New South Wales (Sydney Region)

Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is just a two-hour drive north of Sydney. The Hunter has over 50 wineries, with the majority located in or near Pokolbin. Many of the wineries have a rustic setting with historic homesteads and vineyard buildings. Some offer winery tours, accommodation, restaurants and resort shopping. 

When harvesting of the grapes gets under way in February and March there are many wine-related activities such as experience in winemaking and viticulture, tutored tastings and harvest dinners.

Wineries

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More than sixty wineries cluster around the Hunter Valley, and almost all of them offer tastings and are interesting to visit. There are also a few gems in the upper valley, around Wybong and Denman, west of Muswellbrook. Try to tour the wineries during the week; at weekends both the number of visitors and the prices go up. 

In February, when the place is flooded with wine-lovers enjoying the Dionysian delights of the Hunter Valley Vintage Festival accommodation becomes difficult to find. Another lively time is October, when Wyndham Estate hosts Opera in the Vineyards (free call 1800/675 875), followed by the Jazz in the Vines Festival held on the last Saturday in October (tel 4938 1345) based at Tyrrell's.

Vineyard tours

If you don't have wheels - or would prefer not to meander off-road after excessive wine-tasting - vineyard tours are a good option. Hunter Vineyard Tours (tel 4991 1659) runs small group bus tours visiting five well-chosen wineries over six hours, all offering tastings ($29, including pick-up from Cessnock; with Newcastle pick-ups $34; $16 extra with lunch). The more expensive Hunter Valley Day Tours (tel 4938 5031) will tailor-make tours to also include surrounding scenic areas such as Barrington Tops. 

Pedal power is also popular: either rent bikes from Grapemobile, corner of McDonalds and Gilliards roads, Pokolbin (& & fax 4991 2339; $25 per day, $15 half-day), or go on their bicycle tour, and take in six wineries ($89). 

You can also choose horsepower: Brokenback Trail Horse and Carriage Tour (tel 6574 7207) offers leisurely trips for up to eight people visiting 3-4 wineries; the $55 day-trip includes lunch with vineyard views. Wonderbus offer a $99 day-tour from Sydney to the Hunter Valley which also includes a dolphin cruise around Port Stephens.

Climate
Temperatures in the Hunter are moderate. In summer the average daily temperature exceeds 21.1C and in winter the average minimum temperature is 4.4C. January is the hottest month and July the coldest. The heaviest rainfalls are in summer, with a secondary peak just before winter with a average annual rainfall of 750mm.

For more regional information on the Hunter Valley, go to:

Maps
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