Cycling, biking, riding, cruising. Whatever you call it, there’s nothing quite like hiring a bicycle to explore the Hunter Valley and inject a bit of fun into your wine country adventure.

Whether you’re keen to get the blood (and endorphins) pumping or just after a new way to taste and tour - hiring a bike is easy, affordable and a super fun way to wine and dine your way around the Hunter Valley.

There are a few things to consider before you get pedaling though. Read on for our top tips on where to hire a bike and the best places to ride in the Hunter Valley.

Bike hire options

To pedal or not to pedal?  Seriously, that’s the choice here. 

Electric Bikes

If you plan on visiting a few cellar doors or traversing longer distances, an electric bike might be your best bet.

Electric bikes are a great option as they give you the freedom to pedal or to kick back on hilly terrain or when you’re feeling a bit tired at the end of a long day’s tasting.

My first experience on an electric bike was pretty fun I have to say. It takes a bit to get used to but they can certainly get you from A to B a lot quicker.

Grapemobile Bicycle Hire on Palmer’s Lane, Pokolbin have electric bikes for hire and the gregarious Glen takes you through how to operate them and kits you out with your helmet before he lets you loose.

Sutton Estate Electric Bicycle Hire and the Adventure Centre Hunter Valley, located on the Around Hermitage Food and Wine Trail, have electric bikes for hire as well.

Push Bikes

If however you prefer old school pedal power, then it’s a mountain bike or cruiser for you. These gems can be hired from a number of operators in the Valley including Grapemobile Bicycle Hire, Hunter Valley Cycling and Hunter Valley Bicycle Rentals.

These guys offer a range of bikes for hire including Tandems and kids’ bikes. Some of these companies provide a delivery and pick-up service so you can kick-start your cycling adventure from your accommodation or wherever you please in the local vineyard area - best to check in with them to see what your options are.

And don’t stress if you want to make some purchases along the way, many of the bikes have baskets on them.

Even better, if you plan on picking up more than a couple of goodies on your travels, Grapemobile Bicycle Hire allows you to buy your wine and then they arrange for your stash to be delivered back to the bike hire place ready to go home with you.

Cycling tracks

Okay. So, you’ve selected a bike. Now it’s time to figure out where in the Hunter you want to explore. Here are some options.

Around Hermitage Cycleway

Running from the beginning of Broke Road in Pokolbin to the New England Highway, the Around Hermitage Cycleway is a cool and safe place to ride in the Valley. The dedicated cycleway runs past many boutique cellar doors, such as Thomas Wines and a few of which offer ‘Taste & Play’ experiences where you can enjoy a game of croquet, giant Jenga or chess with your glass of wine.

The stretch is also home to two breweries, the Hunter Distillery and other lovely little spots to explore. There’s no shortage of great places to eat here too including our favourites, Café Enzo, Yellow Billy, Restaurant Botanica at Spicers Vineyards Estate and Muse Kitchen.

Palmers Lane Wine Eco Trail

This riding trail may be less well known than Around Hermitage but it’s no less enchanting. As the name suggests, the Palmers Lane Wine Eco Trail traverses the picturesque Palmers Lane in Pokolbin, visiting five wineries, some of which offer produce, lunch and grazing plates.

The Lane itself is around 5kms long and having a host of accommodation cottages and retreats, plus Grapemobile Bicycle Hire on the lane, makes this an easy option!

Mount View eBike Tour

If it is less about the wine and more about getting out and about, then this guided tour offered by Hunter Valley Bicycle Rentals might be more your jam. The Mount View eBike Tour is a three-hour adventure up the mountain to the Bimbadeen Lookout which offers some of the best views in the Hunter Valley.

The tour includes hire of a Cannondale eBike (battery assisted) if you need a bit of help getting up those hills, and safety equipment as well as a complimentary Devonshire Tea at the quaint Millfield General Store and return bus transport back to your lodgings. 

There are plenty of options for cycling in the Hunter Valley - whether it is exercise or wine related, combine some cycling in your next trip.