The Hunter Valley is one of Sydney’s most popular weekend destinations for good reason. The scenery is stunning and the food and wine are fantastic. However, there’s much more to do in the area beyond the famous wineries of Pokolbin, from ancient rock art to cheese tasting and even a historic village which feels like stepping back in time.
We’ve visited many times and have found something new and incredible each time. As well as the famous hot spots we’ll share all our favourite hidden gems to help you plan the perfect trip to the glorious Hunter Valley.
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1. Learn about winemaking
2. Picnic in the vines
3. See some of the best ancient rock art in NSW
4. Go cheese tasting
5. Catch a sunrise from a hot air balloon
6. Go wine tasting!7. Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens
8. Mix it up at the Hunter Distillery
9. Catch a sunset from Audrey Wilkinson’s
10. Step back in time in Wollombi
11. Spot some wild roos
12. Indulge in gourmet delights at Margan
13. Pick up some goodies at the Chocolate Factory
14. Take the scenic route via waterfalls and lookouts
15. See the convict history from Sydney
Understanding the different areas of the Hunter Valley
As the name suggests, the Hunter Valley is a region made up of several towns and villages. The most popular area is Pokolbin, which is where the big winemakers are, the majority of hotels and a lot of the big attractions in the Hunter.
However, this can also mean crowds, as Pokolbin is the one area day-trippers flock to. This also tends to mean you get a lack of the one-on-one experiences that can make the Hunter Valley special.
Tiny little Broke is a 20 minute drive away and is nestled at the foot of the mountains in Yengo National Park. What this small village lacks in shops and cafes, it makes up for in beautiful vineyards with a personal touch. Some of our favourite things to do in the Hunter Valley are tucked away in this spot that the majority of people never visit!
The picturesque heritage town of Wollombi is the other place we recommend visiting in the Hunter Valley, and it’s just 35 minutes from Pokolbin. You can include this on your journey if you are driving from Sydney, which you can read more about at the bottom of this article.
15 Amazing things to do in the Hunter Valley
1. Learn about wine making at Whispering Brook
There are hundreds of wineries in the Hunter Valley, and whilst almost every winery offers tastings, fewer offer you the opportunity to explore the vineyard and learn more about the wine making process.
We took a tour at one of our favourite wineries in the Hunter, Whispering Brook, which is a 20 minute drive from Pokolbin. If you’re tastings have been lacking that personal touch, then this is the place to come. It’s a small boutique winery with outstanding, friendly service that makes you feel right at home.
It was a place that truly felt like an escape and we left with a big smile on our faces.
You’ll be shown the vineyard and olive grove before being taken into the wine making area to learn all about what it takes to produce wine from start to finish.
You can ask as many questions as you like and it was great to learn more about the area and the wines. We were the only ones on the tour when we visited, which made it feel even more personalised.
You’ll conclude with a tasting in the garden overlooking the olive trees and vines in the distance. We tried 10 wines (the official tasting is usually a couple less, but if they have extra bottles open they’ll bring them out too) and the whole experience is fantastic.
We left completely relaxed and glad we’d decided to spend just a little more on getting the extended experience. If you take the last tour of the day, don’t forget to walk down to the vines to look for the resident kangaroos.
Tours cost $20 pp including wine tasting or you can do the stand alone tasting for $10 pp. You can book online by clicking here.
2. Picnic in the vines
Is there any better way to spend an afternoon than picnicking on the Hunter’s gourmet produce surrounded by spectacular scenery with a good bottle of wine?! Many of the vineyards will let you picnic in the grounds as long as you buy something from the cellar door.
Our current fave is Tyrrell’s in Pokolbin. Not only do you have a great view of the vines, but also the surrounding mountain range.
They’ve got a few picnic tables or bring your own rug and set up on the lawn. There are lots of places to pick up some fab supplies, we’d recommend stocking up at the Smelly Cheese Shop and the Hunter Valley Olive Co. Then pop into Tyrrell’s for some wine or a tasting ($10pp) and get ready to relax in the gorgeous vineyard grounds.
