hunter valley cycling tour

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Hunter Valley

Your guide to biking around wine country.

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Cycling, biking, riding, cruising. Whatever you call it, there’s nothing quite like hiring a bicycle to explore the Hunter Valley and inject a bit of fun into your wine country adventure.

Whether you’re keen to get the blood (and endorphins) pumping or you're just after a new way to taste and tour, hiring a bike is easy and affordable to wine and dine your way around the Hunter Valley.

There are a few things to consider before you get pedalling though. Read on for our top tips on where to hire a bike and the best places to ride in the Hunter Valley.

Bike hire options

To pedal or not to pedal? Seriously, that’s the choice here! 

Electric bikes

If you plan on visiting a few cellar doors or traversing longer distances, an electric bike could be your best bet.

Electric bikes are a great option as they give you the freedom to pedal or to kick back on hilly terrain – great for when you’re feeling a bit tired at the end of a long day’s tasting.

Electric bikes can take a bit of getting used to if you haven't tried them before, but they can certainly get you from A to B a lot quicker.

Grapemobile Bicycle Hire and Tours on Palmer’s Lane in Pokolbin have electric bikes for hire. The gregarious Glen takes you through how to operate them and kits you out with your helmet before he lets you loose.

Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire and Adventure Centre Hunter Valley have bikes for hire too, and hotels like Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort and Chateau Elan have bikes for hire from Hunter Valley Bike Hire.

If you prefer old school pedal power, then it’s a mountain bike or cruiser for you. These gems can be hired from a number of operators in the Valley including Grapemobile Bicycle Hire, Hunter Valley Cycling, and Hunter Valley Bicycle Tours and Rentals.

Some of these companies even provide a delivery and pick-up service so you can kick-start your cycling adventure from your accommodation or wherever you please in the local vineyard area. It's best to check in with them to see what your options are.

And don’t stress if you want to make some purchases along the way – many of the bikes have baskets attached!

Even better, if you plan on picking up more than a couple of goodies on your travels, Grapemobile Bicycle Hire allows you to buy your wine and have it delivered back to its HQ, ready to go home with you.

Cycling tracks

So, you’ve selected a bike. Now it’s time to figure out where in the Hunter you want to explore. Here are some options.

Around Hermitage Cycleway

Running from the beginning of Broke Road in Pokolbin to the New England Highway, the Around Hermitage Cycleway is a cool and safe place to ride in the Valley. The dedicated cycleway runs past many boutique cellar doors, such as Thomas Wines , Glandore Estate Wines , and Jac & Jones .

The stretch is also home to two breweries, Hunter Distillery and plenty of other lovely spots to explore. There’s no shortage of great places to eat here too including some of our favourites like Restaurant Botanica , Yellow Billy , and Muse Kitchen .

Palmers Lane Wine Eco Trail

This riding trail may be less well known than Around Hermitage but it’s no less enchanting. As the name suggests, the Palmers Lane Wine Eco Trail traverses the picturesque Palmers Lane in Pokolbin, visiting six wineries, some of which offer produce, lunch, and grazing plates.

The Lane itself is around 5km long and has a host of accommodation cottages and retreats, plus with Grapemobile Bicycle Hire on the lane, you can hire your bike and be on your merry way.

Tour de Lovedale

If you're not making it on the Tour de France anytime soon, then the Tour de Lovedale is the next best thing. Taking in Wilderness Road, Lovedale Road, and Wine Country Drive, this route is a great way to explore the plentiful cellar doors and eateries in Lovedale . 

Taste local cheese at Binnorie Dairy , have lunch alfresco at The Deck Cafe , or wine taste at cellar doors like Saltire Estate , Tatler Wines , or Wandin Estate.

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#justforfun

Bike hire hunter valley, hunter valley's, no. 1 electric bike experience.

Come and enjoy the Hunter Valley Wineries bike tours by electric motor assisted bike.

You will be amazed how easy they are to ride and it will make your experience so enjoyable.

Be assisted by an electric motor up those hills.

 We have the best electric bikes in the Hunter Valley.  

It's a great fitness and bonding experience, especially for corporate events, families or large groups.

Visit the many wineries in motorised style and enjoy the wind in your hair.

Glenn Sutton or Phillippa Sutton will give you an induction and training when you arrive. We go through the features of the bikes and how to operate. We require a waiver signed, bike inspection completed and helmet fitting before you get to ride.

We will go through the local area map and suggested places to visit depending on your needs and likings.

We offer on-roadside assist servicing (the phone number is on the basket) and also offer pick up on request for full day hire.

Hunter Valley Bicycle Hire is the best way to experience the serenity of the beautiful winery views, to experience some of the best wineries and the best produce.

The electric motorised bike will make your trip very memorable.

With the fresh air, the beautiful vines, amazing restaurants, delectable food including chocolate and cheese’s, and fabulous scenery, its an experience that’s highly recommended on your trip to the Hunter Valley Wineries.

We have extensive knowledge of the Hunter Valley Wine Region and we look forward to sharing our piece of paradise with you.

BOOK ONLINE

Try the amazing electric bicycle for yourself., special occasion.

Try our Picnic Hamper or Romantic Bike Tour Package!

These include:

• Full day bike hire
• Picnic hamper lunch
• Map and helmet
• Recommended wine tastings venues. (does not include tasting fees)

Duration 10am - 4.00pm.

Cost $150 per person.

We meet you at our designated scenic location and you can enjoy hamper and bottle of wine.

Minimum booking - Two people.

Where is Hunter Valley Bike Hire?

We are located on the Around Hermitage Food and Wine Trail.

This includes Deasys Road to Hermitage Road and the surrounds.

Their are many Wineries, Restaurants and Activities to enjoy, all on the Bike Lane!

Our Electric Bikes are available at:

Sutton Estate (Main Base)

• Cypress Lakes
• Chateau Elan

Hunter Resort

• Leisure Inn

Pokolbin Village Accommodation

H Boutique Hotel

Spicers Guesthouse

Starline Alpacas Farmstay Resort

Wine Country Tourist Park

The Convent Hunter Valley

How does Hunter Valley Bike Hire Work?

Glenn Sutton or Phillippa Sutton will give you an induction and training when you arrive.

We go through the features of the bikes and how to operate.

We will go through the local area map and suggest places to visit depending on your needs and likings.

We'll look after you!

What can I expect from my bike experience?

Hunter Valley Bike Hire is the best way to experience the serenity and beauty of the Pokolbin Winery Region.

You will experience some of the best views in the Hunter Valley, some of the best Hunter Valley wineries, and the finest local produce.

 All at a leisurely pace on an 'easy to ride' motorised electric bicycle!

 Why use Hunter Valley Bike Hire?

• closest to Hermitage Road Bike Lane
• longest established electric bike hire company in the valley
• reliable roadside assistance (available between 10.00am and 5.00pm)

PLEASE NOTE: *** wine pickup services available if hiring from Sutton Estate only!!!

 Why Should You Use Our Bikes?

They are the most reliable ebikes in the valley!

You will ride in style around the Central Pokolbin Wine Trail on the latest Premium Electric Bikes.

You will visit local Hunter Valley wineries and attractions of your choice, all while cruising with ease at up to 25 km/h.

Enjoy the day of comfortable cycling.

All our electric bikes include:

• modern, efficient disc brakes
• maps & trail recommendations

Friendly backup

Our team is here to ensure things runs smoothly, so you can get on with enjoying the highlights of the Hunter Valley Wineries.

Bike Hire Inclusions

• Roadside assistance
• Wine pick up.**

** For selected wineries along Deaseys Road and Hermitage Road, for tours starting at Sutton Estate.

Do you have someone Special who would Love a Gift Card?

How it works, 1. contact us.

Contact us by phone , email , via the contact form or you can book online .

2. Tell us your needs

Half Day, Full Day, Romantic Tour Package, Large Group (over 25) or Corporate Event.

3. Choose your Bike Experience

Choose your adventure from our specially designed routes, or make your own.

4. Where to Meet

You come to us or we'll arrange pickup from your local Pokolbin accommodation.

 (conditions apply - additional cost) 

5. Have Fun

On your Bike!  Enjoy everything the amazing Hunter Valley Wineries have to offer.

Popular Questions

Got a question? We’re here to help.

What are your business hours?

We are open 10am to 4pm (winter) and 10am to 5pm (summer) and we look forward to meeting you. 

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Helmets are required to be worn by law. 

A helmet is included with your hire.

What if I get a flat tyre?

We provide complimentary roadside assistance in the vicinity of our designated trails. We would usually just replace your bike with another.

Do the wineries charge for tastings?

Some  wineries charge a tasting fee, some don’t. 

We'll be happy to run you though the various options.

Do you deliver bikes to my accommodation?

Most visitors to our region are here for a relaxing and  enjoyable time. A great way to see everything at a relaxed pace is to cycle around the smaller, quieter boutique style family-owned wineries of Central Pokolbin area. We are based at a convenient location to lots of wineries and attractions. 

