If you’re looking to explore more serene parts of Australia, I highly recommend heading to the country’s oldest wine-growing region: Hunter Valley. Known essentially as the birthplace of Aussie wines, expect to try some of the best in the country and plenty of variety.

The best way to really maximize your experience and ensure you’re streamlining your schedule is to do a proper wine tour. I’ve gone ahead and reviewed the 7 top Hunter Valley wine tours out there that are all well worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!

Be sure to see our reviews for Adelaide Wine Tours, Yarra Valley Wine Tours. Barossa Valley Wine Tours and Margaret River Wine Tours.

Best Wine Tours in Hunter Valley

	Uncork the Hunter Full Day Hunter Valley Winery Tour	Hunter Valley Wine Tour from the Hunter with Wine Craft Beer Cheese Chocolate	Award Winning Full Day Wine and Food Experience
Meeting Location:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Tour Length:	7 hours	8 hours	7.5 hours
Start Time(s):	10:00 AM	9:45 AM	9:30 AM
What’s Included:	Small group tour visiting the best wineries, wine tasting fees, snacks, lunch, alcoholic beverages, air-conditioned vehicle	Round-trip transport, air-conditioned vehicle, wine tasting fees, guide, sample local cheese, chocolate, and craft beer	Round trip transportation, lunch, wine tasting fees, snacks, guide, cheese tastings and a chocolate fudge tasting
	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability

Our 7 Top Picks For The Best Hunter Valley Wine Tour:best Margaret River Wine Tours

1. Uncork the Hunter Full Day Hunter Valley Winery Tour
2. Hunter Valley Wine Tour from the Hunter with Wine Craft Beer Cheese Chocolate
3. Award Winning Full Day Wine and Food Experience
4. Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney incl Lunch, Cheese, Chocolate and Distillery
5. Hunter Valley Small Group Luxury Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney
6. Small-Group Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney
7. Boutique Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Newcastle

Hunter Valley Wine Tour Reviews

1. Uncork the Hunter Full Day Hunter Valley Winery Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Let’s start things off with the Uncork the Hunter Full Day Hunter Valley Winery Tour, which is a full-fledged, 7-hour experience that will leave you with a whole new perspective on Australian wines.

With a professional local guide, food, thorough narration, and a spacious, air-conditioned vehicle, you have everything you need for the makings of a great day. Whether you’re an absolute newbie or a wine aficionado, there’s something for everyone here!

From the very moment you’re picked up from your hotel, you can expect lots of laughing, entertainment, learning, and of course, excellent wine, chocolate, and cheese!

If you’ve ever wanted to become a master at pairing wine and cheese, this should be one of your top choices! You’ll learn all about the craft and will follow that up with a thorough tour of a renowned local brewery, with a sampling of a couple of refreshing craft beers, wines, or ciders.

What Makes This Tour Great

If you feel like having a day out with a fun local guide and other travelers, trying some of the best beer and wine around, then look no further. Starting out at 10:00 am, you’ll have time to sleep in and benefit from a convenient hotel pickup so you don’t have to deal with finding a meetup point.

Our air-conditioned coach was super comfy, with padded seats and big windows ideal for watching the beautiful scenery pass by.

Aside from visiting and touring some of the region’s best wineries, we got a complete crash course in how to pair the wine with fine local cheeses and chocolates – a skill I’ll definitely be putting to good use!

After, we had a blast at Hunter Beer Co, where we did a brewery tour, learning about how they brew their beer and got to sample some amazing selections, including their signature cider!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

2. Hunter Valley Wine Tour from the Hunter with Wine Craft Beer Cheese Chocolate

What to Expect on the Tour

Next up is the Hunter Valley Wine Tour from the Hunter with Wine Craft Beer Cheese Chocolate Experience, which is just a bit longer than the previous tour. Expect your local expert guide to pick you right up in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle (usually a small coach).

With a group size that maxes out at 15 to 20 participants, you benefit from group pricing without feeling like you’re just another person in a big crowd of tourists.

Expect to visit 3 to 4 (time-dependent) boutique cellar doors, where you’ll get the rundown on what makes each location and its products so special. You’ll not only try their wine, but at select spots, will even get to sample and learn about their signature vodkas/liqueurs!

If you’d like, you can even add on a craft beer paddle to savor alongside locally made cheeses and chocolates. It’s a well-rounded itinerary, perfect if you’d like to get a taste of everything Hunter Valley does well!

