Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Information for Visitors to the Hunter Valley including Accommodation recommendations. The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's most popular wine regions and is located just 2 hours drive North of Sydney. The region has over 140 wineries, 35 restaurants, 5 golf courses and a range of accommodation from 5 star resorts to beautiful self contained holiday homes. Contact Us for information and advice on where to stay and what to do in the Hunter Valley Wine Region.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Restaurants
37 within 3 miles
Attractions
112 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
96 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
25
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Acron
Sydney25 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
Took my Irish relatives on a tour of Coolmore/Darley/Arrowfield and Vinery horse studs. One must go with the accredited tour guide 'Hunter valley horse stud tours' thats because of Security and Insurance issues. Some stallions are insured for up to $300 million. It was the best day out ever!...stallions parading round the ring looking like the stars they are!... the immaculate grounds...historical buildings ...everything explained to us by our well informed tour guide. Lunch in Denman served to us by a charming lady of Venetian origin. On our trip we were alarmed at the number of open cut coal mines and wonder what will happen to traditional farming and the wine industry....food for thought!
Written September 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobeTrotting22781
Sydney6 contributions
Billabong Moon is gorgeous! When looking for a unique cottage/inn/B&B place to stay in the Hunter Valley, I was disappointed with most search results. Although many places sounded lovely, as soon as you looked at the pictures they were ugly and old with dreadful 'country kitchen' type decor. If you are after a classy romantic weekend in gorgeous surrounds with stylish and subtle design, then try Billabong Moon. Each cottage has a different theme and feel to it, and they are spaced out on the grounds so as to feel secluded and private. The service was excellent and unobtrusive - waking up late on Saturday morning to find a basket placed on the stairs with fresh food to cook our own fry-up, and the day's paper, was a lovely touch. The atmosphere is just perfect, and the location is good.
Written March 27, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruchi S
Sydney, Australia96 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Charming, romantic, picturesque are few of the words I can think of to describe Hunter Valley which is situated at the backdrop of stunning Brokenback Mountain Ranges.
What better way to spend a long weekend than to go for multiple wine tastings accompanied by some yummy boutique cheese while looking at amazing vista!!
It took us close to 4 hrs to reach from Sydney by car. If you are lucky to avoid the traffic than it is just 2 ½ hrs from Sydney.
One can book a vineyard tour. We did it on our own as it gave us the freedom to stop wherever we wanted and visit whichever winery took our fancy. There is a lot to do in Hunter Valley.
We stayed at beautiful Willow Tree Estate. I will write a separate review for it.
Of all the wineries we visited two stand out in my mind………
1) Ivanhoe Wines: It is in a beautiful building with one of the best views. It overlooks the vineyard which is on the mountain slopes. We did a private tasting here. We were seated on the wide verandah which overlooks the picturesque view of the vineyard. The tasting was accompanied with a cheese plate. The lady who served us was quite knowledgeable. The atmosphere is very relaxing. We were there for almost an hr. They have lovely wines. We bought Tawny Port which is delicious.
2) Draytons Family Wines : It is almost next door to Ivanhoe Wine. We were told they have one of the best collections of ports. Happy to say it was true. We picked up a few. Try the white port.
Other attractions
1) Hunter Distillery: It is Australia's only organic distillery. It is worth a visit. They make lovely Honey Vodka.
2) Blue Tongue Brewery Café: I am not much of a beer drinker but they have amazing Alcoholic Ginger beer. I would have loved to buy a whole lot of it but they sell it for consumption at their premises only.
3) Cheese Factory: We had gone with the expectation that we will see the process of cheese making but It’s like a specialty shop selling cheese. However, the tasting is worth it. They have some lovely stuff. We picked up Marinated Rileys Fromage Blanc. It is delicious.
4) Chocolate Factory: The name is misleading. Again it’s like a big speciality chocolate shop. Picked up some stuff but didn’t like it much.
5) Handmade Hunter Market: Worth a visit. Bought some lovely glass butterflies and woollen caps(had bought similar caps in Sydney for 25$, there got it for 15$)
Location: Kevin Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road
Opening hours: 9am-3pm on weekends.
6) Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village: It is located on beautiful grounds. Ideal place for a lazy day with kids. It has boutique specialty shops, restaurants, pharmacy, essential services. It has Aqua golf which is quite a fun activity.
