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14 unique Hunter Valley wine tours for more than easy transport

Image: Destination NSW

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
Score a designated driver and unexpected exploration with our pick of the best Hunter Valley wine tours.

Hunter Valley vineyards pour some of the country’s most delicious wines – so who’s going to be the designated driver? Certainly not me, which is why I stay on top of the best Hunter Valley wine tours. In excellent news, the region hosts some of the most delightful day excursions in the country, winding you through top-quality cellar doors with added surprises. From four-legged transportation to mighty handy hop-on and hop-off services, this region’s tours are far from ordinary. Let me walk you through the favourites.

In short

If you only book one of the best Hunter Valley wine tours, make it Hunter Valley Classic Carriages for transportation to a bygone era, instantly dialling up your wine time adventure. Plus, they pour drinks while you’re trotting along – enough said.

1. Hunter Valley Horses

the Hunter Valley Horses from above
Trot past picturesque vineyards on a horseback ride. (Image: Destination NSW)

Ready for memories guaranteed to last? I joined the team at Hunter Valley Horses, one of the best Hunter Valley wine tours, for a hens party that’s never left me. Carting groups around via a two-horse-drawn carriage, the experience is fairytale-special from the moment you jump aboard. Tours vary in length (my ‘Girls Day Out’ tour was a full day from 10am until 4pm and let us pick which wineries to hit up) but no matter what you opt for, you’ll trot through picturesque surroundings to reach multiple wineries. It throws in transfers from your Pokolbin accommodation, plus lunch during the longer tour options. A seriously unique opportunity to take in the Hunter’s year-round beauty, plus they organise horse riding and family-friendly animal feeding tours, too. Prices start from $120 for 75 minutes, which includes one winery visit.

2. Wine Fairy Events

a group tasting with Wine Fairy Events
Opt for a private in-house wine tasting experience. (Image: Wine Fairy Events)

Wine Fairy Events has established itself as one of the Hunter Valley’s best wine tours but I love this pick for its private in-house wine tasting experience that’s tacked onto a half-day wine tour. Relying on years of local knowledge, Kat and her team unearth six off-the-beaten-track boutique gems (three red and three white) to bring to your Hunter Valley accommodation so you can serenely sample after wrapping visits to two wineries just prior. It’s an excellent way to keep the party flowing after you change into stretchy pants and unpack your cheese stash. The tour runs for six hours in total and prices depend on how many guests you’re bringing along, so enquire via the website for an accurate quote.

3. iHop Hunter Valley

a vineyard tour with iHop Hunter Valley
Venture across NSW wine country with iHop Hunter Valley.

Keen to keep things loosey-goosy? iHop Hunter Valley is my favourite local hop-on and hop-off bus service through wine country. Covering more than 40 venues across 15 individual bus stops in Cessnock, Lovedale, Nulkaba, Pokolbin and Rothbury, buses swing around on a continuous hourly loop. Half-day passes will set you back $59 per person while full day passes cost $79 per person, plus you can upgrade to pick-up from your accommodation in the morning. My favourite bit? Cooler boxes are provided so you can store your goodies on the bus as you keep the good times rolling.

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4. Hunter Valley Tours for Two

a Mercedes Benz GLE350 in front of a winery in the Hunter Valley
Be transported to stunning wineries in a flash Mercedes-Benz GLE350.

The name says it all. Lovebirds should sign up to Hunter Valley Tours for Two’s for a romantic half-day or full-day tour. The Hunter Valley wine tour company offers transportation in a flash Mercedes-Benz GLE350 with leather interiors, a sunroof and heated leather seats. Pick-up can be arranged from Pokolbin, Lovedale, Cessnock and Rothbury and tours include a minimum of three wineries. Prices start from $350 per couple, and the team also arrange private winery tastings at some of their most-loved spots.

5. Two Fat Blokes

wine and cheese tasting at Two Fat Blokes
Sip on premium drops at Two Fat Blokes. (Image: Destination NSW)

There’s plenty of love flowing at Two Fat Blokes, too, a Hunter Valley tour company that offers a midweek accommodation package that’s filled with indulgences. Bundling up two nights at the Leisure Inn Pokolbin, plus a full day wine tour and breakfast for two, the deal is a serious steal at just $770 per couple. As for the winery visits themselves, expect to drop into four of five cellar doors spanning heavy hitters and some boutique ones, as well as catered lunch, a chocolate and cheese pairing and pick-up and drop-off.

6. Classic Tours

a Mustang convertible, Classic Tours Hunter Valley
Explore Hunter Valley in the comfort of a Mustang convertible. (Image: Therese Hockings/Christopher Hockings)

If it’s high time to treat your best four-legged buddy, Classic Tours’ dog-friendly wine tour is just the ticket. Privy to all the dog-embracing wineries around town, the team craft itineraries where your canine is the star of show while throwing in walking trails with regional views and a visit to a dog-friendly grass area where picnic lunches reign supreme. It’s a thoroughly considered route with all the creature comforts as water bowls and shaded areas are top priority no matter where your adventure takes you. Prices start from about $94 per owner and pet duo.

