Hunter Valley – The Facts

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Discover interesting facts about Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley provides the perfect escape for solo travellers through to big groups of mates who just want a time out and a new experience. This place offers wine-tasting tours, outstanding views and pure country fresh air – bliss. Discover interesting facts about Hunter Valley,

Whether you are a smaller group of mates, a solo traveller or a mass of working holidaymakers; there’s accommodation to suit everyone. The valley is more of a tourist attraction than people realise, attracting over 2.5 million visitors every year – it’s Australia’s 6th most visited attraction! There is an obvious charm to the Hunter Valley, yet only a subtle tourist feeling and so it still feels untouched.

Pokolbin is at the centre of the Hunter Valley Wine Country, and a great base for exploring the many wineries that Hunter Valley has to offer. Pokolbin is where all the main accommodation is based and is approximately two hours drive north of Sydney. From the Hunter Valley, you can also visit the closest National Park to Sydney, Barrington Tops, which is like venturing into another world. You can take a week to seek out the most beautiful parts of the surrounding World Heritage sights and hidden beauties or just pop on a coach trip and do the wineries in one swift trip!

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Sleeping in Hunter Valley…

To have the best experience whilst out in the Hunter Valley, it’s best to book yourself a huge villa, grab as many mates as you can to lower the price and fight over who gets first dibs on the hot tub! At first glance, it may look like it’s going to cost a fortune but for $100 each a night, you can get a country house such as the ‘Maranda House’ on www.stayz.com.au, with barbeques, hot tubs and saltwater swimming pool as standard! If you visit other websites such as takeabreak.com, you can get 5-person villas for around $80 each a night. There are similar hotels such as Potters Hotel, which work out not much more than the price of the YHA at $124 a night for a two-person room including a meal, so this is also worth looking into.

The Hunter Valley YHA is a great set-up if there are large groups of you as they have rooms that house up to 16 people. If not then of course you just rent your half of a bunk! There is a pub with pool tables and pub grub just down the road and then, of course, more of a nightlife in the town Cof Essnock nearby. There are free pick-ups and drop-offs for all YHA-ers on arrival etc. What more could you want than barbeques, a swimming pool and a sauna? Most accommodation requires you to book a two-night minimum stay, so do make sure you question this before you go if this may be a problem. Per night the hostel is around $60 but has great reviews and is more expensive as it is surrounded by pure beauty and is very different to your usual city hostel.

God’s Nectar…

There are too many wineries to ever really be able to get around in a day when visiting the Hunter Valley. However, we’re sure you’ll give it a good go! There are tour companies plenty to suit the masses of wineries to visit. Some wineries are open every day of the week, all day long, all year round. However, some of the smaller ones may shut on Sundays and before 6 pm so do check before you visit if you are traveling independently. The way to do it in style is to travel as a group with a tour company as no one wants to be designated sober chauffeur when it comes to this kind of game! Visit www.huntervalleywinetastingtours.com.au to seek out the best deal, for $75 you will be picked up from the valley and taken to the best wineries around. You will visit at least five wineries of all shapes and sizes, tasting around eight different wines at each. Also, you will be taken in your luxury Mercedes bus to the smelly cheese and chocolate shops! Splendid!

Coach it there…

If you can’t be away from Sydney too long or you can’t budget for the accommodation etc. out in the Valley, Kangarrific Tours provide you with a day tour from Sydney to the wineries for some wine-tasting sessions and some meet and greets with friendly kangas, koalas and emus! All for $99 https://www.kangarrifictours.com/tours/hunter-valley-wine-tours/

For a little more cash, AAT King also does day tours from Sydney for around $145 with a touch more luxury. The hostels or accommodation you wish to stay in will be more than happy to organise a tour for you directly from your base.

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Make it a break to remember…

For all of you extremists out there, or for those of you who just want a break with a twist, skydiving over the valley is the answer. What better than to fall from the sky from 14,000 feet and capture views of the beautiful vineyards, Hunter River, sprawling National Parks and Central Coast including the beautiful Great Lakes and Lake Macquarie.?Just make sure you do the wine tasting before you decide to go up on the plane! Visit www.justjumpskydive.com.au to plan the ride of your life.

If you have always wanted a round of golf, but never had the confidence to venture onto the greens or you feel like you’ve done the average course and want to play somewhere outstanding- the Hunter Valley 4-hour round of golf is for you. You will be taught by a golf professional and then given your buggy to play across the course. It isn’t cheap at $400 for you and a friend- but there’s not going to be many opportunities in a lifetime to play somewhere like this. Check it out at www.winecountry.com.au/things-to-see-do. Here you will find info on ‘Opera in the Vineyards’ amongst other great ideas for your time in Hunter Valley.

If you are truly golf-mad, you can even book the golf package deal which gets you two nights of accommodation at Potters Brewery, three rounds of golf and two breakfast buffets galore for $400…

The Hunter Valley is a greatly sought-after time out from the typical ‘Australian tourist’ list of things to do. Sure it is perfect for tourists and is made to measure for coach trips and backpackers/working holidaymakers alike. However, it is a truly ‘rural’ experience where you can learn to brew your beer, pick your wine grapes and taste the greatest wines of the world until the cows come home. BBM gives the valley a big thumbs up. Just sneak in a cheeky skydive whilst you are there to take it to the next level of wonderfulness!

By Frankie Salt
@frankiesalt

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