The Hunter Valley is world renowned as one of the greatest wine regions in Australia. Home to over 150 cellar doors that are dotted amongst the vineyards, including a number of highly acclaimed and award winning restaurants and wineries with mesmerising views.
Just two hours north of Sydney, Australia’s oldest wine region is surrounded by stunning natural beauty – and is the ultimate place to enjoy a semillon and shiraz in a picturesque setting.
But what if wine isn’t your thing?
It’s not hard to see why the Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s biggest tourist destinations, and luckily, the world famous wine country has much more to offer than just wine. All of which you can experience on an iHop Hunter Valley Tour.
HUNTER DISTILLERY
Located in the heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country at Pokolbin, Hunter Distillery is locally owned and operated, and produce an exceptional range of top shelf spirits including Vodkas, Liqueurs, Schnapps, and their multi-award winning ‘Copperwave Distilled Gin’.
Using only premium quality, organic raw ingredients to produce their spirits, Hunter Distillery offer daily tastings and makes for a perfect stop on your iHop Hunter Valley Tour.
THE HUNTER VALLEY CHOCOLATE COMPANY
Those with a sweet tooth will want to ensure they swing by this popular chocolate stores any 3 locations in Pokolbin, which offers an immense variety of chocolate types and flavours, as well as quality fudges and other confections that are made on-premises.
Established at the turn of last century, the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company has grown to become one of the region’s premier attractions, earning a reputation for quality and innovation. From watching Peter concoct his creations in the kitchen, to sitting back in the cafe to enjoy some chocolate-based excellence, let yourself enjoy some indulgence during your visit to wine country.
LOCAL MARKETS AND FESTIVALS
The Hunter Valley’s gourmet experiences are about as abundant as its world class wines. You can taste and buy local, mouth-watering produce at gourmet providores, festivals and markets all throughout the region.
Wine country has several monthly markets such as Handmade in the Hunter located at Kevin Sobels Wines and Hunter Wine Country Markets located at De Bortoli Wines, where you can meet stallholders and hear their stories, while stocking up on local cheese, olives, jams, freshly baked bread, handmade soaps, clothes and more.
There are a number of other festivals and events throughout the year that you must see as well – such as the Jazz in the Vines Festival, which hosts big celebrities each year in jazz, and the Lovedale Long Lunch, held each year in May.
PASTA MAKING AT SANDALYN
At Sandalyn’s Pasta Making Classes, enjoy a three-hour Tuscan style cooking class, where you will learn to make fresh pasta the traditional way. Enjoy the magic of turning flour and free range eggs, sticky fingers and laughter into mouth-watering pasta – the way it has been done for generations.
The class concludes with a leisurely two-course alfresco lunch – where the star attraction is you and the pasta you have just made.
Pasta making classes run every weekend, but can also be available midweek by arrangement.
HUNTER BEER CO
Hunter Beer Co (located at Potters Hotel Brewery Resort in Nulkaba) is a ‘must-do’ when planning your iHop Hunter Valley Tour. The brewery and tasting area is open to the public, and with 10 beers on tap, lets you either sample while watching the team hard at work, or if you prefer, order a schooner of your favourite and go sit and relax.
Hunter Beer Co have created a beer experience. You can have a chat to one of the brewers, watch them make the beer and sample the products that are all made on site. Tours are also available each afternoon for visitors to take a look ‘behind the scenes’ at one of the Hunter Valley’s best breweries.
HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS
A naturally beautiful experience in the heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country, the Hunter Valley Gardens was created by Bill Roche over a four year period, with a dedicated team of 40 landscape gardeners, architects and engineers.
The gardens are a place for the appreciation of nature and peaceful reflections, and now also a place for families and fun. The Hunter Valley Gardens hold a number of renowned annual events such as the Christmas Light Spectacular and Snow Time, and are also open 7 days a week for visitors to take a walk around the eight kilometres of walking paths, with more than six thousand trees, one million groundcovers and six hundred-thousand shrubs. There is also a floral display featuring a variety of plants and statuary, all of a standard that you will not see anywhere else in Australia.
So, are you ready to visit the beautiful wine country? iHop Hunter Valley Tours cover all of the popular locations, hidden gems and so much more!