Frequently asked questions

We operate Monday to Sunday, 7 days. We pick up from most Hunter Valley accommodation locations, Maitland, Singleton, Newcastle and the Central Coast on any day of the week.

We pick you up from your accommodation, complimentary within 12km of central Pokolbin. Outside this area a pickup fee may apply. Your bus will meet you at your accommodation reception area if there is one, and may return you to your room or house at the end of the day when times are less tight. If we are meeting you at Hunter Valley Gardens, the pickup point is the short stay bus and coach parking area, on your left closest to the shopping village as you enter the grounds.

Write the name of your accommodation in the 'other' box when booking. If you are unsure, contact us directly and we will let you know if we can pick up from your location.

Usually from 9am, depending on how many fellow wine lovers are on your tour and where their pickups are. Your first wine tasting is usually at 10am. We confirm your exact time the night before by text, email or phone.

Yes, we welcome everyone. Please write any needs in the box provided and contact us in advance, as not all locations have the required facilities or access, and we want to give you a genuinely inclusive day. See our accessible tours for the full picture: the lift bus, the vetted venues, the trained team.

A full day wine tasting tour runs about 8 hours door to door. Your first tasting commences at 10am and cellar doors close at 5pm. A half day tour runs 3.5 to 4 hours on average. Pickup and return from your chosen spot may change these times.

On tours where tasting fees are not included, fees vary from $5 to $25 per person, paid at the cellar door.

Yes, dietary options are available at most of the lunch venues we visit, though we cannot guarantee every need. Let us know your dietary requirements on your booking.

Yes, we can. We have an agreement with a Sydney-based tour service to accommodate passengers. Contact us directly to discuss your needs and get your special HV Tours discount code. Conditions apply. There is also our private wine and cheese day tour from Sydney.

Yes, we will try our best to fit you on a bus. Email info@hvtours.com.au with how many people, your preferred date and your contact details including your mobile number. We also have strong connections with other tour services and can recommend one if we cannot accommodate you.

No. Passengers are not allowed to consume alcohol on public transport, and that includes being in possession of an open container. There is plenty of tasting at the stops; the bus is for the stories in between.

Yes, email info@hvtours.com.au a minimum of 7 days before your original tour date. The short version of the cancellation terms:

• Shared tours: full refund with 7 or more days' notice; no refund under 5 working days.
• Private tours: full refund with 30 or more days' notice; 50% between 14 and 30 days; none under 10 working days.
• A 15% non-refundable deposit secures bookings.

The full detail is in our terms and conditions (PDF).

Drivers may wait a maximum of 10 minutes, only if time permits and at the driver's discretion. Our tours must run close to time because cellar doors require us to arrive within 10 minutes of our booked tasting time, so holding the bus affects everyone on the tour.

Not on shared wine tasting tours: all passengers must be 18 or over. On private tours, yes, by prior arrangement only. NSW Transport laws apply: children aged six months to four years need a rear or forward-facing child seat with an inbuilt harness; four to seven years need a forward-facing seat or booster.

Our tours operate in all kinds of weather: rain, hail or shine. In the cooler months you are mainly indoors in the warmth of a winery; in the warmer months your tasting may even move outdoors into the fresh air.