Start and finish your Hunter Valley experience the iHop way

Posted on by iHop Hunter Valley

Whether you want to explore the Hunter Valley at your own pace, take a guided tour or customise your tour, your planning should start with iHop.

iHop Hunter Valley Wine Tours was founded in 2015 by a husband and wife team who were frequent visitors to the region but realised that there were limited affordable transport options.

iHop was first started as a hop-on-hop-off bus service, which still exists. However, over several years the business has expanded and now offers on-Demand Transport Service, Premium Food and Drink Pairing Tours, Half Day Tours, Afternoon & Night Tours, and customised Private and Corporate Tours!

For you, this means three important things:

Number one – you can choose how you want to explore the Hunter Valley – on your own or on a formal tour.

Number two means that you can immerse yourself in the whole experience of the Hunter Valley and partake in the beautiful wines in the region and not be concerned about driving.

Number three – the best bit! When someone else is driving, you can sit back and relax and enjoy the region’s stunning views.

Taking a tour

If you’re in the region for a few days, you’ll have the luxury of enjoying a lot of what’s on offer, but if your time is limited, then a tour can be a great option. Our ‘Sample the Hunter Half Day Tour with Lunch‘ offers all the highlights of the beautiful region and operates 5 Days a Week – Thursday to Monday.

The Taste ‘n’ Graze Tour, which is all about the palette, pairing some of the region’s most famous wines with food, runs 4 Days a Week – Thursday to Sunday.

And we offer the Wine & Fork Twilight Tour, an exceptional experience at dusk, 3 Days a Week – Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. Bookings are a must!

Private groups and corporates now also have the option of customising a tour, with options to suit any budget. The friendly iHop staff is happy to help you decide which wineries and activities will serve your guests. There’s so much more to explore than just the cellar doors, from internationally renowned and boutique wineries, microbreweries, and casual through to fine dining venues, cheese shops, chocolatiers, art galleries, shopping villages, fun things just for the kids, hot air balloon adventures, and much more.

Local knowledge

We know all the popular places and a few hidden gems too. With more than 180 wineries, getting the right advice when planning your trip can mean you’ll make the most of your stay.

Transport on demand!

To make getting around the region even easier, iHop has launched iHopGO – a transport service that will get you where you want to go, when you want to go there, all for one flat fee per trip. Whether it’s just to and from a restaurant, or a full day out, the iHopGo team will be there to drive you.

VIP Concierge Service

Of course, if you’re unsure where you want to go, we can help you plan a perfect day out. Our VIP Concierge Service can be tailored to your needs.

Your comfort and safety are our top priority, so our fleet is well maintained and clean. We also offer complimentary storage and cooler boxes on board, so any goodies you collect along the way won’t be spoilt by the time you get back home. Talk to us about tours, transport, or special transfers to get you around the Hunter Valley. Our website has information about each of the tours we offer currently, although we’re always dreaming up new ways to help visitors get a taste of this beautiful region. So stay in touch via Instagram, and Facebook, or subscribe to our newsletter via our website, so you can be the first to hear about special offers and new services.

Hunter Valley Tour For Everyone

Posted on by iHop Hunter Valley

A tour through the Hunter Valley is a great way to explore the best of the region and visit beautiful destinations on offer, while sipping on premium wines and eating delicious food. What could be better? But what’s more, a Hunter Valley tour is a great way to experience the best of the region all in the one excursion and meet some new people along the way. Whether you’re looking for a memorable corporate or team building exercise, celebrating a special occasion with friends and family or on holiday with your significant other, or traveling solo, visiting the Hunter Valley is a must do bucket list item!

Hunter Valley by Day

Pokolbin is in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine region and a perfect location for you to sample some fantastic quality local wines and produce. There are many surrounding micro wine regions in Lovedale, Broke, Wollombi and the Upper Hunter Valley. The Hunter region boasts internationally renowned wineries, boutique micro-breweries and distilleries, many dining options, cheese makers, chocolatiers, gift shops and much more. To explore the Pokolbin region’s many attractions jump on-board iHop’s Hop-On Hop-Off Bus service and customise your own Hunter Valley experience. 

