Phoenix Kingsley_Hunter Valley_Attractions

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- Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley, located about 160km (roughly 2 hours drive) from Sydney CBD, is New South Wales' largest valley and Australia's most renowned wine region. It's famous for producing notable wines including the crisp Hunter Valley Semillon and rich Hunter Valley Shiraz. With over 120 wineries, it's become locals' favorite leisure destination after the beaches.

Late January marks the beginning of the summer grape harvest season, when the entire valley is enveloped in the aroma of wine. Many wineries offer free tastings to visitors, and you can purchase bottles to take home as gifts for friends and family.

Transportation
Self-driving: Cross the Harbour Bridge and follow signs north to the Pacific Highway. Once on the Pacific Highway, continue to the F3 entrance - National Highway 1, and exit at Cessnock. Follow signs to Hunter Valley Wine Country/Vineyards.

Admission
Free entry to the region
Individual winery visits may require fees

Opening Hours
24 hours (January 1 - December 31, Monday-Sunday)

Tips:
Individual wineries have specific operating hours. Please check their official websites for details.

Phoenix Kingsley Mar 22,2025

How to get to Hunter Valley? My strong recommendation is to drive... drive... and drive! I think there are tour buses available, but since I haven't personally researched those options, I can't give specific advice about them - you might want to check other travelers' reviews.

From where I was staying, it took over an hour by car to reach Hunter Valley - quite a distance in my opinion. But the journey from Sydney to Hunter Valley is absolutely beautiful. You'll see scenery that's rare in Shanghai - lush greenery everywhere, even along the highways. Unlike some places, they haven't sacrificed trees for road development. In fact, in Australia, you need to apply for permission and go through an approval process just to cut down a single tree.