We are conveniently located so you can drive to us and start your ride from here. We have bikes at a number of resorts, so if you are staying at one of them you can pick up the bike right from there.

Here is a list of locations we have our electric bikes:

• Sutton Estate
• Hunter Resort 
• ​Pokolbin Village Accommodation

LATEST NEWS

Riding around the Hunter Valley Wine Trail

Escape to the Valley with Hunter Valley Bike Hire

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Just for Fun!

381F Deaseys Road,

Pokolbin, NSW, 2320

044 8600 288

[email protected]

OPENING HOURS

All RIghts Reserved   Hunter Valley Bike Hire   Designed and Managed by Kaptol Media

Australia Tours & Holidays

With bright blue skies, immense red deserts, sun-bronzed beaches and vast green wetlands, Australia is big, bold and full of contrasts.

Come and experience this extraordinary country that bursts with kaleidoscopic cultures and constantly changing colours. From snorkelling among jewel-bright fish on the Great Barrier Reef and discovering the wildlife and wilderness of the west coast to walking through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest with an Aboriginal guide and exploring Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuta , an (Intrepid) in-depth Australia tour offers a little something for everyone. Whether you’re a part of a family or a solo adventurer, a nature-lover or a sun worshipper, a food fanatic or a wine connoisseur, Australia can’t wait to welcome you. 

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Learn more about Australia

Best time to visit australia.

Being such a large place, Australia has a wide range of climates, so all year round, there is somewhere great to visit. 

Summer (December to February) can get very hot but is perfect for beach-going and other outdoor activities. In the far north, it is also the wet season, which can get quite humid, and some beaches may be closed due to jellyfish or 'stingers'.

Winter (June to August) is pleasant and dry in the north but can get quite cold in the south, especially in Tasmania and Victoria, where snowfall is common.

Spring and autumn are great times to visit Australia as the weather is milder but still warm enough for swimming in northern areas. 

Regardless of daytime temperatures, nights can get very cold in the desert areas of Central and Western Australia, so prepare accordingly.

The main school holiday period is from Christmas to late January and is considered the peak travel time within Australia; expect popular tourist spots to be crowded during this time.

Read more about the best time to visit Australia

From large malls and boutique shopping strips to weekend arts and crafts markets and vintage shops, Australia is a top place to shop. Shopping in Australia may not be cheap, but there are plenty of unique finds and original souvenirs to bring home. Before heading home, check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to import certain items back into your home country. New Zealand, for example, has strict quarantine laws.

Things to buy in Australia

1. First Nation art

The quality of Aboriginal art is excellent in the Top End and Central and Western Australia. Be sure to buy from reputable galleries and organisations to ensure authenticity and fair prices for artists. Community-run organisations are typically the better choice.

If you’re looking for one, Coober Pedy has the best quality and variety on offer.

These precious gems are plentiful in Broome due to the booming pearling industry.

4. Modern art

Melbourne and Hobart are modern art and craft hot spots, making them great places to pick up one-of-a-kind mementos.

Top 10 places to see in Australia

Nothing will prepare you for seeing Australia's most famous landmark for the first time. An important part of Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, this ancient monolith is a photographer's dream as it changes colours with the sun; from dazzling orange to dusty purple.

Combine First Nations' culture and the magnificence of Australia's desert wonders on a 6 day Red Centre & Uluru Explorer tour.

2. Great Barrier Reef

See the world's largest reef system - so big it can be seen from outer space! This World Heritage site, just off the coast of Queensland, is home to whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks, colourful coral and more than 1,500 species of fish. Go scuba diving or snorkelling to explore this incredible underwater world.

See the beauty of the reef and its residents on our 5 day Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree tour.

3. Twelve Apostles

Although there are actually only eight 'Apostles', these spectacular limestone rock stacks are a popular tourist spot along Victoria's Great Ocean Road. Formed by erosion that began 10-20 million years ago, the stacks rise majestically from the churning Southern Ocean. Hit the boardwalks, tracks and viewing areas for spectacular views.

Set off on a Twelve Apostles journey when you 7 day Hike the Great Ocean Walk.

4. Kakadu National Park

This region is a place of breathtaking beauty and incredible biodiversity. Steeped in Dreamtime history, Kakadu nurtures a staggering variety of landscapes and wildlife. Venture deep into the wilderness and discover gushing waterfalls, deep gorges, shimmering waterholes and rocky outcrops adorned with 20,000-year-old art.

Combine the best of history, wildlife, culture and beauty while venturing through a 6 day Top End & Kakadu Explorer tour.

5. Sydney Opera House

Set against a backdrop of that famous bridge that spans the sparkling harbour, the Opera House is one of Australia's most iconic sights. Those familiar sails, adorned with more than a million white tiles, host thousands of events and performances each year. Catch a show to admire the ornate interior, or take in the spectacular view from a ferry.

Climb the Opera House steps or tour the harbour as you start an exciting 18 day East Coast Encompassed tour.

6. Kimberley

From deep gorges and dusty Outback roads and lush rainforests to idyllic billabongs, the landscape of this beautiful region is truly enchanting. A trip to the Kimberly can be as active or relaxing as you wish - hike past the strange 'beehive' domes of the Bungle Bungle Ranges, explore underground caves at Tunnel Creek or simply relax on white sand beaches.

Be swept away by the beauty of the Kimberley on a 11 day Wild Kimberley Overland tour.

7. Daintree

With verdant tropical rainforest stretching to white, sandy beaches, the Daintree is nothing short of spectacular. This complex ecosystem in Far North Queensland is home to a prolific amount of wildlife, including frogs, reptiles, bats and butterflies, as well as the highest concentration of primitive plant species in the world. Australia's largest rainforest is a true natural wonder just waiting to be explored.

Walk among the diverse ecosystems of the Daintree Rainforests while on our 5 day Queensland Daintree Explorer tour.

8. Wineglass Bay

With its white sand, crystal-clear water and distinct crescent shape, Wineglass Bay on Tasmania's gorgeous Freycinet Peninsula is a pristine paradise. It's easy to see why it's often voted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world! Hike a trail to the summit overlooking the bay for breathtaking views, or descend to the beach and set up camp. Go snorkelling to discover colourful fish and perhaps some playful dolphins.

Stroll by the waters of Wineglass Bay on a nature-lovers 6 day Tasmania Adventure tour.

9. Clare Valley

This beautiful wine-producing region is famed for its delicious local produce, picturesque scenery, friendly people and, of course, its fabulous wine. Explore back roads lined with vines and go wine tasting to sample the very best drops this region has to offer.

Cycle and sample your way through one of Australia's oldest wine regions on our 6 day Cycle South Australia's Wine Regions tour.

10. Blue Mountains

Covering over one million hectares, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is rich in verdant rainforest, dramatic waterfalls, looming forests and an abundance of wildlife. Greet the iconic Three Sisters and wander the boardwalks to soak up this breathtaking area of Australian bush.

Walk, trek, and discover the beauty of the rugged New South Wales region home to the Blue Mountains on a 3 day Best of the Blue Mountains from Sydney.

Top destinations to visit in Australia

1. ikara-flinders ranges national park.

Discover Ikara with an Adnyamathanha guide on a tour that shines a light on Adnyamathanha history, uncovers the park’s more recent past, and looks towards the future.

Wander through Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park on our 7 day Flinders Ranges Explorer tour or on our 7 day Walk South Australia's Flinders Ranges tour .

2. Arnhem Land

Explore the rugged wilderness of Arnhem Land , where Australia’s First Nations people have lived for thousands of years. Share Dreamtime stories, learn how to gather local food and create traditional paintings.

Experience Arnhem Land for yourself on our 8 day Walk Kakadu National Park tour tour.

3. The West Coast

The West Coast of Australia certainly feels like the Final Frontier. Perhaps visit the red rock gorges of Karijini National Park, take in a camel ride on Cable Beach, or unwind among the vineyards of  Margaret River. 

Marvel at the beauty of the West Coast on our 8 day Hike Western Australia's Cape to Cape Track.

4. Tropical North Queensland

Join an Aboriginal painting class at Janbal Gallery and hear East Coast Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime stories about the animals, environment and language of the Indigenous rainforest people from Mossman and the Daintree rainforest.

Dive into Tropical North Queensland on our 7 day Queensland Coast Adventure or on our 8 day Brisbane to Cairns Adventure.

5. The Kimberley

While Broome could keep you occupied for days, it’s really the Kimberley’s natural beauty that lures you in. Away from the stretches of Cable Beach, you find a region that rapidly unrolls into a world of dense rainforest, underground caves and boab-dotted horizons straight out of Africa. 

Discover the beauty of the Kimberley's on our 5 day Kimberley Family Holiday.

