Gin It Up: Here Is Every Sip-worthy Hunter Valley Distillery

You know the wine so shake things up with a sip-stop at a distillery in the Hunter Valley.

Rolling green hills, rose-freckled vines and swirly strawberry sunsets – name us a more fitting backdrop for getting giggly over a few G&Ts. While the region is one of Australia’s premium wine countries, spirits have grown in momentum in recent years and the crafty folk crushing grapes are turning their attention to the harder stuff. Silky smooth gins, sweet vodkas, shockingly good moonshine and more. There’s no stopping the creativity at any given distillery in the Hunter Valley.

FAR Distilling

Jessica and Ben Whittemore-Tulloch quietly launched the Hunter Valley’s newest distillery, FAR Distilling , in late 2023 and speedily sold out of its first batch of gin. The duo currently have two premium hand-crafted gins available: the Limited Edition Hunter Valley Shiraz Gin and No.1 Signature Blend Gin. Both gins are available to taste at the pop-up tasting location at the Keith Tulloch Wine cellar door. Pre-book your tasting online.

Address: 989 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin

Kawal Rock Distillery

A fuss-free celebration of wine-based spirits and natural bushland, Kawal Rock Distillery is so charming you don’t even need to like gin to get caught up in the fun. Located 20 minutes from Pokolbin and surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, it angles your tasting experience towards several outdoor zones where sensational views abound.

You’ll find its adored ‘The Girls on the Hill’ gin range and moonshine being poured at the cellar door, a sight in itself due to its impeccable craftsmanship out of wine barrel timber, and you’re also invited to jump on board ‘Picnic in The Sky’ where a helicopter will zoom you, your guest and a gourmet picnic up to a stunning rock formation on Sentry Mountain (located on-site) to soak it all up from an entirely unforgettable vantage point.

A tasting costs $25 and includes three gins, a tonic or soda and a glass of Kawal Rocks’ Twin Eagles Moscato.

the cellar door at Kawal Rock Distillery — Sip your way through Kawal Rock Distillery’s hand-crafted bespoke spirits and wines.

Address: 260 Milbrodale Road, Fordwich

Hunter Distillery

The region’s most famous spirit studio, Hunter Distillery , attracts consistent crowds for its top-notch range of the hard stuff including vodkas, liqueurs, Schnapps and gins, headed up by the award-winning Copperwave Distilled Gin.

Located along Broke Road right near Tyrrell’s vineyard in the heart of the Hunter Valley, this place is a well-oiled machine, rolling visitors into its factory-style cellar door to sample the all-organic fruits of its labour very efficiently.

Serious shoppers will love the experience as a series of test tubes provide samples of everything you’re hankering for at just $5 per person, whereas those looking for a picturesque spot to unwind (and are really only in the Hunter for wine) might be happier elsewhere.

Address: 1686 Broke Road, Pokolbin

Pokolbin Distillery

An ultra-modern building set against aisles of vines and gum trees, Pokolbin Distillery is warm and inviting from the moment you spot it.

The small-batch distillery in the Hunter Valley is located right in the thick of Broke Road, opposite Hope Estate, and whips up its own gins, vodkas and liqueurs inspired by the owners’ Polish roots as well as native Aussie ingredients. It’s evident in the Bush Gin and Native Plum Finger Lime blend, leaning on the flavours of the Davidson Plum.

Before you go, don’t miss their Salted Caramel vodka for obvious reasons. Tastings cost $15 per person.

Address: 2198 Broke Road, Pokolbin

Pokolbin Distillery in Hunter Valley — The small-batch distillery is renowned for its own gins, vodkas and liqueurs. (Image: Destination NSW)

Hope Distillery

And you thought Hope Estate ’s finest contributions peaked with 2017’s Bruce Springsteen concert. The legendary wine aficionados of the Hunter Valley, home to countless outdoor events in their enormous amphitheatre, launched the Hope Distillery in 2020.

wine tasting at sundown in Hope Estate — Soak up the stunning views (and sunset) with a tasting at Hope Estate. (Image: Destination NSW)

Cranking out gin, vodka, ouzo, and moonshine from their central Broke Road headquarters and you can purchase sample paddles for $20 a pop out of their cellar door. They’re beautifully presented, accompanied with garnishes, a bucket of ice and mixers.

friends having fun at Hope Distillery, Hunter Valley — Make time to explore the Hope Distillery property while you’re there. (Image: Destination NSW)

Once you’re satisfied with spirits, move onto Hope Estate’s hoppy brews and round the day out with their original offering: far-too-drinkable vino. If you’re staying for lunch, they can also organise a pre-booked pizza package and there’s a range of grab-and-devour snacks over the bench.

