Luxury Escapes Guide to Hunter Valley

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Luxury Escapes Guide to the Hunter Valley

Luxury Escapes Guide to the Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley — Introduction

A picture of rolling olive groves and sprawling vine-laced hills, surrounded by untouched natural terrain, this slice of Italy is just three hours from Sydney and a one-hour drive from Newcastle. Gateway to an abundance of producers and tasting rooms, this is a region that knows that good food and wine is always a good idea.

Made up of several smaller subregions including Pokolbin, Lovedale and Wollombi, Hunter Valley is the gift that keeps giving. Boutique wineries, organized wine tours, boozy cycling trails, cool breweries and cozy tasting rooms are rife here, and it’s to be expected when you’re in the epicenter of more than 180 years of wine-making heritage. And while good wine never really needs company, the drops (from more than 150 vineyards) are best enjoyed with family and friends, as you hop from vine to vine.

In between sampling the flagship semillon and shiraz, you’ll find a bounty of local restaurants that make excellent use of the local terroir. The gastronomy here is nothing to be sniffed at, with several SMH Good Food Guide-hatted restaurants, each with a view better than the last, overlooking rolling pastures, vine-covered hills and quiet villages.

Beyond the vines, this historic region abounds with wonders. From the World Heritage-listed wilderness of Yengo National Park to Aboriginal cultural sites and the convict-built Old Great North Road, the Hunter Valley isn’t your run-of-the-mill wine region.

Please note that due to current restrictions some operators may be temporarily closed. Check their websites for the most up-to-date information.

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Things to see and do

Visit the valley’s best cellar doors and vineyards

Visit the valley’s best cellar doors and vineyards

Many winemakers say the older the vine, the better the wine, and some of the Hunter Valley’s are older than those in France. So, it’s only fitting that you begin at the start: Audrey Wilkinson. Experience 150 years of winemaking history with 360° views and a glass of their phenomenal sparkling shiraz. To transport yourself back in time, head to the family-run Tyrell’s, where you can wander through Edward Tyrell’s original bark hut and see where vines were first planted back in 1858. There’s a lot to be said for the new-to-the-scene tasting rooms, too. Situated in a renovated church with pews for seats, Usher Tinkler, one of the region’s innovative wineries invites you to linger over a Nose To Tail semillon chardonnay blend, and a salumi and cheese platter with a side of heavenly views.

Wind through Hunter Valley on two wheels

Wind through Hunter Valley on two wheels

If you’re partial to hopping from vine to dairy and antique shop to cooking school, the 10km Hunter Valley Cycleway alongside Hermitage Road is the perfect place for a bike ride. Picture-perfect Brokenback Mountain Range views make up your backdrop as you pedal this dedicated bike path, past Misty Glen Wines and its four-footed welcoming committee, Matilda Bay Brewhouse, and the smoky aromas of Yellow Billy Restaurant. If you’re worried about trying to haul your bounty ‘home’, don’t. Rent a bike with Grapemobile Bike Hire or Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire and they’ll deliver your purchases to your lodging for your (or the nearest pick-up point).

Learn about Hunter Valley’s convict history in Wollombi

Learn about Hunter Valley’s convict history in Wollombi

The Hunter Valley’s filigree of picturesque roads will often lead you to a vine-laden cellar door, but a 30-minute drive south-west of Pokolbin will take you to Wollombi and the Great Northern Convict Trail. Established in the mid-1800s, Wollombi is a poignant reminder of the era of European colonization with 19th-century sandstone architecture, old-world general stores and a convict trail — where 6kg leg-irons, back-breaking limestone walls and bridges can still be found. Once a significant meeting place for local Indigenous peoples — Wollombi means ‘meeting place’ — this area is best enjoyed on foot, tracing the footsteps of early settlers and some 3000 convict laborers.

