About The Hunter

The Hunter Region stretches about 160 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle to the west covering 12,000 square kilometres and incorporates the famous Hunter Valley one of Australia's premier wine growing districts with approximately 80 wineries. The Hunter Region offers wonderful food and wine, numerous golf courses, beaches and water sports, or for something different try hot air ballooning or aerobatics. All this is just 2 hours by car from Sydney.

The region of the Hunter offers a diverse range of landscapes including coastal, sun drenched beaches, mountains, wilderness, wineries, quaint country villages, bustling cities, and rural farmland. The Hunter features Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal salt water lake, the Hunter Valley vineyards, surf beaches, national parks and the exquisite Watagan Mountains.

Newcastle is the main city offering restaurants and cafes, sandy beaches, coastal walks, and historic streets. just a short trip across Newcastle harbour and you arrive at Stockton Sand Dunes where you can try sand boarding or take a 4WD or quad bike tour.

The Barrington Tops national park covers 80,000 hectares and is world heritage listed. here you will find ancient forests and pristine rivers. Alternately visit the Hunter Valley which encompasses rural farm lands, rolling green hills and vineyards The Lower Hunter has numerous country all offering a different experience for visitors. Branxton and Greta are well known for their markets and festivals, whilst Kurri Kurri is home to several heritage country pubs and a mining museum. The rural village of Wollombi appears to have been trapped in time and still lives in the 1930's.

The Hunter region offers a multitude of activities you can take a ride in a horse drawn carriage, or float over the vineyards in a hot-air balloon, relax with a round of golf on one of the many world class golf courses, or enjoy a bush walk, or sailing, and many other aquatic sports on the cost.

Barrington Tops
Barrington Tops is a approximately 2 hours from Sydney. The Barrington Tops National Park features pristine rainforests and offers kilometres of bush walking trails which abound with native birds and animals, and exquisite scenery.

Cessnock
Cessnock is the southern gateway to the Hunter Valley wine region.

Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie offers golden surf beaches, a tranquil lake, mountain wilderness and quaint waterfront towns. This salt water lake is one of the largest lakes in the Southern Hemisphere and is ideal for sailing, fishing, swimming, cruising and scuba diving. For more information see Belmont South, Morrisett Park

Lovedale
Lovedale is located in the Heart of the Hunter Region and is known for its boutique wineries, restaurants and art galleries. Several events are held in Lovedale throughout the year, including the famous Lovedale Long Lunch, Country Music in the Vines, String Quartet in the Vines and other special events.
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Morisset Park
Morisset Park is located in the city of Lake Macquarie, and is a gateway to the Watagan Mountains and to Lake Macquarie, one of the largest coastal saltwater lakes in the Southern Hemisphere and the Morisset Peninsula area . This is an ideal destination for the sailing and water sports enthusiast. Read more

Newcastle
Offering some superb architecture and excellent beaches, Newcastle is within easy access of national parks and wineries. Newcastle also has a thriving arts and music scene, with more working artists per head of the population living here than anywhere else in Australia.

Pokolbin
Pokolbin is located about 6 kilometres west of Cessnock and is a major centre in the Hunter region. It is surrounded by vineyards, resorts and guesthouses, and offers a choice of restaurants and cafes. Read more

Scone
For those interested in horses Scone is definitely worth a visit. Scone is the thoroughbred horse breeding centre in the Upper Hunter. There are numerous races held throughout the year. Scone also has several polo competitions and a Horse Trials event is held each year.

Rothbury
Rothbury is situated approximately 150 km north of Sydney, and 60 km west of the Pacific Ocean. Read more

The Hunter Region offers concerts, fairs and festivals nearly all year round. Many of festivals are held in the Hunter Valley Vineyards including opera and Jazz festivals

April
The Hunter Valley Harvest Festival is after the thousands of acres of vines have been pruned. Wineries, Guest Houses, and Restaurants celebrate with Food, Wine, Music, and Theatre.

May
Lovedale Long Lunch - This is a progressive lunch 11am to 4pm, renowned Hunter Valley winemakers of the Lovedale region and the talented chefs of the Hunter Valley's finest restaurants combine their talents to provide a weekend of excellence in food & wine.

August
The Hunter Valley wine show is held in August.

October
The small winemakers in the Hunter Region have their own show. Jazz concerts and opera recitals are held in the vineyards at this time.

Opera in the Vineyards is held annually with a feast of wine, food, and opera performed in the magnificent outdoor amphitheatre at Wyndham Estate amidst the vines.

Jazz in the Vines is held at Tyrrell’s Vineyard each year and is considered Australia's most significant outdoor Jazz Event. Australia's top jazz musicians combine with Hunter Valley Restaurants who provide gourmet food and the Hunter Wineries sell wine by the bottle.

December
Christmas Carols in the vineyards. Various other events are held over December and the New Year, these vary from year to year.

The Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest wine-producing area, dating back more than 150 years. The hunter Valley is home to some of Australia's most famous wineries, including Tyrells, Lindemans and McGuigans, as well as many small boutique vineyards.

Although the Hunter Valley is mainly known for its award winning wines, a burgeoning olive industry with cold pressed olive oil and other olive products has started to emerge. There is so much fresh produce available in the region including wood fired bread, Hunter Cheeses, stone fruits, table grapes, honey, home made condiments and sauces that it is a food lovers delight

There are a wide variety of restaurants in the region serving a selection of local grown vegetables, Upper Hunter bred game and delicious fresh seafood.

The Hunter region covers a vast and diverse landscape consequently the climate varies dramatically from the coastal area to western Wine country to the area around Barrington Tops.

Summer – December to February, maximum temperatures range between

• 27 degrees Celsius on the Coast
• 30 degrees Celsius Inland

Spring - September to November, maximum temperatures range between

• 21 to 25 degrees Celsius on the coast
• 22 to 27 degrees Celsius inland

Autumn - March to May, maximum temperatures range between

• 26 to 21 degrees Celsius on the coast
• 27 to 21 degrees Celsius inland

Winter - June to August, maximum temperatures range between

• 17 to 18 degrees Celsius on the coast
• 18 to 19 degrees Celsius inland

Getting there