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17 Hunter Valley caravan parks and luxe glamp sites to escape to

Save on accommodation and pour more pennies into wine with a Hunter Valley caravan park stay.

Dreaming of blazing sunsets spent gazing over the vines? A Hunter Valley caravan park, camping ground or glamping experience offers the most affordable accommodation in town. With many providing super convenient locales, a string of activities, surprisingly luxe amenities and private sanctuaries immersed in natural wonders, you’ll more than appreciate the dollars saved when your wine-hopping itinerary swings into gear.

Hunter Valley caravan parks

1. Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 10 to 15-minute drive.

Caravanners and budget-conscious families will be familiar with Ingenia’s wide-reaching stable of Aussie caravan parks and its Hunter Valley outpost is filled with everything you’d expect from the reliable chain. The Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley  caravan park, one of the best options in the region, offers powered camping sites in addition to simple but sufficiently stacked one, two and three-bedroom cabins.

a powered astro turf site at Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley
Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley has powered astroturf sites for campervans. (Image: Showcache)

A restaurant, large swimming pool, giant jumping cushion and playground for kids, camp kitchen and cafe are also found onsite. Pets are welcome if you’re caravanning, camper vanning or tenting, but they’re mostly banned from cabin life all bar the entry-level one-bedroom stays.

an outdoor pool at Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley
Enjoy a morning dip in the pool. (Image: Showcache)

Address: 137 Mount View Road, Cessnock

2. Wine Country Tourist Park

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 10-minute drive.

The best Hunter Valley caravan park in terms of proximity to wine time, Wine Country Tourist Park  welcomes tents, caravans, motorhomes and campers to its tidy grounds. It also houses a range of cabins.

the cabin interior at Wine Country Tourist Park
Settle into one of the modern cabins at Wine Country Tourist Park.

All sites are powered, including tent sites, and all cabins feature private bathrooms and kitchen facilities. Amenities include a swimming pool, camp kitchen, barbecue facilities, laundry and bike hire, and pets are welcome at the discretion of staff.

Address: Wine Country Drive and O’Connors Road, Nulkaba

3. Country Acres Caravan Park

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 30-minute drive.

A large unpowered grassy area provides a very basic spot to rest your head a little way out of central wine country. Climb the accommodation ladder at Country Acres Caravan Park  and you’ll also find powered concrete slabs for motorhomes and caravans plus one and two-bedroom cabins with or without private bathrooms. This Hunter Valley caravan park is a far cry from the finest option around, but handy amenities include a swimming pool, laundry, dump point, barbecues and a camp kitchen.

Address: 58 Maison Dieu Road, McDougalls Hill, Singleton

4. Singleton Caracourt Caravan Park

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 25-minute drive.

Clean lawns and a variety of camping sites ensure this Hunter Valley caravan park attracts a regular stream of visitors. The Singleton Caracourt Caravan Park  features unpowered and powered sites with some including an ensuite bathroom, plus one and two-bedroom cabins fitted with cooking facilities, TVs and air conditioning. Extras are basic and include one outdoor barbecue, a dump site and a communal outdoor lounge but guest laundry facilities and wi-fi incur additional costs. A good option if the bigger caravan parks are booked up.

Address: 20 Newton Street, Dunolly

5. Wangi Point Holiday Park

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: Just under one hour’s drive.

A Hunter Valley caravan park with many of the bells and whistles you’re hunting for, Wangi Point Holiday Park  is a really slick operation. The only hitch is you’re about a 57-minute drive from the wineries. If you can cope with the extra travel, you’ll be rewarded with a range of villas, cabins, and sizeable powered and unpowered campsites for caravans, trailers, campers and tents.

a campervan at Wangi Point Holiday Park
Set up camp at Wangi Point Holiday Park.

You’re situated right on the shores of Lake Macquarie, so water views are visible from several angles and amenities include a camp kitchen, a kids’ playground, multiple barbecues, a dump point, a nearby boat ramp and free wi-fi.

a couple holding hands on Lake Macquarie
Take in pristine lake views.

