Lost In The Forest Distillery

Deep in the heart of the Hunter Valley, Lost In The Forest Distillery feels like a well-kept secret – a rustic, timber-clad tasting room surrounded by bushland where small-batch spirits are crafted with serious intention. The distillery takes its name from the surrounding eucalypt forests, and the sense of discovery is part of the charm. It’s a place for travellers who want to go beyond the region’s famous wine and explore the craft-spirit revolution that’s quietly flourishing here.

Highlights & What to See

• Spirit Tasting Flight – Sample their signature gin (infused with native botanicals like lemon myrtle and pepperberry), a smooth vodka, and a barrel-aged gin that picks up honeyed notes from local wine casks.
• Forest Walk & Bush Tucker Garden – A short self-guided trail behind the distillery introduces you to the plants that flavour the spirits: wattleseed, anise myrtle, and finger lime. Informative signs explain Aboriginal bush-food uses.
• Distillery Tour – Peek inside the copper-pot stills and hear the story of how a couple of ex-chefs turned their obsession with flavour into a working distillery. The tour finishes with a cocktail made from your choice of spirit.
• Gin & Tonic Masterclass – For a deeper dive, book the hands-on session where you blend your own small batch of gin to take home, choosing from a dozen native and exotic botanicals.

Suggested Time to Spend

Set aside 1.5 to 2 hours for a tasting and a wander through the bush-tucker garden. If you join the masterclass or distillery tour, budget 2.5 to 3 hours. The distillery is compact, so it works well as a mid-morning or early-afternoon stop before lunch at one of the nearby vineyard restaurants. Most visitors combine it with a winery or two in the same afternoon.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Pokolbin – The heart of Hunter Valley wine country, home to dozens of cellar doors and the Hunter Valley Gardens.
• Broke – A quieter sub-region with boutique wineries and the scenic Brokenback Range backdrop.
• Rothbury – Known for its historic wineries and the Hunter Distillery (a sister craft-spirit producer).
• Wollombi – A charming historic village with an artists’ community, great for a lunch stop at the Wollombi Tavern.
• Hunter Valley Wildlife Park – A family-friendly attraction with kangaroos, koalas, and native bird encounters, about 20 minutes’ drive.

Please check official sources for current details.