The Hotel: Hunter Valley Resort

The Hunter Valley Resort is fashioned after the style of a country lodge and nestled within 70 acres of the Hunter Valley’s iconic wine country. Guests can wander the resort’s very own Shiraz vineyards, which have been producing tart, dark-skinned grapes for four decades. Located just two hours’ drive from Sydney, it’s an ideal setting for romantic getaways or relaxed retreats with friends.

Tuck into a hearty breakfast each morning before heading out to explore the rolling vineyards and fine cuisine of the Hunter Valley. As well as tasting many fine drops at the cellar doors clustered around Pokolbin, Groupies enjoy a swag of fun activities. The vineyard tour is packed full of insight into the winemaking process and introduces guests to the picturesque Hermitage Road Cellars vineyard that surrounds the resort. Each tour takes a little over an hour and concludes with a tasting of some of the wine produced on site. Extend your new-founded connoisseur-ship by watching a 15-minute film before tasting four of the Hunter’s best wines at the Hunter Wine Theatre.

Continue on to a cheese tasting at Binnorie Dairy. Holidaymakers are also treated to a 20% discount on a range of local activities, including horse and carriage tours, pampering treatments at the Heavenly Hunter Massage Centre, and horse riding.

Guests are staying in the Hunter Room with timber cathedral ceilings and covered balcony looking over the tennis courts and the surrounding Wine Country. The rooms also feature LCD flat-screen TVs with DVD players, so travellers can relax and catch on some movies, after a day of wine tasting and strolling through the vineyard.

• TripAdvisor: 4 / 5

Room Details

Hunter Room

• Bed size/type: Queen bed and two single beds
• Standard occupancy: Two people
• Maximum occupancy: Four people
• The room features a bathroom with full-size bathtub/shower, private balcony, writing desk, mini fridge, tea- and coffee-making facilities, iron and ironing board, and reverse-cycle split air conditioner.
  
  

The Area: Hunter Valley, NSW

One of Australia’s premier wine-growing regions, the Hunter Valley is a landscape where rolling vineyards are surrounded by native bush and vast farmland. It’s a place where kangaroos bound across paddocks, locals enlighten tourists about hidden gems, and an abundance of charming cafés and restaurants await hungry travellers.

Hardworking visitors reward themselves by absconding to the city and spending long, carefree days vineyard hopping and enjoying the sprawling bush scenery. With dozens of wineries located nearby, retreaters embark on a self-guided vino adventure or join a tour to hear from the experts.

Foodies experience a variety of fresh food, dining at one of the many cafés for lunch or quality restaurants in the evening. Cheese and chocolate fans are in their element with numerous factories scattered about, including the famous Smelly Cheese Shop. For something different, try horse riding, hot air ballooning, or take a stroll through the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens. There are also a number of golf courses and day spas within easy reach.