Wander through the Hunter Valley Gardens

Wander through the Hunter Valley Gardens

For an endless expanse of dreamy Instagram florals, Hunter Valley Gardens’ 25 acres will satisfy your floral fantasies, with 10 eclectic feature gardens including a Mad Hatter’s tea party, a haunting Sunken Garden and an Italian grotto. This garden is not just a wonderland of floral artistry with ridiculously romantic lake walks, daffodils and a cornucopia of fountains, statues and tree-carved brumbies, it is home to family-friendly rides the Swing Chair, Ferris Wheel and Hunter Valley Gardens Train — perfect for big and little kids alike.

Pose with the Big Ugg Boots at Mortels Sheepskin Factory

Pose with the Big Ugg Boots at Mortels Sheepskin Factory

The Hunter Valley has its own contribution to Australia’s proud collection of Big Things, adding to South Australia’s Big Lobster and Victoria’s cuddly Big Koala with its own ‘big’ icon. In a region where rain boots and flannel shirts are wardrobe must-haves, it’s only fitting that the Hunter Valley’s Big Thing is a pair of Big Ugg Boots, affectionately dubbed ‘Berro Boots’. Grab a selfie with the iconic boots and then head inside, don the high-vis and join a factory tour, or you can opt to visit the Sheep’s Back Museum to hear all about the history of the ugg boot. Don't forget to buy a pair snuggly ugg boots!

Soak up the scenery of Yengo National Park

Soak up the scenery of Yengo National Park

Part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Yengo National Park covers more than 1,500sqkm of Aboriginal sacred sites, red cedars, giant stinging trees and spectacular vistas, dotted with the rare velvet wattle — all of which can be explored by 4WD, foot or bike. Uninterrupted views of Yengo and Wollemi are the reward of a short, steep climb to Mount Yengo lookout. In the park, you can also find the Finchley Aboriginal engravings hidden on the Finchley Cultural Walk, and wander the Circuit Flat Walking Track, home to Australia’s second-oldest bridge, built by convicts in 1831.

Put your wits to the test at Maitland Gaol

Put your wits to the test at Maitland Gaol

Wander the empty cells and hear harrowing tales from an ex-warden about the riots, executions and escapes that took place in the maximum-security Maitland Gaol. This haunting place was only decommissioned as a correctional facility in 1998, after operating for more than 150 years and housing some of Australia’s most notorious criminals — including Australia’s first gangster, John ‘Chow’ Hayes. Just a half-hour drive from Pokolbin, a tour of Maitland Gaol is an eye-opening experience, but it’s the overnight torchlight sleepover that will put your wits to the test.

Epicurean indulgence at the Hunter Valley Wine + Food Festival

Epicurean indulgence at the Hunter Valley Wine + Food Festival

Let your inner locavore run free on Broke Road during the Hunter Valley Wine + Food Festival, where you can wine and dine with winemakers, brewers and culinary talents. Spanning two months, the festival is a feast of epicurean indulgences, including locally produced gourmet dinners, vineyard tours, winemaking masterclasses and evenings curled up beside an open fire with friends. Our tip: time your visit for the iconic ‘Burning of the Barrel’, arguably the best night you can have in the Valley with wine, cheese, food, music, fireworks, starry skies and a massive fire on the Glandore Estate property.

Taste handcrafted wine and olive oil at Whispering Brook

Taste handcrafted wine and olive oil at Whispering Brook

Having received glowing accolades from prestigious wine critic James Halliday, Whispering Brook is a vineyard that takes its wine very seriously. But it’s not all about grapes. This charming winery doubles as an olive grove, creating a unique tasting experience that combines handcrafted olive oil with a selection of fine wine vintages. Learn about cultivation, harvest and distillation, all while sipping some signature Hunter drops. Our tip: visit during one of the long-table banquet-style lunches among the estate’s olive groves, featuring food by Chef Frank Fawkner (of EXP fame) served with matching wines.

