Hunter Valley

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Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest and most visited wine region, is a stunning vacation spot. Indulge in delectable wine and cuisine, stay in stylish accommodations and attend exciting events. With 150 top-notch wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms, there's no shortage of wine-tasting opportunities. From being pampered at a valley day spa to playing golf at a championship course, you'll be greeted with a friendly country charm in the Hunter Valley.

The Towns of the Hunter Valley Events Accommodation

The Towns of the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is a world-class wine region and tourist destination with a number of charming towns and villages. They all offer plenty to be discovered on their own or while enjoying the delights of a food and wine trail.

Events

Discover an engaging cultural scene packed with special events and festivals celebrating the Hunter Valley's heritage and award-winning wine and food.

Accommodation

The Hunter Valley offers an enviable range of places to stay, from stylish hotels, resorts and spa retreats to country-style guesthouses and beautifully appointed bed and breakfast options. Some are nestled among the vineyards or within the wilderness of the Barrington Tops National Park, while others feature historical architecture unique to the region.

Do & See Dining Cafes Bars & Nightlife Shopping Tourist Information

Do & See

In addition to exceptional food and wine, the Hunter Valley offers many delightful experiences and adventures. This is a place where nature is on a grand scale with extraordinary environmental diversity. You'll find the fascinating history and lively cultural scene.

Hunter Valley Zoo

Located within the heart of the Wine Country, Hunter Valley Zoo has acres of both Australian and exotic animals. Feed the animals - hand feed kangaroos, wallabies, farmyard animals and Lorikeets with special food purchased from the office. Daily shows allow you to pat a wombat, cuddle up to a koala, touch a reptile and watch …

Maitland Regional Art Gallery

Steeped in history, the federation gothic building housing Maitland Regional Art Gallery is an awe inspiring example of early 1900's architecture. Officially opened in 1910, the building was constructed to house the Maitland Technical College, which it continued to do until 1987. Known locally as MRAG, each year the gallery shows thousands of artworks and …

Wine Tours

The Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest wine region and home to some of the country's most distinctive and outstanding wines. The most recognised of these is the Hunter Valley semillon, the product of techniques and processes that have developed over 150 years of making wines. The region is also known for producing outstanding shiraz, …

Barrington Tops National Park

Barrington Tops National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Carved out of ancient volcanic flows, the park rises from near sea level to over 1,500 metres and protects one of the largest temperate rainforests in mainland Australia, with a host of diverse habitats home to a wide range …

Hunter Valley Gardens

Discover more than 24 hectares of beautiful gardens at the foothills of the Broken Back Range in the heart of the Hunter Valley vineyards. Explore more than 8 km of pathways and ten themed gardens including the Indian Mosaic Garden, Italian Grotto, Rose Garden and Storybook Garden. The gardens also host a wide range …

James Theatre

Watch a film in Australia's oldest operating purpose-built cinema. Open air films were first shown on the site in 1912. The theatre became the social hub of Dungog not only for its film screenings, but its balls and …

Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol has a fascinating history spanning more than 150 years. After housing some of Australia's most notorious criminals, the gaol closed as a correctional institution in 1998. Visitors can now tour the facility to learn about its history, past prisoners and daring escapes. Take a guided tour with a former inmate or spend …

Chapman Valley Horse Riding

Chapman Valley Horse Riding provides horses for all levels of experience, from beginners to advance riders. Experience nature up close as you travel on horse-back through the scenic valleys and mountains of the 2,600-hectare property which has been owned by the Chapman family for more than 170 …

Dungog Historical Museum

The eclectic collection reflects the area's rural history, including its dairying, timber and manufacturing industries. A wide range items are on display including household goods, photographic collections, dentist equipment and horse carts and buggies. Guided tours of the museum are available by …

Hunter Valley Candymaking Class

Learn how to create alcohol-infused candy at the Hunter Valley Resort's 90-minute Big Kids Candy cooking classes. Working alongside one of the resort's executive chefs, you will make peanut brittle, marshmallows and rocky road …

Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club

With a spectacular backdrop of vineyards and rugged mountain ranges, the Hunter Valley Golf and Country Club is a beautiful 18-hole championship course. Located at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, the fully accredited course measures 5,170 metres in length and is suited to golfers of all …

James Estate Wines

James Estate offers sweeping views of the spectacular mountain ranges and Baerami vineyard from the spacious cellar door sales and tasting area. Enjoy tasting the range of wines as you take in the natural beauty of the region. The ridge walk and mountain bike trails are accessible from the cellar …

Lake St Clair

The lake is a premium outdoor leisure facility nestled among the hills at the foot of Mount Royal Range near Singleton. Swimming, sailing, water skiing, and camping are a few of the activities enjoyed on the lake. The NSW State Fisheries regularly stocks the lake with bass, golden and silver perch and catfish, making …

Majors Lane Cooking School

Prepare a feast using local produce to create Asian cuisine in a covered courtyard with gorgeous vineyard views. Thai, Balinese, Sichuan, Indonesian and Vietnamese classes are available. Small class sizes (maximum 14) with individual and group bookings are also …

