The Hunter Valley In 12HRS

It’s famous for its Wine Tasting and fine cheese, the “‘Hunter Valley” Region, located North of Sydney is a must do (If you haven’t already). I was a tad late, so I finally got to see it over the Weekend, with only a day to see all. Here are some of my recommendations (trust me when I say, you’ll thank me later).

TIP #1: For Breakfast, head to ‘Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen’ Restaurant – it opens at approx. 8 am, get there early so you can pick your outdoor seat overlooking vineyards, gorgeous and delicious food might I add.

TIP #2: If you enjoy a Fine Dine experience pre-book ‘Muse Restaurant’ for lunch or dinner. Highly rated so pick the three-course meal (you might as well), and they will surprise you with few additional small dishes.
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TIP #3: In terms of activities, there are experiences you could do such as Hot Air Balloon or Helicopter Rides, but it’s not for all. On a pleasant sunny day, the ‘Hunter Valley Gardens‘ are a must see. An entry fee of $29 allows you entry for an approximate 2 hour walking self-tour to discover the themed sections of the garden. My favourite by far is the Storybook, I’ll forever be a kid at heart.

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TIP #4: Wine, wine and more wine, yes. With limited time, here are the two I recommend:

The first Winery is called “Keith Tulloch Wines” – you pay a small $5 fee to taste 8 ranges of wines whilst being seated. This takes about 35-40 minutes and you also get to enjoy a beautiful lookout of vineyards.

The second is the famous ‘Audrey Wilkinson‘ Winery, it’s known for its wine and spectacular hill views overlooking the Hunter Valley (a good spot for those that like taking pictures). It’s also a small $5 tasting fee, however; it’s a standing bar tasting and takes about 25 – 30 min. For large groups, perhaps booking in advance would be good idea.

TIP#5: For my fellow cheese lovers, visit the ‘Hunter Valley Cheese Factory‘, you can select the cheeses you’d like to try out or alternatively pick their pre-selected board priced at $8 pp which has 5 pres-selected options.

FINAL TIP: Plan accordingly, there’s not too much to do past 5 pm. If you’re staying for more than a day I would recommend heading to a supermarket or a local store and buying some snacks to enjoy at your hotel, maybe some wine and cheese from your daily visits.

There are few other standout places like the ‘Muse Kitchen’ and ‘Enzo Cafe’, but I’ll get to them next time. If you’ve been, what do you recommend?