30 of the very best things to do in the Hunter Valley

NSW’s Wine Country is known around the world for its flourishing food and wine scene. But the region also dazzles as a destination for a raft of reasons.  Here are 30 of the best things to do in the Hunter Valley.

In addition to its 150+ cellar doors, an escape to the Hunter Valley could involve everything from horse riding through some of Australia’s oldest vines to picnics in the picturesque countryside. There’s also the option of hot-air ballooning, paint-and-sip sessions, Segway tours, wellness retreats and much more besides. Whether you’re a teetotaller or a wine buff, a couple looking for romance, a group of hens in party mode, or a family looking for an escape to the country, we’ve got you covered with our list of the 30 best things to do in the Hunter Valley.

1. Gravel riding

Gravel riding is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. What is gravel riding? Well, it’s all about getting waaaaay off the beaten track and following trails over uneven gravel terrain. In between bouncing around the Hunter Valley on two wheels, the VIP experience gives gravel riders the opportunity to change down a few gears and explore some of the most scenic folds of the Wollombi Valley, which is laced with gravel-riding tracks. Start your adventure by following an unpaved road from Myrtle & Stone, one of the best places to eat in the Hunter Valley. This immersive experience is the epitome of adventure and indulgence and can be curated to your skill level, with accommodation and all meals included.

2. Mystery Vineyard Tour

A private tour of Briar Ridge Estate is one of the highlights of the winery’s Mystery Vineyard Tour. The immersive wine-tasting experience includes a guided tour of the 50-year-old Mt View Vineyard followed by a tutored tasting and a complimentary cheese platter.

In addition to a one-on-one experience with winemaker Andrew Duff, the Mystery Vineyard Tour offers guests the opportunity to enjoy award-winning small-batch wines while exploring the vineyards. The tour will make your weekend exploring the history of the vineyard and its wines something of a revelation.

Learn about the estate’s eco-conscious approach to winemaking and its move toward grape varietals such as fiano and albarino, which require less input.

3. Where Pigs Fly

It’s hard not to feel profoundly moved during a visit to Where Pigs Fly. The sanctuary has rescued hundreds of animals that have suffered cruelty, abuse and neglect since being established in 2014. Today, it’s home to more than 200 rescued cows, donkeys, goats, pigs, alpacas, turkeys, horses and other animals who all play a role in driving awareness about the benefits of a compassionate, cruelty-free lifestyle. Learn about the rescue stories relating to each animal by visiting the sanctuary and seeing the dedication that goes into ensuring the animals are given the best possible care. A visit to the sanctuary supports the rescue farm’s mission to change the lives of animals in need. Bookings are essential.

4. Hunter Valley hot-air ballooning

Want to take things to the next level with your Tinder hook-up? There’s nothing quite so romantic as taking your flame hot-air ballooning. Rise above the Earth in the buttery light of dawn to get a birds’-eye view of the Hunter Valley during a hot-air balloon ride, one of the most romantic things to do in the Hunter Valley.

The view from above as the horizon is smudged in a burnt orange hue is spectacular and watching the pre-dawn light paint the landscape is a quiet kind of thrill. Balloon Aloft, Beyond Ballooning and Hunter Valley Ballooning all set off at sunrise.

Plump for the Balloon Aloft experience, which includes breakfast and bubbles at Petersen House Winery, one of the best places for breakfast in the Hunter Valley.

5. Visit the Hunter Valley Zoo

Families have been drawn to the Hunter Valley for decades due to the diverse range of attractions. Let’s start with hiking, biking and being in nature, which are classic family activities for a reason. The stunning bushland in the Hunter Valley provides a starting point for families by offering them the chance to switch off and recalibrate. The Hunter Valley Zoo can facilitate that much-needed family time. The zoo is spread out over four hectares, making it doable for little legs to bounce between enclosures. Children can see Australian birds, native mammals and reptiles as well as African animals such as lions and cheetahs. Hunter Valley Zoo is in Nukulba, five minutes from Cessnock.

6. Hunter Valley scenic flights

The Hunter Valley stretches over about 30,000 square kilometres, which means seeing it from above has its advantages as you can cover a lot of ground. Romantics should ask Aero Logistics Helicopters to curate a bespoke itinerary that includes visits to the many cutting-edge cellar doors peppered across the region and map your route to include restaurants such as Esca Bimbadgen, which has an adjacent helipad.

A scenic flight over the Hunter Valley can also be experienced with Aerohunter Adventure Flights in one of Australia’s rarest war birds, a Yak 52. Expect a few loop-de-loops in the military airplane, an experience that is best enjoyed before sampling the local wines. Getting that birds’-eye view in a scenic flight over the jewel-like countryside is one of the most romantic ways to appreciate the Hunter Valley.

