Top 10 Things to do in the Hunter Valley, NSW
Just an hour’s drive from Newcastle, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region and one of the most popular escapes in NSW. With more than 120 wineries, hatted restaurants, rolling vineyards and everything from sunrise balloon flights to axe throwing, there’s a lot more to the Valley than a glass of Semillon or Shiraz (though we won’t say no to that either). Here are our top 10 picks for making the most of a day — or a weekend — in wine country.
1. Go cellar door hopping
With well over a hundred wineries to choose from, tasting your way through the Hunter Valley is the classic way to spend a day here. Start at a heritage name like Audrey Wilkinson, whose 1866 cellar door pours excellent Semillon with sweeping valley views, then work your way through newer, more experimental producers like Usher Tinkler, housed in a beautifully restored Pokolbin church, to Bonvilla Estate or Hart & Hunter for something a little more boutique or combine a tasting at Hungerford Hill with a meal at two-hatted Muse Restaurant next door. Most cellar doors offer free or low-cost tastings, so it’s easy to build your own self-guided wine trail — or leave the driving to someone else and book a guided tour.
2. Soar above the vines in a hot air balloon
For a view of the Valley you simply can’t get from a cellar door, set the alarm early and take to the skies with a sunrise hot air balloon flight. Operators like Balloon Aloft or Beyond Ballooning float you high above the patchwork of vineyards as the morning light hits the Brokenback Range — it’s consistently rated one of the best things to do in the region, and most flights wrap up with a champagne breakfast back on solid ground. Prefer the roar of engines as you take to the skies?? Scenic helicopter flights and vintage Tiger Moth joy flights offer a similar thrill.
3. Enjoy a culinary adventure at a top restaurant
The Hunter Valley punches well above its weight when it comes to food. Muse at Hungerford Hill and its sister restaurant Muse Kitchen at Keith Tulloch Wines are perennial favourites, while Bistro Molines at Tallavera Grove pairs some of the best food in the Valley with one of its best views. EXP at Oakvale and The Wood at Brokenwood round out a seriously impressive list of dining rooms, most of which are attached to a working vineyard — so make a reservation, and be sure to fit in a tasting before your table.
4. Taste your way through the region’s produce
Wine isn’t the only thing the Hunter does well. Cocoa Nib and Hunter Valley Chocolate Company are must-stops for anyone with a sweet tooth, while The Hunter Valley Cheese Factory, The Smelly Cheese Shop, Hunter Belle Cheese and Binnorie Dairy all offer their very own take on the local cheese scene. For something savoury, sample charcuterie and salumi at Usher Tinkler or the Lovedale Smokehouse, and don’t miss the region’s excellent olive oils at Pukara Estate. It’s easy to build an entire day around grazing your way from cellar door to cellar door.
5. Sample the Hunter’s craft beer, cider and spirits
Wine might be the headline act, but the Hunter’s craft beer and distilling scene has grown into a drawcard in its own right. The Valley Brewhouse in Nulkaba, is home to a rotating cast of craft brands including Foghorn Brewery and Jetty Road Brewery under one roof. Hope Estate’s brewery and distillery turns out everything from passionfruit cider and tropical pale ale to grapefruit gin and small-batch moonshine, while 4 Pines at The Farm, Hunter Beer Co and Ironbark Hill Brewing Co round out a proper ale trail. If spirits are more your thing, swing by Hunter Distillery, Pokolbin Distillery or Tower Whiskey Distillery for a tasting, or venture off the beaten path to Kawal Rock Distillery for unique quality gin, vodka and brandy from their 60 year old vines. If you are into cider, settle in on Pokolbin Cider House’s outdoor deck overlooking the vines.
6. Wander the Hunter Valley Gardens or head to the zoo
If you need a break from wine tasting (or you’ve got kids in tow), the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin are worth a few hours on their own. Eight kilometres of pathways wind through ten themed gardens — from a Sunken Garden to an Oriental Garden — home to thousands of trees, shrubs and seasonal displays. Throughout the year the Gardens also host major events like the Christmas Lights Spectacular and Snow Time, plus there’s a village of boutique shops and cafés right next door.
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is home to a remarkable array of wild and wonderful creatures, including binturongs, lions, rare birdlife, Australian native animals and more. A local favourite for over 30 years, the park has now evolved to be one of Australia’s most diverse collections of rare and endangered species from across the globe.
7. Explore the Hunter’s tranquil side
To experience a slower, quieter side of the Hunter, head to the area around Broke and Wollombi. Wineries in this corner wine country do things a little bit differently. Winmark Wines specialises in Chardonnay only, is set within a spectacular sculpture park and has an art gallery to boot. At Krinklewood’s tuscan inspired cellar door it’s all about organic wines. Stock up on hand-made, organic skin care products at Bare Nature’s Skin and treat yourself to lunch or dinner at Margan Restaurant or an artisanal cheese or charcuterie platter at their cellar door.
Tucked at the edge of wine country, the historic village of Wollombi is a favourite side trip for day-trippers. Founded on the convict-built Great North Road, the village is home to sandstone churches, various eclectic art galleries, a 1866 former courthouse turned museum, and the Wollombi Tavern — famous for its potent, home-made Dr Jurd’s Jungle Juice.
8. Get active – on two wheels, on horseback or by throwing an axe
For a change of pace from tastings and long lunches, the Hunter Adventure Centre in Pokolbin packs in Segway tours through the vineyards, archery, laser clay shooting, axe throwing and even Viking-themed games. It’s a great option for groups, families or anyone keen to work off a big lunch, and there’s an on-site brewery to relax in afterwards.
The Hunter’s flat vineyard roads make it a great region to explore slowly. Hire an e-bike or join a guided cycling tour to cover more ground between cellar doors without needing a designated driver, or saddle up for a guided horse ride through the Broken Back Range for a totally different vantage point on the Valley. Either way, it’s a scenic — and far less carbon-heavy — alternative to driving from winery to winery
9. Play a round on a championship golf course
The Hunter Valley is home to some genuinely world-class golf, with courses at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, Cypress Lakes and the Greg Norman-designed The Vintage Golf Club at Chateau Elan all offering manicured fairways with vineyard and mountain backdrops. If you’re travelling with kids — or just want something a bit sillier — Hunter Valley Aqua Golf lets you drive balls out over a floating-target lake, and there’s a mini-golf course to keep everyone entertained.
10. Catch a concert under the stars or enjoy the buzz at a wine festival
Come summer, the Hunter Valley’s wineries transform into some of the best outdoor concert venues in the state. Hope Estate, Roche Estate, and Bimbadgen are major venues where big-name touring acts regularly play sold-out shows on vineyard lawns, with punters spreading out picnic rugs and grazing platters as the sun goes down over the vines. Keep an eye on individual winery calendars – tickets move fast.
The Hunter is also host to a myriad of events to tickle your tastebuds. Choose from the Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival, A Little Bit of Broke, the D’Vine Wine & Food Festival and many more. Visit winecountry.com.au/events for dates.
Photography courtesy of Destination New South Wales
