Ultimate Guide to the Hunter Valley
Ahh, the Hunter - Australia’s oldest wine region!
Whilst rival wine and foodie destinations Mudgee and Orange are great in their own right, the Hunter is still regarded as the most popular vino destination near Sydney.
Having day-tripped on wine tours, partied at a festival on a vineyard in the area, as well as stayed in an off-grid cabin and explored the region over a week, I bring you my comprehensive guide on where to eat, drink, stay and play in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
EAT
Like many wine regions, the Hunter is also a foodie destination, with both fine dining experiences, as well as local artisan produce aplenty.
If you’re day touring, stop in for a wood-fired pizza lunch at Hope Estate, and if you’re not in a rush, enjoy a long lunch at Brokenwood Wines.
Definitely also pick up some cheese from the Smelly Cheese shop and some sweet treats from Hunter Valley Chocolate Company to go with your vinos.
DRINK
What can I say. You come to the hunter to have a drop or two. Or fifteen.
It's all about the grapes, wineries and tastings. Most wineries will let you taste for a small fee (usually between $5-20AUD), redeemable off a purchase from that cellar door.
Some of my top picks for wineries include:
Hope Estate: beautiful, big winery with friendly staff.
Audrey Wilkinson: quality wine and beautiful views, with kangaroos and joeys.
Hungerford Hill: have their cellar door shaped like wine barrel. Very cool.
There is also a vodka distillery in the Hunter, with a multitude of fun flavours like coconut, mint and chocolate.
STAY
There's plenty of Airbnb’s, hotels and boutique accommodation in the area, from cabins to cottages. Just depends on your budget and what sort of experience you want to have.
If you’re after a total off-grid experience, in2thewild has a tiny house in Pokolbin (pictured below). Pokolbin is also a great area to base yourself in, with wineries a short 10-minute drive away. Lovedale and Rothbury are also centrally located.
Newcastle (an hour’s drive west) is another option if accomodation availability in the Hunter is sparse (usually during peak season or if there’s a big event on).
in2thewild’s ‘Charlotte’ tiny house
PLAY
Aside from wine tasting, there’s the Hunter Valley Gardens (which has a giant maze!), sunrise hot air ballooning, aqua golf, alpaca experiences and more.
GETTING THERE (& GETTING AROUND)
Pokolbin is about a 2-hour drive from Sydney. There are plenty of wine tour companies that will shuttle you and your crew between wineries, but you can also drive yourself, provided the designated driver stays below the legal limit.