Hunter Valley Resort

Location

In the very heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country, just two hours’ drive from Sydney, lies Hunter Valley Resort. Best described as a country lodge, 35 rooms and cottages speckle the resort’s 70 private acres, which are also host to several 45-year-old Shiraz vineyards. The perfect complement to a day’s wine tasting is the Binnorie Cheese Dairy that’s adjacent to the resort. Further down the road, you’ll find the manicured Hunter Valley Gardens and shopping village, skydiving and hot air ballooning opportunities and over 140 other wineries to visit.

Accommodation

A variety of lodging is available onsite with the Hunter and Vineyard rooms closest to the resort’s facilities. Timber cathedral ceilings and private balconies make these an excellent option, but opt for the latter for views over Hunter Valley wine country across to the Brokenback Mountains. Look towards the cottages for larger living spaces in quiet seclusion from the rest of the estate.

Dining

The resort’s Matilda Bay Brewhouse, other than offering an education in craft brews, houses the resort’s Italian restaurant. After sampling tasting notes of the brewery’s 12 beers and taking a look at the original brewery, guests can enjoy handmade pizza and pasta with sauces made from scratch. During the day, there’s also La Glace, a gourmet produce and dessert bar where the owners’ Danish heritage shines through with delicious homemade ice cream, chocolates and cakes. There’s also a full buffet breakfast available at the resort daily.

Facilities

Nowhere in the Hunter Valley region can you try so many wines. With 49 vintages from 10 different producers, the Hermitage Road Winery is a perfect entry point to Australian wine. Friendly guides introduce the exclusive range of premium wines from small, local winemakers and answer any questions you may have about the industry with tours of the vineyard, talks, wine tasting sessions and even a winemaking tutorial. Onsite, there’s also a wine theatre, cooking and candy making classes, Segway tours, horse riding and a massage school.