Unleash your inner artist at Thirsty Palette Wine

Unleash your inner artist at Thirsty Palette Wine

Put your creativity to the test with a two-hour art class at Thirsty Palette Wine, a cellar door that doubles as a painting studio. Run by resident artist, Jacquie Mather, this art class will teach you to mix oils, provide you with a deeper understanding of color and paint, and show you how to replicate the beauty of the magnificent Brokenback Ranges. All you need to bring is your inner artist and lunch, they’ll supply the wine, canvas, easels and paint.

Visit the valley’s best cellar doors and vineyards

Visit the valley’s best cellar doors and vineyards

Many winemakers say the older the vine, the better the wine, and some of the Hunter Valley’s are older than those in France. So, it’s only fitting that you begin at the start: Audrey Wilkinson. Experience 150 years of winemaking history with 360° views and a glass of their phenomenal sparkling shiraz. To transport yourself back in time, head to the family-run Tyrell’s, where you can wander through Edward Tyrell’s original bark hut and see where vines were first planted back in 1858. There’s a lot to be said for the new-to-the-scene tasting rooms, too. Situated in a renovated church with pews for seats, Usher Tinkler, one of the region’s innovative wineries invites you to linger over a Nose To Tail semillon chardonnay blend, and a salumi and cheese platter with a side of heavenly views.

Wind through Hunter Valley on two wheels

Wind through Hunter Valley on two wheels

If you’re partial to hopping from vine to dairy and antique shop to cooking school, the 10km Hunter Valley Cycleway alongside Hermitage Road is the perfect place for a bike ride. Picture-perfect Brokenback Mountain Range views make up your backdrop as you pedal this dedicated bike path, past Misty Glen Wines and its four-footed welcoming committee, Matilda Bay Brewhouse, and the smoky aromas of Yellow Billy Restaurant. If you’re worried about trying to haul your bounty ‘home’, don’t. Rent a bike with Grapemobile Bike Hire or Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire and they’ll deliver your purchases to your lodging for your (or the nearest pick-up point).

Learn about Hunter Valley’s convict history in Wollombi

Learn about Hunter Valley’s convict history in Wollombi

The Hunter Valley’s filigree of picturesque roads will often lead you to a vine-laden cellar door, but a 30-minute drive south-west of Pokolbin will take you to Wollombi and the Great Northern Convict Trail. Established in the mid-1800s, Wollombi is a poignant reminder of the era of European colonization with 19th-century sandstone architecture, old-world general stores and a convict trail — where 6kg leg-irons, back-breaking limestone walls and bridges can still be found. Once a significant meeting place for local Indigenous peoples — Wollombi means ‘meeting place’ — this area is best enjoyed on foot, tracing the footsteps of early settlers and some 3000 convict laborers.

Wander through the Hunter Valley Gardens

Wander through the Hunter Valley Gardens

For an endless expanse of dreamy Instagram florals, Hunter Valley Gardens’ 25 acres will satisfy your floral fantasies, with 10 eclectic feature gardens including a Mad Hatter’s tea party, a haunting Sunken Garden and an Italian grotto. This garden is not just a wonderland of floral artistry with ridiculously romantic lake walks, daffodils and a cornucopia of fountains, statues and tree-carved brumbies, it is home to family-friendly rides the Swing Chair, Ferris Wheel and Hunter Valley Gardens Train — perfect for big and little kids alike.

Pose with the Big Ugg Boots at Mortels Sheepskin Factory

Pose with the Big Ugg Boots at Mortels Sheepskin Factory

The Hunter Valley has its own contribution to Australia’s proud collection of Big Things, adding to South Australia’s Big Lobster and Victoria’s cuddly Big Koala with its own ‘big’ icon. In a region where rain boots and flannel shirts are wardrobe must-haves, it’s only fitting that the Hunter Valley’s Big Thing is a pair of Big Ugg Boots, affectionately dubbed ‘Berro Boots’. Grab a selfie with the iconic boots and then head inside, don the high-vis and join a factory tour, or you can opt to visit the Sheep’s Back Museum to hear all about the history of the ugg boot. Don't forget to buy a pair snuggly ugg boots!