Kakadu National Park is packed with billabongs, waterfalls, strange rock formations and all types of native wildlife. ‘Roos bounce through the bushland, dingoes are spotted along rocky outcrops, dugongs wallow off the coast, and, despite the name, crocs patrol the waters of Alligator River. 

Explore Kakadu National Park on our 8 day Walk Kakadu National Park tour or on our 4 day Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield Adventure.

7. The Red Centre

Also known as Central Australia, the Red Centre is where Uluru rises from the landscape in all its beauty. But there’s far more to this region than the iconic rock of the Outback. Discover Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and its 36 stunning red domes; Kings Canyon , with its natural amphitheatre and the East and West MacDonnell Ranges.

Uncover the magic of the Red Centre on our 6 day Premium Red Centre & Uluru tour or on our 4 day Uluru & Kings Canyon Family Adventure.

8. The Outback

Experience the untamed beauty of Outback Australia, hear tales of the Aboriginal Dreaming with a First Nations guide, cross incredible scenery in a 4WD, and walk among a carpet of wildflowers in the Flinders Ranges. 

Explore the Outback on our 4 day Best of Uluru & Kings Canyon tour or on our 10 day West Coast & Karijini Overland Adventure.

9. K'gari (Fraser Island)

K'gari (Fraser Island) isn’t just the largest sand island in Queensland, it’s the largest one in the world. Explore the rugged headlands, silica sand beaches, lush rainforests hugging the shore and freshwater lakes that lay hidden throughout this World Heritage-listed island.  

Experience K'gari for yourself on our 14 day Sydney to Cairns Adventure.

10. Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a winding coastal route of sandstone cliffs and dense rainforest hinterland that stretches all the way from Torquay in the East to Allansford in the West. While the region is famous for its Twelve Apostles, there are plenty of local secrets to be discovered if you’re willing to take the time.

Drive along the Great Ocean Road on our 6 day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Adventure.

11. Tasmania

This island state turns heads thanks to its thriving gallery and gastronomy scene, plus its bounty of natural wonders. Boasting some of Australia’s finest beaches, mistiest mountaintops, loneliest patches of wilderness and most elusive animals, Tasmania is a nature lover’s wonderland.

Discover Tasmania on our 6 day Highlights of Tasmania tour , on our 4 day Hobert & Southern Tasmania Explorer tour or on our 6 day Trek the Cradle Mountain Overland Track.

See the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, take a dip at Bondi Beach, explore the historic Rocks area and discover everything this cosmopolitan city has to offer.

Marvel at Sydney's iconic sights on our 7 day Sydney to Brisbane Adventure.

13. South Australian outback

Explore the South Australian outback at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary on a 4WD tour that takes in science, education and conservation and showcases this incredible and unique wilderness area.

Delve into the South Australian wilderness on our 10 day South Australia Outback Adventure or on our Outback South Australia & Eyre Peninsula tour .

14. The Great Barrier Reef

Be inspired by the beauty of the world’s largest coral reef – The Great Barrier Reef. Go snorkelling in the warm waters with exotic sea creatures and colourful coral.

Go swimming on our 12 day Brisbane to the Daintree Discovery.

15. The Daintree Rainforest

Explore the world's most ancient rainforest, the Daintree in Far North Queensland , with a local family who lives in a privately owned part of it.

Experience the serenity of the Daintree Rainforest on our 5 day Daintree Family Holiday or on our 8 day Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure.

Geography and environment

The continent of Australia is known for being one of the flattest, hottest and driest places on earth, but despite this, there is an astounding variety of terrains and environments on this island nation. While large areas of Australia are covered in desert, there are also tropical rainforests, alpine snowfields, dense bushland, beaches, gorges, lakes, and rivers to be found.

Australia’s national parks are home to many species of birds and mammals not found in the wild anywhere else in the world, including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and wombats.

Boasting many stunning white sand beaches, Australia has a coastline like none other. From busy Bondi to surfing icons like Bell’s Beach and Tasmania’s stunning Wineglass Bay , there are endless places to swim, surf, snorkel and paddle. 

Despite Australia’s large landmass, most people tend to live in urban, coastal cities. Faster-paced cities like Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne hold much of the population, as do regional satellite cities such as Albury, Dubbo, Bunbury, Townsville, Newcastle and Geelong.

Outback towns have a unique flavour and a distinct way of life; things are slower here and due to smaller populations, space is plentiful, with most locals relying on agriculture for a living. Venturing away from the city to visit the Outback and rural areas of Australia is highly recommended as it gives travellers the chance to see a different side of Australia. Traverse the northern regions of Australia's iconic outback landscape on a 11 day Darwin to Broome Outback tour.

Culture and customs

With a strong history of immigration, modern Australia is made up of people from many different cultural backgrounds. This mix makes Australia an endlessly fascinating place to visit as travellers will be exposed to a variety of different customs and cultures during their stay. From the ancient, spiritual ways of the First Nations population to the wide array of faiths, foods and festivals on display in the big cities, Australia is a cultural melting pot. 

Despite the differences, there are many things that unify the people of Australia. Sports, in particular cricket, soccer and football (Australian Rules), are played and watched by the masses, irrespective of age, race, gender or income. Large sporting events like the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day and the Boxing Day Cricket Test have universal appeal for Australians. 

Australians relish public holidays, with national and state holidays offering locals time to relax with friends and family over a barbecue or picnic. Making use of Australia’s natural environment is also paramount during this time, with outdoor activities like bushwalking, swimming at the beach or lazing in the park popular with locals.

Eating and drinking

Intrepid believes that one of the best ways of experiencing a country is by eating! Whether you're sampling street food, savouring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless options to choose from wherever you are in the world. 

Australia is a land that has been built by immigrants, and these multicultural influences are evident in the wide array of food available. In the cities, it’s possible to find world-class Vietnamese, Turkish, Italian, Greek, Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian restaurants, as well as excellent gastro-pub fare. Head to the Outback, and you’ll find authentic ' bush tucker ', simple campfire meals and sizzling barbecues.

Food to try in Australia

1. Fresh seafood

With such an impressive coastline, it’s no wonder fresh oysters, prawns, mussels and ‘balmain bugs’ are devoured by locals and savoured by visitors. For those on a budget, there’s nothing wrong with eating fish and chips on the beach.

Australia creates some of the best wines in the world at South Australia’s Barossa Valley , Western Australia’s Margaret River and New South Wales’s Hunter Valley .

Whether you’re downing a can of VB in Victoria or sipping micro-brewed ale in Sydney, sharing a beer with mates is a social experience not to be missed when in Australia

4. Hot pies

An Australian classic – savoury meat pies (or vegetable pies for vegetarians) are best eaten with tomato sauce and are easily found served in city cafes, country bakeries and football matches around Australia.

Read more about Australia's must-try foods

Festivals and events

Anxiously anticipated by many – the Australian Rules Football Grand Final is a great time to be in Melbourne. Tickets are notoriously scarce but pubs, clubs and backyards overflow with people watching the ‘Big Game’ and celebrating (or commiserating) afterwards.

Tasting Australia 

Feeling hungry? Tasting Australia is a food festival that takes place once a year throughout South Australia and showcases the culture, producers and regions that make this state such a delicious destination to explore. 

Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney lights up the harbour city with a Festival of Ideas featuring inspirational speakers, performances by local and international artists and light installations that transform buildings and cultural icons into colourful works of art. 

Margaret River Pro

See your favourite professional surfers at work against the backdrop of the beautiful Margaret River region in South Australia at the Margaret River Pro.

State of Origin

Turn your Brisbane, Perth or Sydney adventure up a notch by experiencing a State of Origin game. 

Cairns Ecofiesta

Switch your Cairns holiday to sustainable mode at Cairns Ecofiesta: an eco-conscious festival that celebrates and supports the environment through eco workshops, live music, local produce markets, and vegetarian food options. Suitable for the whole family, this festival aims to both encourage a sustainable lifestyle and leave you with plenty of eco-inspo so you can start your very own planet-protecting journey. 

Alice Springs Beanie Festival 

Celebrate the very best of Aboriginal talent, creativity, and skill at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Bursting with silly and colourful handmade beanies, this festival aims to encourage and appreciate the work of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people with various textile workshops and demonstrations on sight to help you understand and learn how to make local arts and crafts. 

Barunga Festival

Barunga is a closed community in the Northern Territory that you usually need a permit to enter, but for three days they open up to the world to celebrate life in Katherine's remote Indigenous communities. With a jam-packed program featuring storytelling circles, art and bush medicine workshops, and some of Australia's best First Nations musicians, Barunga Festival is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the vibrant community.

Darwin Festival 

Promising to give you a real taste of the Northern Territory, the Darwin Festival brings together a myriad of performances, shows, concerts, and exhibitions for you to enjoy. From comedy shows to art galleries, this bubbling festival will have you wanting to come back again and again and again.

Public holidays that may impact travel include:

Australia Day

• King's Birthday

Please note dates of  Australia's public holidays  may vary

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• The United Kingdom

Further reading

Australia travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to travel to Australia?