7. Skydiving Hunter Valley

Dive headfirst into your weekend in the Hunter Valley with a skydiving adventure with Skydive Hunter. Skydiving in the Hunter Valley remains one of the best bucket-list ideas for adrenalin-seeking lovebirds. There’s nothing that quite gets the heart racing more than plummeting toward the earth while the G-forces pull your face into a permanent grin. Tandem jumps are the go here unless you’re qualified. Once your parachute has been deployed, you can enjoy the more mellow experience of floating above the countryside. For city folks, the added thrill of seeing pastures dotted with cows and sheep is real.

8. Picnic in a Hunter Valley vineyard

Lying on a red-checked blanket in a field threaded with vines is about as romantic as it gets. Ask Bimbadgen to pull together a luxuriously styled picnic with wines from its Hunter Valley winery. You can also forage for ingredients yourself at foodie pit stops such as Lovedale Smokehouse Gourmet Pantry and the Hunter Valley Smelly Deli.

Pukara Estate Pokolbin, Binnorie Dairy Cheese and Tinkler Fresh Seasonal Produce also rank as some of the best places to pick up provisions in the Hunter Valley. Schedule a return visit for the Lovedale Long Lunch, a progressive banquet designed to lure visitors to linger in Lovedale.

9. Best dining in the Hunter Valley

You will be spoilt for choice in the Hunter Valley if your other half is a foodie. Instead of doing dinner, you could shake things up and do brunch or lunch, as there are many great places to eat and drink in the region. When it comes to romantic restaurants in the Hunter Valley, Bistro Molines should be on the list. Two-hatted Muse Restaurant is also a must, with its swish staff, playful platings and food that’s so carefully prepared. Ask for a corner table at EXP. or Margan Estate, both great places to impress a first date. Enjoy a horse-and-carriage ride with Hunter Valley Classic Carriages back to your room at The Lane Retreat, one of the best places to stay in the Hunter Valley.

10. Hunter Valley Gardens

Hunter Valley Gardens also provide children with much to contemplate far away from the distractions of technology. Whether walking along leaf-strewn paths in autumn, picnicking under a protective canopy in summer, or falling into the pages of fairy tales in the Storybook Garden in spring, the sightseeing has something to suit every member of the family. Get onboard the Hunter Valley Gardens Train to explore the 14-hectare Hunter Valley Gardens, which features Aqua Golf and Putt Putt. There are also permanent rides such as a Ferris wheel and Superslide. Book into the nearby Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, one of the best places to stay in the Hunter Valley for your return visit to see the Christmas Lights Spectacular in December, Easter Egg Hunt in April and Snow Time in June. Green thumbs will also enjoy a visit to the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens.

11. Family-friendly wine tasting

Sometimes a bit of space to run and jump is all that is required to keep children happy. At other times, you may need to bribe them with treats to sit still (until the sugar kicks in that is).

Tullochs and Saddlers Creek both offer great child-friendly tasting options. While the adults will love sitting and sipping six top drops at Tulloch Wines, a specially prepared kids’ tasting of four different kombucha soft drinks with matching snacks on offer.

Other kid-friendly cellar doors include Scarborough Wine Co. which has hula hoops, giant Jenga and skipping ropes. RidgeView Wines also has old-school Totem Tennis and fish to feed in the dams.

12. Cooking classes in the Hunter  Valley

Planning a hens’ weekend in the Hunter Valley? Well, why not get together with your gal pals and try to improve your culinary repertoire and kitchen skills. Perhaps you want to master paella? Maybe you want to learn how to make artisan cheeses? Or join a low and slow smoking class?

The cooking classes on offer in the Hunter Valley are all quite casual, so you get to enjoy a bit of tableside chatter followed by a spot of lunch or dinner without having to worry about the washing up. Book ahead for Majors Lane Cooking School at Lovedale Smokehouse Café & Deli and Our Italian Table.

13. Self-cater in style in the Hunter Valley

Call ahead to secure in-house catering when you book a stay at Tinonee Vineyard Estate (at the 1813 cellar door). It’s one of the most beautiful places to stay amid the vines and roses of the tranquil Broke Fordwich region of the Hunter Valley.

The local caterers can also come to the party with different themes depending on your vibe and tribe. Check out our guide to beautiful luxury accommodation in the Hunter Valley for inspiration.

14. Visit a day spa or wellness retreat in the Hunter Valley

If you’re organising your best friend’s hen’s weekend away, it’s likely there will be a handful of cellar doors and a sprinkle of great restaurants on the itinerary.

If the bride-to-be and your fellow bridesmaids would like to include an emphasis on exercise and balance out the wine with a bit of wellness, you should factor in a massage at Heavenly Hunter Massage in Pokolbin, Bhutra Thai Massage and Ubika Spa at Rydges Hunter Valley.

