Top Hunter Valley wine tours & experiences

See the Hunter’s best wineries on a guided tour 

A wine tour is top of the list for most travellers visiting the Hunter Valley and there are endless options to choose from. Book in for a half- or full-day tour with Dave’s Tours, Hunter Valley Wine Tours, All Around the Vines, Wine D Road Tours or Cheers Bus. Go at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus tour with iHop Hunter Valley. For something different, set out on a three-wheel trike with Hunter Trikes, in a horse-drawn carriage with Hunter Valley Classic Carriages, or in a 1966 convertible with Central Coast Mustang. 

Saddler's Creek Wines, Pokolbin

Experience the magic of paddock to plate at Margan 

A hatted restaurant, cellar door and vineyard just outside the village of Broke, Margan brings together sustainability and sophistication. Sign up for the Ultimate Margan Experience, where you’ll explore the organic kitchen garden (with a glass of sparkling in hand), taste wines from the barrel and sit down to a delicious five-course lunch. Or try the Grape, Garden & Graze experience, where you’ll taste wines while you wander through the vineyard, then relax with a grazing platter and a glass of your favourite. 

Margan Wines and Restaurant, Hunter Valley

Get a bird’s-eye view from a balloon 

There’s something magical about floating gently above Australia’s most famous vineyards. From the basket of a hot air balloon, the Hunter Valley rolls out like a patchwork quilt dotted with lakes, mountains and winding roads. Balloon Aloft and Beyond Ballooning take off every day at sunrise (to take advantage of the cool, calm conditions), soaring over spectacular scenery before touching down for a champagne breakfast at a winery. 

Balloon Aloft, Hunter Valley

Work on your beer belly with Two Fat Blokes 

It’s best known for its wine, but the Hunter Valley also has a booming craft beer scene. Join the gourmet guides from Two Fat Blokes on a tour of local breweries, sampling their wares and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the brewmasters in action. At the end of the day, you can bed down in one of their stylish solar-powered glamping tents in Pokolbin. 

IronBark Hill Brewhouse in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Sip and cycle between cellar doors 

Set out to explore the vineyards on two wheels, cycling between cellar doors and restaurants on the valley’s quiet, winding roads. Grapemobile is based in Pokolbin and rents electric bicycles, cruisers, mountain bikes, tandems and kid's bikes, so there’s an option to suit your crew. They can also arrange lunch stops or gourmet picnic baskets. Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire is another option, set right on the Around Hermitage Food and Wine Trail. 

Grapemobile Bicycle Hire & Tours, Pokolbin

Indulge in the ultimate high-flying wine tour 

For the most exclusive Hunter Valley experience, hop between vineyards on a heli wine tour with Aero Logistics or Hunter Valley Helicopters. You’ll be picked up close to your accommodation and can set down right beside the vines at many of the top wineries. Or plan the ultimate progressive lunch, flying between restaurants for each course. 

Hunter Valley Helicopters, Pokolbin

Explore the Hunter on horseback 

Saddle up to discover untouched bushland or walk through rows of lush vines with Hunter Valley Horses. For a special experience, wake up early for a quiet sunrise ride, watching the first rays of light illuminate the Brokenback Ranges. Both group and private rides are available, and are suitable for people with all levels of experience. Kids over 10 can join the main rides or little ones can try out a pony ride near the stables. 

Hunter Valley Horses, Pokolbin

Feel the need for speed 

For a thrill you will remember forever, take a seat in a historic military war bird and let one of the skilled RAAF or Ace Aerobatic pilots from Aerohunter fly you above the vines. You’ll get the authentic Top Gun experience, feeling the G forces as you twist, turn, duck and weave through the sky. 

Aerohunter, Pokolbin - Credit: Aerohunter

Meet the Icons of the Hunter 

Spend a day with three of the Hunter Valley’s most famous families on an exclusive Icons of the Hunter tour with Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia. Travel between Tyrrell’s, Brokenwood and Audrey Wilkinson, enjoying a signature experience at each vineyard, from VIP wine flights to cheese pairings and tastings straight from the barrel. 

Tyrrell's, Pokolbin

Pick up a new skill at a gourmet cooking class 

Get your hands into the Hunter region’s exceptional fresh produce with a cooking class. Learn to smoke American-style barbecue at Majors Lane Cooking School, make authentic Spanish paella at The Deck, take a pizza and pasta masterclass at Estate Tuscany, or prepare a traditional cucina feast at Our Italian Table. Take a cheesemaking workshop at Hunter Valley Cheese Company or make Big Kids Candy (infused with alcohol) at Hunter Resort. 

Majors Lane Cooking School, Lovedale - Credit: Majors Lane Cooking School