Soak up the scenery of Yengo National Park

Soak up the scenery of Yengo National Park

Part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Yengo National Park covers more than 1,500sqkm of Aboriginal sacred sites, red cedars, giant stinging trees and spectacular vistas, dotted with the rare velvet wattle — all of which can be explored by 4WD, foot or bike. Uninterrupted views of Yengo and Wollemi are the reward of a short, steep climb to Mount Yengo lookout. In the park, you can also find the Finchley Aboriginal engravings hidden on the Finchley Cultural Walk, and wander the Circuit Flat Walking Track, home to Australia’s second-oldest bridge, built by convicts in 1831.

Put your wits to the test at Maitland Gaol

Put your wits to the test at Maitland Gaol

Wander the empty cells and hear harrowing tales from an ex-warden about the riots, executions and escapes that took place in the maximum-security Maitland Gaol. This haunting place was only decommissioned as a correctional facility in 1998, after operating for more than 150 years and housing some of Australia’s most notorious criminals — including Australia’s first gangster, John ‘Chow’ Hayes. Just a half-hour drive from Pokolbin, a tour of Maitland Gaol is an eye-opening experience, but it’s the overnight torchlight sleepover that will put your wits to the test.

Epicurean indulgence at the Hunter Valley Wine + Food Festival

Epicurean indulgence at the Hunter Valley Wine + Food Festival

Let your inner locavore run free on Broke Road during the Hunter Valley Wine + Food Festival, where you can wine and dine with winemakers, brewers and culinary talents. Spanning two months, the festival is a feast of epicurean indulgences, including locally produced gourmet dinners, vineyard tours, winemaking masterclasses and evenings curled up beside an open fire with friends. Our tip: time your visit for the iconic ‘Burning of the Barrel’, arguably the best night you can have in the Valley with wine, cheese, food, music, fireworks, starry skies and a massive fire on the Glandore Estate property.

Taste handcrafted wine and olive oil at Whispering Brook

Taste handcrafted wine and olive oil at Whispering Brook

Having received glowing accolades from prestigious wine critic James Halliday, Whispering Brook is a vineyard that takes its wine very seriously. But it’s not all about grapes. This charming winery doubles as an olive grove, creating a unique tasting experience that combines handcrafted olive oil with a selection of fine wine vintages. Learn about cultivation, harvest and distillation, all while sipping some signature Hunter drops. Our tip: visit during one of the long-table banquet-style lunches among the estate’s olive groves, featuring food by Chef Frank Fawkner (of EXP fame) served with matching wines.

Unleash your inner artist at Thirsty Palette Wine

Unleash your inner artist at Thirsty Palette Wine

Put your creativity to the test with a two-hour art class at Thirsty Palette Wine, a cellar door that doubles as a painting studio. Run by resident artist, Jacquie Mather, this art class will teach you to mix oils, provide you with a deeper understanding of color and paint, and show you how to replicate the beauty of the magnificent Brokenback Ranges. All you need to bring is your inner artist and lunch, they’ll supply the wine, canvas, easels and paint.

Top places to eat and drink

Muse Kitchen @ Keith Tulloch Wine

Muse Kitchen @ Keith Tulloch Wine

Keith Tulloch Wine perfectly encapsulates everything that makes the Hunter Valley great: incredible wine, chocolate and fine dining. Enjoy a guided wine tasting in the Tasting Lounge, take home a box of marble-like drops from chocolaterie Cocoa Nib, and savor three courses in the award-winning European eatery, Muse Kitchen. The menu appears deceptively simple, with dishes such as pork neck, snap peas, lardo and Yorkshire pudding, but it’s this devotion to simple, seasonal produce that has earned Muse Kitchen several chef hats.

