Sydney to Hunter Valley Day Trip Planner
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Hunter Valley or the Valley of the Fertility of Australia is one of the most popular landmarks in the country. A Hunter Valley day trip is a trip that suits anybody. It is a stop every food lover visiting Australia should take for the fabulous restaurants in the region. Nature lovers also love to visit here to enjoy the beauty of the area. It has also become a hot spot for adventure seekers with its Go-Kart tracks and balloon rides. It is also a picnic spot for families with its wonderful parks and Zoo. But above all, Hunter Valley is a wine region. Infect, Hunter Valley is among the oldest and biggest wine regions in Australia. No Hunter Valley day trip is complete without a sip of wine from one of its 150 above wineries.
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Getting to Hunter Valley from Sydney
There are two ways to get from Sydney to Hunter Valley. You could drive or take the train on your hunter valley day trip.
By train
You have two options if you wish to travel to the Hunter Valley by train:
You can take the Cityrail service to Maitland or Morisset. A ticket to Maitland will cost you 20$ to 50$ but a ticket to Morisset will be 20$ to 40$. From there you can take a bus to Cessnock. This will cost you around 3$ to 6$. It is a 20 min taxi ride to Hunter Valley from Cessnock. But the cost of that will change according to where in Hunter Valley you want to go.
You can also take the Countrylink express service from Sydney Central to Singleton Station. This is a ride with 7 stops and this will cost you around 30$ to 55$. It is a 20 min taxi ride to Hunter Valley from there. But the cost of that will change according to where in Hunter Valley you want to go.
Self-drive to Hunter Valley
If you wish to drive to Hunter Valley by yourself, you should take the A1 (Pacific Highway) towards Hornsby. But take the M1 (Pacific Motorway) you meet before Hornsby (at Wahroonga). Then you can take one of the three routes below to get to Hunter Valley Vineyards.
ROUTE 1: Sydney to Hunter Valley
Exit the M1 at the Newcastle Interchange after travelling 120km (1 hour 15 mins). From there you can take the M15 (Hunter Expressway). Then follow the M15 until you reach the Lovedale Road exit (24km). You can take the Wine Country Drive exit (36km) if you miss it or the Hermitage Road exit (48km).
ROUTE 2: Sydney to Hunter Valley
Exit the M1 at the B82 (Freemans Drive) after travelling 100km (1 hour). Then exit the ramp and follow the signs along with the B82 to Cessnock/Hunter Valley Vineyards.
ROUTE 3: Sydney to Hunter Valley
Exit the M1 at the Calga Interchange (Peats Ridge) after travelling 40km (20 minutes). Then you should follow Tourist Drive 33 (TD33). This route will take you into the Hunter Valley through the scenic mountains and to the historic town of Wollombi. This will be an unforgettable experience to get on your hunter valley day trip.
Hunter Valley tours
However, the best way to get the full experience on your Hunter Valley day trip is to book an agent. An agent will not only save you time and money but also effort. Talking with an agent of Hunter Valley wine tasting tours will save you hours of research and narrow down endless options. Most importantly there’s no satisfying way of knowing the information you collect is true or not. But an agent will always direct you to true and correct information.
Hunter Valley tours with a professional will be smooth, perfect and suit your purse too. If you face any travel or hotel issues, your agent will have ready-made solutions for them. They will also know whom to speak to and how to get you out of any trouble you might fall into. After all, you are visiting the wine country of Australia on your Hunter Valley day trip.
Getting information
The Visitor Information Centre is where you should go to meet your information needs for a Hunter Valley day trip. The Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre gives you information about anything from buying parking tickets to booking accommodation.
Visit Hunter Valley visitor info centre
The official Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre is in the heart of the Hunter Valley just outside of Cessnock. It is at Wine Country Drive Pokolbin at the same entry to Cessnock Airport.
Things to do in Hunter Valley
Wine tasting
This is the most versatile wine region in the country and must thing to do in the Hunter Valley. So, whatever your favourite wine it will be at Hunter Valley. Get ready to explore over 150 boutique wineries and taste it whether it is white, red, or sparkling. Or, just have a wine-tasting trip to test them all and find a new favourite.
Cheese tasting
Hunter Valley is with handmade cheese shops that are famous for their quality. So, they will have all your favourites to pair with those sweet wines you just got.
Craft Beer tasting
A glass of wine or a plate of cheese is not all Hunter Valley famous for. You could also enjoy a full glass of beer made in the region. So, get ready to visit the local brews. It will be an experience as good as or even better than a wine tasting trip.
Chocolate tasting on a Hunter Valley day trip
Hunter Valley chocolate shops also promise you an experience of a lifetime. So, get ready to have a bite of wonder that would melt in your mouth. Call them in advance if you have a group of 5 and they will prep a tasting platter for free of charge.
Take a photo with Big Kookaburra Kurri Kurri Hunter Valley
This 4.5-meter statue of a native Australian bird was a gift to the town of Kurri Kurri. Today it is a symbol of the area. Visit this beautiful creation and add a photo of it to the collection of your memories.
Hunter Valley restaurants for lunch
Here are the best places you can dine on your Hunter Valley day trip.
Muse Dining Hunter Valley
This restaurant offers modern Australian cuisine. But their menu changes with the seasons. However, they are always with high-quality products. It is usually open from 6 to 9 PM from Tuesday to Saturday.
Goldfish Hunter Valley Restaurant
This restaurant is open from 11.30 AM to 9.30 PM from Wednesday to Sunday. But only open from 11.30 AM to 4.30 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays. You could have many types of dishes including pizza and signature cocktails here.
Harrigan’s Hunter Valley
This restaurant is famous for its award-winning Beef and Guinness Pot Pie and tender steaks among many other plates. You can visit there from 7 AM to 11 PM on any day from Sunday to Thursday. However, you can stay there up to 1 AM on Fridays and 2 AM on Saturdays.
Your hunter valley day trip could be on a weekend with friends, a romantic getaway, or family time. Whatever the reason, it is Hunter valley tours always wise to consult a professional on Hunter valley tours to get the best experience.
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