Hunter Valley Weekend Escapes

Built upon wine and bursting with food, a Hunter Valley getaway is probably precisely what you’re craving if you’re in dire need of a break from city life. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or not, this heavenly wine region offers a myriad of things to do both indoors as well as outside amongst the glorious valleys. If you’re searching for a romantic weekend getaway from Sydney with your partner, a nature-based holiday with the kids or an indulgent weekend flooded with wine, you’ll find a Hunter Valley escape to fit the bill.

To uncover more tips regarding things to do in The Hunter Valley, check out our Ultimate Guide. This Ultimate Guide will help you craft your very own Hunter Valley Weekend Escape.

Visitors less interested in wine should not be fooled by The Hunter Valley’s wine-laden name. A myriad of things to do in The Hunter Valley are completely unrelated to sipping on reds and whites. During your Hunter Valley escape, explore the region’s beautiful valleys and rich heritage. Fine arts and sculpture, theatres and live music and well as endless exhibitions and performances in The Hunter Valley won’t disappoint. Walking trails which take you on strolls past historic buildings and ancient Aboriginal art are a great way to learn a little about the region’s past.

A Hunter Valley getaway can be pretty jam-packed – especially if you have a list of ‘must-visit’ wineries. Take a serene break during your Weekend Escape and drop into Hunter Valley Gardens where you can find a space dedicated to the appreciation of nature. The gardens are the ultimate place for relaxation and a dose of manicured natural views. An Italian Grotto and Chinese Garden are sculpted to perfection here, whilst the garden hosts a number of exhibitions and events depending on the season and round-the-calendar annual festivals.

The Hunter Valley is naturally beautiful, not only as a result of the blankets of vines which cover the valley. The region’s wilder side is pristine and typically Australian. Mountain views surround the famous Hunter Valley wineries and walking tracks throughout the region help visitors to fully explore the peaceful bushland. A great deal of birds and wildlife, including large numbers of kangaroos, call The Hunter Valley and its various conservation areas home.

Barrington Tops National Park is an expansive area characterised by rainforest and woodland. Spot wallabies and kangaroos as you hike through this hilly World Heritage-listed area and look out for a famous swimming hole where you can take a refreshing dip. Other national parks in the region offer walking and cycling trails encapsulated with towering gums and thick surfaces of wildflowers in spring. Ancient Aboriginal art can also be found in The Hunter Valley at various points, so keep your eyes peeled.

Enjoy a Hunter Valley escape this year and thoroughly indulge in the best of local Australian produce. Hosting more cellar doors than any other wine region in Australia, the wonderfully diverse array of wines here will blow you away. Although semillon and shiraz are the traditional showstoppers in The Hunter Valley, innovative and equally special wines of all varieties flourish in this New South Wales wine region. Choose some Hunter Valley accommodation near the vines and you’ll be set for a weekend of wine and merriment.

Acclaimed restaurants and vineyard eateries are found everywhere across The Hunter Valley, encouraging visitors to anything from lunchtime grazing and cheeseboard sharing, to full-blown fine-dining. Culinary delights are planted all across the region, and you’ll find plentiful spots to pick up souvenirs in the form of local olives, chocolates and cheeses.