In the mood for spoiling yourself rotten? Then head straight to the Hunter Valley. This is a place that’s all about treating yourself. Sample delicious wine, gourmet chocolate, craft beer, tasty cheese and plenty more besides. Hunter Valley is one of the country’s culinary delights, producing world famous wines and doing it all in style since the 1860s. Beautiful in summer and equally worth a visit in the winter, when you can snuggle up in front of a fire and drink a delicious red to warm your spirits. Plus, as well as all of the above, you’re not far from the surf city that is Newcastle.
Areas & Neighbourhoods in the Hunter Valley
Pokolbin/Rothbury - The beating heart of wine country, this is where the first vineyards were planted back in the mid 19th century and where you’ll still find the majority of the big names.
Broke Fordwich - With the stunning Blue Mountains in the background, this is the tranquil side of the Hunter Valley with a choice of boutique wineries.
Mount View - Discover award winning cellar doors in one of the most scenic parts of the Hunter Valley, largely thanks to the Brokenback Range.
Wollombi Valley - This historic valley is where you can see a number of important aboriginal sites and colonial architecture.
Cessnock - In the mood for some retail therapy? Then you’ll find everything you need here, just off the F3 freeway.
Things to See in the Hunter Valley
Of course, the main reason most people come to the Hunter Valley is to sample the excellent wines from the range of cellar doors but there’s more than just grapes on offer, Drop by the Binnorie Dairy to try exquisite goat cheese or relax in the beautiful surroundings of the Hunter Valley Gardens. Then there’s atmospheric Wollombi, where nothing seems to have changed for generations. You’ll find boutique shopping and a good choice of cafes and restaurants. If history is your thing, then it’s also worth a visit to the Australian Army Infantry Museum and Singleton Sundial. It’s also a great place to do some antique shopping, with plenty of outlets in Lovedale and across the Hunter Valley.
Things to Do in Hunter Valley
Relax and treat yourself in a choice of day spas across the region. With massage, hydrotherapy and more available, this is the ultimate way to chill out. Climb on horseback and explore the trails of the valley or soar high above it on a balloon ride. Go for a round of golf and a bike ride or find out how beer is made at a local craft brewery. And, of course, no visit to the Hunter Valley is complete without making your way to a few cellar doors to try some of the local wines.
