Hunter Valley

So you’ve decided to book yourself some Hunter Valley accommodation for a luxury weekend away and now you’re wondering what to do when you visit? No matter the season or your budget a Hunter Valley wine tour is a must.

With over 150 cellar doors to explore in the Hunter Valley and a long list of tour operators to choose from, deciding on one can be tricky. To help break it down we’ve provided a five step guide on how to select the best Hunter Valley wine tasting experience for you. Starting with…

How many are touring?

Whether you’re a party of two or twenty, there’s a Hunter Valley wine tour to suit your needs.  If you’re a large group than Urban Legends Tour Co (which can accommodate up to 57 passengers) or services like the Cheers Bus or diVine Tours (that can take up to 20 passengers) are good options.   Note, you don’t need to be travelling with a large group to get on board these tours which also makes them a great option for wine tasters on a budget or those flying solo.

If you’re group is smaller, the tour opportunities are endless.  To help narrow down your search, keep reading on.   

Budget

There’s plenty of tour options in the Hunter Valley to suit your budget.  If you’re looking for an affordable, yet stylish tour service, check out Wine Country Passenger Transfers.  These guys offer guided tours in their Mercedes Benz Viano Avantgarde (aka cool van), which works out to be around $75pp for a full-day (6-hour) tour with seven passengers.

If you’ve got a smaller group and are seeking a luxurious and personalised tour, then Hunter Valley Private Tours are a great option.  Owners Grahame and Denise are your tour guides and will chauffeur you in their Range Rovers to whatever wineries and attractions you’d like to visit.  Choose your own itinerary or let these professionals do all the planning for you.

Guided vs. self-guided tours

Do you know what wineries, cellar doors and attractions you’d like to visit or do you need a bit of help with your itinerary?  If you fall into the latter category, you’re in good hands.  Most tours around the Valley are guided meaning your itinerary is sorted and you can kick back and very literally, enjoy the ride! 

If this isn’t your first Hunter Valley wine tour or you simply like to be in control, then tour operators like iHop that offer a hop-on and hop-off service, allowing you to plan your own wine adventure, an uber, chauffeured driver or a group deso could be the way to go. 

Tour duration

Most tour operators offer a range of tours that vary in duration from simple one-hour tastings to full day (6-8 hour) wine journeys.  Ultimately the duration of your tour will depend on the type of tour you select and what’s included i.e. lunch, the number of stops etc.

Whatever you choose, make sure you and your tour buddies are on the same page about how much time you want to commit.  If you’re only staying overnight or for the weekend, a half-day tour that includes lunch is a safe bet.

Experiences

Looking for a bespoke wine tasting experience to remember?  We’ve got you covered.  From helicopter tours to cycling the Around Hermitage Wine Trail and touring the Valley via trikes, Segway vehicles and horseback, there’s no shortage of unique wine tasting experiences to be had in the Hunter Valley.  Here’s some of our favourites.

Murchesson’s Equine Wine & Dine Tours
AEROlogistics Helicopter Tours
Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Tours

If you’re not staying the Hunter Valley but would like to do a Hunter Valley day tour there’s still plenty of tour operators to choose from.  Sydney Driver and Zepher Tours who are based in Sydney and other local operators like Hunter Valley Winery Tours and Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tours offer services picking up and dropping-off in Sydney, Newcastle and other locations outside the Valley.