New South Wales

A Hunter Valley guide: where to sleep, what to do and where to drink

Grab a glass and join us in our guide to the Hunter Valley, notorious for its acres of vineyards producing some of the best Australian wines.

So if you are partial to a drop of Shiraz or a large gulp of Semillon, accompanied by gourmet food and fabulous views, then a getaway to Hunter may be just up your street.

What to do in the Hunter Valley

1/3

The Hunter Valley offers a wealth of activities, whether it’s staggering from vineyard to vineyard on your fourth wine tasting of the day, cycling down Deadman’s Mountain, or simply lounging in the spa.

Two Fat Blokes Wine Tours
Humorous and knowledgeable, sign up for a tour with Two Fat Blokes and you will spend the day snorting into your glass or spraying the air with cheese, as they regale you with tales from the grapevine. The tastings typically take in various wines and selections of cheeses at different vineyards scattered along the valley.

Reflections Day Spa
If drinking wine all day is not your thing, or if you’re in need of some recovery and detox, then why not book yourself into the Reflections Day Spa. Based at the Adina Vineyard, you can enjoy a relaxing few hours with a massage, beauty treatment or one of their special pamper packages.

Deadman’s Mountain Bike Loop
This 8-kilometre bike loop takes in some of the bushlands of the Hunter region and is a relatively relaxed and easy route making it a great activity the whole family can enjoy. The trail can also be made on foot or on horseback and don’t forget to take your binoculars to do a spot of bird watching.

Balloon Aloft
Balloon Aloft is the award-winning hot air balloon company that takes to the skies at dawn across the picturesque Pokolbin, Lovedale, Rothbury and Broke wine regions. The flight lasts around an hour and is followed by a gourmet breakfast and celebratory glass of bubbly at the Peterson Winery.

Hotels - Hunter Valley

3385 Hotels
View Destination

Where to stay in the Hunter Valley

Our top three hotels in the region offer luxury comforts with old-world charm.

A luxurious stay

1/4

Every one of the 12 luxurious guest rooms on the Spicers Vineyard Estate come with en-suite spa baths, open wood-burning fireplaces and views over the private vineyard to the mountains behind. There is a day spa on-site, offering luxury treatments and a relaxing pool terrace.

Spicers Vineyards Estate

Top rated
Pokolbin
9.6 Excellent (319 reviews)

Perfect escape from the city

The Kirkton Park Hotel is up there with the best in the Hunter Valley. Set on 70 acres of Hunter Valley countryside, the hotel is the ideal place to escape the city for the weekend and truly unwind. Use Kirkton Park Hotel as a base for exploring all the food and wine The Hunter has to offer. In the cooler months, be sure to take advantage of the hotel’s Grecian style heated indoor pool, spa and sauna.

voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley

Top rated
Pokolbin
9.0 Excellent (2126 reviews)

A comfy Hunter Valley accommodation

Reopened in 2013, Vine Valley Inn has 13 comfortable rooms available, including large family rooms and twin rooms. There is plenty of off-street parking plus shops, supermarkets and farmers markets all in walking distance. The hotel is also ideally located for easy access to the vineyards as well as a variety of sporting activities, including the Hunter Valley’s newest 18 hole golf course. The reviews all say the same thing, don’t judge a book by its cover because the interior far outdoes the exterior.

Vine Valley Inn

Cessnock
9.0 Excellent (579 reviews)

Where to eat and drink in the Hunter Valley

1/4

Mojos
Nestled in the heart of Lovedale in the Hunter Valley, Mojos is run by Michelin-starred chef Adam and his equally talented wife Ros. Serving up wholesome European cuisine from fresh and locally produced ingredients, it’s definitely a treat for your taste buds.

Emerson’s Cafe and Restaurant
This multi-award winning restaurant has recently relocated to the lovely Adina Vineyard where it enjoys an onsite cellar door and fabulous views over the surrounding vines. Eat contemporary modern Australian cuisine al fresco on the Veranda or opt for the popular eight-course degustation menu.

Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
Widely regarded as the first vineyard in the Pokolbin area, the Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard was first planted in 1866, by a 15-year-old named Audrey. Audrey took his seat as head of the family and with an incredible sense of taste built the vineyard into what it is today.

Sandalyn Wilderness Estate
Based in Lovedale in the Hunter Valley, Sandalyn Wilderness Estate is a great stop on your extensive wine tour and if you fancy flexing your culinary muscles they offer pasta and sushi-making classes too. The views from the vineyard cover the Watagan, Brokenback and Molly Morgan ranges.

St Clements Estate
Produced from grapes hand-picked on the estate in Red Hill, the first wine to be bottled on the estate was a Semillion in 2005. Since then St Clements has grown and so has its repertoire to include Merlot, Rosé, Semillon, Shiraz and Verdelho.

Hotels - Hunter Valley

3385 Hotels
View Destination