Hunter Valley Holidays New South Wales

Hunter Valley, New South Wales Holidays

The Hunter Valley, north of Sydney in New South Wales, is one of Australia's major wine regions, with a viticultural history dating back to the early 1800s. Known for varieties such as Semillon and Shiraz, it’s home to numerous wineries, including world-renowned brands and family-run boutique operations. Most are located south of the Hunter River and offer cellar door wine tastings and vineyard tours.

Hunter Valley Holidays

At the Hunter Valley's cellar doors, you can taste a wide variety of wines, or join a tasting masterclass to sample rare vintages. The historic 1866 Audrey Wilkinson winery offers an excellent range of semillons at its picturesque tasting room. You can try chardonnay and shiraz at the Oakvale Wines estate. At avant garde winery Usher Tinkler – housed within the beautifully restored Pokolbin Church – pair wine or whiskey with prosciutto, truffle salumi and camembert. Sit down to lunch at multi-award-winning restaurant Muse, where you'll dine on seasonally driven dishes paired with Hungerford Hill wines, or indulge in French-inspired cuisine at Bistro Molines. At Moorebank Vineyard you can indulge in wine, cheese and chocolate tastings, or picnic on the private grounds. Be sure to grab a selfie with Sheila the resident sheep.

Throughout the year the Hunter Valley presents a diverse calendar of festivals and events at its wineries. Music buffs should check out the concert calendar for Hope Estate, which has hosted international artists such as Sting, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. During May progressive-style dining event the Lovedale Long Lunch winds through several Hunter Valley vineyards and restaurants, offering different dishes at each venue. Wander through the colourful blooms of the Hunter Valley Gardens during Spring Festival in September or follow an art trail at Sculpture in the Vineyards in November. When you need a break from a jam-packed schedule of cellar doors, drop into the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory. Here you'll find a fantastic selection of handmade cow and goats milk cheese, available to taste and buy. Order a cheese tasting board to try five cheeses, or book a private cheese appreciation class to learn about cheese varieties and the art of wine matching. The Smelly Cheese Shop also offers a great range of local and imported cheese, which you can enjoy at its in-house café.