What Makes This Tour Great

I highly recommend this tour to anyone of any experience level with wine, from those who don’t even consider themselves as knowledgeable to absolute wine nerds.

There’s something for everyone here; even if you don’t really like wine, you have the option of trying vodka, liqueurs, cheese, chocolate, and more! While tours may vary a bit, you’ll visit 3 to 4 different cellar doors – all will be boutique and family-run.

They’re charming and you’ll get VIP, behind-the-scenes tours, learning all about how each one came to start their venture and how they make their wines. You’ll not only do a wine tasting at each, but will also do a vodka tasting at one of them, alongside pairing cheese and chocolates.

I went ahead and took advantage of the option to purchase a beer paddle as well, which was a nice opportunity to try some of their beer aside from what we had in the included tastings.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

3. Award Winning Full Day Wine and Food Experience

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re in any way interested in wine tasting and natural beauty, you have to check out the Award Winning Full Day Wine and Food Experience. Expect to check out not only the smaller boutique wineries, but some of the major locations in the region, as well!

It’s a great way to experience some spots you may not have visited otherwise, and they do a great job of catering to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Expect the convenience and safety of not only having someone else drive for you during your wine tastings, but also having them offer round-trip transportation from your accommodations. I practically guarantee that you’ll try some wine here that you’ve never heard of before!

Oh, but it’s so much more than wine-tasting – you’ll stop at a premier chocolate shop and top national soft cheese maker for plenty of learning and sampling, as well!

What Makes This Tour Great

If it’s your first time in the region, this is one of the best ways to become introduced to all the best it has to offer. From all kinds of boutique cellar doors to soft cheeses and chocolates, you’ll try it all.

Of course, these tours aren’t just your run-of-the-mill experiences where it feels like your guide is just babysitting you through a checklist of stops. Rather, you’ll be led by a local who knows all about the area and will share fun facts and anecdotes along the way.

If you’re at all into history, you’ll become instantly captivated with all of the stories shared, like where you’ll see some of the bricks of Blaxland Inn with convict prints, for example! The cherry on top is simply the incredible people you’ll meet along the way, with top-notch customer service everywhere you go!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

4. Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney incl Lunch, Cheese, Chocolate and Distillery

What to Expect on the Tour

This next tour is without a doubt one of the most comprehensive tours of its kind, covering just about everything one could want to see while in the Hunter Valley! Lasting around 11 hours, you have the entire day to explore the best local products, including cuisine and drink!

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney and find some peace and quiet, this is a fantastic option. Enjoy the scenic rolling hills and endless vineyards as you relax in your air-conditioned transport while your guide regales you with interesting historical and cultural information in a palatable way.

Visit various boutique wineries and sample cheeses, chocolate, fudge, wine, and beer, learn about wine production, and fill up on a fantastic gourmet lunch in a beautiful location. No leaf is left unturned on this tour!

What Makes This Tour Great

If you have the time, you won’t find a more complete Hunter Valley tour out there than the Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney incl. Lunch Cheese Chocolate and Distillery experience.

There’s no need to sort your own transportation and itinerary – they’ve done it all for you, so all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. All tastings are scheduled for you in a seamless, convenient way to maximize your time out there.

This tour probably taught me more knowledge of the region than any other, thanks to our wonderful guide who added fun anecdotes on top of it all. Aside from the tastings, we had plenty of time for some shopping and breaks along the way – the pacing was perfect. It’s a long day, sure, but it was absolutely worth it!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

5. Hunter Valley Small Group Luxury Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive experience with seamless organization and professional staff, look no further than the Hunter Valley Small Group Luxury Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney!

Expect a nice break from city life, with included pickup from your hotel in the morning, so you don’t have to deal with booking separate transportation or finding a meetup spot. On top of that, you have all of your wine tastings and transportation between wineries taken care of for you!

With small group sizes, you can expect more personalized itineraries and more attention from your guide, which ends up feeling more like a group of good friends than a bunch of strangers.

You’ll visit 3 smaller boutique wineries with wine tastings at each one conducted by staff like winemakers or even owners, in some cases! In addition, you’ll have a great time at a beautiful cafe with either hot or cold lunch and a glass of wine, and a local cheese tasting.

What Makes This Tour Great

For a fabulously luxe, laidback day strolling through Australia’s most famous vineyards, this tour should be one of your top selections. Think boutique cellar doors, gourmet food, friendly guides, and even wildlife sightings along the way!