Before you leave check out the home of the original winemaker, Edward Tyrrell, which is just in front of the cellar door. The rustic hut is a lovely piece of Hunter Valley history.
If you like the sound of a picnic but don’t want to organise your own, Get Your Guide offer a picnic experience where all the food and wine is provided for you, along with a tasting and wine masterclass. You can check it out by clicking the button below.
3. Marvel at the ancient rock art at Baiame Cave
We were stunned when we saw Baiame Cave and it was like being whisked away to Kakadu!
Located close to Broke on the traditional land of the Wonnarua people, is one of the most beautifully preserved Aboriginal rock arts sites close to Sydney. The cave houses a spectacular depiction of Baiame, the great spirit and creator of the land and every living thing.
As well as Baiame you can see some clear hand stencils, boomerangs and one other picture we couldn’t identify. It’s a marvelous site and one of our most treasured Hunter Valley experiences.
It goes without saying but please don’t step off the platform, it gets you close enough for an excellent look, and don’t tamper with the paintings in any way. We know 99.99% of people would never dream of doing so, but sadly some sites are tampered with.
The site is on private land, but you are allowed along the road to the viewing area. Just stick to the cave rather than going for an explore!
4. Go cheese tasting
We’ve done wine tasting so many times in the Hunter Valley before, but never cheese! When we saw you could do a formal tasting at the Hunter Valley Cheese Company we decided to give it a try.
It was actually a lot of fun and I tried some cheeses that I would never have picked out to try in a cheese shop.
You get a little board with five different cheeses including a curd, brie, a blue cheese that didn’t have blue veins (I didn’t even know that existed), a vintage cheddar and a soft blue cheese. They were all good and it’s the only time I’ve ever liked a brie!
The service was not especially friendly, but we were there for the cheese so we still enjoyed it.
The basic tasting we did was $7.95 pp or you could add preserves and olives for $14.95 pp. You can also buy blocks of cheese, local produce and even a coffee here.
If you don’t want to do a proper tasting, but want to try a few before you buy, we’d recommend heading to the Smelly Cheese Shop which is fab.
5. Catch a sunrise above the valley on a Hot Air Balloon
We’ve yet to experience this for ourselves, but we know people who have and say it is one of their favourite experiences in the Hunter Valley. Balloon rides take place at sunrise and see you gliding over the vineyards, looking out for kangaroos hopping through the valley below. To be honest I got up just to watch the balloons and even that was special, so I can imagine being up there would be just amazing.
I have been on a hot air balloon ride before, in Egypt, and it was such a wonderful experience, it’s really peaceful up there and the golden light is gorgeous for photographs.
I’d highly recommend giving it a go if you’ve never tried it before. The balloon rides over at the Hunter have seen more than their fair share of proposals so it’s definitely a great choice for a special occasion.
Balloon rides last for roughly an hour, depending on weather and some include add ons like a champagne breakfast.
It’s worth doing your research to find the best option for you, but this one on Klook gets excellent reviews.
6. Go wine tasting!
Wine tasting is of course the number one thing to do when it comes to the Hunter Valley. Until fairly recently tastings were generally free and informal. Today the vast majority will charge a fee and you will try a set amount of wines, starting with sparkling, moving on to white, rose, red and finishing with a dessert wine.
The most famous vineyards are generally in Pokolbin, but there are huge numbers of less well known boutique options too. We usually do a mix, with a few in Pokolbin, Broke and most recently in Wollombi too.
We’ve been to more than 20 wineries so far and these are our top picks for you by area:
Wine tasting in Pokolbin
We used to recommend heading to Brokenwood but on our most recent visit tastings had gone from $5 pp to $25pp and we wouldn’t pay that so can’t really recommend it (we assume the price hike was needed to pay for the fancy new buildings).
The wines are excellent and the new tasting set up is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s far and away more expensive than any other option. Instead we’d recommend heading to the below.
Gundog - You’re not coming for the views, but you are coming for the great service and fab wines. You’ll try 8 wines (many of which are award winning), which is generally 2 more than most other wineries.
The staff are knowledgable and happily answer any questions. Tastings are $10 pp.