All foreign nationals require a visa to enter Australia – excluding passport holders from  New Zealand  who can enter Australia without a visa.

Passport holders from 34 countries are eligible to apply for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA/601), which permits multiple entry to Australia for up to three months within a 12-month period. 

All other foreign nationals will need to apply for a visitor visa (600). This permits stays of up to 12 months with the option to apply for single or multiple entry.

Learn more information about Australian tourist visas on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website

Last updated: 28 June 2023

What's the weather like in Australia?

The weather in Australia varies depending on where in the country you are. For example, winter in Victoria and Tasmania tends to be very cold (around the 10 °C -15 ° C mark), whereas, if you head further north to the Northern Territory and Queensland, temperatures in the winter months are much nicer (usually around 18 ° C-25 ° C).

This pattern also applies to summer, where the southern states tend to experience lower temperatures (but still warm), while the northern and western states are warmer, with temperatures reaching as high as 40 ° C+.

Is tipping customary in Australia?

Tipping isn’t mandatory in Australia; however, rounding up the bill or leaving spare change is common practice. Restaurant staff, taxi drivers and other service workers welcome tips for good service.

What is the internet access like in Australia?

Internet access is widely available in most parts of Australia, with internet cafes and Wi-Fi hot spots commonly found in urban areas. Please note that internet access won’t be available in Outback and remote areas.

Can I use my mobile phone while in Australia?

Mobile phone coverage is excellent in most parts of Australia, especially in large cities and urban areas. Remote, rural and mountainous places may have limited to no coverage, so be aware of this before venturing away from the city. Ensure global roaming is activated before leaving your home country if you want to use your mobile, or you can purchase a sim card when you arrive. The provider that will have coverage in the majority of Australia is Telstra, secondly Optus and then Vodafone. A hot tip – when you are in remote areas and don’t have mobile phone signal, turn your phone to flight mode which will conserve battery and prevent your phone from using data trying to search for internet signal.

What are the toilets like in Australia?

Western-style flushable toilets are the norm in Australia, and many of our campsites have proper facilities with flushing toilets. In remote areas such as the Kimberley, there is no established plumbing and therefore we have installed ‘drop toilets’. Some campsites we use are managed by the National Parks and have either eco-toilets or drop toilets, most of which are maintained regularly.

Can I drink the water in Australia?

Drinking water from taps in Australia is considered safe, unless otherwise marked. For environmental reasons, try to use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Australia?

Credit cards are widely accepted by shops, restaurants and cafes in Australia. Smaller establishments may only accept cash or require a minimum purchase for credit card use, so be sure to carry enough cash for smaller purchases.

What is ATM access like in Australia?

ATMs are commonly found in large cities and regional towns in Australia. ATM access will be very limited in remote areas so be aware of this before heading into national parks or the Outback.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before travelling?

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Who are the First Nations people of Australia?

There are two distinct groups of First Nations peoples in Australia - Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people - both of which have lived on this land for centuries. While there are only two Indigenous groups, there's actually a wide range of language and location communities that are made up of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people including the Adnyamathanha people of the Flinders Ranges (Aboriginal Australians) and the Badu people from the Near Western Group (Torres Strait Islander people). 

Is Australia LGBTQIA+ friendly?

Australia is a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers thanks to its anti-discrimination laws, diverse population and welcoming culture. There are many LGBTQIA+ friendly neighbourhoods and establishments across the country, as well as a wide variety of Pride events. 

What's the transport like in Australia?

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun. Depending on which trip you're on while in Australia, you may even find yourself travelling overland. 

Overland tours

Australia is a big place – like, huge.   Overland tours   involve a lot of time on the road covering long distances, and sometimes the landscape can be pretty barren, so bring a book or some tunes to keep you company.

What's the accommodation like in Australia?

Travelling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.

When travelling with us in Australia you may find yourself staying in a:

Our lodge accommodation is located outside major cities, such as near the entrance to a National Park, and has its own amenities such as a restaurant or dining room. Lodges are comfortable places to stay and offer a good night's rest after a day spent exploring the natural beauty of Australia. 

Permanent Tented Campsite

There's no need to put up your tent when you spend the night in a Permanent Tented Campsite. You'll have a roof over your head and will bunk down on sleeper mats on the ground or stretcher (camp) beds, with access to a toilet/shower block. Tent sizes can vary depending on the trip you're on and the location you're visiting. Some of our permanent tented campsites are a little bit fancy, others are very simple. Sometimes you'll be sharing a tent with others in your group. 

Our bush camping experiences are as diverse as Australia itself. Some offer swag camping under cover or under the twinkling stars. You could be sleeping in a tent with access to simple toilet or shower amenities or you might not have access to a shower at all. However, the scenery at these magical spots makes it worth going without a bath for a day or so. Sometimes a trip has participatory camping where everyone pitches in to help. Other times, a staff member is on hand to look after things like cooking. 

We provide accommodation at a wide variety of hotels around Australia. Some are quite upmarket, others less so, but all of them offer a comfortable stay and ensuite facilities. 

We use hostels on some trips which means your bed could be in a twin room or a shared dorm room. Some of these rooms come with their own facilities while others have share facilities. 

How do I stay safe and healthy while travelling?

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

What is it like travelling on a small group tour?

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or you’re about to embark on your first trip, travelling can be as intimidating as it is exciting. That's the beauty of a small group tour. From handling the logistics and organising amazing cultural activities to local leaders who know each destination like the back of their hand (like which street has the best markets and where to get the most authentic food), travelling on a small group tour with Intrepid will give you unforgettable travel experiences without the hassle that comes with exploring a new place. Plus, you'll have ready-made friends to share the journey with. All you have to do is turn up with a healthy sense of adventure and we’ll take care of the rest.

Does my trip to Australia support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to Australia directly support our foundation partners, Blue Carbon Lab, Greening Australia and WWF-Australia. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Blue Carbon Lab

Blue Carbon Lab is helping to mitigate climate change by restoring and protecting blue carbon in coastal wetlands. We've already lost 65% of wetlands globally, and multiple impacts, including urban development, agriculture, industry, and more, threaten these crucial blue-carbon ecosystems. Donations from our trips help Blue Carbon Lab to restore the natural coastal wetland areas in Victoria, Australia. 

Find out more or make a donation   

Greening Australia

Greening Australia is taking action to rebuild resilient ecosystems across Australia, from the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the cool island ark of Tasmania. Donations from our trips help them tackle Australia's complex environmental challenges through large on-ground restoration projects and innovative research initiatives that help scale their impact.  

Find out more or make a donation

Country Needs People

Country Needs People support Indigenous land and sea management in Australia. Donations help them empower Indigenous communities to rehabilitate and protect places of significance on land and sea using traditional knowledge paired with modern technology.

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

If you’re a fan of cycling and wine, you’re in the right place. A bicycle is a great way to explore the Hunter Valley at a relaxed pace, cycling along quiet country lanes like Palmers Lane, which links six cellar doors. 

You can target a favourite area in the region and discover cellar doors, galleries and eateries that are off the beaten track or test out the region’s new 10-kilometre cycleway along Hermitage Road. There are more than a dozen cellar doors to visit along the scenic vine-fringed path which stretches from the New England Highway to Broke Road. The cycle path passes an art gallery, antique shops and even a spa. If you're worried about buying too much wine and trying to balance it while you cycle, never fear, all purchases can be delivered to your accommodation or back to your bike hire venue.

Completed in 2017, it has an information bay just south of Old North Road with a regional map, tourist information and picnic tables. 

There are several bicycle hire companies in the area, from electric to fat tyre. Convenient pick up points include  Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire,  Hunter Valley Resort, Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, Crowne Plaza Resort and Spicers Guesthouse. Saddle up and sip Semillon… sounds sensational.

If you're looking for safe places to ride please refer to the online  Hunter Valley Cycle Map .

@huntervalley @huntervalley.wine #huntervalley #huntervalleywine #herestothegoodlife

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Arts & entertainment, design & style, travel & leisure, search concrete playground, a guide to cycling (and drinking) your way around the hunter valley.

Wind your way through the Hunter's many wineries, cafes and estates on two wheels.

OPTION ONE: CONQUER THE HUNTER VALLEY CYCLEWAY

In August 2017, cyclists scored a win when the ribbon was cut on the new Hunter Valley Cycleway. This multi-million dollar, 10.6-kilometre adventure travels alongside Hermitage Road, from the New England Highway intersection in the north to Broke Road in the south. Electric bike hire is available at the nearby Sutton Estate .

Whichever direction you choose to travel, start or finish with a wine and cheese flight at De Iuliis '  stunning cellar door, designed by architect Lionel Glendenning. While gazing through floor-to-ceiling windows over landscaped gardens, you'll be feasting on divine local cheeses, matched with expressive small-batch drops. Another boutique stop en route is  Peter Drayton , a fifth generation wine maker, where you can taste tyrian, a hybrid variety created by the CSIRO. There's a microbrewery onsite , too, offering seasonal brews, such as Black Forest Stout and Hazelnut Brown Ale, as well as woodfired pizzas. Then, at  Mistletoe Wines , you'll be sipping sparkling rose while  wandering through a sculpture garden, and, at Tintilla , sampling sangiovese overlooking an olive grove.

