Hunter Valley is the oldest wine region in Australia and is a well respected area to find semillon and shiraz wine varieties. It is only 2 hours from Sydney and 1 hour from Newcastle, making it a popular and accessible wine region to visit in Australia. It is not uncommon for people to do a Hunter Valley day trip from Sydney or Newcastle to explore Hunter Valley, go to wine tastings, and eat delicious food from the different wineries in the region.
A Hunter Valley Day Trip On Your Own
Wine Tastings
With over 150 different vineyards, it can be quite overwhelming to visit this wine region. If you have a great interest in particular wines, you can research those varieties and find cellar doors that specialize in those grapes. However, if you are open to anything, you really have many options to choose from, knowing that most cellar doors have Semillon and Shiraz wine varieties since they are a specialty of the region.
To find tastings prior to going on your Hunter Valley day trip, you can look on the Hunter Valley visitor center website. Here, they list all the different wine cellars through the region, show where they are on the map, and display the reservation options for wine tastings. We recommend finding one or two cellars that are close to each other so you do not have to drive great distances within the valley for your tastings.
You can also call the Hunter Valley visitor center prior to your trip or even head there in the morning and they can help you find the best wine cellars for you based on your interest level in wine and the vision you have for your trip in the area. They are true experts on everything that the Hunter Valley has to offer, including cellar door tastings, dining options, hot air balloon rides, electric bike tours, and more.
Finding Delicious Dining Options
Wine and great dining often goes hand-in-hand and the Hunter Valley is no exception. Ranging from casual dining options to fine dining, you can really find delicious food for anyone. One restaurant that we highly recommend is the Baumé Restaurant at the Ben Ean vineyard. The food here is locally sourced and fresh with a Mediterranean influence. And you have the opportunity to dine on their patio looking out over their vineyards during your Hunter Valley day trip. This restaurant merges delicious food in a family-friendly setting, making it the best of both worlds. The region has some fancier restaurants than this and some more casual places as well.
You can ask the Hunter Valley visitor center for recommendations. You may need a reservation at some of the higher-end dining destinations.
A Hunter Valley Day Trip with a Tour
Because of its close distance to Sydney, the Hunter Valley is easy to visit through a group tour from the city. A variety of companies provide a small group Hunter Valley day trip to different wineries and include lunch in the tour. These visits are great for those who do not want to research and plan the different winery options. With these tours, often, the tastings, lunch, and transportation is all included in the price of the tour.
Another option for your Hunter Valley day trip is to rent an e-bike and ride around the valley to different wine cellars. Hunter Valley Bike Hire is a bike rental company that provides bike rentals and tours that go through different regions of the valley. The company can help you make reservations at different wine cellars to plan out your day. This is a great way to visit the area, embrace the wine region, and immerse yourself in the wine tastings. With this option, the wine tasting fees and lunch cost are not included in the rental.
The best way to get to and from Hunter Valley from Sydney or Newcastle is by renting a car.