All that glitters isn’t gold at Café Enzo, but the bar is, and it effortlessly sets the mood for this casual eatery. Hand-cut sandstone and hardwood beams from one of Sydney Harbour’s wharves add to the lived-in feel, so pull up a seat in the courtyard or cozy up by a fireplace and dig into a simple but delicious meal. Tuck into delectable plates of truffle green peas on sourdough and Tasmanian smoked salmon with poached eggs, or crisp tempura zucchini flowers filled with whipped goats' cheese, red pepper coulis and baby herbs.

Margan Wines & Restaurant

Margan Wines & Restaurant

If you prefer your food fresher than fresh, where the olive oil is filtered, the chicken and lamb reared nearby, and the charcuterie aged on-site, then you can’t go past Margan Wines & Restaurant. A pioneer of ‘agri-dining’ in Broke, this Tuscan-style eatery crafts unique dishes that are estate-made and grown. Everything that can’t be plucked from the soil or raised on the farm is sourced from within 160km. The menu changes according to what’s harvested from the one-acre kitchen garden, but if the fresh kingfish drizzled with chipotle or pan-seared salmon with tomato butter are on when you’re there, order them.

There’s no better duo than cheese and wine. Roche Estate knew this when they opened the gorgeous Tempus Two cellar door in Pokolbin, which is why you’ll not only find rolling vines and local drops from Meerea Park's Cellar Door but also The Smelly Cheese Shop. The tasting room here is filled with handcrafted brie, blue and fig cream cheese, as well as homemade gelato, baked-on-site sourdough and cheesecake. When the cellar doors close for the evening, appreciate the finer things in life with a bite at the minimalist Oishii Japanese and Thai Restaurant or settle into a leather booth at The Goldfish cocktail bar, both on-site.

Discover the art of the long lavish lunch at Circa 1876. Clear your schedule and settle in for the three-, five- or seven-course multi-award-winning degustation lunch, featuring organic dishes that have garnered an Good Food Guide Award or two. Dine on foie gras with blueberry, Redgate Farm quail and more in the sunny courtyard or take a seat under exposed beams in the 1800s cottage restaurant. On your way out, be sure to grab a bottle at the adjoining Pepper Tree Winery, awarded five stars by wine critic James Halliday every year for the last decade.

The food here — ranked in Delicious Magazine’s Top 100 restaurants in NSW — lures you in with a four-course EXP.ERIENCE tasting menu. You could start with something light like the Jersey milk halloumi or Hiramasa kingfish with sugar snaps and XO sauce before moving onto the Hunter wagyu beef with Jerusalem artichoke and cabbage. Finish on a high with a simple and refreshing peach sorbet served with almond ice cream, or the apple and celeriac pie for something a little different. For a truly unique experience, take a seat in the chic dining room, decked out with handcrafted local furniture, and peer directly into the kitchen while chatting with chef Frank Fawkner and his team.

Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar

Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar

If whispering sweet nothings over dessert tickles your fancy, then stop into Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar. Set amid the vines of Lambloch Estate, just down Broke Road, this ‘adults-only dessert bar’ is a candy shop for grown-ups. The brightly lit cabinets feature over 50 desserts, each of which can be perfectly matched with local wines, ports and liqueurs. Set aside some time here to enjoy the Portuguese tart with Savannah tawny, a sticky date pudding alongside Peterson House shiraz and pina cola crunch with a Pokolbin Cider House raspberry cider.

Matilda Bay Brewhouse

Matilda Bay Brewhouse

In between the vines and vino, there’s no better way to cleanse your palate than by ordering a beer flight and a burger at Matilda Bay Brewhouse. Pokolbin's first boutique brewhouse — which started as the Bluetongue Brewery in 2001 — brings a touch of urban cool to the Hunter with nothing but a glass wall separating you and the original brewhouse. There’s something for every mood here, with 12 craft brews on tap. Simply pull up a stool at the bar and sink a flight of Minimum Chips golden lager, Dirty Gran matured apple cider and Beez Neez honey wheat beer, just to name a few.