There are some wonderful places to lunch in the Hunter Valley, perfect for day trippers and holidaymakers alike. Estates and restaurants offer a casual through to fine dining experience to suit any occasion. There is no better way to experience these than with iHop’s Taste ‘n’ Graze tour, making your way through boutique cellar doors tasting selected premium wines, paired with delicious cheese plates, chef’s tasting plates, artisan chocolates all capped off with a distillery tasting of locally made spirits.

Grazing your way through the Hunter Valley, you can experience plenty of well-established places offering tapas, small plates and woodfired pizza options for the casual diner. Whatever you opt for you can expect to be treated to quality locally sourced produce prepared by passionate Chefs, while enjoying quality wine to match in a beautiful and serene wine country setting.

Don’t forget to leave room for dessert! Get your sweet fix at one of the many chocolate shops or gelato offerings. Featured at Hop 1 – Pokolbin Village Shops, Hop 2 – Roche Estate, Hop 5 – Ben Ean and Hop 6 – at the Shopping Village in the Hunter Valley Gardens via the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.

Hunter Valley by Night

If you are more of a night-owl, the Hunter Valley has a range of options after the sun goes down. Don’t miss iHop’s Wine and Fork Twilight tour, which offers a great way to explore the Hunter Valley after dark in an all-inclusive tour experience. Indulge in the delights of a guided wine tasting paired with local cheeses visiting a couple of the region’s boutique cellar doors, before settling in for a 2-course dinner at one of the locals favourite dining destinations.

There are many bars, pubs and restaurants in the area that will appeal to all tastes and preferences, whether you are looking for a family friendly venue, casual dining options or a 2 Chef hatted restaurant to celebrate your special occasion or that long awaited trip away you have been planning for sometime, there are many cuisine options throughout the Hunter Valley leaving you spoilt for choice!

So much more than wine!

For all the non-wine drinkers out there, make sure to check out Pokolbin Cider House. Opt for a tasting paddle to sample some local and unique cider flavours. There For all the non-wine drinkers out there, there’s plenty of craft beers and spirits to sample! Check out a selection of bespoke microbreweries, some offering masterclasses in all things hops and brews for those looking to learn something new while enjoying a cold one. Explore all the local breweries and distilleries via the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus or On-Demand Bus and enjoy your tastings with a view of the scenic countryside.

Whether you want to improve your knowledge about different wines, indulge in some delicious food or prefer to sample the local craft beers or distilleries, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Hunter Valley. To find out more about getting around the beautiful Hunter Valley aboard iHop visit: https://ihophuntervalley.com.au/

October School Holidays in the Hunter Valley – Your Kid Friendly Tour

Posted on by iHop Hunter Valley

Consider kids activities Hunter Valley style this October. Keeping them busy during the school holidays is tricky. Thinking of fun and engaging ideas to fill two weeks can be such a hassle for parents. 

To cure those school holiday blues, take a trip with iHop Hunter Valley and tick these fun kids activities Hunter Valley has to offer off your bucket list!

Sweet Tooth Treats: We all know that kids love sweet stuff! Whether it be chocolate, ice cream, lollies or a mix of all three, watch your little one’s delight as they visit these

Pokolbin Chocolate Co – Pokolbin Village (Hop 4)
Pokolbin Chocolate Co provides a mixture of old and new chocolate products like their famous rocky road or yummy white chocolate honeycomb clusters. Individual chocolates also come in fun shapes like penguins, shells, hedgehogs, golf balls and more! Make sure to have a taste of their specialty home made fudge which come in  a range of delectable flavour. 

photo credit – Trip Advisor

Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop / Hunter Valley Gelato Company  (Hop 5)
Just a quick ride on the bus to reach Hop 5 and we are only a short distance from the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop. While the impressive selection of international delicatessen cheese may not entice the kids, the extensive Gelato selection certainly will. 

