Guidebook for Morpeth
Food Scene
Local eateries and bars
"Best sourdough in the Hunter", SMH GFG.
it's authentic, long fermentation sourdough...the REAL thing and it tastes great!
7 locals recommend
Historic Arnott Bakehouse
148 Swan St"Best sourdough in the Hunter", SMH GFG.
it's authentic, long fermentation sourdough...the REAL thing and it tastes great!
Good for a country pub dinner and they make their own craft beer....its preservative-free and yummy!
9 locals recommend
Commercial Hotel
127 Swan StGood for a country pub dinner and they make their own craft beer....its preservative-free and yummy!
Lovely restaurant with great atmosphere for food, wine and cocktails.
18 locals recommend
Fratelli Roma
305 High StLovely restaurant with great atmosphere for food, wine and cocktails.
No visit to Morpeth is complete without a visit to Boydell's cellar Door and restaurant, especially now since the super-talented Paula Rengger took up residence as Head Chef. Dine indoors in the original slab hut or out in the courtyard under the trees. It's a destination dining experience. A short stroll to Green Street from the hotel.
12 locals recommend
Boydell's
2 Green StNo visit to Morpeth is complete without a visit to Boydell's cellar Door and restaurant, especially now since the super-talented Paula Rengger took up residence as Head Chef. Dine indoors in the original slab hut or out in the courtyard under the trees. It's a destination dining experience. A short stroll to Green Street from the hotel.
River Royal Inn
97 Swan StHistoric pub just a walk away from the hotel, a local favourite.
The Old Victoria
9 Day StNew upmarket restaurant in Maitland offering Australian native bush ingredients.
9 locals recommend
COQUUN
396 High StNew upmarket restaurant in Maitland offering Australian native bush ingredients.
fabulous patisserie just over the river in a surrounding suburb called Lorn.
12 locals recommend
The Icky Sticky Patisserie
27 Belmore Rdfabulous patisserie just over the river in a surrounding suburb called Lorn.
A great cute venue in a quiet part of East Maitland, really great service and the food is very fresh and tasty. Very much traditional Aussie Chinese menu but everything a step up from most Chinese takeaway is done really well. We had the oriental platter , satay king prawns , fried pork with plum sauce and fried rice - everyone was awesome and good portion.
Place One Restaurant
A great cute venue in a quiet part of East Maitland, really great service and the food is very fresh and tasty. Very much traditional Aussie Chinese menu but everything a step up from most Chinese takeaway is done really well. We had the oriental platter , satay king prawns , fried pork with plum sauce and fried rice - everyone was awesome and good portion.
The Rigby is a sophisticated, Melbourne-style wine bar, cocktail lounge and restaurant. A favourite with locals for its chic ambience and genuine hospitality, The Rigby is a clever re-imagining of a character filled 1870’s heritage building on Maitland’s High Street.
Café by day and cocktail lounge/restaurant by night, The Rigby is a family endeavour, by father and son team Howard and Nick Bourne, and boasts one of The Hunter Valley’s best chefs.
7 locals recommend
the RIGBY
307 High StThe Rigby is a sophisticated, Melbourne-style wine bar, cocktail lounge and restaurant. A favourite with locals for its chic ambience and genuine hospitality, The Rigby is a clever re-imagining of a character filled 1870’s heritage building on Maitland’s High Street.
Café by day and cocktail lounge/restaurant by night, The Rigby is a family endeavour, by father and son team Howard and Nick Bourne, and boasts one of The Hunter Valley’s best chefs.
Arts & Culture
It's got a huge amount of local history and family history material from the early beginnings of the regional communities. It's just a short stroll along Swan Street and well worth the effort. Cross the road and view the bridge at the same time from Illalaung Park.
Morpeth Museum
123 Swan StIt's got a huge amount of local history and family history material from the early beginnings of the regional communities. It's just a short stroll along Swan Street and well worth the effort. Cross the road and view the bridge at the same time from Illalaung Park.
The best art gallery in Morpeth and even in the region! Well worth a visit. Situated behind the Campbell's store.
Morpeth Gallery
5 Green StThe best art gallery in Morpeth and even in the region! Well worth a visit. Situated behind the Campbell's store.
MRAG houses several exhibition spaces, featuring curated exhibitions and touring exhibitions from around Australia, as well as local and nationally recognised artists. These spaces change regularly, with new exhibitions at least every 6 – 8 weeks, three exhibitions and installations per year in the Art Factory, MRAG’s children’s art space, and key features of the MRAG art collection on semi-permanent display.
