For the traveller in need of a respite from cellar doors and a chance at some chocolate tasting, the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company is a place worth making time for. You will come away with an edible souvenir or two and a more leisurely pace. Do not mistake it for a theme park that will occupy you all day; it is a no-fuss regional affair. In the order of 45 to 90 minutes one can have the whole experience, queues and tastings permitting, though how much time is spent on the conundrum of which box of chocolates to buy is up to the individual.
It is best to fit a trip here into your wider Hunter Valley plans. Before you set out, put in the time to see what is in stock and when they open. And factor in the country roads and weekend traffic; you may find a “quick stop” has produced a bag of gifts for those who did not make the journey with you.
Making The Most Of It
Some forethought is called for, on long weekends and school holidays in particular. Given how the Hunter Valley is laid out, you are better off combining a chocolate stop with food, wine or gardens in the vicinity than making repeated forays across the region. Thomas Ashbury would have it as simple as this: verify the particulars for the day, have water to hand and a cool car, and do not let your itinerary get too full. For all the optimism of the packaging, chocolate is not improved by being left in a hot vehicle.
What to expect
There is the usual business of having a look around, picking out a gift and a sweet treat. What is on offer will vary with the season, special events and production schedules; you might be presented with bars, boxed chocolates and other items but the range is not static. Do not count on everything being there every day. Tasting arrangements are not always the same and popular flavours have a way of disappearing. Put in a call to the company if there is something in particular you want to be sure of.
The kind of visitor it is for
An easy enough activity between the bigger attractions of the valley for day-trippers, small parties, couples and families. Those who would prefer a less ostentatious souvenir than yet another bottle will find it useful, provided they are driving and can keep the heat off their purchases.
But if you are after a protracted guided tour or a bean-to-bar demonstration of any note, you will be disappointed. The error most often made is to bring with you the expectations of a major factory tour. Think of it as a retail and tasting stop on a regional food run.
How long to stay
Rushing makes it seem like a waste of time, but half a day is hardly necessary. The following are rough guidelines for planning purposes, not hard and fast rules from the venue.
| Visit Style | Allow | Useful For | What Can Catch You Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick purchase | 20–30 min | A short browse for a product or two | Watch for a crowded counter or parking issues |
| Relaxed stop | 45–90 min | To put in some tastings and have a proper look around | Seasonal crowds and indecision can add to this |
| Family visit | 60–120 min | Time for photos and a few things to buy | Be mindful of melting and children running down |
| Combined with lunch and a couple of nearby stops | Half a day | Chocolate, lunch and nearby activities | Allow for the driving and the late afternoon traffic |
One day only
Get there early for the best selection and to avoid the bustle. Make your meal count and do not plan on more than two other places unless you are familiar with the ground. Start with breakfast, head to the chocolate company mid-morning, have lunch and then an afternoon activity. Put in a 30 minute leeway between them. On paper the valley is compact, but a tight schedule will be tested by the turns and farm entrances and slow traffic.
Where to focus
When you are short on time, make the main selection and any seasonal display your priority. You will get the measure of the business and something to put in your bag.
It is better for families to let the children make their own choices than to put them through a purchase process with military precision. One might see couples or an adult group putting in some time to put gift boxes side by side, enquire as to the ingredients and pick what will stand up to being put in a car. And if there are dietary restrictions, do not be content with what the packaging suggests; put your questions to the staff.
Get There Without The Fuss
The Hunter Valley’s attractions are to be found on regional roads, so driving is as a rule the way to go. Public transport has its uses in getting around the wider region but will not put you at the door of a smaller food or tourism concern in any convenient fashion.
A navigation app is fine to have open, but use it for guidance and nothing more. You may find that a route which seems short has slow roads or little room to turn, or that mobile reception is patchy and a rural entrance goes unnoticed.
Some Driving And Parking Advice
Make a point of saving the destination and the return leg before you set off. It would also do the driver good to know if the group intends to put temperature-sensitive items in the boot. As for parking, arrangements are subject to change when there is an event or it is busy, so heed the signs and do not impede access or neighbouring businesses.
From Sydney a day trip can mean hours behind the wheel, contingent on where one starts and the traffic, so an early start is called for. Even for those already in Pokolbin or the vicinity, a check of the final approach is in order; you can be surprised how slowly a short drive in the country can go when venues are doing a brisk trade.
And remember not to drink and drive. When wine tastings are on the agenda, have a sober driver or make use of a taxi or licensed tour. A chocolate makes a fine souvenir, a traffic infringement not so much.
Chocolate In Transit
Left in a parked car the heat will soften chocolate and ruin its look. An insulated bag is handy, as is some advice from the staff on storage; keep it out of the sun.
Overnight you should put it in a dry, cool place, not next to a sunny window or in a bathroom. Do not think refrigeration is the answer for all, it can alter the texture or cause condensation; the instructions on the package are worth following.
