There’s something about the Hunter Valley that invites you to do more than just visit - it invites you to experience. From the people you meet to the moments you create, it’s not just about where you go, but how you feel while you’re there. Here’s how to make the most of your time in Wine Country - one experience at a time.
Tastebuds on a tour
You can’t come to the Hunter without diving into our wine and food scene - it’s the heart of what we do. But it’s not just the award-winning drops or the paddock to-plate meals that stay with you. Let a local guide take the wheel on a winery tour and curate a day of new flavours, scenic outlooks, and stories shared along the way. Image credit: RRR Tours.
Scenic views and outdoor adventures
Some of your best memories will happen outside - when you’re cycling past rows of vines, soaring above the valley in a hot air balloon or helicopter ride, or simply stopping to take in the view. The Hunter Valley’s natural beauty isn’t just a backdrop - it’s part of the experience. Slow walks, horse rides, championship golf courses or picnic stops… out here, the everyday feels a little more special. Mount Bright, Bimbadeen and Pokolbin Mountains Road lookouts are all easily accessible treks through surrounding National Park. Ancient engravings at Biame Cave and Finchley Cultural Walk are something to behold.
Wellness
There’s a calming rhythm to the Hunter that’s easy to slip into. Unwind in a spa with bush views or settle into your stay with a glass by the fire and nothing on the agenda. However you like to recharge, there’s space for it here.
Boutique shopping and weekend markets
Markets and boutique shops offer artisan cheeses, handmade gifts, vintage treasures and one-of-a-kind pieces. It’s all part of the charm, and a great way to take a little bit of the Hunter Valley home with you.
A taste of culture
In a place so beautiful, creativity, arts and culture go hand in hand with wine and food culture. A sip of wine and you might feel inclined to explore your creative side with a gallery visit, culture walk, or art class, or discover a host of artistic endeavours at the Singleton Arts & Cultural Centre. Outdoor art installations in surrounding towns and villages include sixty eye-catching murals at Kurri Kurri, telling the stories that shaped the region. Spring brings an annual Sculpture Festival at Wollombi, where you can also explore Yengo National Park and see Circuit Flat Bridge, one of Australia’s oldest, built by convicts in 1831.
Family memories
Many of our most popular wineries, eateries and activities are family-run and not only welcome children but offer thoughtful extras, just for them. You won’t miss a beat finding experiences to make treasured memories with the whole family, throughout your stay. Playtime here goes further than our riverside, vineyard and small town playgrounds. Within the grounds of cellar doors you’ll visit, grassy surrounds where the kids are free to roam, sculpture walks, lawn games, and themed gardens with fairy-tale installations and seasonal displays, from dinosaurs and snow to Christmas lights. Curious kids will be thrilled to see chickens and be greeted by friendly farm dogs. Chase adventure tracing heritage stock routes by segway.
We’re not short on cellar doors who create creative ways to keep the kids engaged while you enjoy a wine tasting. Think local cheese and kombucha tastings for teens, snack-matching for kids, Giant Jenga, colouring-in, activity boxes, or a dedicated children’s zone. We’re big on just-picked produce. Explore a kitchen garden on the way to your table to spark your kids’ appetite for eating well. Book a big family table for a great value country pub meal, ease into your mornings together with a relaxed café breakfast, take wood-fired pizza back to your vineyard, stay for quality time-out, share a generous graze-board of local cheeses and charcuterie, or treat the fam to fine-dining where the chef’s signature style is carried over to the kids menu. Chocolate creations here are an art form, and don’t even get us started on our infamous dessert bar!
This blog was created by the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association.