7. Vineyard Shuttle Service

I love uncovering any wine region’s emerging superstars, which is why Vineyard Shuttle Service’s ‘Next Gen’ tour is right up my alley. The full-day Hunter Valley wine tour costs $199 per person and includes visiting four destinations that specialise in not only wine but spirits, too. Your booking also includes lunch at 4 Pines at the Farm, and it’s not the only stellar tour they’ve got going. The team run half and full-day tours in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus that departs most accommodation spots within the Hunter Valley, with prices starting from $85 per person. Transfers between wineries, plus transfers from Sydney and Newcastle airports are also available.

8. Wine Party Tours

Wine Party Tours at Small Mouth, Pokolbin
Set the clock to party time on a winery tour. (Image: Paul Cadwallader)

Wine Party Tours offer a stack of options from as little as $99 per person for a half-day out. A full day out with the crew is going to be even more fun, however, especially if you’re aboard the ‘Gin, Vodka, Wine & Good’ Time tour, priced from $149 per person. It ticks off three boutique winery tasting experiences, spirit tasting, lunch with a drink, and a visit to a cheese or chocolate retailer. More of a beer lover? This Hunter Valley wine tour company also run brewery tours, so every base is covered.

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9. Hunter Valley Tours

An award-winning small group tour company, Hunter Valley Tours peeks inside some of the region’s best boutique wineries. Even better, their plush minibuses are completely accessible, fitted with hydraulic lifters and automatic slides, and wineries are selected thanks to their ramps and lifts, in addition to their wine chops, to ensure everything’s smooth sailing. They offer half-day tours, priced from $110 per person, that include two wineries, as well as full-day tours from $169 per person that include even more wineries and some of the Hunter Valley’s best cheese and chocolate tasting experiences. Private tours can also be arranged.

10. Tastes of the Hunter Wine Tours

A fun-fuelled ‘Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Adventure Tour’ is on offer from Tastes of the Hunter Wine Tours, providing a full-day journey through three cellar doors, pit stops at the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop and Pokolbin Chocolate Co. and spirits tasting. Departing from accommodation throughout Pokolbin, Lovedale, Rothbury, Cessnock, Maitland, Nulkaba, Broke, Singleton and surrounding areas, it costs $135 per person. The Hunter Valley wine tour travels in a small minibus for groups between two and 10 people, and the team also offer private tours for larger groups.

11. Grape Experience Tours

The self-proclaimed “large group specialists" are such a great option for big get-togethers as their capacity climbs all the way up to 30 people, Grape Experience Tours can arrange a Hunter Valley wine tour with door-to-door pick-up, departing from Hunter Valley suburbs as far as Newcastle, starting from $110 per person. You’ll visit a minimum of two wineries if you’re opting for the half-day, but the full day out includes three stops and a cheese and chocolate tasting, too. Go for the top-tier Premium tour for $195 per person and score lunch on top.

12. Wine D Road Tours

a group tasting with Wine D Road Tours
Wine D Road Tours delivers a full-day adventure for winery lovers.

Offering much more than just a minibus driver, Wine D Road Tours rolls along with a guide who strives to facilitate memory-making experiences. Their full-day adventure is priced at $180 per person and includes a restaurant lunch, a minimum of four winery visits, visits to chocolate and cheese hot spots and minibus transportation. Groups are capped at 13 guests, and they arrange complimentary pick-up and drop-off to and from your accommodation in Pokolbin, Cessnock, Rothbury, Maitland and Branxton.

13. Hunter Wine Journeys

a group photoshoot with Hunter Wine Journeys at Hanging Tree Wines
Strike a pose at Hanging Tree Wines.

Wish you had a local’s intel? Hunter Wine Journeys is run by Hunter Valley locals Tony and Lisa so you’ll get an answer to the curliest of questions. Conducting half-day and full-day tours from $100 per person, the team can pick you up from your local accommodation in a minibus before transporting you to two cellar doors if you’re on the half-day tour or four cellar doors if you’re on the full day. Cheese and chocolate tastings plus a visit to a distillery are also included in both options, and lunch can be thrown in for an extra fee.

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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The tastiest new players on Newcastle’s dining scene you need to try

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    Newcastle’s vibrant creativity is evident everywhere, from a thriving live arts scene to an ever-growing offering for gourmands. Those with a hunger for new and exciting experiences should put Newcastle on their radar.

    When it comes to consuming the culture of a city, digesting it (in the literal sense) is an appropriate place to start. But it’s not just a world-class wining and dining scene that’s on the menu (not to mention all the new restaurants in Newcastle). Newcastle – just two hours north of Sydney – offers the perfect blend of arts, culture and culinary experiences that make it a prime destination for an extended escape. The city’s creative future looks even brighter with the reopening of the highly anticipated Newcastle Art Gallery on the horizon.

    aerial of Nobbys beach in newcastle nsw
    Newcastle offers the perfect coastal setting for the arts and delicious eats. (Image: City of Newcastle)

    Given Newcastle’s compact size – many venues are within easy walking distance or a quick drive away – you can immerse yourself fully. From decadent patisseries to fine diners and casual coastal eats, here’s a fresh taste of Newcastle: where to eat, drink and soak up the coastal city’s good vibes.