The Icky Sticky Patisserie

The Icky Sticky Patisserie

It’s not uncommon to see a line extending beyond the corner of Belmore Road when you arrive at The Icky Sticky Patisserie and, even worse, the cabinets looking bare if you arrive after 3pm. This French-inspired patisserie, no ordinary bakery — creators Jessica Boutard and Phillip Bowtell are very firm about this — is a gallery of mirror-glaze chocolate-and-raspberry mousse cakes, and moist orange-and-almond cake with a dollop of thick icing and rose petals sprinkled on top. Line up early to ensure you don’t miss out on these freshly baked pastry delights.

Hunter Distillery

Hunter Distillery

Take a break from wine and hit the hard stuff at Hunter Distillery. Walking into this warehouse-turned-distillery, you’ll feel as though you’ve wandered into a science lab. Understandable given the gray décor, and the fact the tastings of flavored vodka, Jail House gin — made with lemon myrtle and Szechuan spice — and Turkish delight liqueur are served in test tubes. Bottoms up. Take the time to do a guided tasting here and give yourself the chance to get acquainted with Copper Wave Gin, Butterfly Pea Liqueur, and Hot In & Out Chilli Vodka (beware).

Muse Kitchen @ Keith Tulloch Wine

Muse Kitchen @ Keith Tulloch Wine

Keith Tulloch Wine perfectly encapsulates everything that makes the Hunter Valley great: incredible wine, chocolate and fine dining. Enjoy a guided wine tasting in the Tasting Lounge, take home a box of marble-like drops from chocolaterie Cocoa Nib, and savor three courses in the award-winning European eatery, Muse Kitchen. The menu appears deceptively simple, with dishes such as pork neck, snap peas, lardo and Yorkshire pudding, but it’s this devotion to simple, seasonal produce that has earned Muse Kitchen several chef hats.

All that glitters isn’t gold at Café Enzo, but the bar is, and it effortlessly sets the mood for this casual eatery. Hand-cut sandstone and hardwood beams from one of Sydney Harbour’s wharves add to the lived-in feel, so pull up a seat in the courtyard or cozy up by a fireplace and dig into a simple but delicious meal. Tuck into delectable plates of truffle green peas on sourdough and Tasmanian smoked salmon with poached eggs, or crisp tempura zucchini flowers filled with whipped goats' cheese, red pepper coulis and baby herbs.

Margan Wines & Restaurant

Margan Wines & Restaurant

If you prefer your food fresher than fresh, where the olive oil is filtered, the chicken and lamb reared nearby, and the charcuterie aged on-site, then you can’t go past Margan Wines & Restaurant. A pioneer of ‘agri-dining’ in Broke, this Tuscan-style eatery crafts unique dishes that are estate-made and grown. Everything that can’t be plucked from the soil or raised on the farm is sourced from within 160km. The menu changes according to what’s harvested from the one-acre kitchen garden, but if the fresh kingfish drizzled with chipotle or pan-seared salmon with tomato butter are on when you’re there, order them.

There’s no better duo than cheese and wine. Roche Estate knew this when they opened the gorgeous Tempus Two cellar door in Pokolbin, which is why you’ll not only find rolling vines and local drops from Meerea Park's Cellar Door but also The Smelly Cheese Shop. The tasting room here is filled with handcrafted brie, blue and fig cream cheese, as well as homemade gelato, baked-on-site sourdough and cheesecake. When the cellar doors close for the evening, appreciate the finer things in life with a bite at the minimalist Oishii Japanese and Thai Restaurant or settle into a leather booth at The Goldfish cocktail bar, both on-site.