As soon as we got on our air-conditioned transport for the day, our guide shared plenty of insider knowledge and personal anecdotes that enriched each tasting and winery visit after!

With a gourmet lunch and cheese pairings, you’ll be treated to some truly delicious local delights that complement the curated wine selection perfectly. While it’s not guaranteed, you may even spot some kangaroos hanging out amongst the grapevines – something truly quintessentially “Aussie”!

We visited a few different Hunter Valley boutique wineries, with the staff more than happy to answer all our questions and welcome us to their facilities. For a nice balance of family-owned wine discovery, atelier-style food pairings, and gorgeous Aussie scenery, this is one you can’t miss!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

6. Small-Group Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney

What to Expect on the Tour

Perhaps you’re interested in trying more than wine while in the Hunter Valley – if so, check out the Small-Group Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney. It’s one of the most unique itineraries out there, featuring not only visits to various wineries, but a visit to a renowned distillery, farm, and more.

As you can probably deduce from the name, you’ll be in a small-group setting, which means more personalized attention and VIP treatment. You can expect to learn a ton, making it perfect for both complete newbies and wine aficionados alike. The curated wine itinerary was smart, with each stop offering something unique from the rest.

From renowned wines like their semillon and shiraz to gin and liqueurs, you’ll learn to discern and identify different flavors. Finally, you’ll browse through all kinds of local produce, like first-press olive oil, dukkah, jams, chili products, and more.

What Makes This Tour Great

This intimate, personal tasting journey delivers boutique winery visits led by enthusiastic local, educated guides that will turn all of you into Hunter Valley wine lovers. I had a blast with our small group, with a more friendly atmosphere and a well-paced, relaxing tone to it.

The drive from Sydney is significant (around 2.5 to 3 hours each way in the minibus), though the time out there is well worth the trek – the amazing music playlist helped!

This is a white wine-heavy tour, as the region is famed for its semillon and chardonnay; however, there are reds available, too. The restaurant meal came with a choice of 6 different mains, along with a complimentary glass of wine or beer.

The spirits we tried at Hunter Distillery were also fantastic, and we were able to try gin, vodka, schnapps, and a few other liqueurs that I hadn’t had before. Overall, it’s a great way to experience the gems that Hunter Valley is known for!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

7. Boutique Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Newcastle

What to Expect on the Tour

Last but not least is one of the best bang-for-your-buck tours – the Boutique Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Newcastle. With all transportation taken care of for you and expert guides to lead the way, you don’t have to worry about any planning.

Focusing on education, you can expect plenty of insightful conversation focusing not only on the wine, but cheese, chocolate, and spirit production, and cultural/historical info!

Everything is just so smooth and easy, and you can tell that the guides and staff really take punctuality seriously. You’ll visit a nice selection of wineries to get a better idea of how many different types are out there, making for a great intro to the wines of Hunter Valley.

In addition, you’ll try chocolates, olive oil, gins, and much more – overall, it’s a versatile and comprehensive day out in the picturesque valley!

What Makes This Tour Great

Just the personality, vast knowledge, and fantastic music taste of our guide alone made this experience worth it! We had SO much fun on the ride there and back, and as group sizes max out at just 11 participants, you can count on a personalized, more intimate tour.

We learned a ton just on the van rides, which was nice as we already have solid points of reference by the time we arrived at each stop. At Hungerfort Hill, we expanded our knowledge further, going through an in-depth tasting with their staff before making our way to Small Mouth Vodka!

We did a whopping 8 tastings that included not only vodka, but gins and liqueurs, too. Audrey Wilkinson’s gorgeous Cellar Door on top of a mountain was truly incredible, and we did our wine tasting here with breathtaking views.

As if that all weren’t enough already, we had a delicious lunch overlooking the vineyards, and tried even more beer and wine!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

Shayanne DeCastro

Shayanne is a freelance writer, wine snob and marketer based in LA, California. Describing herself as a nomad, she has lived in many different cities including Boise, Idaho and Seattle, Washington as well as Guadalajara, Mexico. She is forever on the move.

Being an extremely active person, she loves to snowboard, skateboard, and ski. She enjoys sharing her love for active sports with others through her “how to” sports guides as well as food and wine reviews. Her love for wine and good food shines through every paragraph. While she travels, Shayanne loves to try new restaurants and wineries.  If there is a wineries or good restaurant in your town, you will probably meet her one day.