Audrey Wilkinson - Audrey Wilkinson has one of the best views in the whole of the Hunter Valley as it’s set on a hill where you can see for miles. It’s a must visit, whether you come to have a glass of wine and catch the sunset or for the tasting. There’s a range of tasting on offer with the basic one starting at $5 pp. You can choose premium wines at a higher cost.
The only downside with Audrey Wilkinson is the view does attract big crowds and if you visit on a busy weekend it will be heaving. Having said that we still recommend a visit.
Wine tasting in Broke
As an aside - we’re not mentioning Whispering Brook here as we talked a lot about them earlier, but they are a firm fave.
Krinklewood - I absolutely love Krinklewood. The courtyard has always been gorgeous, but now it’s on another level. You feel like you’ve suddenly landed in Europe.
The tastings ($10pp) take place on individual tables in the stunning courtyard with lots of shady trees, resident peacocks and soft jazz playing in the background.
The wines are excellent, but they are at most vineyards in the Hunter, so we like to look for unique settings and for that Krinklewood wins hands down.
It’s the kind of place you come for a tasting but find yourself ordering a bottle and spending the whole afternoon there instead.
Ascella - We haven’t visited Ascella in a couple of years but it still remains one of our faves. It’s a very small winery, just under a 15 minute very scenic drive from Broke. You do need to make an appointment because it’s not a regularly visited cellar door which is always open. What you’ll get on arrival is a very friendly welcome and the chance to taste a variety of different organic wines.
This is actually the winery I bought the most bottles from overall and I found that as they are organic I never felt any ill effects from drinking them - which is lucky because I mainly bought Rose which Joe doesn’t like : )
You can book a tasting through Klook here, at time of writing it’s $10 pp (and if you buy a bottle you will receive $10 back).
Wine tasting in Wollombi
Most people don’t associate wineries with Wollombi, but it has a couple of gems that are well worth visiting.
Undercliff Winery - Our favourite in Wollombi is the Undercliff Winery, which has an absolutely beautiful view and the tasting is done with the owner, who is happy to have a good chat!
It’s also free which is incredibly rare for the Hunter nowadays.
You can sit and enjoy your tasting in the sunshine whilst looking out at the incredibly picturesque vineyard. We tried sparkling white and red, white, red and a desert wine.
Undercliff also hosts a sculpture exhibition among the vines which is held every October/November.
Stonehurst Cedar Creek - The tasting (also free) was a bit different here, you could just ask to try any you wanted.
The setting is lovely, and although there’s no view, you are in a gorgeous building which I would have thought was original if I hadn’t asked, either way it’s still very atmospheric.
7. Visit Australia’s largest display gardens - Hunter Valley Gardens
The Hunter Valley Gardens are the largest display gardens in Australia but there’s a bit of a twist.
The gardens have been designed with families in mind, with lots of things to keep the kids entertained including rides and many exhibits scattered amongst the foliage.
There’s a lot of beautiful flowers and formal gardens to explore, but what stood out the most for me was the fragrance.
No matter where we walked it smelt absolutely divine, sometimes I couldn’t even see any flowers nearby but the fragrance was still there!
There’s a lovely atmosphere with so many families out enjoying the the many different displays together.
There are 10 individually themed gardens, our favourite spots were the Italian Grotto and the Oriental Garden which had a peaceful feel.
They have different events happening throughout the year including the popular Christmas Lights Spectacular.
8. Mix it up a bit with a Hunter Distillery tasting
If you’re a lover of spirits as well as wine, then we’d highly recommend heading over to the Hunter Distillery. It’s a great place to change it up if you want a break from the wine!
Not only are the spirits excellent - we can’t go past the coffee vodka - but the service is amazing.
If you’re visiting the Hunter on a busy weekend you’d be forgiven for thinking that Pokolbin can be a tad on the stressed and not overly friendly side, but it couldn’t be more different at the Hunter Distillery.
You get given a long list of gins, vodkas and schnapps and you can pick any six to try. They are poured into little test tubes and you’re given details on each and what mixers they work best with.
