Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Hunter Valley tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
Most of us love a visit to a vineyard — and being the oldest wine region in Australia, New South Wales’ Hunter Region will undoubtedly enthral viticulture enthusiasts.
However, there’s a lot more to this diverse part of the state, which encompasses the city of Newcastle (the second largest urban centre in NSW), Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and the Hunter Valley proper: home to most of the area’s vineyards and cellar doors. Relax on pristine beaches, enjoy the cool embrace of verdant forests, get active on glistening waterways, step back in time in historic towns and villages, and of course — sip some mighty fine vintages. The region is yours to explore and adore!
Newcastle and the Hunter Valley are situated roughly 170 kilometres north/north-west of Sydney, and getting to and from the capital couldn’t be easier. For a start, there are twice daily direct flights (six days a week at the time of writing) with Fly Pelican. By road, the trip from Newcastle to Sydney Airport will take you about 2.5 hours (depending on traffic). Travel by car, bus, private transfer, or on a group tour. You can also transit between the two cities by train, and arrange transport into the Hunter Valley locally.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in the Hunter Valley and surrounding region.
1. Try the region’s top drops
For many people, a visit to the Hunter is all about drifting from one winery to the next for tastings. There are more than 150 cellar doors in operation, and boutique start-ups sit alongside big-name producers like McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Wines and Tyrrell’s. The region is most famous for producing shiraz and semillon, but you’ll also find vineyards growing chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and verdelho fruit. Select the wineries you plan to visit by utilising the online Hunter Valley wine directory, or book a wine tour and let someone else take care of the decisions and driving.
2. Feast on fine cuisine
Food rivals wine as the Hunter Valley’s greatest lure. Top eateries include Muse at Pokolbin, Margan Restaurant and Winery at Broke, and Esca on the Bimbadgen Estate. Growing numbers of local providores provide a constant supply of all things delicious. From smoked meats and house-made cheeses to local honey and venison, you’ll find all your gourmet needs amply satisfied. To meet the makers, check out the Hunter Wine Country Markets (held at De Bortoli Wines).
3. Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens
Families and green thumbs will adore the colourful Hunter Valley Gardens — at 25 hectares in size, the largest display garden in Australia. There are ten themed sections, including the Indian Mosaic Garden, the Italian Grotto, and the European-style Formal Garden. But for many visitors, the star attraction is the magnificent Sunken Garden, followed closely by the fun and imaginative Storybook Garden. The Hunter Valley Gardens run a program of activities for children, and seasonal events are staged throughout the year.
4. Go golfing or spa-hopping
World-class golf courses and an ever-increasing number of day spas make the Hunter Valley an ideal place for getting some R&R. Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club, the Hunter Valley Golf Club at the Rydges Resort, and The Vintage at Chateau Elan all have championship golf courses (the last designed by Greg Norman). They’re open to both in-house guests and day players.
Chateau Elan and Rydges Resort also have luxurious spa facilities onsite. If you’re looking for something extra special, try Adina Vineyard at Lovedale or Spicers Vineyards Estate at Pokolbin — both of which offer decadent spa packages in tranquil, vine-framed settings.
5. Take a scenic beach walk in Newcastle
Time to work off those Hunter indulgences with a coastal walk in the bustling city of Newcastle. Energise with a coffee from Queen’s Wharf and watch the enormous coal ships being tugged into port, then walk east along Wharf Road to Nobbys Beach and fill your lungs with fresh sea air.
Stop for a dip in the surf, ocean baths, or the historic convict-cut Bogey Hole, before ascending through King Edward Park to the start of the Newcastle Memorial Walk. Admire the spectacular 360-degree views of coast and city, then head for the Merewether Surfhouse for a well-earned lunch.
6. Paddle upright on Lake Macquarie
Located just south of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie is Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lagoon. One of the best ways to enjoy its calm and sheltered waters is on a stand-up paddle board. Take a lesson from the experts at Kite and SUP to gain the necessary skills, then join the upright enthusiasts at the Toronto Foreshore for a social early morning or sunset paddle.
7. Slide down the Stockton Bight dunes
Another of the Hunter’s natural highlights are the soaring sand dunes at Stockton Bight. Head out with Port Stephens 4WD Tours and feel the rush as you slide down the 50-metre slopes on sandboards. You can also visit the fascinating Tin City fishing village and the iconic wreck of the MV Sygna, which ran aground in a storm on its maiden voyage in 1974.
8. Cruise Port Stephens
Bigger than Sydney Harbour, ringed by golden beaches, and largely protected from the turbulence of the open ocean, the Hunter’s Port Stephens is an aquatic playground for humans and marine life alike. Dolphins can be spotted all year round in the Great Lakes Marine Park, and whales make regular appearances from May to November. Moonshadow Cruises offers a variety of itineraries, including dolphin and whale watching trips, a twice-weekly excursion out to Broughton Island in Myall Lakes National Park, and a popular dinner cruise with live entertainment.
9. Sample the wares of a baking legend
Sitting pretty on the banks of the Hunter River, the National Trust town of Morpeth was once a bustling trading port, but its cobbled streets are now home to galleries, boutique shops, trendy cafes, and produce stores. Swing by The Historic Arnott Bakehouse, which occupies the site of William Arnott’s original bakery. His descendants are still baking delicious treats right here.
10. Explore Barrington Tops National Park
And finally, set aside some time to soak in the emerald splendour of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Barrington Tops National Park in the Upper Hunter. Part of the Gondwana Rainforest network, many of the trees and plants you see here pre-date human existence by millions of years. There are scenic lookouts, walking trails, and picnic and camping spots dotted across the park.
This post was published thanks to Classic Tours.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.winecountry.com.au.
Browse our range of Hunter Valley tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to in the Hunter Valley region? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Roslyn Jolly is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in Escape (News Limited), Mindful Puzzles, Vacations and Travel, and Mindfood. In her former career as an English Literature academic, she studied and taught the work of great travel writers, such as Henry James, Herman Melville, and Robert Louis Stevenson, and became fascinated by the history of travel and tourism. Two years at school in Wales and three years at university in England allowed Roslyn to travel extensively in Europe and North America, which she continues to do.
About the writer
Katherine Sellers has travelled to over 30 countries. She worked in country pubs and resorts in England and Wales, been a travel agent in Sydney and Brisbane, a croupier for high rollers on Christmas Island, a reservationist at Jenolan Caves House, a guesthouse manager on Lord Howe Island, and a hostess on board a luxury catamaran sailing the Ningaloo Reef. Recently Katherine completed a lap of Australia with her husband in their motorhome. When she’s not flitting about the country, she puts pen to paper.
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