Discover the art of the long lavish lunch at Circa 1876. Clear your schedule and settle in for the three-, five- or seven-course multi-award-winning degustation lunch, featuring organic dishes that have garnered an Good Food Guide Award or two. Dine on foie gras with blueberry, Redgate Farm quail and more in the sunny courtyard or take a seat under exposed beams in the 1800s cottage restaurant. On your way out, be sure to grab a bottle at the adjoining Pepper Tree Winery, awarded five stars by wine critic James Halliday every year for the last decade.

The food here — ranked in Delicious Magazine’s Top 100 restaurants in NSW — lures you in with a four-course EXP.ERIENCE tasting menu. You could start with something light like the Jersey milk halloumi or Hiramasa kingfish with sugar snaps and XO sauce before moving onto the Hunter wagyu beef with Jerusalem artichoke and cabbage. Finish on a high with a simple and refreshing peach sorbet served with almond ice cream, or the apple and celeriac pie for something a little different. For a truly unique experience, take a seat in the chic dining room, decked out with handcrafted local furniture, and peer directly into the kitchen while chatting with chef Frank Fawkner and his team.

Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar

Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar

If whispering sweet nothings over dessert tickles your fancy, then stop into Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar. Set amid the vines of Lambloch Estate, just down Broke Road, this ‘adults-only dessert bar’ is a candy shop for grown-ups. The brightly lit cabinets feature over 50 desserts, each of which can be perfectly matched with local wines, ports and liqueurs. Set aside some time here to enjoy the Portuguese tart with Savannah tawny, a sticky date pudding alongside Peterson House shiraz and pina cola crunch with a Pokolbin Cider House raspberry cider.

Matilda Bay Brewhouse

Matilda Bay Brewhouse

In between the vines and vino, there’s no better way to cleanse your palate than by ordering a beer flight and a burger at Matilda Bay Brewhouse. Pokolbin's first boutique brewhouse — which started as the Bluetongue Brewery in 2001 — brings a touch of urban cool to the Hunter with nothing but a glass wall separating you and the original brewhouse. There’s something for every mood here, with 12 craft brews on tap. Simply pull up a stool at the bar and sink a flight of Minimum Chips golden lager, Dirty Gran matured apple cider and Beez Neez honey wheat beer, just to name a few.

The Icky Sticky Patisserie

The Icky Sticky Patisserie

It’s not uncommon to see a line extending beyond the corner of Belmore Road when you arrive at The Icky Sticky Patisserie and, even worse, the cabinets looking bare if you arrive after 3pm. This French-inspired patisserie, no ordinary bakery — creators Jessica Boutard and Phillip Bowtell are very firm about this — is a gallery of mirror-glaze chocolate-and-raspberry mousse cakes, and moist orange-and-almond cake with a dollop of thick icing and rose petals sprinkled on top. Line up early to ensure you don’t miss out on these freshly baked pastry delights.

Hunter Distillery

Hunter Distillery

Take a break from wine and hit the hard stuff at Hunter Distillery. Walking into this warehouse-turned-distillery, you’ll feel as though you’ve wandered into a science lab. Understandable given the gray décor, and the fact the tastings of flavored vodka, Jail House gin — made with lemon myrtle and Szechuan spice — and Turkish delight liqueur are served in test tubes. Bottoms up. Take the time to do a guided tasting here and give yourself the chance to get acquainted with Copper Wave Gin, Butterfly Pea Liqueur, and Hot In & Out Chilli Vodka (beware).

Lux moments

Soak up the scenery at sunrise from a hot air balloon

Soak up the scenery at sunrise from a hot air balloon

There really is nothing as romantic as floating above vine-laced hills at sunrise. Hunter Valley Ballooning Co, the valley’s most experienced ballooning company, will sort you out with a birds-eye view of the valley before dawn. Enjoy a briefing at Mercure Resort at Hunter Valley Gardens, watch the balloon inflate and ascend into the sky, drifting effortlessly above one of Australia’s best wine regions. Slowly watch the sun reveal rolling hills over 60 minutes, before landing and enjoying a buffet breakfast amid the vines afterwards.