Marthaville Arts & Cultural Centre

The centre hosts a variety of events, exhibits and activities as well as displaying for sale a wide range of arts and crafts made by residents of the Cessnock area. Marthaville is the oldest timber sawn home in Cessnock and still retains many of its original …

Middle Falbrook Bridge

Admire the charming scenery at Middle Falbrook Bridge over Glennies Creek. The Hunter region has 15 historic bridges constructed before 1905. This timber truss bridge was built in 1904 and gains heritage significance from its design - based on American Ernest de Burgh's truss design - and its association with the expansion of the …

Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre

The centre presents travelling and local exhibitions, and art prizes (including the Muswellbrook Photographic Award and the biennial Muswellbrook Open Art Prize) along with periodic selections from the permanent …

Paterson Rail Motor Museum & Society

The museum houses railway memorabilia from both the steam and diesel eras. The site includes the old Station Master's residence that has been restored to its 1930s exterior appearance and colour scheme. The Rail Motor Society offers visitors tours on board the historical rail motors around the local area and across the …

Richmond Vale Railway Museum

This volunteer non-profit museum was formed in 1979 to preserve the railway and mining heritage of the Hunter Valley. The museum runs trains on the first three Sundays of each month and every Sunday during school holidays, as well as offering mid week tours and special night time …

Singleton Historical Museum

The museum is based within the old Council Chambers (formerly lock-up cells) and has a wide variety of interesting artefacts on the history of Singleton including an original horse-drawn ambulance cart, farm machinery and …

Spa at Chateau Elan

Relax and rejuvenate at this luxurious spa offering a wide range of treatments including facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and Healite ll therapy. The Spa Hydrotherapy Lounge features plunge pools overlooking the golf course and an infrared detox …

St Peter's Anglican Church

The Anglican Parish of St Peter at East Maitland is one of the oldest in Australia, commencing with the appointment of the Reverend George Rusden in 1834. The church is decorated in 14th century gothic style and features stained glass and other striking …

The Singleton Sundial

The giant sundial in Singleton was built for Australia's bicentennial celebrations in 1988, marking 200 years since the arrival of Britain's First Fleet. It stands as a visible link between the old and the new - an ancient method of time telling set in the midst of the new development in Singleton. The sundial …

The Vintage Golf Club

The Vintage is a Greg Norman-designed golf course which blends in with the natural surroundings, gently winding its way around undisturbed wetlands, trickling creeks, eucalypt forests, and the vineyards of Beggars Bridge and …

Tocal Homestead

Tocal is a 2,200-hectare property that features one of Australia's finest collections of colonial farm buildings dating from the 1830s. Book a tour to take in the highlights of the heritage site, including the Homestead, the Blackett Barn, Thunderbolt's Cottage and a range of original outbuildings and …

Werakata National Park

Werakata National Park is loved by locals and its perfect for a day trip from Sydney. There are great cycling and walking trails and in spring they're lined with purple, orange and yellow wildflowers, like acacias and banksias. Birdwatchers are never disappointed as the abundance of food in the park attracts endangered swift parrots, …

Woko National Park

A steep and rugged landscape with wet and dry rainforest, rocky outcroppings, and eucalypt groves. Explore one of the many family friendly hiking tracks for the chance to see the park's animals including the wedge-tailed eagle, lyrebird and the endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby. River camping and barbecues make it great location for settling down …

Yengo National Park

A rugged landscape of steep gorges and rocky ridges, just waiting to be explored by 4WD, mountain bike or foot. Part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Yengo has spectacular views, remote wilderness and unique Aboriginal cultural heritage, with an abundance of Aboriginal sacred sites and rock engravings to …

Australian Museum of Clothing & Textiles

This collection includes unusual and exquisite items of clothing and handwork that reflect the fashion and ingenuity of Australians during times of deprivation such as the Great Depression, WWI and …

Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club

This is a picturesque 6,487 metre, par 72 18-hole championship golf course and is ranked among the top resort courses in …

Dining

The Hunter Valley has forged a reputation for high quality food using fresh, local ingredients to match its acclaimed wines. Many of the wineries double as restaurants or bars, serving delicious meals to complement their award-winning wines.

Bistro Molines

The award-winning Bistro Molines offers an ever-changing menu of French provincial dishes using fresh, seasonal local produce. The restaurant is set among the beautiful surrounds of Tallavera Grove Vineyard, with indoor and outdoor dining overlooking a valley of terraced vineyards and grazing …

Emerson's on the Lake

This multi award-winning restaurant is at the splendid Adina Vineyard. Enjoy a relaxed weekend breakfast, late week lunches or contemporary modern Australian cuisine in the evenings. You can also try the popular eight course degustation menu during dinner service. Emerson’s also offers the unique opportunity to eat dinner in the kitchen on the Chef's …

