The best Hunter Valley wine tours

A trot through the vineyards in a horse-drawn carriage might be the quaintest way to experience the Hunter Valley. Meet your guide and trusty steed at the Small Winemakers Centre, before trundling to cellar doors, and getting to know the region’s produce, tasting olives, cheeses and chocolate. You can make it a private experience or join an open group and meet more wine (and horse) enthusiast friends. A full-day tour (from 10am to 4pm) costs $220 per adult, and needs a minimum of six people for the tour to commence. 

This private tour with Tastes of the Hunter does transfers as far as Newcastle, Maitland and Singleton, as well as local round-trips running Sunday-Tuesday. The coolest thing about this option is that it is completely customisable. You'll get to call the shots from your pick-up location, whether you choose wine, beer or chocolate (or more), and where you go for lunch. It can be as affordable as you like, and you can choose between a bus that fits a maximum of either 13 or 24 passengers. 

An afternoon tour in the Hunter Valley is always a good time, and it's made even better on this degustation tour. With this iHop Hunter Valley excursion you’ll head off at 3pm, starting your boozy voyage off at a local distillery where you'll be taken through a guided tasting of their signature, housemade spirits. After that, you'll head to a boutique cellar door for a guided wine tasting and scrumptious cheese plate. The final stop is all about artisan chocolates at another cellar door, where you'll eat a range of perfect sweets that are perfectly paired with their own local, artisan wine. The iHop vehicles will ferry to and from local accommodation for this five-hour experience – for just $129 per guest. 

The guys at Two Fat Blokes want to showcase more than the Hunter region's wine. They show off the region’s chefs and local produce at day-long or multi-day excursions ranging in price from $219 for an Uncork the Hunter day tour, to $670 for a two-night romantic getaway in the midweek. There are also tours that explore the Hunter's breweries, half-day Snapshot tours for just $95 and private adventures with customisable options for between $440-$880 for your entire group. Hungry? Try the Cheese and Wine experience, where you can sample nine carefully curated bites with paired wins for $33. 

The founder of Wine Country Tours Richard Everret will share more than 40 years experience as a winemaker on this city-to-vineyard experience. After your Sydney pick-up, you’ll arrive in the Hunter to a morning tea at around 10am. Richard will then introduce you to the area’s renowned long-ageing dry semillons and other regional varieties, conducting all the tastings personally at various wineries, vineyards and a working wine cellar. Lunch is served at either Muse Kitchen or Esca at Bimbadgen, but not included in the $200 bill for Sydney transfers or the $125 for guests staying locally. Sydneysiders can expect to get home around 7.30pm.