| The Hunter Valley in New South Wales is the | | | | Sundays of the month. There are also cruises |
| oldest wine producing region in Australia. It is truly | | | | that travel along Lake Macquarie and the Hunter |
| a wine lover's paradise. Located just 2 hours north | | | | River. |
| of Sydney, it is a thriving place alive with lots of | | | | Wine Tours |
| restaurants, shops, cheese makers, gardens, art | | | | Of course, a visit to the Hunter Valley will not be |
| galleries, and old and new wineries. | | | | complete without taking the wine tours. Almost all |
| The Hunter Valley has grown economically and | | | | the hotels in Hunter Valley will give you free maps |
| culturally over the years. Many residential areas | | | | showing directions to the open cellar doors. You |
| are being constructed to accommodate those | | | | can follow your own desired route, or you can |
| who come to the area for employment and | | | | just randomly go from one winery to another. |
| those seeking new environments. Hunter Valley's | | | | Going to wine tours need not be that expensive. |
| family-friendly atmosphere and affordable real | | | | Because many wineries are concentrated in a |
| estate prices attract a lot of new residents. | | | | small area in the Lower Hunter, it is easy to visit |
| Upper and Lower Regions | | | | them by car, horse, bike, or carriage. You can |
| The area is divided into two regions - Lower | | | | also take an organized tour if you want. Some |
| Hunter and Upper Hunter. The Lower Hunter is | | | | tours will give you a glimpse of the entire process |
| home to most of the open wineries. This is where | | | | of wine production. Wine tasting tours are also |
| wine tourism was started, hence many | | | | available, but some wineries already require |
| accommodations, restaurants, and cellar doors are | | | | minimal fees for wine tasting. |
| found here. The Lower Hunter also serves as the | | | | Exquisite Wineries |
| location for the magnificent and lush Hunter Valley | | | | Hundreds of wineries have been built in the Hunter |
| gardens. | | | | Valley. They come in various styles, such as |
| The Upper Hunter, on the other hand, is popular | | | | heritage style, Tuscan country house design, |
| for its historic homes and horse studs. The largest | | | | gleaming style, contemporary multi-million dollar |
| horse breeding grounds in the world are found in | | | | style, modern Australia design, and corporate |
| this region. There are also wineries in the Upper | | | | headquarters style. |
| Hunter. The Rosemount Estate, one of the leading | | | | Tempus Two and Hungerford Hill are examples of |
| wineries in Australia, is found here. | | | | wineries in corporate headquarters style. Pepper |
| A Major Tourist Spot | | | | Tree Wines and Ivanhoe Wines are examples of |
| The Hunter Valley ranks as the 6th most visited | | | | wineries in heritage style. Tower Estate is an |
| tourist spot in Australia. Every year, 2.5 million | | | | example of a Tuscan country house, and Audrey |
| people come to see its attractions. Aside from | | | | Wilkinson is an example of modern Australia |
| wineries, the Hunter Valley boasts of golf courses | | | | design. |
| and country houses. | | | | Some not-so-grand wineries are also worth visiting |
| Activities and events for tourists abound in the | | | | because of the quality of the wine they produce. |
| Hunter Valley. Among these is the Steam Trains | | | | Examples of such are Evans Family Wines and |
| of Hunter Valley, which run during the first 3 | | | | Draytons Family Wines. |