7) We did helicopter ride which is 60$ for 6 mins. The view from the air is amazing.
There are whole lot of other activities to do but I have shared the ones we did. Lovely place. Will love to go back again.
What better way to spend a long weekend than to go for multiple wine tastings accompanied by some yummy boutique cheese while looking at amazing vista!!
It took us close to 4 hrs to reach from Sydney by car. If you are lucky to avoid the traffic than it is just 2 ½ hrs from Sydney.
One can book a vineyard tour. We did it on our own as it gave us the freedom to stop wherever we wanted and visit whichever winery took our fancy. There is a lot to do in Hunter Valley.
We stayed at beautiful Willow Tree Estate. I will write a separate review for it.
Of all the wineries we visited two stand out in my mind………
1) Ivanhoe Wines: It is in a beautiful building with one of the best views. It overlooks the vineyard which is on the mountain slopes. We did a private tasting here. We were seated on the wide verandah which overlooks the picturesque view of the vineyard. The tasting was accompanied with a cheese plate. The lady who served us was quite knowledgeable. The atmosphere is very relaxing. We were there for almost an hr. They have lovely wines. We bought Tawny Port which is delicious.
2) Draytons Family Wines : It is almost next door to Ivanhoe Wine. We were told they have one of the best collections of ports. Happy to say it was true. We picked up a few. Try the white port.
Other attractions
1) Hunter Distillery: It is Australia's only organic distillery. It is worth a visit. They make lovely Honey Vodka.
2) Blue Tongue Brewery Café: I am not much of a beer drinker but they have amazing Alcoholic Ginger beer. I would have loved to buy a whole lot of it but they sell it for consumption at their premises only.
3) Cheese Factory: We had gone with the expectation that we will see the process of cheese making but It’s like a specialty shop selling cheese. However, the tasting is worth it. They have some lovely stuff. We picked up Marinated Rileys Fromage Blanc. It is delicious.
4) Chocolate Factory: The name is misleading. Again it’s like a big speciality chocolate shop. Picked up some stuff but didn’t like it much.
5) Handmade Hunter Market: Worth a visit. Bought some lovely glass butterflies and woollen caps(had bought similar caps in Sydney for 25$, there got it for 15$)
Location: Kevin Sobels Wines, 5 Halls Road
Opening hours: 9am-3pm on weekends.
6) Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village: It is located on beautiful grounds. Ideal place for a lazy day with kids. It has boutique specialty shops, restaurants, pharmacy, essential services. It has Aqua golf which is quite a fun activity.
7) We did helicopter ride which is 60$ for 6 mins. The view from the air is amazing.
There are whole lot of other activities to do but I have shared the ones we did. Lovely place. Will love to go back again.
Written April 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy
Hong Kong, China18 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
Visited HV in June 2012. Did a day on a bus tour which was mediocre... Only ended up seeing 3 wineries. The next day hired bikes from Grapemobile which was the absolute highlight of our AU trip. Ron picked us up at our hostel and even waited for us as we were 10 minutes behind... Drove us to his family vinyard which is s quaint and beautiful... Gave us a tasting of wine and then sent us off on a perfect day cycling and wine tasting. We were able to go at our own pace and see the things we wanted to see, plus be outside in the valley all day- all for $35 which is half the price of a bus tour. He then drove us 20 minutes to Cessnock to catch a bus... Such a great little company with incredible service. When I arrived in Sydney, I realized I left a bag in the van after our ride to the bus station... I emailed Grapemobile and they sent my bag express from HV to my Sydney hostel without even asking me to pay for the shipping. I can't speak highly enough about Grapemobile and the family that runs it. A must do in the Hunter Valley.
Written June 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oceanskies
Pulau Ubin, Singapore497 contributions
May 2011 • Friends
I visited Hunter Valley with my mother in May 2011. We signed up for The Scenic Wine Tasting Tour provided by the Red Carpet Tours (http://www.redcarpettours.com.au/).
If you prefer to travel with a smaller tour group, this will be a tour that I will recommend. Before visiting Hunter Valley, this tour brought me and my mother to the Australian Reptile Park for a morning tea with the kangaroos, koalas and other reptiles.
Many bus tours would travel along the highways. This tour took us instead along scenic routes to Hunter Valley. Instead of travelling along highways, on our way to Hunter Valley, the bus took us along the more narrow paths of the countryside. In return, we caught glimpses of the free-ranging Australia wildlife and the beautiful countryside.
