THE GRAPEVINE BLOG

The top rated winery in Australia, an Italian cooking school and a family friendly resort are among those recognised for their excellence. Find out the latest on Hunter Valley’s awarded experiences. 

From strolling through lavender fields, to exploring the largest Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere, horse riding, and family-friendly wineries, there's plenty of great ways to spend family time in the Hunter Valley. Here’s some of the best things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids.

Hunter Lavender Farm is thrilled to announce the opening of Season 4: Summer Smiles in Bloom, from 6 December 2025 to 4 January 2026.

With the warmer weather making a welcomed return, discover where to stay and play with the kids in the Hunter Valley. With a fantastic line up of activities, there’s no shortage of family fun to keep the little ones entertained. Here's to what to do with kids in the Hunter Valley these school holidays!

The Hunter Valley is buzzing this October long weekend with a great line-up of events on offer. The Hunter Valley Balloon Aloft Fiesta will take to the skies every morning of the October long weekend, with 20–30 colourful hot air balloons drifting across the sky, and the cosmic country music weekend Dashville Skyline returns for a jam-packed three days of live music, artistic collaborations and more. Brunch and long lunches hosted at picturesque wineries, live music, markets, and Oktoberfest celebrations will also be happening throughout the region. Keep reading to discover what’s on across the Hunter Valley this October long weekend.