Alternatively, you can check into a wellness retreat such as The Spa at Chateau Elan Hunter Valley or Elysia Wellness Retreat to pause and reset for the entire weekend.  Elysia’s newly installed ice baths are an add-on to a Hunter Valley stay.

15. Paint and sip in the Hunter Valley

Master the art of painting en plein air at a private Stay and Sip session inspired by the best Hunter Valley wineries. Those who lack confidence when it comes to picking up a paintbrush are made to feel at ease in the classes, led by founders Pierre and Mercedes. The mobile wine-tasting outfit partners with local boutique producers to curate a laid-back fun-filled experience that includes a wine tasting, cheese and much laughter over lunch. Participants will get to take away their works of art, which serve as a memento of a great weekend. Check out @staynsip for inspiration.

16. The Ultimate Margan Experience

The sustainable philosophy driving Margan Estate gently threads through the entire property and the Ultimate Margan Experience is one of the most meaningful things to do in the Hunter Valley.

The adventure starts with a glass of sparkling while wandering through the kitchen garden. It then follows with a walk around the olive grove and past the tangled vines for a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery.

The highlight? Tasting wines yet to be released from the barrel. Learn how the single-vineyard wines are produced and then head into the restaurant for an off-grid degustation dinner. It’s one of the best things to do in the Hunter Valley.

17. The Ultimate Winery Experiences

Hunter Valley is home to some of the oldest vines in Australia and you will visit three of the region’s most respected during an Ultimate Winery Experience.

The terroir-led Australia-wide tours offer wine enthusiasts a better understanding of how different subregions affect the wine. The signature experiences vary from vineyard to vineyard around the country.

Visit Audrey Wilkinson as part of an Ultimate Winery Experience to learn about the historic winery, which planted its first vines in Pokolbin in 1866.

Stay the night in a self-contained cottage, which has 360-degree views and is one of the best places to stay in the Hunter Valley.

18. Attend a music festival

There are plenty of things you can do in the Hunter Valley if you’re a teetotaller, sober-curious, or simply attempting a month off the booze. For starters, non-drinkers might be keen on a kombucha tasting at Tulloch Wines. There are also the world-class restaurants to enjoy and everything from hiking to hot air ballooning in the Hunter and even unwinding at a day spa. Those who want to see another side of the Hunter Valley region should time their visit to coincide with one of the region’s annual music festivals. Expect an outstanding line-up of musicians in the Hunter Valley everywhere from the Cessnock Stomp Festival to A Day on the Green, Grapevine Gathering and Timeless Summer Tour at Hope Estate.

19. Horse riding in the Hunter Valley

Reject the need to rush around to as many Hunter Valley wineries as you can and instead explore the terrain on horseback. Although the Hunter Farm & Adventure Centre tour can include alcoholic beverages, the ride can also be tailored to suit teetotallers and designated drivers, too. The relaxed rides, which cater to everyone from beginners to advanced, travel along an old 1880s stock route. Plod through the fields before winding up at the vineyard of Hunter Farm Wines. Set your own pace at the adventure centre, where activities include appreciating the picturesque countryside on a segway tour, joining an interactive animal feeding or hopping onboard the wine train.

20. Take an e-bike tour of the Hunter Valley

Pick up an electric bike from Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire to explore the Hunter Valley, which is ribboned with bike paths such as the 10-kilometre cycleway along Hermitage Road. Flick the switch to Turbo and flit between the different dairies marked on your wine country map, such as Binnorie Dairy, Hunter Belle Cheese, Hunter Valley Cheese Factory or Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese. The Hunter Valley Resort is one of the most family-friendly places to stay in the Hunter Valley and it’s from here that visitors can also set off with Segway Tours Hunter Valley along an old 1880s stock route, which is fringed with beautiful bushland.

21. Stock up on wine in the Hunter Valley

While some wineries charge a fee to sample wines, others offer one-on-one tutorials with the winemaker. Most places will ship a box of wine home for you (for a fee).

To get the most out of your tasting experience, join Tastes of the Hunter Wine Tours, or become a member so you get a VIP experience.

Many of the boutique Hunter Valley producers rely on cellar door sales to survive and so your server will appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment to a minimum spend. A wine tour with Two Fat Blokes can also include a detour to the deli where you can buy local produce and procure provisions for a picnic.

22. Enjoy a round of golf in the Hunter Valley

Want a golf holiday in the Hunter Valley? The Hunter Valley Golf Club on the grounds of Rydges Resort Hunter Valley is a good place to start with a championship golf course that is one of the most noteworthy.

