EAT

THE COTTAGE offers sophisticated dining and country hospitality in a restored 1860s heritage-listed building. Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm and for lunch Thursday to Saturday from noon. 196 Kelly Street. (02) 6545 1215; thecottagescone.com THE BUTTERED SCONE is open for breakfast, lunch, and coffee and cake. Try the wild mushrooms on toast with garlic butter and melted provolone. Weekdays 7am–5pm (kitchen closes at 2pm), Saturday 8am–2pm and Sunday 8am–12pm. 122 Kelly Street. (02) 6545 9600.

THE THOROUGHBRED is a bakery, restaurant and bar in an iconic building on Kelly Street. Open daily from 6.30am. 222 Kelly Street. (02) 6545 3669; thethoroughbredscone.com

SHOP

CHOCOLATE AND MOSS FLORIST stocks fresh flowers and gourmet sweet treats, including handmade Belgian chocolates from Gymea. Monday to Friday 9am–5.30pm and Saturday 9am–12pm. 195 Kelly Street. 0439 441 060; chocolatenmossfloristry.com.au HUNT A BOOK is an independent, locally owned bookstore with a wide selection of genres. Open Monday to Friday 9am–5pm. Saturdays 9am–12pm. 200 Kelly St. (02) 6545 9330. POTTER MACQUEEN has been operating since 1968 and is a popular shopping destination for homewares, jewellery and gifts. Open Monday to Friday 9am–5.30pm, Saturday 9am–1pm. 200 Kelly Street. (02) 6545 1858; follow @pottermacqueen on Instagram. THE HERD STORE is the place for beautifully curated fashion, gifts and accessories. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am–5pm and 9:30am–1pm on Saturday. 101 Liverpool Street. (02) 6545 1946; theherdstore.com.au AMANDA PARADICE JEWELLERY

for handmade gold, silver and beaded pieces. 152 Kelly Street. Follow @aparadice_jewellery on Instagram.

STAY

INN SCONE has boutique units in the centre of town. 112 St Aubins Street. (02) 6545 3848; innscone.com.au BELLTREES for cottages on a historic working property on the Hunter River. Gundy Road. (02) 6546 1123; belltrees.com RUSSLEY RURAL RETREAT is set on nearly seven hectares in the Segenhoe Valley and offers two different types of accommodation — five charmingly decorated rooms in the homestead, or The Russley Cottage with room for up to six guests. (02) 6543 8007; russleyruralretreat.com.au Cressfield Road looking out to Towarri National Park. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT The Cottage’s Colin Selwood; dry-aged, grassfed one-kilogram rib eye at The Cottage; homewares at Amanda Paradice’s store; a local homestead; a guestroom at Inn Scone; Arrowfield Stud, one of many thoroughbred studs in the area; Potter Macqueen; a dish of hapuka, pea hummus and spring vegetables at The Cottage.