Come lunchtime, settle in at Restaurant Botanica , within Spicers Vineyards Estate. Every morning, head chef Matthew Bremerkamp picks produce from the kitchen garden and transforms it into refined dishes. Start with a beef carpaccio served with roasted artichoke, porcini cream and parmesan, before moving onto a pistachio- and cumin-crusted lamb with asparagus and pomegranate. Or commit to the tasting menu, which lets you taste your way through five courses ($110), with optional matching wines ($155).

WHERE TO STAY: Cyclists need their rest. For a stay that combines everything good about Hunter sleepovers – beautifully-designed things, vineyards, gumtrees and kangaroos at dusk – while keeping crowds at a distance, book a designer villa at Ironbark Hill . It's located right on the Hunter Valley Cycleway. You'll be soothing your tired muscles in your own spa, losing yourself in mountain views from your private deck and getting snug before a roaring log fire in your open lounge room, before collapsing into a kingsized bed. Picture windows let in loads of light, plus there's a spacious kitchen (with Nespresso machine), massive TV and BBQ.

Spicers Vineyards Estate

OPTION TWO: GLIDE DOWN POKOLBIN MOUNTAIN

To cycle around secret territory, head to Grapemobile Bicycle Hire , at Pokolbin Brothers Wines. Once you're fixed up with a bike, you'll be handed a map, which guides you to boutique wineries via off-road trails and private vineyards. Work your way through Calais Estate 's extensive wine list, surround yourself with rural panoramas at Waverley Estate and sink into a leather lounge in an art gallery at Gemelli Estate.  Should you work up an appetite, you'll find tapas backdropped by mountains at The Verandah Restaurant , as well as cheese platters and gourmet picnic hampers at several cellar doors.

For a more extensive adventure – and an adrenalin rush – go for a Grapemobile Mountain Ride . The team will drive you to Pokolbin Mountain Lookout, where you'll get a complimentary morning tea, while taking in epic vistas of the Hunter Valley, before beginning your descent. Cruise at your own pace down Pokolbin Mountains Road, passing bushland, farms and gorgeous rest stops. Bike hire continues until 6pm, so rushing isn't necessary.

Be sure to pop into Nanna Kerr's Kitchen , which you'll find at number 16. Here, Matthew Kerr (yep, brother of the famous Miranda) and his husband, Jimmy, serve home-style, mostly-organic fare, very close to where their nan was born. If all the cycling has you ravenous, dig into Nanna's Got A Sore Head: three tiers loaded with fritters, spicy chorizo, beef sausage, bacon, roast tomato, marinated mushrooms, OMG potatoes, scrambled eggs, sourdough toast, Kerr's Organic Chutney, relish and jam. There's also a generous high tea , crowded with beef brisket sliders, soup shots, double choc brownies, panna cotta and other delights. If you're a vegetarian, paleos or celiac, you can count on being well looked after.

WHERE TO STAY:  If all that cycling has you dreaming of soft sheets and massages, a luxurious option is the tranquil hideaway of Spicers Vineyards Estate , surrounded by vineyards on one side and bushland on the other. Every room features soothing natural colours, a spa and an open fireplace, while communal facilities include an outdoor pool and a day spa.

OPTION THREE: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ROUTE

Cyclists who like to free range can hire a bicycle from Crowne Plaza and take themselves on their own adventure. Do be careful: some of the Hunter's roads are rather narrow. Just 15 minutes' ride from the Crowne, at 86 Halls Road, you'll find Pepper Tree Wines . Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the picturesque cellar door or go straight for a tasting, working your way through several multi-award winning drops.

Another 15 minutes will get you to The Cellar Restaurant , housed in a magnificent sandstone and glass building with an enormous fireplace indoors and a wisteria-draped courtyard outdoors. Among the indulgent, European-influenced offerings are braised Milly Hill lamb shank with shepherd's pie, spinach and gremolata, and duck confit with shallot tarte tatin, chestnut puree and cavolo nero. Once you've eaten to your heart's content, explore the Hunter Valley Gardens , before moving on to nearby cellar doors, which include McGuigan, Brokenwood, Tempus Two and Tamburlaine Organic.

WHERE TO STAY:  You can hire a bike from  Crowne Plaza , so it's a convenient choice of accommodation. You'll have every activity imaginable on your doorstep, including tennis courts, basketball hoops, a Ubika Spa and a golf course. It's a good solution for groups.

Jasmine Crittenden travelled to the Hunter Valley as a guest of Destination NSW.

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SUTTON ESTATE HUNTER VALLEY 

WINE ESCAPE ROOM

AXE THROWING

CHOCOLATE ESCAPE ROOM

E-BIKE HIRE

Things to do in the heart of the hunter valley, our experiences.

We offer the best activities in the Hunter Valley!

At Sutton Estate, we’re proud to showcase our selection of creative, mind-blowing experiences. Our games and experiences cater to groups of all types and sizes including corporate days or special celebrations. Whether you’re into team building, strategic games, have a competitive streak or having a lovely electric bike ride in the Hunter Valley, we’ve got the fun experience for you.

Browse through our experiences below to learn more, and book  online with us today by clicking the BOOK NOW button above. 

Includes Wine Tasting

Dr Wealdo Vintage has gone completely mad and its your job, for teams of 2 - 15, to work together and to figure out the clues  and  escape his lair.  You have 60 minutes to do a included wine tasting, find the prized wine and Escape his Cellar to win

HUNTER VALLEY SMASH ROOM

Embrace the Challenge

Get your frustrations out at the Hunter Valley Smash Room with bookings available through the book now button above. Let us, alleviate your stress or just have some fun. We look forward to hosting your event at the HV Smash Room

ELECTRIC BIKE HIRE

Electric Bike Wine Tour

Welcome to the best way to do a wine tour in the Hunter Valley, with E - Bikes. We are the premium electric bike company  and even pick up your wine. We have bikes leaving from Sutton Estate or one of our top hotels in Pokolbin.

UNCORKED AXE THROWING

Hit the Cork

Join the revolution and visit our Uncorked facility in the Hunter Valley.  Inside and fully airconditioned we take groups up to 18 per hour in our speciality built set up. Come try and pop a cork to win a bottle of Hunter Valley wine.   

CHOCOLATE ESCAPE

Our Chocolate Escape Room is for families and people that don't like scary Escape rooms.   Inspired by the original Willy Wonka, can you find the golden ticket at Sutton Estate?  Includes Chocolate tastings as part of the game.  

SUTTON ESTATE - HUNTER VALLEY

The Ultimate Team-Building Activities for team building, parties, Christmas parties, Hens, Bucks, weddings and special events.

Looking for a new and exciting group activity? We offer the Wine Escape Room for groups from 2 - 10 which includes a wine tasting as a part of the game, The Hunter Valley Smash Room for groups up to 15 per hour where you smash wine bottles and other items are available, Electric Bike Hire for Wine Tours for a great day out, Uncorked Axe throwing in our air conditioned building for groups up to 18, the Chocolate Escape Room for families up to 10 people and our newest activity - Hunter Valley VR. Book NOW.

Book online NOW. Sorry we do not take bookings over the phone or by email

Uncorked Axe Throwing

Expect the unexpected at Uncorked Axe Throwing. Come try and hit the Cork to WIN a bottle of Hunter Valley Wine! 

CORPORATE AND GROUP PACKAGES

Looking for a group package or team building day? We are the perfect location and we now have group rates for groups over 10 up to 50 people per hour. You can pick two activities or three including the Wine Escape Room, HV Smash Room, Uncorked Axe Throwing, The Chocolate Escape and VR or pick a package that suits you. 

  We package them up and now they can even be booked online for ease of use and are available 7 days a week at Sutton Estate.

Please see our package page and book online

OUR REVIEWS

We pride ourselves on our great reviews and we value our customers visiting us. We have been awarded Trip Advisor awards three years in a row and we hope to continue on our path to making every customer, have a memorable time in the beautiful Hunter Valley at Sutton Estate.

Thank you to all the amazing customers that have visited Sutton Estate and have helped us achieve our great reviews.

Sutton Estate - Hunter Valley

Sutton Estate Hunter Valley is a unique venue in the Hunter Valley and best known for our great wine themed activities. Started in 2012, with Glenn and Phillippa Sutton, our mission is to make sure everyone has a great time in the Hunter Valley Wine Country region and we design our experiences around this mission.

We like to work with local businesses by encouraging customers to visit the amazing Hunter Valley.

