What a cute little community. We didn't have too much time here maybe 45 minutes to grab a meal and…read moreget back on our bus for our Hunter Valley wine tour. We first sat at one restaurant and nobody even came to take her order, we are chosen this restaurant because they serve wine. So we return to the other restaurant that did not serve wine and had an amazing lunch that was brought to us very quickly. Well my friend ordered I went and grabbed a bottle of wine from the bottle shop around the corner. The bottle shop Staff was extremely friendly and help me select my wine, even offering me a few tastings to make sure I liked it before I bought it. How cool! I wish we had more time to spend here and there seem to be a lot of cute shops and things to do easily could've spent 2 to 3 hours. I know it's unrelated but being on a bus tour on a strict time schedule does not make for a relaxing day

I can't speak too much of the gardens as I was here for the Christmas Lights Spectacular but what I…read moredid see has me planning a return visit for Spring in the new year. The lights are here for their 10th year now and I'm pleased to see the addition of rides and food stalls. Great for kids and families however I came with my partner and we both enjoyed taking photos of the lights and changing sections, ie fairy garden, candy land, story book and world attractions. The paths were rarely congested but be sure to follow the one way direction for easier flow of the crowd. Plenty of parking.

Parks are actually quite nice, which is why when I am wandering past them I tend to take a little…read morebit of time to actually look around, even if they happen to be somewhat large. This is another one of those nice splashes of greenery, but it also contains the memorial, which is always reflective of the age of the town. This park is actually reasonably large, which means that it is good for sports, as well as for letting the dogs run around.

We booked the kayaks for an 1hour and we had such a great time. The customers service rep was very…read morewelcoming, took us through important information and everything we needed to know to comfortably kayak around the bay. I would definitely book again when I visit.

Our tour guide Mike was very very thorough, professional and friendly throughout the whole tour. He…read moregave great instruction during the safety talk while having a joke around. Sadly, not a lot of wildlife said hello during our sunset tour but the sunset was amazing, as was the moon, and the water was so calm and beautiful! The kayak tour was broken up by a short break with wine/beer or juice provided by ecosports. For $35 it was definitely a steal and we'll be coming back again to kayak with them again soon!

Amazing view that will never get old. A prime spot for walking, picnicking, car or people watching,…read morerelaxing and whale watching. Bring the kids for a play in the park and lunch by the rotunda. Or grab some cardboard for a slide down the hill. A popular spot for lawn parties and wedding ceremonies. A shame The Mattara Hill Climb is no longer held here but you will still see plenty of cars treating it like their own hill race. Cons for me are the regular smokers and obnoxious music blaring out of at least one car every visit. I've hit 30. Everything annoys me lol.

Neat park but it not very well lit at night which is a little sad. On the bright side (see what I…read moredid there?) it has a fantastic view of Newcastle that makes for some very good photos. There's also the Anzac memorial walk which is very close by and worth certainly worth seeing.

Woooo! Let's go see some kangaroos and all Australian things!…read more AMBIANCE: Parking: There's a parking lot! We didn't have any issues finding parking, but we did go on a weekday. Vibes: It's not near your major big cities of Australia, maybe an hour away from Newcastle area. A very spacious area which is good for the animals. I spent a good 1.5 hrs here but that's probably because 1hr was spent feeding the kangaroos (they had an albino one). They had a good range of animals I dig the passport game, feeding spots, and general information. They have snacks if you do get hungry. TL;DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. I love this place! Who doesn't love feeding kangaroos. This zoo has it all, which I appreciate. There may be many zoos, but this is definitely one worth visiting if you're in the area. Tips: * Careful when feeding the giraffes!

This small park offers opportunities to see a variety of animals up close. Many of the enclosures…read moreseem small, especially for birds. Peacocks are loose everywhere. The lemurs seemed to be having a big argument due to the noise, but a sign indicated they were just communicating. Animals not native to Australia are also on view, such as American alligators, camels, giraffes and lions. Kangaroos can be fed and petted, including some unusual albino kangaroos. Giraffes can also be fed-- an ice cream cone filled with grasses. The pathways are freshly raked, and it's a great animal park for toddlers as it's not too big. There's also a cafe for drinks and snacks that has shaded picnic tables.

Beautiful beach! Go at low tide so you can explore the caves! The sand is soft and even the rocks…read moreare not too rough to walk on with bare feet.

Sea caves here were lovely. We apparently came at the right time (I didn't know there was a timing…read morefactor) and were able to see all the caves around. The rocks surround here were beautiful and it was all around just stunning.

Best aquarium in newcastle region. Healthy fish and great selection. Owner is outstanding. Very…read moreknowledgeable

One of the best aquarium specialists in the hunter valley area, perhaps only rivaled by Crossroads…read moreand Krempins. There's a great selection of fish and corals including marine, freshwater, cold water and tropical. The tanks are always clean and the fish healthy and free from disease. I've had nothing but good experiences with the staff, who are both knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to. Also very helpful in sorting out any issues with equipment malfunctions. They also have a lot of high end brands at reasonable prices. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in fish or herp care.

Great place for a bit of light hearted fun. Not only…read moreoffering bowling (cosmic too), but also laser tag, karaoke, a bar, pool tables and a few arcade games. Can be a wait to obtain a lane but with the other options plus plenty of nearby eateries, you are sure to find something to fill in the time.

The staff here is helpful and proficient. Great night out for a low key, relaxed and enjoyable timeread more