Hope Estate, Hunter ValleyCredit: Destination NSW
Young people enjoying a wine tasting next to the vineyards at Hope Estate.
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There are many ways to explore the Hunter Valley, one of New South Wales’ premier regions for lovers of food and wine. Just two hours’ drive from Sydney, Pokolbin is the perfect base for exploring the region. While most people drive or take guided tours of the many vineyards, more adventurous souls might choose to soak up the view of the valley from all angles. Which will it be?
Ride a Segway
Head off on a kangaroo-spotting nature adventure on a Segway Tour from Hunter Valley Resort in Pokolbin. You’ll tour the bushland property, riding along an old 1880s stock route – far from the road – and through McGuigan Wines vineyard. Kangaroo sightings are common and sometimes foxes, goannas and wombats make an appearance. There are views of the Broken Back Range and you’ll ride through vineyards at your own pace. New to a Segway? Never fear, you’ll be given instructions from a qualified Segway guide before you begin.
Have a sky-high adventure
For a stunning start to your day, get a bird’s-eye view of the sun rising over the picturesque wine regions of Broke, Lovedale and Rothbury. Balloon Aloft hosts hour-long balloon rides followed by a Champagne breakfast at Restaurant Cuvee in Peterson House. You’ll take off from one of over a dozen launch sites, depending on the wind direction. As your pilot expertly navigates over the valley, the balloon traverses the sky leaving you with virtually no sense of movement. The aerial view of the vineyards, olive groves and the countryside dotted with kangaroos is sublime.
Countryside, Hunter Valley Credit: Destination NSW
Hot air balloons flying over the Hunter Valley at sunrise.
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Countryside, Hunter Valley Credit: Destination NSW
Hot air balloons flying over the Hunter Valley at sunrise.
Peterson House, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Peterson House located in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley is a great location for wine tastings in particular the sparkling wine tasting experience and breakfast or lunch in the restaurant.
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Peterson House, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Peterson House located in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley is a great location for wine tastings in particular the sparkling wine tasting experience and breakfast or lunch in the restaurant.
Call a chauffeur
Tour wine country on a bespoke experience with Hunter Valley Private Tours: you’ll be chauffeured in a luxury Mercedes-Benz by local drivers keen to show you the region’s top wineries. There’s a Sydney-to-Hunter transfer available for the full-day winery tour, which visits four cellar doors and a premier winery restaurant for lunch. And Two Fat Blokes offers an "Arrive in Style” experience where you are picked up from the Hunter Valley Airport in a helicopter before a full-day tour, including visiting five different wineries as well as cheese and wine pairings. lunch among the vines and more.
Get in the saddle
Hunter Valley Horses offer a range of rides on gentle-natured horses, including a 90-minute trail ride that takes you through bushland and vineyards via some historic stock routes. Another scenic option is the rise and shine ride, watching nature come alive in the quiet of the morning, or the family bush trail ride, which takes kids as young as six, and is perfect for beginners.
Immerse yourself in extensive gardens
Stroll through the picturesque Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin. There are eight kilometres of walking trails leading through themed gardens such as the Italian Grotto and the Chinese Moongate Garden. The large topiary creations of dragons and brumbies are a delight, and the Lakes Walk has seasonal plantings to enjoy at any time of year. After exploring the surrounds, pop into the Garden Terrace Cafe or the Gigi & Chix Bonbon French Patisserie for a bite to eat.
Hunter Valley Horses, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Group rides through the vineyards with Hunter Valley Horses, Pokolbin
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Hunter Valley Horses, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Group rides through the vineyards with Hunter Valley Horses, Pokolbin
Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Manicured hedges of the Border Garden located in the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin.
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Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Manicured hedges of the Border Garden located in the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin.
More Inspirational Stories
Tyrrell's, PokolbinCredit: Destination NSW
Soak up the history of pioneering winemaker Tyrrell’s at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.
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Discover fascinating stories of pioneering winemakers who established Australia’s wine industry in New South Wales’s Hunter Valley from the 1820s. By the late 1800s several winemakers were toiling towards viticultural fame at Pokolbin, including the Tyrrell, Tulloch, Wilkinson and Drayton families. Just two hours’ drive north of Sydney, this globally renowned region now abounds with award-winning cellar doors that have joined these well-established masters.
Tulloch Wines
Over four generations and 125 years, Tulloch Wines has been crafting its tours, tastings and experiences to celebrate the good life of wine, food, family and friends. There is a tasting where wine is paired with handmade chocolates and another where visitors can sample six mystery wines alongside a charcuterie and cheese platter. The Junior Tasting Experience caters for kids (soft drinks served with a range of tasty snacks), while teens and non-drinkers can quaff kombucha and nibble on local cheese.
Audrey Wilkinson
First planted in 1866, Audrey Wilkinson vineyard is perched on the foothills of the Broken Back Range and has stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. The estate offers cellar door tastings and experiences such as Picnic among the Vines, which includes a wine masterclass, and Fortified and Fromage, where you sample fortified wines straight from the barrel with local cheeses. There’s also a free museum and guest accommodation in modern cottages.
Hunter Valley Wine Region Highlight Selects
Highlight selects of the Hunter Valley wine region including: Audrey Wilkinson, Tulloch Wines, EXP. Restaurant, Murchessons Horseback Wine & Dine Tours at Hanging Tree Wines, Brokenwood Wines, Bistro Molines.
Hunter Valley Wine Region Highlight Selects
Highlight selects of the Hunter Valley wine region including: Audrey Wilkinson, Tulloch Wines, EXP. Restaurant, Murchessons Horseback Wine & Dine Tours at Hanging Tree Wines, Brokenwood Wines, Bistro Molines.
Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a wine tasting experience at Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin.
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Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a wine tasting experience at Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin.
Audrey Wilkinson, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across the Audrey Wilkinson vineyard, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley region.
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Audrey Wilkinson, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across the Audrey Wilkinson vineyard, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley region.
Tyrrell’s
Much-loved winery Tyrrell’s has been family-owned since 1858 and is home to some of Australia’s most-awarded wines, including the iconic Vat 1 Semillon. Take a tour and experience the old oak vats and the historic red cellar still in full operation. For avid wine lovers, the Sacred Sites Exclusive experience includes a private vineyard tour with a Tyrrell family member, followed by a tasting of wines from the family’s private cellar.
Drayton’s Family Wines
A pioneer of the Hunter Valley dating back to 1853, Drayton’s Family Wines produces premium whites, reds and fortifieds from its vines, some of which are over 100 years old. Proud of its six generations in the winemaking business, the Drayton family continues to expand its legacy in the region. Visit the cellar door to talk all things wine and sample a few drops, then head over to Bellevue Food & Wine, a casual eatery which opened on the estate in 2020. Here pizza and tapas are served on the outside deck and paired with Drayton’s wines.
Tyrrell's, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Onsite wine production at Tyrrell's, Pokolbin.
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Tyrrell's, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Onsite wine production at Tyrrell's, Pokolbin.