At Hunter Valley, we had cheese-tasting at Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop. I love the cheese! My favourite was the Feta with Pesto.
A visit to Hunter Valley will not be complete without wine-tasting. We visited Brokenwood and Oakvale for professional wine-tasting. We were introduced to varieties such as semillon, viognier, chardonnay, sangiovese, shiraz and more.
Other than the treats to the wines, I appreciated the beautiful sceneries and the sights of the roses that were grown side-by-side the vineyards.
The lunch at Hunter Valley's Bluetongue Brewery Cafe was prepared with pride and joy. We were treated to a hearty lunch and four different kinds of wines.
My mother and I gave the Hunter Gardens a miss during my visit. I heard that are interesting floral displays at the Hunter Gardens.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. Chocolate lovers will love the sampling of various kinds of chocolates.
If you prefer to travel with a smaller tour group, this will be a tour that I will recommend. Before visiting Hunter Valley, this tour brought me and my mother to the Australian Reptile Park for a morning tea with the kangaroos, koalas and other reptiles.
Many bus tours would travel along the highways. This tour took us instead along scenic routes to Hunter Valley. Instead of travelling along highways, on our way to Hunter Valley, the bus took us along the more narrow paths of the countryside. In return, we caught glimpses of the free-ranging Australia wildlife and the beautiful countryside.
At Hunter Valley, we had cheese-tasting at Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop. I love the cheese! My favourite was the Feta with Pesto.
A visit to Hunter Valley will not be complete without wine-tasting. We visited Brokenwood and Oakvale for professional wine-tasting. We were introduced to varieties such as semillon, viognier, chardonnay, sangiovese, shiraz and more.
Other than the treats to the wines, I appreciated the beautiful sceneries and the sights of the roses that were grown side-by-side the vineyards.
The lunch at Hunter Valley's Bluetongue Brewery Cafe was prepared with pride and joy. We were treated to a hearty lunch and four different kinds of wines.
My mother and I gave the Hunter Gardens a miss during my visit. I heard that are interesting floral displays at the Hunter Gardens.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. Chocolate lovers will love the sampling of various kinds of chocolates.
Written April 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jodzz
Sydney28 contributions
We stayed at Bimbadeen Estate for three nights over a weekend in August 2008. During our four days in the Hunter, we enjoyed lots of wine tasting and indulging.
I highly recommend Audrey Wilkinson winery, they do a fabulous sparkling semillon and have very friendly staff. We also went to Lindemans (very nice), McGuigans (good and reasonably priced - try the Night Harvest which is cellar door only), Tempus Two (didn't like at all, very snobby and unwelcoming environment), Draytons (very nice), Tyrells (great daily tour).
The tour through Tyrells was good, it cost $5 and they gave you a quick overview of winemaking and the history of Tyrells. It is a lovely old winery and very scenic. They are open Mon to Sat and the tour runs every day at 1.30pm.
The cheese factory, next to McGuigans is good, they have fantastic feta stuffed olives.
The Smelly Cheese shop in the shopping centre on Broke Road is amazing... sensational olives of all varieties and mouth watering gelato, excellent variety of cheeses.
The chocolate shop in Lovedale is great! Very nice hand made fudge.
The Olive Shop in Pokolbin is nice and we also played Aqua Golf at the Hunter Valley Gardens complex. This is loads of fun and I really recommend it!
For a nice meal out, try Cracked Pepper on Broke Road, just past Tyrells. Amazing food and wine in this restaurant and excellent service.
Harrigans Pub is nice for a casual night out, the meals are a bit expensive though for what they are.
The Blue Tongue Brewery is good, they have beer tasting which is good fun, however the water in their bathrooms (even in their taps) is a hideous brown colour... I just hope they don't wash their plates and glasses in the same water!
I would definiately recommend the hunter valley to anyone who wants a nice relaxing and indulgent weekend away.
I highly recommend Audrey Wilkinson winery, they do a fabulous sparkling semillon and have very friendly staff. We also went to Lindemans (very nice), McGuigans (good and reasonably priced - try the Night Harvest which is cellar door only), Tempus Two (didn't like at all, very snobby and unwelcoming environment), Draytons (very nice), Tyrells (great daily tour).
The tour through Tyrells was good, it cost $5 and they gave you a quick overview of winemaking and the history of Tyrells. It is a lovely old winery and very scenic. They are open Mon to Sat and the tour runs every day at 1.30pm.