The property is set on 27 Acres in the heart of the Hunter Valley where we offer the Wine Escape Room, Hunter Valley Smash Room, Electric Bike Hire , Axe throwing, Chocolate Escape Room and our NEW Mixed Reality VR.  

We specialise in group bookings for Birthdays, Weddings, Hens, Bucks, Celebrations, family fun or romantic couple dates.  We hope you give us the chance to entertain you for your special events. 

Our Vision is to have the best activities in the Hunter Valley, with a focus on the best wine activities in the Hunter Valley. People come to the Hunter Valley to have great wine, great fun and great food. It's a hard life. NOT

Sutton Estate has been featured on Getaway with our bike tours, Nine News with the Smash Room, Today Show and Sunrise. We thank  you  for featuring Sutton Estate

OPENING HOURS

Come Visit Glenn and Pip

Tuesday to Sun: 10am - 7pm

Open 6 Days

Corporate/ Event Bookings available 7 Days 

DEASYS ROAD

Deasys road runs between mcdonalds road and hermitage road, where the food and wine trail is located for our e-bikes. there is 7 wineries including blueberry hill, hart n hunter, degen winery which is directly next door to us, misty glen, rothvale, hunters dream and keith tulloch. close restaurants on our road is nineteen at chateau elan, amandas on the edge and muse kitchen, which is a great lunch or dinner spot and on hermitage road there is two pines at hunter valley resort, two fat blokes, yellow billy restaurant at piggs peake, ironbark brewhouse and restaurant botanica. deasys road leads directly onto the hermitage road food and wine trail which includes wineries such as keith tulloch wines, thomas wines, tintilla estate, ironbark brewhouse, piggs peake, two fat blokes, mccafferys estate, wombat crossing, adams leap wines, wine lab  and red door collective.  the great activities at sutton estate include the wine escape room, hunter valley smash room, uncorked axe throwing, electric bike hire for wine tours, the chocolate escape room and hunter valley vr. close to us there is hunter valley horses, segway tours, the farm at two pines, hermitage road antiques, our italian table, classes in the kitchen with jenny and the hunter valley gardens.  .

381 Deasys Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia

[email protected]

0429 088 020

THE HUNTER REGION

The Hunter Valley, 2.5 hours north of Sydney in New South Wales, is one of Australia's major wine regions, with a viticultural history dating back to the early 1800s. Best known for varietals such as Semillon and Shiraz, it’s home to numerous wineries, including world-renowned brands and family-run boutique operations. Most are located south of the Hunter River and offer cellar door wine tastings and vineyard tours.

The Hunter Valley is the birthplace of Australian wines. The Hunter is renowned worldwide as a leading gourmet getaway. There are over 160 cellar doors and a growing number of innovative restaurants offering opportunities for indulgence across every pocket of the region. Its strong history of farming lends itself to incredible paddock to plate and biodynamic experiences, adding that extra satisfaction to your gourmet delights. Around your sampling, soak up the region’s natural wonders, unwind at one of the many day spas or sing your heart out with music between the vines. 

But there is so much more than just the wineries here with great activities such as the Wine Escape Room, Electric Bikes for wine tours and the Hunter Valley Smash Room to mention a few.  There is also some of the best restaurants in Australia ranging from the hatted fine dining to the very cool and casual pubs and cafes. Also,  don't  miss the relaxing spa treatments, horse riding and if you get a local tour guide, you will get to see some of the best sights. 

We highly suggest you book your activities, restaurants and amazing wineries before you arrive as many of the top ones get booked out on the weekends.

Boutique Hunter Valley Accommodation, Restaurants and Cellar Doors

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Hunter Valley Cycling

Cycling is a great way to explore the Hunter Valley wineries . Hermitage Road has a dedicated cycleway that runs from the New England Highway through to Broke Road. Bring your own bike or hire one when you are here.

Your wine purchases can be delivered to your Pokolbin accommodation or the bike hire venue .

For your safety, along the length of the cycleway hashed lines are marked denoting the 1 metre separation from the motor traffic. Please do not cycle on the hashed lines. By-law, where a cycleway is marked then cyclists must use it and not cycle on the main road. Drink-driving rules apply to cyclists, so drink responsibly!

See below for bicycle hire options:

Other Things to Do

Grapemobile bicycle hire.

Grapemobile Bicycle Hire is the Hunter Valley’s most popular & longest established provider of quality men’s and ladies mountain bikes & tandems. We cheerfully cater for singles, couples, groups & families.

Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire

Bike hire - Hunter Valley. We offer electric bike hire in the local Pokolbin area. Experience the amazing wineries and activities in the area by electric bicycle. Transfers available.

Hunter Farm & Adventure Centre

The Hunter Valley is rightly famous for its food and wine experiences and events. Now you can add adventure to your Hunter Valley experience.

Hunter Valley Cycle Tour

My partner & I just finished an 8-day, 250 km bicycle tour in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney.

We tried to research Hunter Valley cycling before going, but couldn't find much information online. We're hoping this can be a useful guide for people considering this trip.

We wanted specific things:

• A week off work, maybe with cycling and nature sightseeing.
• Somewhere in NSW/ACT. Under COVID-19 travel restrictions, there are no limitations on travelling within NSW .
• Accommodation: we didn't want to carry a tent this time.
• Quiet roads: we're not that confident with many cars on the road.
• About 50 km cycling/day: we are not very fit, fast, nor early-rising. Some people do 100 km/day on tours. We aren't those people.
• No driving: Accessible via public transport, without dismantling the bike to pack into a box. This rules out NSW TrainLink, limiting us to Opal trains. We don't want to start and end our holiday with stressful Sydney driving.

If this sounds like what you want, perhaps this guide is for you? More-athletic riders should consider instead OzWanderer's Hunter Hundreds 100 km routes starting and ending at train stations .

I hear the Hunter Valley gets quite hot in summer, so this trip is probably best cycled in autumn/winter/spring.

Day 1: Sydney to Maitland

Maitland seemed like a good place to base ourselves: the most substantial town on the Hunter line, with the most trains, restaurants, cafes, and accommodation.

We stayed two nights to get a feel for the area before continuing.

Bikes on the Train

Outside peak times, it's pretty easy to take bikes on Opal trains. Avoid blocking the entrance.

• The Central Coast & Newcastle Line runs from Sydney Central to Newcastle Interchange roughly hourly, taking about 2.5 hours. Chain bikes to the vertical bar near the carriage entrance, or to the horizontal bar above the entrance seats.
• The Hunter Line runs from Newcastle Interchange up to Maitland roughly hourly, taking about half an hour. Chain bikes to the vertical bar at the front entrance.

Getting to Maitland is easy, but going further requires organising your day around the train timetable. The Hunter Line forks after Maitland, continuing to either Dungog or Scone. Frequency cuts dramatically, with 3 trains weekdays departing Scone, and 5 trains weekdays departing Dungog.

From Central, we took the Central Coast & Newcastle line to Hamilton Station in Newcastle, where we had a 3-minute connection with the Hunter Line trains to Maitland. We almost missed this extremely tight connection, carrying two heavy bikes with pannier bags up the stairs.

Tip: don't carry your heavy bikes up and down the stairs. Instead, exit the station down the ramp to the road, cross the level crossing, then ascend the ramp to the other platform.

Maitland's Vibe

Boxed in by the Hunter River to the north, and clustering around the train line to the south, Maitland is long and thin.

We see a lot of gorgeous buildings, a newly-pedestrianised High Street, but a lot of "For Lease" notices. I imagine the High St refurbishment will help, but is it too-little too-late? I didn't see any apartments or medium-density, even around the train station, so is it really walkable if hardly anyone lives within walking distance? At any rate, it was lovely for us.

Historical displays tell how Maitland was the furthest inland navigable part of the Hunter River: I imagine a lot of money was made warehousing goods coming off the river for distribution through the Upper Hunter region. One display claims Maitland was the second largest city in Australia behind Sydney, until the Victorian gold rush. It's pretty wild to think of Maitland being larger than Newcastle or Melbourne.

The displays tell the usual early-colonisation story of a timber industry, land clearance for farming, and then the river silting up (the displays, of course, don't connect this to the deforestation). The silting would have removed a lot of Maitland's natural advantage as a warehousing depot: I wonder if this is what froze the town's High Street in the late 1800s, or if it's the more common story of suburban malls and the automobile suburbs draining the life out of historical Old Town centres?

The   Old Maitland Gaol sounds pretty innovative. They have Jail Tours, Jail Laser Tag , even Jail Escape Rooms – you can pay to get locked in jail! Shame we didn't get to go. Tours of historical incarceration sites depress me a bit, until our society learns that locking people up in horrible places is expensive and counter-productive.

Maitland Food

Maitland has many hotels and restaurants and cafes, but in my opinion the town underuses their Hunter River waterfront view: only The OrangeTree Cafe and COQUUN Restaurant have river views.

