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.