Things to do in Hunter Valley

Wine tasting of the Hunter Valley’s best vineyards

No visit to the Hunter Valley would ever be complete without sampling the amazing, award-winning selection of wines that the area has to offer.

Treat your self to a day tours, departing from a local hotel or including transport from Sydney or Newcastle.

Discover 3-4 of the Hunter Valley’s best wineries, sampling their range with an experienced tour guide. They're for everyone from wine connoisseurs to enthusiasts, with a whole day or half-day options available.

Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens

These vast, immaculately-manicured gardens are the perfect place to spend an afternoon lazily wandering around in.

Located within the beating heart of the Hunter Valley, the Hunter Valley Gardens features all kinds of gorgeous greenery for the whole family to blissfully get lost in, from The Storybook Garden for the kids, to the traditional Oriental Garden and The Lakes Walk for couples to unwind in.

All spread over a whopping 60 acres, all of it stunning, all of it crying out to be explored. Be sure to assign a full day and even that won’t be enough time!

Image: Hunter Valley Gardens

Hot air balloon ride

Why limit yourself to the ground? Begin your morning unlike any other, by observing the Hunter Valley from up above on a hot air balloon ride.

You’ll take in all the sights in the peace only found in this unique, intimate setting, suitable for smaller groups or those with a passion for what it’s like to be a bird. Touch down and enjoy a champagne breakfast with the team. This is aviation done in style, offering an unforgettable experience.

Bring the kids and see the amazing animals at Hunter Valley Zoo

With a menagerie of exotic happy animals to see and barbecue facilities, Hunter Valley Zoo is an ideal place to spend a day that won’t break the budget (with free parking no less!).

Offering packages that allow you to meet some of the animals up close and personal, including marmosets, meerkats and emperor tamarin, guaranteeing a cuteness overload that’ll never be forgotten.

You’ll arrive, you’ll see animals from all four corners of the globe and you will spend the afternoon relaxing - the one-stop destination for families fond of furry friends. Image: Hunter Valley Zoo

Have the ultimate skydiving experience

For thrill-seekers looking for a whole new way to check out the Hunter's vineyards this now is your chance. This is tandem-skydiving from 14,000ft that won’t break the bank.

You’ll first fly like a bullet and then float like a cloud, touching down back safe and sound on the ground with memories that will last a lifetime. Newcomers and veterans are welcome, get ready for the wicked rush of being air-borne. If this rush is too much for you, you can always opt to see things from above on a helicopter ride instead.

Horseriding adventures for the whole family

Many of us urban-dwellers have seldom had the opportunity to ever be astride a horse.

The good people of Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures offer a wide selection of horseriding packages to suit you and yours. There are trail rides and sunset rides to be had and there’s the freedom to customise your own ride for what best suits you, all of which has been considerately kept affordable to allow families to join in on the horse-filled fun.

This is a great way to experience the exquisite surroundings of the Hunter Valley and with all kids welcome too!

Family friendly wine and wildlife tour

Ever wanted to get up close with some furry friends in beautiful natural surroundings, maybe even with a visit to a winery after? Look no further, this experience has you sorted.

Be picked up from Sydney and whisked away to the Walkabout Wildlife Park, where you will witness free-roaming kangaroos, wombats, emus, possums and Tasmanian devils. Then give your cuteness appreciation glands a cool down with an afternoon sampling some of the Hunter Valley’s best wines, as your guide educates you about each one.

This experience will broadly appeal to anyone, be they families or couples or anyone else!

Sample the delicious local chocolate!

It’s a well-documented fact that everyone loves chocolate. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the Hunter Valley is a haven for chocolate-inclined visitors.

Pop in to Twenty-3 Twenty and witness the heavenly product being made before your very eyes. There’s something for every palate here, from chilli-infused and fruit-blended varieties, to the more basic (but no less awesome) kinds. With a shop catering to every occasion, they even have baskets to purchase for those bound for the nearby vineyards!

Come one, come all and experience the best chocolate the Hunter Valley has on offer.