Go behind the scenes of Audrey Wilkinson

Go behind the scenes of Audrey Wilkinson

For incredible wine served with a side of history, you can’t bypass Audrey Wilkinson. The shiraz is incredible, as are the views of the 150-year-old vines (which you can see from the hilltop cellar door). There’s also an on-site museum housed in the original winery, showcasing the Wilkinson family history and the heritage-listed, original open cement vats. Go behind the scenes with a self-guided museum tour, followed by a premium masterclass tasting with an in-house wine expert, before picking a bottle of wine, grabbing a picnic hamper and choosing a spot to unwind among the 270 acres.

Explore the Hunter by horseback

Explore the Hunter by horseback

Saddle up for a unique wine tour of the Hunter with Murchessons Horseback Wine & Dine Tours. Together with Kim, Steve and their rescue horses, Jax, Trinity and Oliver, you will gallop through this famous wine region on your choice of a full- or half-day tour, including VIP tastings at Wynwood Estate and Hanging Tree Vineyard. Our pick: experience the magic of the Hunter in the mid-morning sunshine with the Brunch Ride. If you don’t have any riding experience, no need to worry, you’re in safe hands with Kim and Steve.

Tailor your escape to the Hunter Valley

Tailor your escape to the Hunter Valley

Immerse yourself in the Hunter Valley with Luxury Escapes’ hand-picked Experiences. We’ve curated a selection of cultural activities, adrenaline thrills, food adventures and luxury add-ons to help you discover your destination. These Experiences are bookable when you purchase your next escape. Simply select your travel dates and number of travelers for any package, and opt to tailor your escape by selecting the available Experiences.

Soak up the scenery at sunrise from a hot air balloon

Soak up the scenery at sunrise from a hot air balloon

There really is nothing as romantic as floating above vine-laced hills at sunrise. Hunter Valley Ballooning Co, the valley’s most experienced ballooning company, will sort you out with a birds-eye view of the valley before dawn. Enjoy a briefing at Mercure Resort at Hunter Valley Gardens, watch the balloon inflate and ascend into the sky, drifting effortlessly above one of Australia’s best wine regions. Slowly watch the sun reveal rolling hills over 60 minutes, before landing and enjoying a buffet breakfast amid the vines afterwards.

Go behind the scenes of Audrey Wilkinson

Go behind the scenes of Audrey Wilkinson

For incredible wine served with a side of history, you can’t bypass Audrey Wilkinson. The shiraz is incredible, as are the views of the 150-year-old vines (which you can see from the hilltop cellar door). There’s also an on-site museum housed in the original winery, showcasing the Wilkinson family history and the heritage-listed, original open cement vats. Go behind the scenes with a self-guided museum tour, followed by a premium masterclass tasting with an in-house wine expert, before picking a bottle of wine, grabbing a picnic hamper and choosing a spot to unwind among the 270 acres.

Explore the Hunter by horseback

Explore the Hunter by horseback

Saddle up for a unique wine tour of the Hunter with Murchessons Horseback Wine & Dine Tours. Together with Kim, Steve and their rescue horses, Jax, Trinity and Oliver, you will gallop through this famous wine region on your choice of a full- or half-day tour, including VIP tastings at Wynwood Estate and Hanging Tree Vineyard. Our pick: experience the magic of the Hunter in the mid-morning sunshine with the Brunch Ride. If you don’t have any riding experience, no need to worry, you’re in safe hands with Kim and Steve.

Tailor your escape to the Hunter Valley

Tailor your escape to the Hunter Valley

Immerse yourself in the Hunter Valley with Luxury Escapes’ hand-picked Experiences. We’ve curated a selection of cultural activities, adrenaline thrills, food adventures and luxury add-ons to help you discover your destination. These Experiences are bookable when you purchase your next escape. Simply select your travel dates and number of travelers for any package, and opt to tailor your escape by selecting the available Experiences.