Australia's oldest wine region is about two hours north of Sydney — and there's far more than the cellar doors, from gardens and balloons to golf, concerts and craft beer. Here's what to prioritise.
Wine is the headline, but the Hunter rewards a slower visit — pair a morning of tastings with a balloon flight, the Gardens, a round of golf or a long lunch. Here's the pick of it.
The heart of a Hunter visit — sample the region's famous Semillon and Shiraz at dozens of cellar doors around Pokolbin, Lovedale and Broke, from big names to tiny boutique makers.
Wander 60 acres of themed gardens at Pokolbin — and in summer, the dazzling Christmas Lights Spectacular, one of the largest displays in the country.
A hot-air balloon flight at dawn over the vineyards and misty valley is one of the Hunter's signature experiences.
Beyond wine, the valley brims with craft breweries, cider houses and distilleries pouring gin and whisky — a relaxed alternative to the cellar doors.
Graze your way around artisan cheese rooms, a chocolate company, olive groves and gourmet providores dotted between the vineyards.
Tee off at acclaimed courses like The Vintage and Cypress Lakes, set among the vines with mountain backdrops.
Big-name artists play summer concerts at vineyard venues like Hope Estate and Bimbadgen — a wine-country institution.
The Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is a hit with families, with hands-on encounters and native and exotic animals.
Hire a bike or walk the quiet vineyard lanes — an easy, scenic way to move between cellar doors and providores.
See the wineries in style on a vintage-car wine tour or a horse-drawn carriage through the vines.
The Hunter is dotted with luxury lodges and day spas — the perfect way to round off a weekend of tasting.
Time your visit for a local farmers' or gourmet market, and call in at the olive groves for tastings and produce.
A balloon flight at dawn, cellar doors and a long lunch by day, and — in summer — a winery concert or the Gardens' Christmas Lights by night. And since tasting and driving don't mix, let someone else drive.
Cellar-door wine tasting is the highlight, but the Hunter also offers Hunter Valley Gardens, hot-air ballooning at sunrise, craft breweries and distilleries, cheese and chocolate, golf, and big-name winery concerts in summer.
The Hunter Valley wine country around Pokolbin is about 2 hours' drive north of Sydney (around 160km). It's a popular day trip, though an overnight lets you enjoy the cellar doors without watching the clock.
Plenty — Hunter Valley Gardens, hot-air ballooning, craft beer and distilleries, cheese and chocolate trails, championship golf, a wildlife park, day spas and summer concerts at the wineries.
Autumn (March to May) brings the vintage and mild weather; summer is concert season and the Christmas Lights run at Hunter Valley Gardens; winter is quiet and cosy with open fires. Weekends are busiest at the cellar doors.
Yes — it's about 2 hours each way, so a day trip comfortably covers a few cellar doors and a stop like the Gardens or a providore. Since tastings and driving don't mix, a guided wine tour is the safest and most relaxing way to do it.
Cooee Tours acknowledges the Wonnarua people as the Traditional Custodians of the Hunter Valley, and pays respect to their Elders past and present.