Plan For The Season
You will find the Hunter Valley agreeable at any time of year, yet the reality of it is dictated by the weather, the school holidays and what is on the calendar. This will determine your comfort in the car, the crowds and how much attention the chocolate needs after you have made your purchase.
There is no month that is ideal for all. It comes down to whether you want to be in cooler weather or enjoy the atmosphere of the region.
Weekdays in the cooler months
Weekdays in the cooler months lend themselves to a long lunch and a stroll in the gardens as well as the indoor chocolate browsing, and with fewer people about the attractions are easier to take in. Then again opening times are not always uniform.
Put on a light layer; a morning of clear skies does not preclude an uncomfortable evening after dinner when the regional weather turns.
Warm weather and holidays
In warm weather the queues will be longer and transporting chocolate is more of a chore. Long weekends and school holidays bring their share of congestion and slower service at lunchtime.
Make early bookings for accommodation and meals, have some water and sun protection to hand and do not over-schedule the hottest part of the day. The Bureau of Meteorology has the official forecasts and warnings for Australia, a good thing to consult.
Buy Well And Not Excessively
There is no need for a chocolate outing to be costly, though between the gift boxes and other small things the bill can mount up. If you have a number of people to provide for, set a budget of sorts. To plan on, $10–$25 will cover a personal item, $25–$60 a modest selection of gifts, more for anything premium. These are only indicative, not what the shelf price will be on the day for seasonal wares.
Labels Should Be Read
Some will make the mistake of thinking dark chocolate is without dairy, or that nut-free is a blanket term for every allergy, or that because equipment is separate there is no risk of cross-contact. Such assumptions are unwise.
Any questions of an allergy, intolerance or religious nature should be put to the staff after you have perused the ingredient and allergen data. Make sure to enquire as to the product’s suitability for you, what is involved with storage and if equipment is shared. Do not hazard a guess from the name on the box; let the business’s advice and what is on the packaging at hand be your guide.
Gifts For The Road
If there is a long drive ahead, opt for items that are well packaged and will keep. You might find it more sensible to savour a heat-sensitive filling or some delicate decoration straight away than to subject them to a three-day trek with its various stops, beach and boot.
Before parting with your money, make a note of the intended recipient. It may seem over-organised but it spares you the usual holiday dilemma of getting back with half a dozen indistinguishable boxes and wondering which one was for the neighbour.
Reality Check
One would expect a grand chocolate attraction of sorts and a lengthy production tour. In practice things are more laid back: a regional food stop where you can do some browsing and tasting if they have it and pick up something to go.
There is no fault in that. A brief visit is just right when you have a winery and lunch and a country drive to fit in. Do not put the onus on the stop to see you through the whole day.
Where Visitors Err
It is not uncommon for visitors to put too little time on the region around the chocolate stop, or to forget that a midday acquisition could be sitting in a hot car come dinnertime.
Then there is the tendency to put stock in what is online as though it were set in stone. Access, hours, the product line and how they do tastings are all subject to change. If the visit is important to your plans, get confirmation from the business before you set off.
Be Courteous
These are local enterprises sharing the area with other visitors, accommodation and the residents of the farms. Mind your noise levels about their properties, heed the parking signs and do not block the roadway to check your navigation or put in for a photo.
I used to be asked by travellers putting together an itinerary whether one could do Australia in a weekend. Mostly I would say no. The same holds here: put in a buffer and do not make a good country outing into a contest between car parks. Let the day have some room to breathe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hunter Valley Chocolate Company child friendly?
Families wanting a simple food stop will find it so. We would have parents plan for chocolate storage if they are to carry on travelling and to keep an eye on children in the vicinity of displays. Verify access arrangements as they stand.
What sort of time do I need?
For a leisurely 45–90 minutes is fine. Twenty to thirty will see you to a quick buy, but a family group or some gift shopping on a busy weekend will run to more.
Can I make it without a car?
You may be able to from where you are with the transport or tours on offer, but for the convenience of hitting a few of the Hunter Valley’s attractions a car is preferable. Be sure of your final connection before you put in place a tight schedule.
Allergies?
Do not make assumptions. Have a word with staff on the matter of ingredients and any cross-contact and look at the labels. Those with a serious allergy would be wise to act on medical advice and err on the side of caution.
Will my chocolate melt?
On a warm day in the sun it very well might. Put it in an insulated bag and out of the shade, do not leave it in the car for long.
A Worthwhile Stop
The best way to experience the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company is as part of a well balanced day with a meal and a couple of other activities in the vicinity. See to the details, allow for the driving and shield your purchases from the heat.
There is a simple appeal for those in the hunter valley: a break for the family, an edible memento and some local food without the logistics of it all. Come with reasonable expectations and if you need to, ask. Then put in the time to like the drive back.