With an unhurried pace of life and abundance of undulating countryside and productive farmland, Lochinvar is a local secret worth visiting. Stop in at the famous country department store, Airds of Lochinvar. It is a family owned company that has been operating on this site since 1971. Airds stock iconic brands and authentic Australian products such as Driza-Bone and Akubra.
Visit a true country Aussie pub with a long history, having stood on the existing site for over 150 years. The Lochinvar Hotel was completely rebuilt in 1913 and it is the same brick building you see when you visit today. Whittle away your Winter afternoon enjoying a pint by the fireplace or relax in the beer garden overlooking the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Lochinvar has distinct character and is dotted with heritage features that pay homage to the centuries past. Just outside of Lochinvar is Windermere House, said to be the oldest house in the Hunter Valley built in 1821 with convict labour. If you are out and about take the sneaky side road off Windermere Road to witness this piece of history. In the main street you can’t go past the charming, eclectic cafe known as True Cafe, specialising in homemade artisan chocolates, handmade ice creams and gourmet pies. Make yourself at home by grabbing one of the games for the young and young at heart to play whilst enjoying both the delectable food and atmosphere that the cafe has to offer. Â
Locals guide to Lochinvar (and surrounds)
- Taste the delectable flavours of handmade ice cream at The True Cafe, with milk and cream sourced from Udder Farm, just around the corner.
- Shop iconic brands at the famous country department store, Airds of Lochinvar.
- Just a stone’s throw away is Luskintyre where you can visit Maitland’s one and only vineyard, Tranquil Vale. Indulge in their award winning wines and stay the night in self contained cottages on their working vineyard.
- While in Luskintyre be sure to also check out the Luskintyre Airfield and Aviation Museum, home of the most operational vintage Tiger Moth aircrafts in the one place on the planet.
- We also recommend stopping to admire Luskintyre Bridge, which is one of only two surviving examples in New South Wales of an early steel Pratt truss bridge and if the engineering significance doesn’t do much for you, this bridge also features in the movie
‘Tomorrow When The War Began’.