We loved everything we tasted and liked that they had lots of native botanicals in the offerings.
Tastings are $5 pp which is refunded on the purchase of any bottle (something which often isn’t the case with the wineries).
9. Catch a sunset from Audrey Wilkinson vineyard
You’ll probably notice from our picture that we arrived a little late for our sunset at Audrey Wilkinson (we blame being so relaxed at Whispering Brook that we literally didn’t move from our tasting table for 2 hours!).
However assuming that you are better organised than us, Audrey Wilkinson is the perfect place to catch a glorious Hunter Valley sunset.
The expansive view is one of the very best in the area and the wines are also great. We’d recommend grabbing yourself a glass and sitting and watching the sun set over the vines.
10. Step back in time in Wollombi
If you love the chilled out vibes of the wineries in Broke, but also want a bit more of a town, then you should definitely head to Wollombi.
The village itself is an absolute delight with heritage buildings which have retained all their old world charm.
It’s the perfect size to explore on foot and you’ll probably spend longer than you’d think wandering around, as it’s hard to resist heading into all the old buildings.
Some are incredibly quirky and some are literally like a time warp - you’ll see what we mean in the General Store!
Aside from the village which is a destination in its own right, you’ll find several excellent wineries which still have a relaxed feel.
Myrtle House in the centre of town also serves up a good coffee, which isn’t too easy to find in the Hunter Valley! If you have more time to spend in Wollombi, we’ve got a full guide on the best things to do there.
11. Go wild roo spotting
Roos are everywhere in the Hunter and you’ll probably spot them without trying too hard.
If you want to particularly seek them out our favourite spots are at Whispering Brook where they were grazing amongst the vines and olive groves.
In Lovedale they are almost always in the fields opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel; in Pokolbin look at the fields along McDonalds Road and if you plan on visiting Wollombi we see them every time along the Yango Creek Road.
You’re most likely to see them in the early morning or from around an hour before sunset. Although we see them in the day time along the Yango Creek Road.
12. Indulge in gourmet delights at Margan Vineyard
The Hunter Valley is the perfect place to indulge a little and it has some truly amazing restaurants. Our favourite is Margan Wines in Broke, which bases all its food on what it can produce in its garden and orchards.
You hear the words farm to table and nose to tail said a lot nowadays, but Margan really embodies that philosophy and has done for the last 13 years.
It’s definitely a treat yourself experience at $110 for a five course menu, but we thought as a special experience it was well worth it.
Every course was amazing and as we were visiting in winter we got to enjoy the real fire. There’s virtually no light pollution in the area and I’ll never forget looking up and seeing the full milky way overhead. Absolutely spectacular.
If you’d like somewhere closer to Pokolbin we’ve heard amazing things about Bistro Molines, the view looks incredible and friends have said the food is outstanding. It’s on our list for one day!
13. Pick up some goodies at the Chocolate Factory
If you have a sweet tooth then it’s worth checking out the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. There is a huge array of chocolate which you can buy prepackaged or individually.
There’s no official tasting on offer which is a shame, but you could create your own by buying a few of the different individual chocs.
They have a little cafe on site, which has an outdoor seating area with a lovely view. However, it’s incredibly popular and can be very busy on a weekend. We’d also advise you to avoid the hot chocolate... it was basically like sugary milk (something you really wouldn’t expect at a chocolatier)!
I’d go for tea and a couple of the chocolates next time!
14. Take the scenic route via a waterfall and spectacular lookouts
If you take the motorway all the way to the Hunter the journey is pretty dull. So to break it up a bit, we’d recommend making a couple of stops along the way.
Somersby Falls
It only adds 10 minutes to the journey if you stop at the spectacular Somersby Falls.
The walk to the middle falls, which would be worth seeing alone is just five minutes, but we recommend carrying on another five to see the lower falls as well, which are even more beautiful.
We’ve got all the details on visiting Somersby Falls in this guide.
Hunter & McLeans Lookout
If you have a little extra time and are happy to add on another 40 minutes you can start your trip to the Hunter with a jaw dropping view over the valley.