• Fratelli Roma looks like the best restaurant in town (we went there later, see Day 8).
• The Pourhouse is an old hotel relaunched with craft beer and succulents.
• RAMA looks like an avante-garde cocktail bar.
• The Rigby looks like a smart cocktail lounge/cafe.
• Ometto Pizza was fantastic (see Day 2).

We had dinner at COQUUN . They have an ultramodern wooden building, with a lovely sunset view over the Hunter River (though it did get cold, and the heater was broken, so bring layers!).

The pumpkin side with Almond Feta was good, but their vegetarian option, a huge, slightly undercooked eggplant with beans, was a bit underwhelming. It could have benefited from sauce, and didn't feel worth the $36 charged.

Maitland Accommodation

We stayed at the Quest Maitland Serviced Apartments ($179/night), nicely walkable to the town's historic High Street. All the other walkable options were above old pubs. Quest had plenty of room for bikes inside the apartment.

Day 2: Maitland, Morpeth, Paterson Loop

This introductory ride wasn't too long (50 km), with hardly any hills. We saw many variations of this ride online: skipping Paterson , continuing further to Vacy , and starting in Morpeth , so it looks very popular.

Road Conditions

• All sealed roads, mostly on the flat Hunter floodplain. There were a few minor hills towards Paterson.
• There's a decent, but unprotected, cycle lane painted on the road between Maitland East and Morpeth.
• The bridge at Morpeth is old wood, be careful to not get your tyre stuck in the plank gaps.
• There's medium traffic crossing at the Hunter River bridge at Morpeth. Traffic rapidly thinned out after Hinton.
• Clarence Town Road was busier, but a very short downhill. Some little Jack Russells gave our bikes a good race.
• Quite a few farm dogs barking along Butterwick Rd.
• Belmore Road was busy, with many parked cars. We got off and walked across Belmore Bridge's narrow footpath.
• Drivers were generally courteous, giving us a lot of space passing.

East Maitland has lovely Victorian buildings along Melbourne St/Morpeth Rd. The suburban sprawl extends to Morpeth.

Morpeth has lovely heritage sandstone buildings, and a lot of tourist shops. I'd like to stay longer. Morpeth was the Hunter River's head of navigation for heavy steamships, and the town looks like it was once rich from trade.

Hinton has a gorgeous hundred-year old raisable bridge over the Paterson River, and a Victorian pub.

Wallalong has a well-used skatepark, but is otherwise a sleepy town without any shops, except for some front-yard plant sale honesty-boxes.

Farms all the way to Paterson, which is another tiny town with stately buildings.

Next to the train station (with Opal reader!), there's an old rail society with heritage trains, unfortunately closed when we visited. The town is proud of its early timber and farming history, with interpretive panels around.

Woodville has a beautiful sandstone church at the intersection, and not much else.

Then you're back into huge oversize suburbia housing blocks of Largs, before reverting to turf farming and gorgeous Victorian buildings at Lorn.

Morpeth has a huge range of cafes. No food between Morpeth and Paterson

We ate lunch at the packed Paterson Country Cafe , full of Sunday daytrippers and motorcyclists. The Paterson Tavern looked very busy too. The cafe in the service station , advertises views over the Paterson River.

There's no food between Paterson and Maitland.

We had dinner at Maitland's Ometto Pizza , where they cook 48hr dough in a wood fire oven.

Their Margherita pizza was astoundingly good, and only $18! The place was pretty empty when we went, but with pizza of that quality Ometto's should be packed out every night.

Day 3: Maitland to Singleton: "Rolling Hills"

We chose to cycle upriver to Singleton next, to keep our options open:

• If we run out of energy, we can quit midway at Branxton train station. We didn't really know our capacity, so it was nice to have a safety net.
• Singleton also has trains, for easy heading home if we get tired.
• Singleton's trains continue upriver, where we could try the 5 Great Rides of the Upper Hunter .
• You can cycle south to Wollombi.

To get to Singleton, we had the option of taking the flatter, busier New England Highway south of the Hunter River or quiet, hilly backroads north of the river. The Bikesmith helped us adapt jacanpete's route north , to cycle via quiet Oakhampton Rd leaving Maitland, avoiding busy roads.

Indeed it was lovely cycling out via Oakhampton Road: quiet, flat, full of old houses that will undoubtedly be inundated in the next flood.

The Melville Ford Bridge is an old, low, single-lane, wood bridge, which had recently flooded and closed to cars. I don't recommend crossing the bridge immediately after a flood: the mud was deep, and it took us over an hour to clean the mud off our bikes.

From Melville Ford to Singleton was rolling hills all the way, on extremely quiet, sealed roads.

These roads may have only been quiet because the Ford Bridge was closed to cars. None of the climbs are very high, but it's up-down-up-down all the way.

Singleton Food

There were no cafes or shops between Aberglasslyn and Singleton, so pack lunch!

COVID-19 seems to have closed many of the top-rated Singleton restaurants on Google Maps. We saw very few places open on Monday. Even the Clubhouse, a big pokies hotel, was shut.

We had a huge dinner at the Albion Hotel just before their kitchen shut at 8pm, with surprisingly decent vegetarian options: a hearty vegetarian fritter, and vege parma.

Worn Out Wares Cafe has an amazing plant collection, I wish we'd visited.

Singleton Accommodation

Quest Singleton offers nice serviced apartments, reasonably walkable to town. We appreciated a soak in the tub after a long day of cycling.

Singleton is a charming old settlement over the Hunter. The city started as farming, but today it looks more like a mining town. The area's Satellite View shows the black of open-cut coal mines more than the green of farms.

Next to our hotel is a beautiful new library and town hall. I'm guessing there's a bit of the coal companies flushing a bit of cash at new infrastructure to keep the locals onside.

We noticed that the NSW Planning and Environment Office, 1 Civic Avenue, was a tenant of a building labelled "Coal Services". This metaphor for the state capture of our government by the coal industry seemed a bit heavy-handed.

There were some beautiful old Victorian buildings along the north end of John Street, and the old bridge was neat, but Singleton town was a pretty dead on Monday evening.

Singleton claims to have the world's largest sundial , but it didn't look that big to me. Sundials aren't that hard, they're just a stick pointing into the air. I reckon Whangarei, New Zealand might even have a sundial about the same size . And Whangarei doesn't even make a big deal about it.

Day 4: Singleton to Wollombi

On Tuesday morning leaving Singleton, the town was a lot livelier. There was a big line of local mums getting their coffee fix with their prams outside at Kicks Coffee Co , a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop inside a shoe store - we grabbed a vegan sausage roll and a muffin, and some bananas from Woolworths, and we hit the road.

We followed OzWanderer's route , which is good except for when it leaves Broke Rd to route you via a 15km-long open-cut mine. Switch the map above to satellite mode to see it, it's gargantuan.

Road Conditions - Singleton to Broke

Putty Road, across the train tracks, is a fast, 100km/h road, with a shoulder that's sometimes there and sometimes not. Traffic was low enough that we would take the lane, and motorists were mostly considerate, overtaking us on the other lane.

The road was a bit busy with mining traffic. All the mining traffic seems to have ID numbers on every car. Must be a huge mining operation to need its own shadow vehicle-registration system, that's a role typically performed by state government.

The road starts to climb up to Mount Thorley, which is really just a small hill. To the right you see another huge mine in the distance. The road follows train tracks, which go to another mine.

After Mount Thorley, there's a nice downhill to Broke Road, where you get to travel alongside the largest mine in the area. There's not much shade here, so wear sunscreen. The road widens with all the mining traffic, giving a nice extra-wide shoulder. Broke Road goes around the east side of the mine, and you can see the huge mining trucks going over the frequent bridges.

At the top of the ridge, stow your bike roadside and clamber up to the fence to look down into the open pit of the mine. It's terrifying. You can see the true extent of this mine on Satellite View on Google Maps. Consider the climate impact of this mine.

South into Broke, the roads are very quiet. We stopped for a picnic at McNamar Park, and used the loos, on the west side of the road.

Road Conditions - Broke to Wollombi.

This was a really lovely afternoon of cycling. I'm told on the weekends this road is very busy with Sydney daytrippers, but midweek this road was sublime. Traffic was mostly motorcyclists, with perhaps a dozen cars passing us the entire trip.

The Broke side has many wineries, the middle has amazing sandstone mountains and boulders either side, and towards Wollombi you're rewarded with a road through lush, shady forest. Take the time to look around, it's gorgeous scenery.

The roads has a shoulder that comes and goes, and there are some potholes, but it's sealed all the way, and the traffic is so low that you can take the lane most of the way.

The road trends very slightly uphill. I really thought it would be more uphill than it is, but the river has carved out quite a flat valley floor. It wasn't tough at all.

There's an old wooden bridge at Payne's Crossing, which is being replaced by a new modern structure. I kind of like the old charm of the old bridge, but it would probably be washed out at the first flood.

No shops between Singleton and Broke, just farms and a mine.

