Plan a holiday with friends in the Hunter Valley
One of Australia's top wine spots, the Hunter Valley, is known for how to create a ripper celebration for any occasion. Just a couple of hours up the road from Sydney, the Hunter Valley's lush green hills, top-notch wineries, tasty long lunches, and hands-on experiences set the scene for a fantastic group getaway.
If you are celebrating an important event, getting married, or want to meet and create new memories with your friends, join Hunter Valley Tours from Sydney; here are some of the best ways to spend a holiday in the Hunter Valley.
Hunter Valley accommodation
From massive resorts to tiny homes, the Hunter Valley offers a wide range of places to stay so you can wake up to that fresh country air.
The Rydges Resort Hunter Valley offers a variety of accommodations, including resort rooms and villas with up to three bedrooms.
The resort boasts its own water park and golf course, as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, along with a dedicated event coordinator to help plan your celebration.
Palmers Lane in Pokolbin has two excellent ways to stay.
New in spring 2024, The Lane Retreat has 60 studios set amongst 50-year-old vines; just four minutes up the road, you'll find Palmers Lane Estate, which has ten private lodges ranging in size from one to six bedrooms.
Looking for a self-contained luxury retreat? The Hunter Valley has you covered. Redleaf Wollombi is an Italian-style villa that sleeps up to 12 people and is surrounded by 10 acres of manicured gardens. Tinonee Vineyard Estate has two beautiful homes – The Residence and The Cottage – which can be turned into a group booking for 16 guests to sleep in the boutique vineyard.
Meanwhile, Tuckers Lane Boutique Accommodation offers the chance to sleep in a recycled shipping container filled with timber furniture custom-made by the owner.
Hunter Valley restaurants
The dirt that turns out as vino also sprouts a heap of fresh tucker, and the local kitchen whizzes in Hunter Valley are smashing it as they go with the flow of the seasons.
At the beachy-vibes Muse Kitchen, chef Richmond Rodrigues whips up ripper dishes that snagged his eatery a hat. The ever-changing menu is a beauty for sharing, tossing treats like Warroo kangaroo with macadamia satay and Malai lamb with tikka sauce.
Nestled in Spicers Vineyards Estate, Restaurant Botanica flaunts top-shelf Aussie produce in a posh nosh setting, with a striking private dining room that fits a dozen guests. Or tuck into modern Aussie grub at Twine Restaurant, famed for its cracking dishes and easy-going service. Make sure to keep space for sweets: the crème brûlée and choc nut tartare are out of this world.
Grab a slice of Hunter Valley with a tour to Binnorie Dairy, where you can peek at their top gong-winning and local cow and goat cheese getting knocked up before you have a taste. Also, swing by Pukara Estate to sample locally and sustainably farmed olives, olive oil, and handcrafted vinegar.
Hunter Valley wineries
Grog aficionados have a swag of cellar doors to hit up in Hunter Valley, from big-gun labels to the following big things. For group sips, you're better off booking in advance to nab your spot; chucking in for a shuttle is an intelligent move, too, so no one's drawing the short straw to be skipper.
The McGuigan Wines cellar door dishes up over a century of winemaking tales, and their etching gizmo lets you slap personal messages on your fave bottles to remember your mob's trip. Peterson House is another top pick, focusing on primo sparkling wines boasting more than 20 varieties.
Come Friday arvo. You can crack a bottle of plonk and enjoy live tunes at Saddler's Creek Wines' cellar door bash. Over at Tulloch Wines, the tasting sesh could cover rare vintages from their Museum stash, plus pairings with local choccy.
For a squiz at more than 20 local winemaking legends under one roof, head over to Wine House Hunter Valley, where deep-dive wine blending sessions and tastings are on the cards.