New South Wales' oldest wine region, a couple of hours north of Sydney, known for Semillon and Shiraz and dense with cellar doors within a compact touring area around Pokolbin. It's a driving (or chauffeured) day of tastings rather than a single sight, so the shape of the day depends on picking a handful of wineries rather than trying to see them all.
| Travel time | 2 hours by car; 2.5 hours by train + bus |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
How to get there
- Mode
- Car
- Details
- M1 Pacific Motorway to Cessnock then Broke Road to Pokolbin
- Journey time
- 2 hours
- Cost aud
- 30
- Notes
- Essential if you want to drink - arrange a designated driver or hire a horse and cart
- Mode
- Guided wine tour
- Details
- Full-day guided tours from Sydney include coach transport and all cellar door tastings
- Journey time
- Full day (8 hours)
- Cost aud
- 125
- Notes
- Best option for those wanting to drink; includes 4-5 cellar doors and lunch
- Mode
- Train + bus
- Details
- NSW TrainLink to Maitland, then local bus or taxi to Pokolbin
- Journey time
- 3 hours total
- Cost aud
- 35
- Notes
- Limited bus service to wineries; taxi from Maitland recommended
Highlights
- Tyrrell's Wines (est. 1858) - Australia's oldest family winery
- Brokenwood Wines tasting room
- McWilliam's Wines heritage cellar
- Hunter Valley Gardens
- Audrey Wilkinson Winery hilltop views
- Gourmet food producers
Tips for visiting
- Designate a non-drinking driver or book a guided tour
- February-April is harvest season - most interesting time to visit
- Cellar door tastings are typically free or AUD 5-15 per person