Hunter Lookout in the Watagans National Park is spectacular, easily one of our favourite views in the area.
Hunter Lookout
The walk from the car park takes less than a minute. It’s also worth driving a further two minutes down the road to Mcleans Lookout which offers another incredible view of the Hunter Valley.
McLeans Lookout
There are a few walking trails around this area too, but we didn’t find them to be well sign posted and involved some road walking, so we personally weren’t big fans.
Once you drive into the Watagans you will be on a dirt track, you don’t need a 4WD, but it is a bumpy road.
15. See a little of Sydney’s Convict History on the way
An alternative route, or perhaps an option for the return journey is to see a little of Sydney’s convict history along the Old Great North Road. It is a much prettier route and only adds on an additional 20 minutes to your journey.
As well as lovelier scenery you will also pass a few remaining relics of the Old Great North Road. The easiest to spot are the two abandoned loops, the first is 7km south of Laguna and the second is not long after. They have lay bys for you to pull in and take a closer look.
Around 8 minutes later you’ll pass the small village of Laguna, which is home to Australia’s oldest wine bar. The bar is well worth popping in to, and there’s also an abandoned loop just in front of it.
You’re then just 10 minutes away from Wollombi, which is the gorgeous historic village we mentioned earlier. The drive all the way from Laguna to Pokolbin, through Wollombi and Broke is absolutely beautiful. There are so many vineyards and they are backed by a picturesque mountain range.
If you can spare the time it is by far our favourite way to reach the Hunter.
The Convict Trail in Wiseman’s Ferry
Incidentally, if this gets you interested in learning more about Sydney’s convict history then we’d recommend checking out the Convict Trail at Wiseman’s Ferry.
It’s a bit further away so it’s best to do this as a separate day trip unless you have heaps of spare time.
The Convict Trail is a 4km walk which feels like an open air museum. You’ll head along the best preserved stretch of the Old Great North Road with information boards along the way, which give you lots of facts, but also true stories about the convicts that constructed the road.
It’s fascinating and brilliantly done. You can learn more about it here.
Hotels & Accommodation in the Hunter Valley
Spicers Vineyards Estate - top end
Set amongst the vineyards the rooms here are huge, more like suites, with a living area complete with fireplace, great views and a spa bath. Brekkie is included and there’s also wifi if you need to stay connected. The onsite restaurant gets rave reviews.
Check out the reviews and prices on:
Elfin Hill Vineyard Accommodation - midrange
The rooms at Elfin Hill are comfy and stylish and the whole place has a really relaxed feel. It’s a friendly environment and rooms are immaculately clean. The brekkie gets rave reviews, but unfortunately we didn’t love it (we were staying for a wedding so it could have been different to the usual).
Check out the reviews and prices on:
Hunter Valley Travellers Rest Motel - Budget
If you just want somewhere inexpensive and still fairly close to Pokolbin, this motel in Cessnock is a good bet. Rooms are fairly standard for a motel, but unlike the majority of other motels in the area, they are set back from the road, making it a quieter option. Rooms are clean and it’s particularly good value if you book in advance.
Check out the reviews and prices on: Hunter Valley Travellers Rest Motel - Budget
If you just want somewhere inexpensive and still fairly close to Pokolbin, this motel in Cessnock is a good bet. Rooms are fairly standard for a motel, but unlike the majority of other motels in the area, they are set back from the road, making it a quieter option. Rooms are clean and it’s particularly good value if you book in advance.
Check out the reviews and prices on:
Getting to the Hunter Valley
Sydney is roughly 165km and 2 hours 15 minutes from Pokolbin, where most people head for first. It takes roughly 10 minutes longer to reach Broke, whilst Wollombi is just two hours away.
If coming by public transport you can take the train to Singleton, which takes just over three hours direct - but make sure you get on the fastest service or it can take a lot longer. From Singleton it’s probably easiest to then catch a taxi onwards to Pokolbin.
That makes it an expensive choice though and hiring a car would be preferable.
You could also take a tour from Sydney if you prefer. This one is very well reviewed.
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What’s your favourite winery in the Hunter Valley? Let us know in the comments below!