Address: 2a Watkins Road, Wangi Wangi

Glamping in the Hunter Valley

6. Cranky Rock Wollombi

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 35-minute drive.

You might’ve bookmarked Cranky Rock Wollombi  for its gorgeous cottage accommodation but the charming working farm is also home to family-sized glamping tents and a campground. Sleeping up to four people per tent, the unpowered Hunter Valley glamping site provides two queen beds in each tent as well as linen, toilet paper, hand towels, a septic toilet and gas for shared barbecue facilities.

You’ll also share a kitchen, showers and a fridge with fellow guests. There’s a creek on the property and walking tracks to explore.

Address: 2214 Wollombi Road, Sweetmans Creek

7. Broke Estate

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 16-minute drive from Pokolbin proper but you’re smack bang in the wine country matrix given Broke Estate is a winery itself.

A canvas bell tent and accompanying amenities pod are the newest attractions at Broke Estate , one of the region’s most celebrated wineries. Launched in 2022, this lavish Hunter Valley glamping combines the simplicity of a tent stay with sumptuous creature comforts at your doorstep.

a luxe glamping setup at Broke Estate, Hunter Valley
Relax outside your glamping tent at sundown.

The tent itself features a queen bed, record player and cushy seats while the pod, built on wheels, is where you’ll find your private fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, breakfast bar and daybed. There’s also a gorgeous timber deck with more chairs, an outdoor fireplace, a large umbrella and mountain vistas.

a modern kitchen inside the glamping tent at Broke Estate
The pod at Broke Estate is equipped with modern amenities.

Address: 1260 Broke Road, Broke

8. On Bell Glamping

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 5 to 10-minute drive.

Two eco-friendly tents can be found at On Bell Glamping , a romantic Hunter Valley glamping experience set on a working 100-acre organic farm.

two wine glasses on the table at On Bell Glamping
Immerse yourself in nature during a stay at On Bell Glamping.

Choose from the Speckled Warbler or the Grey-Crowned Babbler tents, named after the endangered birds that reside onsite, both fitted with a king bed, a separate bathroom packed with toiletries, a kitchenette, insect screens and a private deck with a barbecue. You can also order a breakfast package, cheese platters and meat packs sourced direct from the farm itself.

On Bell Glamping at night
Find the glamping site hidden in the middle of a forest.

Address: 352 Bell Road, Lower Belford

9. Donnybrook Eco Retreat

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 25 to 30-minute drive.

Situated on the banks of the Hunter River, Billabong at Donnybrook Eco Retreat  is a remote glamping tent on a 100-acre farm.

Billabong at Donnybrook Eco Retreat by the banks of the Hunter River
Billabong at Donnybrook Eco Retreat is situated on the banks of the Hunter River.

Billabong is fitted with a double bed, ensuite bathroom, fridge, basic utensils and cooking facilities including an electric hotplate, private verandah, outdoor fireplace, electric blankets and heaters in winter and power.

And you’re more than welcome to introduce yourself to the nearby alpacas, pigs, goats, chooks and Casper the pony if you’re up for socialising.

Address: 702 Luskintyre Road, Luskintyre

10. Jilliby Creek Glamping Tent and Redwood Glamping Tent

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: Just over one hour’s drive.

Two spacious glamping options, the Jilliby Creek Glamping Tent  and the Redwood Glamping Tent , offer serenity on a remote property in the Dooralong Valley. But you need to be comfortable sharing a bathroom and kitchen with your neighbours.

the Jilliby Creek Glamping Tent in Hunter Valley
Feel the serene vibe at Jilliby Creek Glamping Tent.

In each tent, however, you’ll spy a queen bed, day bed, wood-fired stove, fan, wi-fi and a deck with a hammock and firepit. Towels, linen and toiletries are also provided in both options.

kangaroos outside Redwood Glamping Tent
Be greeted by resident kangaroos at Redwood Glamping Tent.

Address: 1577 Dooralong Road, Lemon Tree

11. The Beltree

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 5 to 10-minute drive.

