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Boutique hotels in Hunter Valley

Holidays in the Hunter Valley, Australia

Hunter Valley Overview

Australia

Countryside
Vine-lined hills
Country life
Sémillon, shiraz and sauvignon – sublime

One of the global capitals of New World wine making, Australia’s green and glorious Hunter Valley is the ideal destination for antipodean explorers looking to combine the palatable with the picturesque.

When 18th-century settlers first landed in New South Wales, they made sure they brought some grape vines with them. Thanks to such forethought, the Hunter Valley is now Australia’s most famous viticultural centre, with more than 60 wineries producing dozens of varieties – with Sémillon taking the starring role. Just two hours’ drive from Sydney, the slopes of the Lower Hunter are home to the highest concentration of vineyards and are peppered with dinky market towns such as Branxton and Lovedale, and quaint rural idylls such as Wollombi, which, with its colonial architecture and welcoming 1930s ethos, is like stepping into a postcard from the past. As you’d expect from a celebrated wine region, the quality of the food has developed to match the drink, and you’ll find some very fine dining indeed in the Hunter Valley’s smattering of elegant restaurants.

Local knowledge

Taxis
It’s a rural region and distances can be on the big side, so cabs aren’t the most cost-effective means of getting around – most will charge for the trip out to pick you up as well as the trip itself.

Tipping culture
As with the rest of Oz, tips aren’t expected anywhere – but 10 per cent is always appreciated in upmarket bars and restaurants.

Siesta and Fiesta
Wineries generally open between 10am and 5pm, although some remain open until 8 or 9pm. The shops in the Hunter Valley’s towns keep standard 9–5 hours.

Packing tips
A pad for your tasting notes, a comprehensive wine guide, and a picnic blanket for impromptu alfresco snack stops.

Recommended reads
James Halliday is Australia’s most respected wine writer – his classic oenophile’s bible The Art and Science of Wine is an essential for anyone who takes their shiraz seriously.

Regional specialities
Sémillon and shiraz are the region’s most toasted wine varieties, and most vineyards produce one or both wines. To accompany your tipple, pick up something special from the Hunter Valley Cheese Company in Pokolbin (+ 61 (0)2 4998 7744; www.huntervalleycheese.com.au). The Branxton brie with fig mostarda is divine, and we’re still raving about the grapevine-ashed brie on walnut bread. Olives are also grown in the valley, meaning that there some excellent olive oil to be had, and duck is farmed locally too.

Currency
Australian dollar (AU$)

Time zone
GMT + 10

Dialling codes
Country code: +61; New South Wales: (0)2.

Do go/don't go
May is the Hunter Valley’s most eventful time of year as the grape harvest gets underway and the climate’s warm and pleasant. January and February can be very hot indeed.