Have you done the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Bondi
Beach? If so, then it’s time to visit the Hunter Valley, situated less than two
hours north of Sydney. An internationally renowned wine area, it offers an
abundance of wineries, cafés and restaurants, as well as memorable scenery.
Depending on how much time you have – and a couple of days
are recommended - there are a number of ways to explore the Hunter Valley, from
day tours to helicopter rides. One practical option is to hire a car, as the
drive is an easy one, with plenty of signage to guide your way. If you want to
make your trip memorable right from the start, hire a luxury sports car – now
that the weather is warming up, there’s no better way to enjoy the drive than
with the top down and the wind whipping through your hair. Which means, of
course, that you need to talk to Sports Car Rentals, because their range of
high-end vehicles is second to none, from a Mini Cooper S convertible to an X5
BMW or 911 Porsche convertible to a Ferrari California and beyond. The staff
are car lovers themselves and can help you choose the right car for your trip,
as well as offering hotel drop-off and collection.
Once you’ve chosen your car, enjoy the drive, which passes
through some of the most picturesque areas of greater Sydney. Along with
national parklands and the beauty of the Hawkesbury River, you’ll notice
spectacular stone cliffs lining the sides of the road. These are reminders of
the amazing efforts it took to create a route through the hills – the engineers
had to blast through the mountains. You’ll know you’ve entered the Hunter
Valley as soon as you’ve arrived, thanks to the many vineyards and wineries on
either side of the road. Here’s a tip: stop in to The Vintage Hunter Wine and
Visitors’ Centre and collect a Hunter Valley Wine Country Visitors Guide. Not
only does the Guide contain a map of the region, it also lists all the
wineries, attractions, dining options and accommodation on offer.
Whether staying overnight or for a few nights, the
accommodation options are excellent, ranging from quaint Bed and Breakfasts to
5 star luxury. Take Tower Lodge on Halls Road, for example. Featuring only 12
rooms, this boutique hotel is the epitome of luxury: built in 2001, each suite
features an eclectic mix of antiques, rich fabrics and recycled timbers. For
the romantics, The Oriental Room is a must,
as it features a private outdoor wooden hot tub; for those
who enjoy a little opulence, there’s the opportunity to relax among Louis XVI
furniture and a 300-year-old hand carved Rajasthani king bed in The Chairman’s
Suite. Tower Lodge guests are greeted upon arrival and invited to a drink in
the lounge and the individual attention continues all the way through to the country
cooked breakfast, designed to set you up for a full day of wine tasting and
sight seeing.
Located next to Tower Lodge is Tower Estate Winery.
Established by the late Len Evans AO OBE, one of Australia’s most prominent
wine personalities, Tower Estate sources the best grapes from both local and
national grape growers, for their handcrafted blends. Only 1,000 cases of each
wine are made, which are available for tasting and purchase at the cellar door.
One thing about wine tasting is certain – at the end of the
day, you’re going to need something to eat. Fortunately, there are many fine
dining opportunities in the Hunter Valley. One of the most well known and
respected restaurants in NSW is here: Roberts Restaurant, which is just a bit
further along Halls Road from Tower Lodge, is housed within a National Trust
slab cottage dated circa 1876, that’s filled with rustic antiques offering
charm, elegance and a sense of history. Roberts has played an important role in
the development of Australian fine dining and Daniel Hunt, the current chef, is
upholding its reputation with his inventive dishes, based on fresh, seasonal
produce. Both á la carte and degustation menus are available; try the
mouth-watering dishes like the Scampi Tails, Confit Garlic and Black Mussel
Butter, Snap Peas, Tomato and Prosciutto. There’s a sophisticated wine list to
match the food, featuring the best Australian and international wines.
Your wine tasting odyssey can also be combined with other
attractions. Why not start the day with a helicopter flight over the region?
Slattery Helicopter Charter offers a variety of flights and can collect you
from a host of locations including the front lawn of Tower Estate Winery. Chief
pilot Simon Jamieson knows the area well and will give you a commentary as you fly over wineries, olive groves
and winding country roads, giving you a bird’s eye view of the spectacular
Brokenback Range. They also offer cellar door and lunch charters: you’ll be
collected from your accommodation, flown over the area to a winery for a wine
tasting, transferred to a restaurant of your choice for lunch and then returned
to your accommodation afterwards. This is a memorable and exciting way to see
the Hunter Valley that has the added benefit of offering some amazing photo opportunities.
One of the wineries that Slattery Helicopter Charters can
take you to is the award-winning Bimbadgen Estate. Located on a hill with views
over vineyards to the distant mountain ranges, Bimbadgen Estate is one of the
region’s most picturesque wineries. The best way to soak in the view is to
relax over lunch on the balcony at Esca Bimbadgen. The cuisine is modern
Australian, which can be sampled via the tasting plates with matching wines.
You can choose either a red or a white tasting plate.
While you’re there enjoying the food and the view, the only
thing you need worry about is where to go next. This is the Hunter Valley,
after all, where there’s so much to see and do.
For everything you need to know about the region’s wineries,
accommodation, tours, activities and special events visit The Vintage Hunter
Wine and Visitors’ Centre, 455 Wine Country Drive, call 4990 0900 or visit www.winecountry.com.au
Where to book:
Sports Car Rentals
65 Victoria Road, Rozelle, Sydney.
Tel: 1300 793 682.
www.sportscarrentalsonline.com
Esca Bimbadgen
790 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin.
Tel: 4998 7585.
www.bimbadgen.com.au
Roberts Restaurant
Halls Road, Pokolbin.
Tel: 4998 7330.
www.robertsrestaurant.com
Slattery Helicopter Charters
Tel: 4028 0000.
www.slatteryhelicoptercharter.com.au
Tower Estate Winery
Cnr Halls and Broke Roads, Pokolbin.
Tel: 4998 7989.
www.towerestatewines.com.au
Tower Lodge
Halls Road, Pokolbin.
Tel: 4998 7022.
www.towerlodge.com.au