Arguably the most high-end Hunter Valley glamping experience to discover, The Beltree is located right in the thick of wine country and features five state-of-the-art tents. Awarded the Best Wine Country Glamping Experience 2024 in the APAC Insider’s Australian Enterprise Awards, you know you’re in for a treat.

Inside the Beltree glamping tent in the Hunter Valley
Stay in one of the five state-of-the-art tents at The Beltree.

A dream getaway for couples, each tent features its own outdoor hot tub, ensuite bathrooms with bathtubs, private balcony, air conditioning, queen bed, walk-in robe, kitchenette and fire pit.

The Hot Tub at Beltree Hunter Valley
Soak under the stars of an evening.

The 100-acre property itself is home to award-winning Semillon-producing vines, olive groves, cattle and horses so there’s plenty to gaze at if you can break away from your beloved.

S'mores by the firepit at Beltree.
Indulge in S’mores around the campfire at night.

Address: 266 Hermitage Road, Belford

Camping options in the Hunter Valley

12. McNamara Park

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 13-minute drive.

Free camping for up to three days is a bargain you’ll struggle to refuse if you’re dead keen on a DIY tent holiday. McNamara Park in Broke features a flat grassy area and some facilities including flushing toilets, picnic tables and rubbish bins. A playground and barbecue are within walking distance, making the spot very kid-friendly, and there are plenty of shady spots if your Hunter Valley adventure beckons in the sunnier months.

Address: 1273 Milbrodale Road, Broke

13. Wattle Valley Farm

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 35-minute drive.

Don’t mind sharing your digs with the odd echidna, roo or wombat? Wattle Valley Farm  is a 100-acre property surrounded by beautiful Wollombi Brook. The Hunter Valley camping spot takes tents and trailers but no caravans due to limited access roads.

the Wattle Valley Farm surrounded by trees
Stay amongst the trees at Wattle Valley Farm.

You’ll find shared toilets and showers onsite, plus there are three self-contained cabins elsewhere on the property with modern furnishings and air conditioning.

Address: 2579 Paynes Crossing Road, Paynes Crossing

14. Gap Creek Campground

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: Just under one hour in the car.

A soothing waterfall and serene walking tracks are on tap at Gap Creek Campground , about a 57-minute drive from Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. Tents, camping beside your vehicle and camper trailers are welcome at this free camping site, however a $6 booking fee will secure your spot.

the Gap Creek Campground in the forst
Go off-grid at Gap Creek Campground.

Facilities include toilets, a car park, picnic tables and barbecues, but it should be noted there’s no phone reception in the area so you’re really going off-grid.

Address: North-eastern section of Watagans National Park, entry via Bangalow Road turnoff just past Bangalow camping area.

15. Cessnock Showground

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 15-minute drive.

Did you know you could set up camp at the home of the annual Cessnock Show? If its central location floats your boat (because it should be noted, the grounds are nothing much to look at), the Cessnock Showground  offers powered and unpowered sites for caravans and motorhomes. There’s toilets, barbecues and showers to be found and pets are allowed in case that seals the deal.

Address: 111 Mount View Road, Cessnock

16. Bulga Recreation Ground

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 25-minute drive.

Well-maintained grounds and mountain scenery, plus good proximity to Hunter Valley’s hottest attractions, make Bulga Recreation Ground a decent and free option for caravans, tents and trailers. But you’ll only find toilets onsite here, no showers, so it’s a spot for the truly brave at heart. Barbecue areas are on offer, so that’s a plus, and they allow pets.

Address: 19 The Inlet Road, Bulga

17. Bangalow Campground

Distance from Pokolbin and wineries: A 55-minute drive.

Three individual campsites can be found within Bangalow Campground , which invites tents and camping beside your vehicle. The peaceful bushland features a car park, toilets, picnic tables and barbecues and it’s situated close to Monkey Face lookout which offers stunning views of the region. It’s free to camp but a Watagans National Park booking fee of $6 applies.

Address: North-eastern section of Watagans National Park, entry via Bangalow Road.

For more insider tips and must-do experiences, read our Hunter Valley travel guide.
Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Your guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of  Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

a show at Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.