TRY THIS: Spoonbill Cafe

SPOONBILL CAFE 

Address: Hunter Wetlands Centre, 1 Wetlands Place, Shortland 

Open: Thursday and Friday, 5.30pm to 8.30pm for dinner, 9am to 2pm daily for lunch

Phone: 4951 6466 

Website: wetlands.org.au

SPOONBILL Cafe is the perfect place to take the children  for a delicious feed in a family-friendly environment. 

The open-plan dining area overlooks the grounds of the Hunter Wetlands. The new dinner opening times mean you can relax and enjoy stunning views of the sun setting across the water as you dine.

Spoonbill sits next to the Wetlands’ big tanks, full of slippery reptiles to entertain the kids, while the adults kick back and enjoy the views. 

You can also try to spot each of the 38 species known to make the wetlands their home. 

Keep an eye out for the new mother black swan with her baby cygnets.

Now open for dinner on Thursday and Friday nights, the cafe provides the perfect meal to accompany a Spotlight Prowl. 

Packaged prices for dinner and the walk are $80 for a family. 

More than simply a dinner, a night out at Spoonbill Cafe will prove to be an experience for the whole family to enjoy. 

Below is a sample of the menu. There are a range of blackboard specials available for dinner. Dinner bookings are essential.

Food: Bowl of chips $7; wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli $8.50; Caesar salad $16.50; chicken Caesar salad $18.50; salmon Caesar salad $19.50; Mexican chicken tortilla wrap with avocado, salsa and cheese $16.50; fish and chips with salad and tartare sauce $17.50; chicken schnitzel with salad and chips $17.50; roast pumpkin and sweet potato salad with feta, olives and sun dried tomatoes $17.50; pan-fried Atlantic salmon with seaweed salad and pink ginger and lemon dressing $22; Greek salad with prawns and lemon $22.

Drinks: Spoonbill Cafe offers a wide range of soft drinks, coffee and alcoholic beverages. From beer to bubbles, there is a variety of choices for the adults. Local Tyrrell’s sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and cabernet merlot are available for $11.45 a glass. 

Dessert: Scone with jam and cream $5; slice of cake $6.50; muffins $5; slices $5.