Wind your way to the lower Hunter Valley, and you will find the beautiful town of Maitland. With the Hunter River winding through the town, it is as scenic as it is charming, with plenty to attract you and keep you exploring.
Fun in the Easts
The Easts Leisure Complex in Maitland has something for everyone, encompassing two venues under the same management team and offering reciprocal rights for members and visitors alike. Easts Leisure and Golf boasts a challenging (par 71) 18-hole golf course, eight of which have permanent water hazards. The course has plenty of wildlife on it too, so you will probably see some friendly kangaroos as you make the rounds, and being in operation for more than a hundred years, it is a very well established bastion of the town – an experience that keen golfers certainly shouldn’t miss. The other complex has a bowls club that encourage beginners and casual visitors with regular “barefoot bowls” sessions and has two greens so everyone has room to play – the club prides itself on being welcoming to bowlers of every age and ability, so you are sure to get a warm welcome here. If sport’s not your thing, the clubs are still worth a visit – they have live music, concerts, great restaurants and bars, gaming and more to keep you occupied while you’re in town, and a well equipped gym with regular fitness classes too.
Coffee and Chocolate
Each August, Maitland hosts “Maitland Aroma”, a Coffee and Chocolate Festival celebrating all things cocoa and caffeination. All the best baristas, roasters and blenders from miles around descend upon Maitland and meet up with the chocolate producers for an event that is simply unmissable. There are local vendors selling their wares, competitions to watch, live music, activities for the kids and a buzz that few other festivals can match, and best of all, entry is free. There are all sorts of coffee and chocolate-flavoured treats to snack on, and savoury options too, so you will be able to really enjoy yourself here. There are stalls with all kinds of brewing paraphernalia on sale along with educational sessions as well, so if you want to polish up your own barista skills this is an ideal place to learn something new to impress your friends with.
Levee Wonders
Maitland is a town that really treasures its makers and artisans, and there is no better example of this than Dennerley’s Leather Design, one of many artist-run boutiques at The Levee. A husband and wife team make all kinds of amazing leather goods on the premises here, so you can see their craftsmanship in action, as you peruse the beautiful goods for sale. It’s a great place to have a wander – the assortment of vendors is constantly changing, so you might find a potter, a skateboard maker, textile workers or a jeweller here, depending on when you’re there. What doesn’t change is the consistently high quality of the goods on offer and the willingness of the makers to show their processes – if you are fascinated by learning how things are created, you will find a visit here an extremely enjoyable way to pass a few hours.