The golf course is suited to golfers of all levels and the backdrop of the Broken Back Ranges is spectacular. Join your friends on the fairway at the Vintage Golf Club in Rothbury, a Greg Norman-designed course where you can test your mettle in the bunkers, alongside wetlands and vineyards and around groves of trees near Bimbadgen Estate.

Stay at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort to gain access to the Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club, a Steve Smyers-designed championships course. The 18-hole championchip golf course is rated as one of the best resort courses in Australia.

23. Visit the historic Hunter Valley town of Morpeth

Explore 25 Morpeth Heritage Walk sites to get a feel for the Hunter Valley’s history and heritage.  Snap a selfie in front of the iconic farm shed painted with a Dr Morse’s Indian Root Pills advertisement. Travel to Purple Pear Farm and Morpeth Ginger Beer + Gourmet Foods to bring back food-focused souvenirs from your escape to the country. A lot of the heritage buildings in the historic township on the Hunter River are still standing and the diverse range of boutiques, cafes, galleries and scenery makes Morpeth a must-visit on your next visit to the Hunter Valley. Look for the candy-striped awning at ever-so-quaint Miss Lily’s Lollies, which is a sticky lure for families.

24. Play paintball or go go-karting

Want to reward the children for schlepping along to countless cellar doors? Channel your inner rev head and put the pedal to the metal while racing up to 70 kilometres an hour along the 850-metre-long course at Go Karts Go Hunter Valley. The RIMO Schumacher Go-Karts are designed for both children and adults and there are twin seaters for little ones, too. It’s fast and furious and steering around the twisting track is also a lot of fun. There are some concessions you need to make as a parent: for some of us, playing paintball is one of them. Put your pride aside and let the family fun begin at Hunter Valley Paintball.

25. Join a Hunter Valley harvest

Want to do something different in the Hunter Valley? Ambitious oenophiles might like to start planning for a spot of grape stomping during the next Hunter Valley harvest. 

It’s one way to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment out of your Hunter Valley road trip. Jump into an oak barrel barefoot to take part in the age-old tradition of pressing wine grapes by foot, followed by a few glasses of the best Hunter Valley varietals.

Grape stomping is seasonal and on offer at the Hunter Valley Resort. You can also take part in barrel rolling, one of the more quirky activities on offer in the Hunter Valley.

26. Follow an epic ale trail in the Hunter Valley

In a region known for its wine, it might come as somewhat of a surprise to learn that the Hunter Valley distilleries and breweries are some of the best NSW has to offer. From Foghorn Brewery to Hunter Distillery, Small Mouth Vodka and Pokolbin Cider House, these destination distilleries and breweries give hopheads and lovers of small-batch artisan spirits another reason to head to the Hunter.

27. Spend the day bushwalking in the Hunter Valley

There are some superb national environments to be explored in the Hunter Valley. Hike to the Forestry Hut in the Werakata National Park, in the Lower Valley, gaze out from a lookout in Heaton State Forest, part of the Watagan Mountains and explore Mt Royal National Park, part of Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Apart from the farmland the Hunter Valley is known for, the topography of the region includes grassy mid-altitude forests, wet eucalypt forests and vast swathes of shrubland. Hike to the lookout on top of Pokolbin Mountain to enjoy views over some of the region’s oldest vineyards.

28. Enjoy a Hunter Valley cheese tasting

The beauty of signing up for a formal cheese tasting at the Hunter Valley Cheese Company is that the experts will curate a selection of the seasonal best. The offering includes 20 cheeses ranging from Branxton brie to vintage cheddar, goat’s cheese and blue vein. Time your visit to the Hunter Valley Cheese Company to coincide with lunch and you can add a few additional ingredients such as cold cuts, local olives, dips, cornichons, salmon, and anchovies.

29. Yoga in the Vines

Wellness and wine equal two sides of the same coin. It’s all about balance, right? The backcountry of NSW beckons for yogis who consider vineyards worthy of exploration only if they can full stop their wine tasting with a relaxing shavasana. Enjoy a full body stretching exercise reaching for a few glasses of wine after you’ve completed your yoga practise and mindfulness exercises. Yoga in the Vines runs retreats for corporates and can curate a Hunter escape to suit. Look after yourself and then sample the spectrum of varietals on offer in the Hunter.

30. Enjoy a gourmet getaway in Pokolbin

If you’re wondering about things to do in the Hunter Valley you might want to wind your way around wine country on the gourmet trail curated by the Leisure Inn Pokolbin. An interactive map is handed to guests at check-in so they can plot out the numerous attractions that are within walking distance from the accommodation. The tour is a testament to the region’s rich bounty. Lace up your boots: the Gourmet Trail include a visit to McGuigan. Wines, Meerea Park Wines, Wine House Hunter Valley, the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory and Hunter Valley Gardens.

Discover the best restaurants in the Hunter Valley.

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