Esca Bimbadgen Restaurant

Bimbadgen Estate is a winery and vineyard encompassing the award-winning Esca Bimbadgen Restaurant, an expansive cellar door, café, outdoor amphitheatre, modern tasting rooms and accommodation. The restaurant uses fresh produce grown on the estate or sourced locally. Menu highlights include the Esca Tasting Plates, allowing guests to enjoy three tastes from the menu, each …

Leaves & Fishes

The Leaves and Fishes menu focus on seafood, with an Asian kick. The restaurant is set on a serene lake dotted with beautiful water lilies. You'll enjoy the tranquility along with the gourmet dishes using fresh produce and seafood. Boutique accommodation is also available in stylish boathouses by the …

Margan Wines & Restaurant

Margan Restaurant is part of the Margan Wines establishment which includes 100 hectares of vineyards and follows an estate-grown and estate-made philosophy. The kitchen garden and orchard produces up to 90% of vegetables and fruit for the restaurant's seasonally inspired menus. Menu items such as pasta, gelato, soft cheeses, butter, small goods and bread …

Restaurant Botanica

Restaurant Botanica is nestled among the vineyards of Spicers Vineyards Estate with splendid views to the Broken Back Range. The restaurant prides itself on delivering an impressive, modern Australian menu using fresh seasonal produce, combined with one of the country’s best regional wine …

Ridge View

RidgeView is a family owned and operated vineyard, handcrafting award-winning wines from grapes grown on the estate. The RidgeView Restaurant uses fresh local produce, including organic vegetables from its own garden, for a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired seasonal menu - designed to enhance the flavour of the estate's …

Circa 1876

Near boutique hotel Peppers Convent, Circa 1876 has a strong reputation for being home to some of the finest cuisine in the Hunter Valley, with a passion for sourcing local produce and growing produce on site in an organic kitchen garden. Enjoy a drink in the restaurant's Circa 187 Bar, which has a list …

Twine Restaurant

Twine Restaurant is on the Wynwood Estate, Pokolbin, and offers modern Australian cuisine with a twist. The inviting dining room overlooks rolling vineyards and extends on to a deck bordered by roses. Try the Twine Signature Oyster Platter featuring half a dozen oysters prepared six different …

Cafes

A large number of tourists flock to the Hunter Valley to sample wines and explore wineries and vineyards. Before diving into your wine-tasting adventure, make sure you enjoy a hearty breakfast at one of the many charming cafes in the region.

The Deck Cafe Lovedale

As a top-rated breakfast café in the Hunter Valley, The Deck Cafe Lovedale offers great vegetarian options and exceptional service. Their tables on the deck provide a beautiful view and the atmosphere is welcoming and enjoyable. If you're looking for delicious, reasonably priced food, with portions large enough to leave everyone satisfied, make sure …

The Icky Sticky Patisserie

The Icky Sticky Patisserie is a local gem known for its fresh and flavourful coffee and cakes. Their beautifully presented treats are so popular that you need to arrive early before they sell out. While it might be slightly pricier than other bakeries, the quality is well worth it. Don't miss trying their beetroot …

The Bikesmith & Espresso Bar

The Bikesmith & Espresso Bar offers a unique blend of bike repair services and a cosy café that brews great coffee. This is the only spot in Maitland to have your bike serviced and grab a coffee, a muffin or some of their delicious …

Café Enzo

Set in a Tuscan-inspired village, among sandstone buildings and delightful gardens, Café Enzo in Pokolbin is open for breakfast and lunch. Sit in the enchanting courtyard in warmer months or beside the roaring fire during colder months and dine on Italian cuisine inspired by the fresh, seasonal produce from the surrounding Hunter …

Bars & Nightlife

The Hunter Valley offers more than just wine, food, and vineyards. After a day of exploring, you can discover an underrated selection of bars and nightlife venues, perfect for winding down and enjoying the region's vibrant evening scene.

Vista Lounge Bar

Vista Lounge Bar, located on the ground floor of the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, is a popular spot for enjoying beer, burgers and pizzas. Every Friday and Saturday, the bar hosts live music events featuring some of the best local …

Harrigan's Hunter Valley Sports Bar

The Harrigan's Hunter Valley Sports Bar offers a spacious setting with large screens for catching all the latest sporting events, while enjoying a cold pint, a cyder or a glass of wine. If you're into live music, the bar hosts sessions every Saturday and Sunday. At Harrigan's, you can also find a bottle shop …

Aussie Pub

Located in the Australia hotel in Cessnock, the Aussie Pub is a beautifully renovated venue in Cessnock. It's a popular destination for casual dining and drinks. Their menu includes typical pub dishes such as burgers, steaks, pizzas and pasta, not to mention a wide selection of beers. The hotel also offers a spacious outdoor …

Epoche Lounge Bar

The Epoche Lounge Bar, located in the IHG Hotel voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, offers an elegant setting for more than just dining and drinks. You can enjoy a game of pool or choose from a selection of board games for entertainment. There are also books available to read while sipping on a …

Shopping

The strong local food culture has given rise to gourmet produce houses, wine education centres and weekly growers markets at townships throughout the valley.