The cheese factory, next to McGuigans is good, they have fantastic feta stuffed olives.
The Smelly Cheese shop in the shopping centre on Broke Road is amazing... sensational olives of all varieties and mouth watering gelato, excellent variety of cheeses.
The chocolate shop in Lovedale is great! Very nice hand made fudge.
The Olive Shop in Pokolbin is nice and we also played Aqua Golf at the Hunter Valley Gardens complex. This is loads of fun and I really recommend it!
For a nice meal out, try Cracked Pepper on Broke Road, just past Tyrells. Amazing food and wine in this restaurant and excellent service.
Harrigans Pub is nice for a casual night out, the meals are a bit expensive though for what they are.
The Blue Tongue Brewery is good, they have beer tasting which is good fun, however the water in their bathrooms (even in their taps) is a hideous brown colour... I just hope they don't wash their plates and glasses in the same water!
I would definiately recommend the hunter valley to anyone who wants a nice relaxing and indulgent weekend away.
Written August 12, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RickJM
Hampshire, UK7 contributions
If you're going to stop over in the Hunter Valley look no further than the Nightingale Winery in Broke near Singleton in NSW.
We stopped there for two days earlier this month and had a tremendous time.
They have six brand new suite type accommodations and have spared no expense in fitting them out - they are truely luxurious.
You are treated to a full wine tasting and then a free bottle of wine of your choice on arrival.
They have a terrific restaurant and all the rooms look out onto the vineyard, there is also an outdoor pool.
We stopped there for two days earlier this month and had a tremendous time.
They have six brand new suite type accommodations and have spared no expense in fitting them out - they are truely luxurious.
You are treated to a full wine tasting and then a free bottle of wine of your choice on arrival.
They have a terrific restaurant and all the rooms look out onto the vineyard, there is also an outdoor pool.
Written November 20, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vince P
Sydney, Australia89 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
Everything is over commercialised and the cellar doors are too focused on hitting their KPI's than explaining what you want to know about wine, histories and techniques.
Written August 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rodneymtl
Singapore, Singapore53 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
A 2 hours drive from Sydney City, you will arrive at this beautiful vineyard region where you can have a day tour or stay a couple of days to explore. There is 360 degrees of great view and sumptuous dining around the region. Go for hot air balloon ride and wine tasting in one of the many great wineries.
Overall a beautiful and relaxing place to be and makes me want to go back again!
Overall a beautiful and relaxing place to be and makes me want to go back again!
Written November 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sydney816
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
Mar 2014 • Friends
The new motorway has reduced travelling time to the Hunter Valley so it is now an easy day trip from Sydney. You can get there within 2 1/2 hours easy drive from the centre of Sydney.
Written April 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gordon L
Aberdeen, UK
Are there any day/afternoon cycle tours to take around the valley
Kalila
Gold Coast, Australia6 contributions
Yes, you can ring up and ask for a bike and they will drop it to any location. If you drop into any local business they will be able to provide you with the number and any further information 😊
Valerio R
11 contributions
Hi, It's my 1st time in Australia and next month I will be driving from Sydney to Coffs Harbour where I will spend the night. Do you think I have enough time to visit part of the Hunter Valley, or have lunch there before continuing my journey to Coffs Harbour? Or does it worth spending only a full day or a week-end?
bigpond1252
26 contributions
Hi, you could have a nice lunch in the Hunter but anything else? No, not really. Most people come here stay for at least two nights. Check out Lilies Luxury Retreat (sorry but can't leave web addresses in this forum) for a beautiful place to stay in the heart of the Hunter Valley.
I am from jesond...could I be included in a group tour to hunter valley tea gardens?
bigpond1252
26 contributions
Hi Jesond, if you want to see the Hunter Valley Gardens go to their website. You will find all the information needed on their site.
Have fun!
Hunter Valley (New South Wales) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Hunter Valley
- Hunter Valley is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- We recommend booking Hunter Valley tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 Hunter Valley tours on Tripadvisor
- Restaurants near Hunter Valley:
- (0.21 mi) Redsalt Restaurant
- (0.20 mi) Lovedale Bar + Grill
- (0.61 mi) Muse Restaurant
- (0.60 mi) Restaurant Cuvee
- (0.45 mi) Hungerford Hill Wines