The Hunter Valley Gelato Company makes gelato using traditional, imported Italian ingredients and a 200 year old recipe! With over 200 gelato flavours made on site including dairy free, vegan and gluten free options, your tastebuds will surely be tempted. 

British Lolly Shop – Hunter Valley Garden Village (Hop 6)
After another quick trip on the iHop bus, you will reach the Hunter Valley Garden Village and more importantly, the British Lolly Shop. Selling all of your old school favourites direct from the UK, this store will remind you of your childhood.

Take a moment to revel in your adolescence and take a photo with the lifesize toy guards watching the store. With an extensive range of lollies on offer including sweets, chocolates, fudge, and savoury snacks, you’ll find it hard to choose!

Hunter Honey Hive – Hunter Valley Garden Village (Hop 6)
Parents looking for a healthier sweet treat should give the Hunter Honey Hive a visit. Featuring daily tasting of local honey’, this location acts as a shop as well as a great learning experience for the kids. 

Accessible through the Ye Olde General Store & Pokolbin Farm Shop, the store stocks an extensive range of honey products from Australia and New Zealand including cosmetics, medicinal products, candles, ice creams, honeycomb and themed giftware.

Hunter Valley Exploration: Now that the kids are full of sugar and bouncing off the walls, it’s a great time to burn off some energy. Head to Hop 3 to start your adventure!

Hunter Valley Vintage Wings (16 minute walk from Hop 3)
While this destination requires a small walk from Hop 3, it is definitely worth your while. Hunter Valley Vintage Wings specialise in vintage, open cockpit adventure flight experiences that the whole family can enjoy. 

Take in the majestic views of the Hunter Valley from above in a 1940’s Tigermoth or 1956 Winjeel plane. Anyone over 8 years old is able to experience the rush of flying in an open cockpit plane as it would have felt 75 years ago.

However, if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, visit the Museum Information Sessions where you can learn the history of these unique, vintage aircraft for free. 

Hunter Valley Gardens (Hop 6)
At Hop 6 we reach the Hunter Valley Gardens, an obvious choice for some school holiday fun. With a range of activities on offer including the Storybook Garden, Carnival Rides, Aqua Golf and Putt Putt, you’ll never run out of things to do. 

Featuring timeless nursery rhyme characters, the Storybook Garden is a fun and whimsical experience for all ages. Life size characters and murals lead you through the garden and provide excellent photo opportunities. 

Carnival rides became new additions to the Hunter Valley Gardens in 2017 and are open to the public during special events and school holidays. These rides, including the swing chair, ferris wheel, carousel and superslide, can create hours of fun for both the young and the young at heart.

Practice your swing at Aqua Golf and Putt Putt within the Hunter Valley Gardens. Hit the golf ball into the lake and win prizes for hitting floating targets! Boasting great value for money, you can purchase one bucket of balls at Aqua Golf and 18 holes of Putt Putt for just $12.

After a long day of eating and exploring your way through the Hunter Valley, it’s time to relax. Why not book the iHop Twilight Dinner Tour where you can unwind over a wine tasting and 2-Course dinner. 

We hope explaining these kids activities Hunter Valley has to offer provides more insight into what this amazing region has to offer. It’s not just for adults!

Find our more about iHop Hunter Valley Twilight & Night Tours and other Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours here.



Sydney Siders Essential Guide to Hunter Valley Wine Tours

Posted on by iHop Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley Wine Tours from Sydney

No matter whether you’re a passionate wine lover, or just a lover of a relaxed tipple with friends and family in gorgeous surrounds, a Hunter Valley wine tour has to be on your bucket list. And the best bit is, if you’re a Sydney local or travelling to the City, Hunter Valley wine tours is within easy reach from Sydney and a must do!

Why choose a Hunter Valley wine tour?

Well, if you’re not familiar with the Hunter Valley, first up you should know that it’s recognised as a world renowned wine destination, with some 150 cellar doors located within the Hunter Valley region. And as you would expect, where there’s great wine, there’s great food, and you certainly won’t be disappointed.