    1. Pastry cafes in Newcastle

    pastries next to a pastry box from crumb cafe in newcastle
    Lean into Newcastle’s pastry renaissance at Crumb. (Image: Jemma Donkin)

    Pastry is having a moment, with a quietly booming scene led by CRUMB, the brand-new pastry cafe in Lambton led by legendary Gareth Williams (of Covered in Crumbs, EXP) and Ben Richardson (Autumn Rooms). Gareth describes his style of food as ‘creative chaos’. Enjoy that abstract artisanal approach over a savoury chorizo, bechamel, cheddar and poppy pastry, or a layered mortadella and pesto mayo croissant sandwich.

    Meanwhile, Leibe European Pastries, Pekárna, Union St Pastry and Praise Joe also have their own flair and loyal followings. While Liebe European Pastries is famed for layered German pastries such as Franzbrötchen, Pekárna’s signatures (like cardamom pastries) are tethered to Czech traditions.

    Head a few blocks west to Wickham, where Union St Pastry is the pinnacle for lovers of European-style viennoiseries, such as croissants and Danishes. A getaway to Newcastle also looks pretty fabulous with a mega brownie or chicken little toastie from Praise Joe.

    2. Destination dining

    Blanca resuarant in newcastle nsw
    Step inside Mediterranean-inspired eatery, Blanca. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Life looks pretty peachy from a table at the breezy Mediterranean-inspired eatery Blanca, which would not be out of place in Mykonos – when it swooped into the Honeysuckle Precinct a few years ago, it caused heads to swivel. Say yasou to mezedes of crudo di mare and sheftalia and grilled Abrolhos Islands’ octopus.

    One may also fantasise about being back in Europe – specifically the 10th arrondissement in Paris – at Frenchie, the oh-so-French bistro that offers Euro-chic elegance with an inventive Australian flair. Indulge in the Date Night set menu, available every Thursday.

    Peregrin is another stand-out. Listen to the sound of the ocean from the rooftop terrace, and order a Summertime Sour during aperitivo hour. Followed by the yellowfin tuna with pickled cucumber and market fish. And brand new on the scene is Papalote – a joint venture from the incredibly talented owners of Humbug and Flotilla serving up tasty Mexican classics.

    3. Casual coastal cafes and kiosks

    people swimming at Newcastle Ocean Baths
    Follow Newcastle’s coastline for stunning views and tasty eats. (Image: David Diehm)

    What better way to soak in Newcastle’s legendary coastline and stunning beaches than by visiting its casual coastal eateries while on the Bathers Way?

    Enjoy hot chips and scallops on the sand at Swell Kiosk Bar Beach. Or a housemade sausage roll after a morning surf at Newcastle Beach, thanks to Southy Canteen, which is open from 6am.

    Bring your furry travel companion to Sunnyboy Kiosk for a piccolo and puppuccino with views out to Dixon Park Beach. Try light eats, like acai bowls, or more substantial meals like nasi goreng at Blue Door in Merewether. Do a few lazy laps at Merewether Ocean Baths (the largest in the southern hemisphere) before tucking into swordfish skewers and salad at Merewether Surfhouse.

    You can also watch the ocean compose a bit of magic from your perch at The Kiosk Newcastle Beach, where a matcha latte looks even better with the beach fresco.

    Pause between eats to take in the iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths and Bogey Hole – perfect for a digestive swim or scenic picnic spot.

    4. Hatted restaurants in Newcastle

    couple eating at Flotilla newcastle
    Flotilla serves up delicious meals. (Image: Destination NSW)

    In recent years, Newcastle’s restaurant scene has evolved to include venues that have elevated the city’s reputation for culinary excellence. In addition to its cafes and kiosks, there’s now an exciting wave of hatted favourites putting Newcastle on the map.

    Humbug is the epitome of Novocastrian dining; the mafaldine with brisket and beef cheek braised in Pedro Ximenez is emblematic of what the owners aim for here. Flotilla neatly knits the Newcastle wining and dining scene together, with young gun Josh Thurston showcasing the art of cooking proteins and produce over fire.

    Bistro Penny is another sophisticated, hatted dining destination in Newcastle. Order the barbecued king prawns swimming in a saffron broth and the oxheart tomato salad.

    5. Newcastle nightlife

    Bartholomew's small bar in newcastle nsw
    Stop by Bartholomew’s for a drink. (Image: Destination NSW)

    As the sun dips in the west, so the city of Newcastle’s nightlife springs to life. Maru Hi-Fi is the next-gen small bar that’s redefining a night out in Newy – the sleek space serves great cocktails and embraces Newcastle’s alt attitude. Next door, Jams Karaoke & Bar is also bringing the vibes.

    If a small bar in a grand old building is more your style, check out Roxanne, Bar Mellow and Bartholomew’s.

    Start planning your Newcastle culinary coastal getaway this summer at visitnewcastle.com.au.