Address: 2213 Broke Road, Pokolbin

Small Mouth

You’ve probably walked past it a bunch of times while exploring the Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village but Small Mouth is worth a pit stop. The distillery in the Hunter Valley is hard to miss given the vivid rainbow of gins, vodkas, rum and liqueurs splashed with edible glitter.

In-store tastings are free so sampling the likes of their Berry Pink Gin, Chocolate Hazelnut Vodka, Espresso Liqueur and Spiced Rum is basically non-negotiable. It’s a small-batch business but these flavour combinations pack a supersized punch.

Address: Shop 20, 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin

a rainbow selection of gins and vodkas at Small Mouth, Hunter Valley — The flavour combinations here are delightfully memorable.

KissOfire

A family-run distillery in the Hunter Valley, KissOfire is another pit stop located within the Hunter Valley Garden Shopping Village. Home to 24 Butterscotch drops spanning all the way from the brand’s original and best-known Chilli variety through to summer classics like Lychee and Pineapple, the tiny but mighty store doesn’t serve as a cellar door but tastings are offered by friendly staff during your visit.

Address: Shop 2A, 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin

Millbrook Estate

It’s more famous for its wines but Millbrook Estate also crafts spirits, namely brandy and liqueurs.

In the way of liqueurs, the flavours are funky – Aniseed, Ginger, Orange and Lemon – however the seven-year-old liqueur brandy gets a great wrap from customers who have likened it to cognac.

There’s a tasting room for small groups at this distillery in the Hunter Valley plus there’s an underground wine cellar built out of an old quarry that’s worth a squiz.

Address: 1617 Mount View Road, Millbrook

Tempus Two

The brand is household-renowned, but did you know Tempus Two knocks up its own gin too? One of the Hunter Valley’s most frequented wine destinations, polished and sleek from the fit-out to its staff, offers wine-based gin and a very impressive 30-minute tasting experience at its huge Broke Road headquarters, priced at $20 per person.

The Prosecco Gin, Wild Botanical Gin and Shiraz Gin are all presented in a private tasting room alongside six other gin and tonic (or gin and soda) tasters, cheese and chocolate – and if cheese and chocolate is your thing, we’ve curated a trail to consume the best in the Hunter; it starts just next door to Tempus Two.

Address: Pavillion, D/2144 Broke Road, Pokolbin

Tamburlaine Organic Wines

Tamburlaine Organic Wines , located just past Brokenwood on McDonalds Road in the middle of Pokolbin, has jumped on the gin train, releasing their own Herding Cats range.

Three unique blends are distilled on the Instagram-friendly property dotted with thriving plants and vines: Sunday Bloody Sunday, a blood orange-based gin, Double Dutch with coriander, cardamon and citrus, and That’s Amore, an Italian-inspired blend.

They aren’t gin specific, but tastings are organised at the cellar door as well as guided tours if you fall head over heels with the site and struggle to leave.

a man admiring the greenery at Tamburlaine Organic Wines — Soak up lush greenery at Tamburlaine Organic Wines. (Image: Destination NSW)

Address: 358 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin

Bimbadgen

Already a fan of the region’s most famous belltower? Then you’re probably all over Bimbadgen , the stunning winery on McDonalds Road, and its Night Merchant spirits range.

Created by the same genius team who craft the winery’s sensational wine, two releases were on the menu when we last visited. The first, a smooth Makers Vodka infused with sandalwood and the second, a Makers Gin balancing 12 botanicals and too-easily devoured straight up.

Cellar door tastings start from $10 per person and there are two beautiful long lunch spots – Esca Bimbadgen offering a wine and food pairing experience and Bimbadgen Wood Fire Pizza nailing casual courtyard vibes — to cut loose in.

the cellar door at Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley — Step into the Bimbadgen cellar door for a tasting. (Image: Beau Pilgrim)

Need somewhere to sleep it off? The Bimbadgen Homestead and Cottage accommodates up to eight guests and the four-bedroom Bimbadgen Guesthouse is also on hand to help spoil a similar-sized clan.

Address: 790 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin

Still looking for more insider tips to pad out your Hunter Valley itinerary? Read our epic list of the best things to do in the Hunter Valley.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

Gin it up! Here is every sip-worthy Hunter Valley distillery