Dave's Travel & Events Grains & Grapes Hunter Valley from Sydney

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A day in the Hunter Valley, from Sydney or from your hotel in Pokolbin, Lovedale or Rothbury, visiting two craft breweries and two award-winning wineries, with tastings, behind the scenes tours and a relaxed lunch. For ages 18 and over, in a small group.

Days

Full day, about 11 hours from Sydney, or 6 from the Hunter

Age

18 and over

Group size

Small group, 6 to 10, or up to 11 from the Hunter Valley

Start / finish

Sydney / Sydney, or Pokolbin / Pokolbin
Central Sydney, about 7pm

Return

Central Sydney, about 7pm

Transport

Mini-coach with a guide, from Central Sydney, Circular Quay or Hunter Valley hotels

Meals

One course lunch with a wine, craft beer or cider

Route

Map of Dave's Travel & Events Grains & Grapes Hunter Valley from Sydney

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Included experiences

Hunter Valley — tastings at 2 award-winning wineries
Craft breweries — beer and cider tastings at 2 breweries
Behind the scenes winery production and brewery tours
Lunch in the Hunter Valley

Dave's Travel & Events Grains & Grapes Hunter Valley from Sydney

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: INTO THE HUNTER VALLEY

Pick your start. From Sydney, the bus collects you early in the city centre, at Central or Circular Quay, for the two and a half hour drive north with a comfort stop on the way. Staying in the Hunter? You're collected from your accommodation around Pokolbin, Lovedale or Rothbury. Either way you travel in a small group with your guide, who knows the producers and the back roads. The valley lies about 50 km inland from Newcastle, and the Hunter River that gives it its name reaches the sea there after a run of some 470 km.

FIRST WINERY: BEHIND THE SCENES

The first stop is a small family winery. Before you taste anything, your guide takes you out into the vineyard, into the production area or both, so you see where the grapes grow and how they become wine. The Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest wine region, planted in the 1820s, and its hot, humid summers make it an odd place for vines. The answer is an early harvest, which gives the valley's famous Semillon: light and zesty when young, golden and toasty after ten years in the bottle. Then it's your first tasting.

MIDDAY: LUNCH AT A WINERY

Lunch is usually at the second winery: a one-course café-style meal, often a shared lunch or wood-fired pizzas and salads, with a glass of wine, a beer or a soft drink. Beer is never compulsory on this tour, but if you like it, here's your first chance. Take your time. Much of the valley floor around Pokolbin is vineyard, and the Brokenback Range, part of the Great Dividing Range, rises above the vines to the west.

AFTERNOON: GIN, CHEESE AND THE LAST POUR

After lunch you call at a family distillery's cellar door to taste gin, vodka and liqueurs. Next comes a second wine tasting matched with local cheeses, with the staff suggesting which wine goes best with each. The last stop is your call: a wine and chocolate pairing, or a tasting paddle of craft beers brewed in the Hunter. Venues change with the producers' schedules, so if there's somewhere you'd love to visit, say so when you book. Then it's back to your Hunter accommodation, or into Sydney for about 7pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: From Sydney: 7:25am from Central Sydney (St Laurence Church, 812 George St) or 7:45am from Circular Quay (The Obelisk, Macquarie Place Park, corner of Bridge and Loftus streets). Please be on time. From the Hunter Valley: pick-up from listed hotels in Pokolbin, Lovedale and Rothbury.
Finishes: From Sydney, about 7pm at Central Sydney (St Laurence Church, 812 George St). From the Hunter Valley, back at your hotel.
Minimum age: 18 and over.
Please note: From Sydney, groups are 6 to 10 guests, and your booking is confirmed once 6 seats are filled. From the Hunter Valley, groups are up to 11 guests. Venues may change now and then to suit their operations; if you have a must-see spot, tell us when booking and we'll do all we can.

What to bring

Enclosed shoes

What is included

Return transport from Sydney, or pick-up and drop-off at listed hotels in Pokolbin, Lovedale and Rothbury
Tastings at 2 wineries and 2 breweries
Behind the scenes tours at selected venues
One course lunch with a wine, craft beer or cider

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 1 review

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

After a lot of research into day trips from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, I booked Grains and Grapes and couldn't have been happier. Our guide Glen knew the area and its history well and was very personable, and the day was so well planned we never felt rushed. I loved it so much I did it again and it was just as good.

Rachael Leonard Verified· Travelled 25th February 2026

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