Broke had a single General Store/Cafe/Petrol Station, and some winery restaurants  ( Margan Wines , Nightingale Wines ), both of which were shut midweek. We considered staying at Broke overnight, but the folks at The Bikesmith recommended we stay in Wollombi instead, and I'm glad we did, because Wollombi has more food options. There were a few vineyards just after Broke, but no restaurants open when we were passing through until Wollombi.

The Wollombi Tavern , opens late, and Wollombi also has cafes at Myrtle House and the General Store .

The General Store is a beautiful old wooden building that transports you back 100 years, we bought sourdough, quiche, and a frittata, and our hosts provided eggs and tomatoes. Our accommodation was so cozy that we cooked dinner there, instead of heading out to the Tavern.

Myrtle House does a very on-trend brunch, has a built-in bookshop(!), and sells takeaway boxes of their food for after they shut at 3/4pm. We ordered a frozen box of their "homemade" pumpkin soup and a well-dressed salad bowl for dinner. Can recommend.

Wollombi Vibe

I enjoyed Wollombi! It's small, historical, surrounded by nature, and feels tucked into a valley. They do a good trade in Sydney weekend getaways, with a lot of cabin accommodation. Wollombi seems particularly popular with motorcyclists.

Wollombi is on the Great North Road, the once-main road between Sydney and Newcastle. Wollombi flourished, with gorgeous residence, churches, and courthouse buildings, before the Great North Road was deprecated by the train line following a very different line to the east, and Wollombi has been architecturally frozen in time since then.

Wollombi Accommodation

There are many cabins in Wollombi, but most of them were booked out when we looked the night before.

If you're bikepacking, the Wollombi Tavern offers campsites.

We stayed at "The Boiling Billy" Barn at Caper's Guesthouse . This hundred-year-old converted wood barn was a highlight of the trip, built into the raw sandstone of the hill with a wood fire and loft bedroom.

Day 5: Wollombi Rest Day

We considered cycling the loop from Wollombi to Laguna and back via Yengo Creek Road and Great North Road :

But we decided to give our legs a rest for the day.

Instead, we walked around Wollombi Village, following the Wollombi history trail, and walking along the Wollombi Brook. There had recently been a lot of rain, and we saw a lot of evidence of flooding, sadly washing away some of the seedlings the local landcare group had planted. We saw pictures of the Tavern being totally underwater. The Wollombi Brook looked tiny when we visited, but it's catchment is deceptively large.

Our host, Mike, is a trail organizer, and he kindly offered to take us on a preview tour, scouting the next trail he's working on.

This involved bush-bashing our way from the Wollombi Commons, up a sandstone ridge, and down the other side back to the accommodation. Good fun, and I'm glad I bought long pants. We saw many native plants, a wombat hole, and huge sandstone formations. If you head to Wollombi next year, perhaps this trail will be opened officially?

Day 6: Wollombi to Pokolbin

Wollombi to Millfield is beautiful, but quite windy and narrow -- a few small hills, not much shoulder, with medium traffic.

I recommend tackling this section midweek when traffic is lower, and putting your lights on.

From Millfield, we climbed Mount View Road, a well-packed dirt road, we did it on hybrid bikes, and I think it would be fine even on a road bike. The road was lovely and quiet, shaded by the trees all around. A slow ascent, then a few km of rolling hills through farmland.

You can optionally head a km or so up the ruttier dirt road to Mt Baker Lookout for some better views. The views over the Hunter Valley are extraordinary.

The roads in Pokolbin, despite being dead straight, are not flat: they seem to have been placed without any regard to the landscape, going up and down rather than following the contours of the land.

On McDonalds Road there is a patchy set of bike lanes, which swap sides of the road. They're sometimes sealed, sometimes just stones on grass, and sometimes disappear entirely. The wine region here has a huge opportunity to upgrade their cycling infrastructure. There is an unprotected, painted cycle lane on Hermitage Road, but Hermitage Road doesn't connect with any train station, so we couldn't get there in the first place.

Millfield General Store has a cafe.

We rewarded ourselves with fancy lunch at Bistro Molines (bookings essential, even for Thursday lunch) with extraordinary views over the Hunter Valley from on top of a hill. If you're vegetarian, it's probably not worth the price charged, their vegetarian dishes are dishes with the meat taken out, without being replaced by other protein.

The Pokolbin area has heaps of restaurants, but Pokolbin's not very walkable, so you'll have to cycle at night time on dark roads to get there.

We had dinner at Oishii (Japanese/Thai), with surprisingly good vegetarian options, offering to substitute many Japanese meat dishes for Tofu.

Accommodation

We stayed in a Studio at Cam Way Estate , for $181/night over Thu/Fri. Hunter Valley prices double on Fri/Sat nights with the weekenders from Sydney coming up. It would have been a lot cheaper to stay midweek, but almost all wineries shut midweek.

Pokolbin has tons of accommodation options: cabins, resorts, hotels, farmstays. It seems far cheaper to stay in Cessnock, but then it's a long cycle out to the wineries. The interesting restaurants mostly cluster in the Pokolbin area, rather than in Cessnock town.

Day 7: Pokolbin, Wine Tasting

Pokolbin's Hermitage Rd has a dedicated cycle lane, but we didn't check it out, it was too wet. It's a shame Hermitage Rd doesn't connect to any train stations, that would make it much easier for people taking the train with their bikes.

Read these posts instead

It was raining, too wet to look around much, and our photos were pretty miserable. Read these sunny-day posts instead:

eBiker Diary cycled around Pokolbin.

Wine Country Tourism: Cycling in the Hunter Valley

Concrete Playground on Cycling and Drinking your way around the Hunter Valley

Bits and Pieces Blog: A Day Cycling in the Hunter

Hunter Valley Cycle Tourism Operators

For an easier experience, you could bus/drive up and rent a bike. There are a few operators, all of whom have suggested wine tour maps:

• GrapeMobile looks like the market leader. They hand-drew a suggested tour map going off-road through wineries, which someone's uploaded to TripAdvisor .
• Sutton Estate Electric Bike Hire don't publish their map
• Hunter Valley Bicycle Rentals don't publish their map
• Hunter Valley Cycling don't publish their map.

It's a shame these maps are private.

All the wine tourism operators said they'd been flat-out busy since interstate travel restrictions started.

Kawul for Lunch -- the only Plant-Based restaurant we could find in the Hunter Valley. Kawul's menu is mostly vegan with some meat options, rather than being the opposite.

Dinner was a Margherita Pizza, because we didn't want to cycle far in the rain.

Day 8: Pokolbin to Maitland, back to Sydney

There were two options to get to Maitland: via Old Maitland Road, or via Cessnock and Kurri Kurri. We took Old Maitland Rd.

Next time, I'd consider going through Cessnock and Kurri Kurri: those roads might have wider shoulders, despite being busier.Road Conditions

Lomas Ln, Werakata National Park are amazing. Quiet dirt roads and fire trails, a bit rutted (and a bit muddy in the rain), but calm and beautiful in the bush with no cars at all. We had a great time on our hybrid bikes, but you probably wouldn't want to do it on thin road bike tyres.

Old Maitland Rd was pretty hairy: quite busy, often with no shoulder, and a bunch of hill climbs needed, and no alternatives avoiding the main traffic.

After leaving Wine Country, we didn't see any restaurants, cafes or shops along Old Maitland Road until Maitland. But don't worry, it's not very far.

We celebrated completion with a fantastic lunch of fresh-baked baguette, mushroom pasta and dessert at Fratelli Roma Maitland . How wonderful being able to finish a bottle of wine, not having to drive home!

Route-finding

The friendly bike mechanics at Maitland's Bikesmith & Espresso Bar gave us great advice, helping us tweak our planned route. I highly recommend visiting them for breakfast before you set out. They have an extensive set of Hunter cycling routes online!

For route planning, we used:

Ride with GPS app : invaluable. We found great routes by searching for a starting location, and keywords including your end location. e.g. search for routes starting at Maitland, with keywords "Singleton" . We found OzWanderer 's "Hunter Hundreds" series of 100km routes starting and ending at train stations particularly great.

Google Maps has coarse-grained elevation data for cycling and good offline coverage. Satellite View and Street View tell you how wide shoulders are and whether a road is dirt or sealed.

Strava's Route search had few routes in the Hunter, but Strava's Route Planner feature shows you the elevation gain of routes, and Strava's Global Heat Map let us double-check the routes local cyclists take in practice.

Bikepacking Australia Facebook Group has a few posts come up if you search for Hunter Valley.

Komoot app has good bicycle-specific routing, and 20m topographic maps.

MapMyRide app seems to have gone downhill since UnderArmor acquired them. Was very hard to search for... ride maps. A search for Cessnock Cycling Trails yields only running trail results. Perhaps they've pivoted to running, which sells more shoes?

Get out there!

We had a great time. If you do this trip, if you found this useful, I'd be stoked if you let me know . Enjoy!

Mark Hansen

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