Your own guide and vehicle for the day in Hunter Valley wine country. Private wine tour with door-to-door pickup in Pokolbin, Cessnock, Lovedale, Nulkaba and Allandale, seven days a week.
Your Own Guide in Wine Country
Already staying in Pokolbin, Cessnock or Lovedale? On this private tour the vehicle and the guide are yours alone for the day. We collect you from your accommodation at around 9.45am, you are at your first cellar door as the doors open at 10am, and you are home by about 4pm. It runs seven days a week, and the stops are shaped around what your group loves to drink.What’s Included
Three seated wine tastings
Seated tastings at three hand-picked cellar doors, from big-name estates to small family producers.
Artisan vodka & gin tasting
Flavoured vodkas, gins and liqueurs from a local small-batch distillery.
A paired produce tasting
Local cheese, chocolate or small bites, matched to wine so you can taste the difference food makes.
Lunch among the vines At own cost
A relaxed hour at a vineyard restaurant. Order à la carte on the day, or add our $39 lunch and drink package when you book direct.
Non-alcoholic alternatives are available at no extra charge for guests who need them.
Why guests love this day
Stress-free travel
Door to door from Pokolbin, Cessnock, Lovedale, Nulkaba and Allandale.
Just your group
The vehicle and guide are yours for the day, any day of the week.
Stories along the way
Local history and winemaking from a guide who lives here.
See The Tour
0:38Because you are already in wine country, there is no long transfer at either end. The whole day is spent among the vines, with time to linger where you are enjoying yourselves.
Send us your favourite wines or producers before the day and we will plan the stops around them. It suits birthdays, anniversaries, hens weekends and family getaways, and nobody has to be the designated driver. Pricing is per group from 1 to 11 guests, with larger groups on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you pick up from?
From your accommodation in Pokolbin, Cessnock, Lovedale, Nulkaba or Allandale. Hotels, resorts, cabins, Airbnbs and private homes are all fine. Staying just outside these areas? Email [email protected] before booking and we will do our best to help. Staying in Newcastle instead? Take our private Hunter Valley wine tour from Newcastle.
What time does the tour start and finish?
Pickup is at around 9.45am so you arrive at your first cellar door as it opens at 10am, and we have you back at your door at about 4pm. Because the tour is private, we can adjust the start time within reason. Just ask when you book.
How much does it cost for our group?
The price is for your whole group, not per person: 1 guest $1,050, 2 guests $1,250, 3 guests $1,350, 4 guests $1,450, 5 guests $1,550, 6 guests $1,650, 7 guests $1,750, 8 guests $1,850, 9 guests $1,950, 10 guests $2,050 and 11 guests $2,150. All tasting fees are included. Groups larger than 11 can enquire for a quote.
How is this different to the small-group tour with Hunter Valley pickup?
Our small-group wine tour with Hunter Valley pickup runs on set days with up to 11 guests sharing the van. On this private tour the vehicle and guide are just for your group, it runs any day of the week, and we shape the stops around your tastes.
Is lunch included?
Lunch is at your own cost and we allow about an hour at a vineyard restaurant, usually 4 Pines at The Farm. If you book direct with us, you can add our $39 per person lunch and drink package: a main meal from the seasonal menu with a house wine, beer or soft drink.
Can we choose the wineries?
Yes. Tell us your favourite wines or producers before the day, whether that is Semillon, sparkling, reds, big-name estates or tiny family cellar doors, and we will plan around them, subject to opening hours and availability.
Can we do this tour without alcohol?
Yes. Non-alcoholic tastings are available at no extra cost for some or all of your group. Let us know when you book. Non-alcoholic (dealcoholised) wines may contain up to 0.5% alcohol, so they may not suit guests who avoid alcohol entirely.
Do we need to be 18?
Yes, guests on wine tastings need to be 18 or over. Please bring valid photo ID.
What should we wear?
Dressy casual. Cellar doors prefer no thongs, ripped clothing, costumes or singlets for men. Closed shoes are best for vineyard walks, and a light jacket helps in cooler months.
Planning this for a work function, a conference group or a milestone celebration? We run the same day for larger numbers by mini-coach or coach. See large group tours from Newcastle for vehicle options and lead times.
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Destination
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Departure
Hunter Valley, NSW -
Departure Time
Pick ups around 9.45am -
Return Time
Approximately 4pm -
Dress Code
Dressy - no costumes, thongs, ripped clothing, singlets (men) -
Included
Entry FeesPersonal GuidePick Up & Drop Off -
Not Included
BreakfastHotel (2 nights)LunchPrivate Transfer from Sydney
Our gallery
Audrey Wilkinson
Small Mouth Vodka
Hungerford Hill
Lunch among the vines
Bonvilla Estate
Hunter Wine Lab
Pick up & drop off at your door
What Our Guests Say
"Fantastic day out in the Hunter Valley with my friends and friendly tour guide Keira to celebrate my birthday. Keira picked us up from our homes in Newcastle & took us to different wineries, gin & vodka tasting & cheese tasting then dropped us home again afterwards. Keira was amazing, she shared her knowledge about the Hunter Valley with us along the way and nothing was too much hassle from taking photos for us to customising the itinerary for the day with exactly what we wanted. Thank you so much Keira & Newy Tour Co, we all had an amazing day!"
Sara S, TripAdvisor, September 2024
"This tour provided exactly what we were after - a Hunter Valley day tour, starting and ending in Newcastle. At the enquiry stage, Keira was very easy to deal with - very responsive and flexible. On the day Nathan conducted the tour which ran seamlessly from hotel morning pickup to late afternoon drop off. We especially enjoyed the tastings at Hungerford Hill and Audrey Wilkinson wineries."
Catherine A, TripAdvisor, September 2024
History of the Hunter Valley
The winding roads of Hunter Valley Wine Country hold centuries of stories just waiting to be uncorked. This tale begins in 1832 when a Scottish gentleman named James Busby arrived on Aussie shores armed with an eclectic collection of 500 European vine cuttings. With sister Catherine in tow, Busby secured a land grant and wasted no time planting those precious vines near present-day Morpeth.
By 1840 vineyards flourished across over 500 acres of Hunter Valley, and an intrepid doctor named Henry Lindeman was crafting exceptional wines that caught the attention of pioneering families like the Draytons, Tullochs, Tyrrells and Wilkinsons. Together through the mid to late 1800s they cultivated a world-class wine region.
Nearly 200 years later, Hunter Valley’s pioneering spirit lives on through skilled viticulturists and boundary-pushing winemakers unafraid to achieve richly authentic wines vintage after vintage. A growing number of estates still produce sublime wines from those original 1840s vines - extremely rare pre-phylloxera survivors. You can taste history firsthand with old vine Hunter Valley Shiraz, Semillon and Chardonnay.
The more you explore Hunter Valley wines, the deeper your appreciation for this legacy of great Australian winemaking. So grab a glass and uncork the captivating stories of Hunter Valley Wine Country.
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