Australia’s Hunter Valley is a stunning region with beautiful vistas, expansive vineyards and gorgeous boutique retreats. An easy drive from Sydney, the destination is just made for romantic getaways filled with good food and wine. We’ve done the ‘hard’ work for you and found where to go, what to see and what to do in the Hunter Valley.
Friday night
Get your weekend getaway off to the right start with dinner at the award-winning Bistro Molines. Set on the picturesque Tallavera Grove property, the bistro serves seasonal produce while paying homage to the chef’s French roots. Expect dishes like pan-fried quail, house-made linguini with clams, prosciutto-wrapped veal and slow cooked pork collar with date jam, roasted cauliflower and muscat jus.
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Saturday
Resist the urge to sleep in and be sure to set your alarm for an absolute Hunter Valley must-do: hot-air ballooning. An incredibly romantic experience, it’s also one of the best ways to take in the expansive panoramic scenery of the Hunter region. You’ll spend around 30-45 minutes soaring through the air, taking in the bright green vines and bushland of the region as the sun rises, before descending to enjoy a delectable gourmet Champagne breakfast. Perfection.
Saturday afternoon
Spend the rest of your day visiting local vineyards and tasting some of the region’s best wines. Producers of Alicante Bouschet, Semillon, Basket Press Shiraz, Verdelho, Chardonnay, Premium Merlot, Late Havest Dessert Wine and Licquer Semillon, Vinden Estate Wines is the perfect spot for wine tasting and a leisurely tour. A cellar door experience here can only be topped off by a delicious lunch at Bistro Vinden, where you can just relax and take in the picture-perfect scenery.
Sunday
After a day of indulgence on Saturday, now’s the time to get out and about in the Hunter Valley’s gorgeous outdoors. Make your way to Barrington Tops National Park, home to stunning World Heritage-listed rainforest and ancient volcanic landscape. There’s a number of walking tracks that will help you discover the local plant, bird and animal life, plus plenty of cycling trails for thrill-seeking couples.
Want more adventure? You can actually go white water rafting and kayaking here, so enquire with one of the local tour operators and prepare for an action-packed day.
If you have any time remaining, pay a visit to Lake St Clair – not to be confused with the Tasmanian destination of the same name. NSW’s own version lies at the foot of the Mount Royal Range in the Hunter and is ideal for swimming, water skiing, fishing or just lazing on the shore before making your way back home.
There’s so much for couples to see and do in the Hunter Valley you’ll likely struggle to fit it all into one weekend. That’s okay – all the more reason to visit again!
Related article: A Quick Guide to Australia’s Favourite Wine Regions
