popular attraction due to its many | | | | events besides the regular garden tours. |
| wineries and vineyards, day spas, resorts and local | | | | Some of the gardens found here are the Rose |
| artisans. What follows are some of the attractions of | | | | Garden, where over eight thousand roses of over one |
| the land. | | | | hundred and fifty varieties grow in a garden patterned |
| The Hunter Valley is most famed for its wines and is | | | | in a corkscrew shape. There is the Sunken Garden, a |
| what draws most of its visitors. Dozens of wine | | | | garden landscaped to give a sunken, grotto-like |
| producers and vintners are based here, ranging from | | | | appearance, featuring a large waterfall and pond the |
| big multinationals to small family operations. Most of the | | | | size of five Olympic pools amidst an array of |
| countryside is under cultivation. The most common | | | | evergreen and deciduous trees. Then there are the |
| plantings are Shiraz and Semillion with Chardonay, | | | | Chinese and Oriental Gardens where one enters |
| Cabernet and Sauvignon rounding out most of the rest. | | | | through traditional Chinese moongates and Chinese, |
| The Vintage Hunter Wine and Visitors Centre at 455 | | | | Korean, and Japanese influences are blended to |
| Wine Country Drive in Pokolbin can direct visitors to | | | | incorporate rocks, raked gravel, bamboo stands, Ginko |
| the towns, accommodations, dining establishments and | | | | trees, pagodas and lakes filled with water lilies and |
| festivals in the Valley. Most importantly they can direct | | | | Asian fish. |
| you to the many wineries and arrange visits to such | | | | Barrington Tops is a natural area that is divided into a |
| vintners as Vinden Estate Wines, Thalgora Estate, | | | | State Forest and a National Park. Here one finds great |
| Blueberry Hill Vineyard, Morgan Family Wine Growers | | | | basalt cliffs, rain forests, moss swamps and trout |
| and Tyrrell's Wines. | | | | streams. It is on the list of World Heritage sites and is a |
| At the center of the area is Pokolbin Village, popular as | | | | twenty-five kilometer long plateau set between extinct |
| a base from which to tour the wine country due to its | | | | volcanoes. Diverse and plentiful flora and fauna live |
| central proximity and being in walking distance of | | | | here. The site provides for outdoor activities such as |
| nearly all local wineries and cellars. The resort is set up | | | | bushwalks, canoeing and kayaking, mountain and trail |
| like a village amidst landscaped grounds. Visitors may | | | | bicycling and camping. |
| stay in suites with private verandas or bedroom villas | | | | As one can see, Pokolbin provides access to |
| and a homestead for more private stays. Tours of the | | | | domesticated as well as wild nature and makes |
| wine country and its attractions can be arranged with | | | | available activities and amenities in plenty for those on |
| the staff there. | | | | holiday. |
| Another famed place here are the Hunter Valley | | | | |