36 locals recommend
Maitland Regional Art Gallery
230 High StMRAG houses several exhibition spaces, featuring curated exhibitions and touring exhibitions from around Australia, as well as local and nationally recognised artists. These spaces change regularly, with new exhibitions at least every 6 – 8 weeks, three exhibitions and installations per year in the Art Factory, MRAG’s children’s art space, and key features of the MRAG art collection on semi-permanent display.
Shopping
an eclectic mix of fashion items and lovely staff to assist with choosing a garment or a gift
Princess Bazaar
163 Swan Stan eclectic mix of fashion items and lovely staff to assist with choosing a garment or a gift
One of the original department stores from Morpeth's colonial days, now has fudge & ginger beer tasting plus a mixed array of boutique sellers and a huge antique store
Morpeth Teddy Bears at Campbell's Store
5 Green StOne of the original department stores from Morpeth's colonial days, now has fudge & ginger beer tasting plus a mixed array of boutique sellers and a huge antique store
Louise's Of Morpeth
153A Swan Ststylish and affordable women fashion and Louise is a great help!
As well as photographic studio they have a retail outlet in Morpeth where we stock an eclectic mix of beautiful, affordable gifts and homewares. They have an expanding range of cookbooks, coffee table books, handmade jams and pickles, locally made rustic furniture, a stunning range of bamboo tableware, locally designed and hand printed fine linens and an ever changing collection of unique products by local artists and artisans.
The Photographer – Studio & Gallery
As well as photographic studio they have a retail outlet in Morpeth where we stock an eclectic mix of beautiful, affordable gifts and homewares. They have an expanding range of cookbooks, coffee table books, handmade jams and pickles, locally made rustic furniture, a stunning range of bamboo tableware, locally designed and hand printed fine linens and an ever changing collection of unique products by local artists and artisans.
Essentials
postal service with gifts too! Freda and Nigel are warm and welcoming and will assist with any of your postal needs
Australia Post - Morpeth LPO
165 Swan Stpostal service with gifts too! Freda and Nigel are warm and welcoming and will assist with any of your postal needs
Morpeth Butchery
143 Swan StParks & Nature
Walka Water Works, as well as being a popular picnic and recreation area in the Maitland district, is also steeped in history that gives it a special place in the Lower Hunter's heritage.
The complex features its pumphouse with striking chimney and ornate brickwork and is one of the largest and most intact 19th Century industrial complexes in the Hunter Valley. The large lake area with over 300 species of birdlife and walking trails surround the lake.
Picnic and barbeque facilities are available and there is a children's playground area at the old pumping station built in 1887. There is also a small museum of the pump house.
Open Time:
Gates: 7 Days a Week 7.00 am to 5.0
20 locals recommend
Walka Water Works
South Willards Lane Walka Water Works, as well as being a popular picnic and recreation area in the Maitland district, is also steeped in history that gives it a special place in the Lower Hunter's heritage.
The complex features its pumphouse with striking chimney and ornate brickwork and is one of the largest and most intact 19th Century industrial complexes in the Hunter Valley. The large lake area with over 300 species of birdlife and walking trails surround the lake.
Picnic and barbeque facilities are available and there is a children's playground area at the old pumping station built in 1887. There is also a small museum of the pump house.
Open Time:
Gates: 7 Days a Week 7.00 am to 5.0
Nice family park with a good kids playground, lots of space and shade and a perfect spot for a picnic.
Maitland Park
Nice family park with a good kids playground, lots of space and shade and a perfect spot for a picnic.
Drinks & Nightlife
River Royal Inn
97 Swan StNewly managed and renovated, this pub is great for drinks and light food.
The Whistler
436 High Stgood bar and reasonable food, very busy
Sightseeing
A must visit when in the region:
Tocal has one of Australia's finest collections of colonial farm buildings dating from the 1830's. Tocal Homestead won the Hunter Central Coast award for excellence in tourism in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Homestead is open to visitors Sundays from March to November. Groups can be booked to visit at any time during the year.
12 locals recommend
Tocal Homestead
957 Tocal RdA must visit when in the region:
Tocal has one of Australia's finest collections of colonial farm buildings dating from the 1830's. Tocal Homestead won the Hunter Central Coast award for excellence in tourism in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Homestead is open to visitors Sundays from March to November. Groups can be booked to visit at any time during the year.