Wine, Dine & Unwind: A Romantic Getaway in the Hunter Valley

Elevate your countryside escape with top-tier wineries, indulgent picnics, and sunrise balloon flights across the Hunter Valley, just two hours from Sydney.

It’s Australia’s oldest wine region, a rolling stretch of vineyards and sun-warm hills, and stealing away to the Hunter Valley for a weekend has been a classic romantic reset for decades.

The pair-bonding benefits of a cheeky getaway are obvious. Travelling together - a “baecation” as Generation Tiktok are calling it - means you have space to chat for hours, rediscover inside jokes, and co-plan your next indulgent meal or vineyard tour. 

A scenic two-hour road trip north of Sydney will land you on the doorstep of more than 150 wineries, fine-dining restaurants, artisanal stores, and scenic bike trails. Forging its identity with glorious sémillon and punchy shiraz, the magic of the region goes far beyond the bottle. Here are the best experiences the Hunter Valley has to offer.

Number one Hunter Valley rookie error? Electing a designated driver in a place so famous for its cellar doors. There are many, many Hunter winery tours on the books, but to up the intimacy factor, Hunter Valley Tours for Two is a chauffeur service run by knowledgeable guides who customise the route to your favourite varietals. The vehicle of choice, a plush Mercedes Benz GLE350, makes you feel like a minor celebrity. Half-day or full-day experiences are available, so you can pick a quick jaunt or extend your day of indulgence with a languid lunch.

When it comes to romantic wineries, Bimbadgen Estate is the name you’ll hear most. From a Tuscan-style terracotta tower, to a sprawling vantage over the vines, the name is derived from the local Indigenous term for “Place of Good View”. Their cellar door is sleek, showcasing everything from zingy whites to fuller-bodied reds and you can book ahead for tastings, a tour or even a hamper for two to eat under the vines.

Another jewel of the Hunter is Gundog Estate, which specialises in semillon - a source of regional pride. If you book in for their world class wine tasting experience, staff will talk passionately about the Hunter’s diverse terroir, explaining how local climate conditions lead to the crisp acidity or rich textures you’ll taste.

Locals love:  Usher Tinkler Wines. Housed in a repurposed church, Usher Tinkler serves up a modern take on Hunter Valley classics. Unlike most other wineries they don’t run a café or restaurant, but they do incorporate cheese and salumi into the tasting experience to stave off any mid-afternoon hunger pangs.

After a day spent swirling, sniffing, and sipping, Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin is the Hunter Valley ideal. Just steps away from the Hunter Valley Gardens themselves, the property is close to beautiful restaurants and multiple cellar doors. With a resort-style pool, sauna, spa, and tennis courts, you can balance out indulgence with a little leisure. 

Locals love: Take a bike and pedal between wineries. Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens offers bicycle rentals, including e-bikes, allowing guests to explore the area and nearby wineries by bike. The resort is within pedalling distance to wineries like McGuigans, Brokenwood, and Tempus Two.

Adjacent to Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens is the lush, meticulously landscaped Hunter Valley Gardens. A romantic botanical wonderland sprawling across 14 hectares, laced with eight kilometres of pathways, statues, waterfalls, and themed precincts that range from a whimsical Storybook Garden to an Indian Mosaic Garden. Very Bridgerton.

Another romantic favourite of the region, sunrise Hunter Valley Ballooning flights show-off the Hunter Valley from a perspective few get to see: farmland cloaked in mist, the occasional kangaroo bounding through the vines, and the soft golden glow of morning light brushing the ridges. The entire experience, from setup to the celebratory breakfast upon landing, runs around four hours, and you can opt for a private, two person flight.

If you prefer to explore at ground level, Hunter Valley Horse Riding and Adventures saddle you up for a gentle trek that carries you across the Molly Morgan Range, complete with spectacular vantage points over the region. There are options for all skill levels and it’s an up-close way to see the pastoral charm that pairs so beautifully with the area’s more polished wineries.

Locals love: The Hunter Valley also puts on a regular roster of outdoor concerts and festivals. From the impressive line up of Dashville events, like the GumBall or Dashville Skyline, to the world-class acts at A Day on the Green, it’s easy to find music in them there hills. Beer aficionados can check out the Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Festival, while the D’Vine Food and Wine Festival offers plenty of tastings.

Perched atop a gentle slope, Audrey Wilkinson winery might just offer the most dramatic 360-degree panorama in the region. With 270 acres to wander, you’ll find no shortage of spots to settle in, and they have a romantic, Picnic Among the Vines package with goodies to graze on. Snag a bottle of their celebrated wine at the cellar door before unrolling your blanket in prime position for a long afternoon.

For a more substantial all-in-one hamper to go with your scenic setting, Bonvilla Estate creates a picnic feast that includes Hunter Belle cheese, charcuterie, chutney, olives, relish, chargrilled vegetables, crusty bread, and a glass of wine (or two). Bonvilla is set on an idyllic spread of greenery that practically begs you to slow down and let the afternoon drift by.

If you like a little art with your antipasto, the Sculpture Courtyard at Hungerford Hill makes for a striking backdrop. Bring your own picnic kit or stock up on supplies from the cellar door, and settle in near the sculptures that dot the courtyard. 

Locals love: For a picnic with an unforgettable panorama, from Cessnock all the way to the coast, make your way to Mount Bright Lookout. Fill your hamper with Hunter Valley treats like Hunter Belle Cheese, sourdough from Fawk Foods Kitchen and Bakery, and dip them in olive oils and vinegars from Pukara Estate.

Kick off your wine holiday morning at Café Enzo, an atmospheric restaurant hidden among sandstone walls and a welcoming courtyard. Coffee by Glitch Coffee Roasters is robust enough to send you into a bright-eyed state, and the breakfast menu leans on local ingredients to elevate everything from a ham breakfast board to green pea mash.

Over in the romantically named Lovedale Lucky Duck, part of the Leaves & Fishes property, is all about fresh, inventive Asian-inspired plates served by a tranquil dam. Scallops with seaweed butter, Szechuan-spiced chicken wings with pepper caramel, or the luscious duck bao. The share-style format encourages you to mix and match flavour bombs, pairing them with a scenic water view that feels miles away from real life.

Or, for a lunch that nods to French tradition, head to Bistro Molines, perched on the Carillion Wines estate. Every plate pays homage to classic French technique, whether you’re sampling house-made linguine loaded with pippies or delicately roasted pork belly with an apple and morcilla tart.

At dinnertime, Circa 1876, housed in a historic cottage, is the kind of restaurant that you’ll be boring other couples about for years to come. Polished service, an elegant atmosphere, and a menu championing immaculate seasonal produce all conspire to deliver a memorable meal. Don’t go past the lamb shoulder, double quail breast, and the exquisite millefeuille for dessert.

Locals love: If you’re craving contemporary Italian after a day of wine, éRemo has a sleek interior and a menu that toys with tradition in playful ways. The suggested Avido menu (Italian for “greedy”) gives you a perfect cross-section of the chef’s favourites, from burrata starters to Wagyu tri-tip. It’s a dinner worth savouring slowly, glass in hand, swirling a local red or a crisp Hunter Valley white.