But more than that, the Hunter Valley is also a diverse agricultural centre known for its top produce and stunning natural beauty, as well as a growing crop of distinctive craft breweries and distilleries that are fast capturing international attention.

Add to that a host of great events and shows staged throughout the year and you’ve really got your hands full just trying to make a choice on what to include on your Hunter Valley itinerary.

One of the more practical advantages of the Hunter Valley for locals and travellers alike is its proximity to Sydney. Depending on what transport option you choose, you can find yourself in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country from the Sydney CBD in less than three hours. You’ll find more details later in this article under the section: What’s the best way to get there from Sydney?

Why choose an organised wine tour?

For many people, there are two standout reasons you’d choose an organised Hunter Valley wine tour rather than going it alone.

Firstly, everything is taken care of for you. You can just sit back and relax. There’s no driving, no navigating, no flipping a coin for who’s going to be the designated driver afterwards. Feel free to enjoy a tipple and know you’ll be safe and sound.

Secondly, the knowledge of a local guide can be of great assistance in finding places and enjoying experiences that you might not have known about or stumbled across otherwise. What’s more, in some cases, a good local guide can get special deals and access privileges that may not available to other visitors.

What type of Hunter Valley wine tours are there?

iHop Hunter Valley offers a range of tours that are planned for ease and convenience or, alternatively, the team at iHop specialise in custom corporate Hunter Valley wine tours and events to suit your interests, group size and importantly what you want to see and do.

Your options include a personalised Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours that give the flexibility and independence to experience the Hunter Valley in your own way and at your own pace. There are more than 50 venues that you can choose from to visit.

If you’re also a bit of a foodie, jumping aboard iHop’s Taste ‘n’ Graze tour is a great option. On this tour you not only get to sample great wines, but also the best of the region’s fresh produce and cheeses from the Hunter Valley’s best providores, from fine chocolate to award-winning whisky, you’re going to find it all on this tour. You’ll also pick up a few tips and educational insights on how to best pair food and wine.

iHop’s Hunter Valley Night Tours are another popular tour option. There are two types you can choose from: Wine and Cheese Lover’s Progressive Dinner Tour, or the Taste of the Hunter After Dark Tour.

As the name suggests, the Wine and Cheese Lover’s Progressive Dinner combines tasting the finest wines and cheeses, as well as special treats like a behind-the-scenes peak into a working family winery and learning the art of wine and cheese matching. Afterwards enjoy a 3-course dinner and drinks at a further two award-winning local restaurants.

With the Taste of the Hunter After Dark Tour, you will start with a guided tasting of some of the regions best wines and cheeses. But for a bit of a different take on the Hunter, you’ll sample some the region’s great craft beers and ciders, paired with delicious local bites with an insight into the beer making process at a local boutique brewery, followed with a selection of sumptuous wood-fired pizza’s and sides as you continue your exploration of the Hunter Valley after dark.

Keep in mind that iHop can also cater for custom night corporate and large group tours as well.

What’s the best way to get there from Sydney?

When you’re planning a Hunter Valley wine tour, you have several options for getting there from Sydney.

If you’re travelling by car, getting to the Hunter Valley is easy. Simply follow the main northbound freeway (the A1 or Pacific Highway) from the city and follow the signs. Travelling time is typically around two to three hours.

The train is a good option if you prefer to leave the transport worries to somebody else. Trains to the Hunter Valley vicinity (Singleton and Maitland being the closest stops) and nearby Newcastle leave regularly from Sydney’s Central Station.

iHop offers tour pick up points throughout the local area within the Hunter Valley, depending on the tour option you choose. You’ll find details under each of the tour pages on the website.

What are the accommodation options?

As you would expect there are a plethora of accommodation options in the Hunter Valley and surrounds, both on wineries and off. You’ll find that any good accommodation-booking website will have a host of choices to suit your budget.

If you’re particularly looking for a cost-effective hunter valley wine tours from Sydney, taking the train from Sydney, connecting to the local area and then jumping aboard the iHop Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour is a great budget-friendly option.

You can find out more about iHop’s Hunter Valley wine tour options here.