Brooklyn is a quaint river village which feels a million miles from Sydney. Here you can feel the sense of community that infuses all the settlements of the Hawkesbury River. Eggs Benedict and trays of Oysters are our favourites.

The Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park is best visited as soon as it opens for the day at 9am. The animals are active then, and the tourists few. This is not a zoo, but a wildlife sanctuary – here koalas, kangaroos, emus, and other native wildlife freely roam the 80-hectare (198-acre) park which is maintained as native habitat. If you book ahead, we can arrange a private koala encounter.

Rather than sticking with the main highway to the Hunter Valley instead we can turn onto an under-utilised tourist drive which begins north of the Hawkesbury River.

This road passes through national parks, past small farms, and through several towns and villages. Most notably, Wollombi – a heritage town with a well-preserved 19th century streetscape, lined with boutiques, cafes, and, of course, a pub.

Mount View offers panoramic scenery from Mount View Road. Good vineyards in the area are Carillion Wines, Bria Ridge and Petersons.

The town of Pokolbin is at the centre of the wine growing region of the Hunter Valley.