Frosty’s List Hunter Valley
Exploring regional New South Wales (NSW) is one of the many benefits of living in Sydney. NSW has such a varied selection of destinations to visit from cosmopolitan Sydney, to Hunter Valley wine country to relaxed Byron Bay, the vistas of the Blue Mountains and everything between! In May 2020 we visited Hunter Valley for the first time and discovered many visit-worthy spots while we were there. Here are my recommendations in the Hunter Valley Region.
Day 1 - The journey from Sydney to the hunter valley
The drive from Sydney to Hunter Valley is approximately two hours. Instead of taking the Pacific Highway all the way, turn off onto the “Tourist Drive 33” which takes you along a smaller scenic road with stunning countryside views and tree covered sections. The slight detour will add about 30 min with no stops. I would however recommend stopping in Wollombi! It is a small picturesque village with the fabulous Wollombi Tavern (the home of the infamous Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice). After a drink at the tavern, stroll along the main strip and wonder into the local stores including Wollombi General Store and Twine Home Store where you will find wonderful gifts to take home with you. Have lunch at the ever so welcoming Myrtle House and taste the local Noyce Wines before getting back on the road.
Under 10 minutes drive from Wollombi you will arrive at Stonehurst Cedar Creek - a small family owned vineyard with seven cottages. If you are looking for a rustic countryside experience, this is your type of place! Each cottage is self-contained with a kitchen and verandah, some even have their own BBQ! All of them have a wood fireplace to keep you warm on cold winter’s nights!
day 2 - wine tastings and delicious food
Cedar Creek is away from the main haunts around Pokolbin, however the vineyard setting makes it all worthwhile! Wake up to views of the vines and the valley.
There are hundreds of wineries to choose from in Hunter and it took us some time to identify which ones we wanted to visit. All wineries require advance bookings due to their limited spaces with the current restrictions, so book ahead! What was a super positive surprise (especially if you aren’t driving), is the fact that most wineries are very generous in their tastings, giving you the opportunity to taste most of their selection! Not all places are worth the time though, and you will want to map out where you go to avoid driving in circles. Here is how we spent our day:
Piggs Peake Winery - starting the wine filled day at Piggs Peake with it’s fun and laid back team talking you through some of the unusual varieties they have!
Muse Kitchen - a relaxed atmosphere with knowledgeable service and delicious seasonal food.
Hunter Distillery - we stumbled upon this place and only popped in to buy some of their award winning Copperwave Gin, it was delicious! Definitely a must-see place in Hunter for something other than wine!
Gundog Estate - an unassuming cellar door with a couple of tables and a small deli. This is where we tasted some of the best wine on our trip! We walked away with the Estate Wild Semillon, Estate Shiraz, Indomitus Rosa blend and more.
Hanging Tree Wines - one of our favourite stops, Mike greeted us and made sure we were well looked after during our stay. He is a character! The wines are delicious! We especially enjoyed their Sparkling Brut, Rose and Shiraz Cabernet blend. They also have resident dogs walking around Vodka, Muscat and Bundy!
Binnorie Dairy - this was recommended to us by one of the vineyards and we couldn’t not go! Specialising in soft cheese, you will arrive and be swept away by their selection! Don’t miss their Duetto, Chevre & Dill and Marinated Feta!
INSIGHTS: Do not rely on Ubers in the Hunter Valley, especially if you are a larger group. I would recommend booking a driver for the day or having a designated driver. Otherwise you will end up waiting long times for taxis to arrive which will dampen the experience and limit the amount of places you will have the chance to visit.
day 3 - Last tastings and journey home
Krinklewood - Provencal style gardens and biodynamic wines. This winery is about 20min from Pokolbin and away from the masses, definitely worth the visit! Wines worth trying include their Verdelho, Rose and Sparkling wine
Margan - Not farm to table but ‘estate owned and estate grown’. The prefect example of agri-dining! Fresh locally sourced ingredients if they haven’t grown them themselves. A restaurant built on sustainable practices. The Margan Estate is a must in the Hunter for it’s wine as well as the divine food!
After lunch we drove back to Sydney via Wollombi, this time just driving through and enjoying the view.
DISCLAIMER: We also visited some other wineries and restaurants, however left them out as we would not recommend them.
You can find all my Hunter Valley Favourites on Google Maps: Frosty’s List Hunter Valley.