Tour Information

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

If your pickup location doesn’t appear on the accommodation list, please write the name of your accommodation in ‘other’ box. If you are unsure, please contact us directly, we’ll let you know if we can pick up from your location.

You will receive a text message, email or phone call the night before with your more specific pickup details. We usually start pickup from your Hunter Valley accommodation from 9am. This time may change depending on how many fellow wine lovers there are on your tour and where their pickups are. The Hunter has many accommodations spread out over a large area. Your first wine tasting is usually at 10am

Yes, we welcome everyone. Please write any needs in the box provided and contact us, in advance as not all locations we visit have the required facilities or access, and we want to provide you an inclusive service and give you as much enjoyment as we can, for your tour with us. Check out our website for our inclusion policy, letter.

A full day wine tasting tour – 7.5 hours on average. Your first tasting commences at 10am. Cellar doors close at 5pm.

A half day wine tasting tour – 3.5 to 4 hours on average.

Pickup and return from your tour may fluctuate on the day but your driver will let you know.

Most commonly, yes. These are usually around $10 per person. Wine tasting costs vary from $10 to $55 depending on where you wish to go and what you wish to experience and taste.

Yes. If you look under 25 generally, you’ll be asked to show ID.

Yes, dietary requirements options are available at most of the lunch venues we visit however we cannot guarantee it. Please let us know of any dietary needs on your booking.

Yes, we can. We have an agreement with a Sydney based tour service to accommodate passengers. Please contact us directly to discuss your needs further. Conditions apply.

Yes, we will try our best to fit you on a tour bus! Please email info@hvtours.com.au and let us know how many people you would like to book for, the tour date you are after and your contact details, including your mobile phone number.

We have strong connections with other tour services and can recommend other tour services to use if we cannot accommodate you on our tour bus and or your date cannot be changed.

No, passengers are not allowed to consume alcohol on public transport such as a bus, train, taxi or ferry. This includes being in possession of an open container of alcohol. On wine tours this rule still applies. RSA rules must be followed, even though HVT is not serving you alcohol, the places we take you to are.

Fines apply:

Selling or supplying alcohol to an intoxicated person: $11,000. 

Failure to comply with statutory notices: Up to $990,000 for corporations. 

Yes, please email us at info@hvtours.com.au. This must be done a minimum of 7 days before your original tour date. Make sure you read the details regarding bookings, cancellations, and other terms, please visit our T & C’s.

Our drivers may be able to wait a maximum of 5/10 minutes but only if time permits, however, this is not guaranteed (it is up to the driver’s discretion on the day). “Holding up” the bus and making others wait is obviously not fair and affects everyone else on the tour. Our tours must run as close to time as possible as the cellar doors require us to arrive within 10 minutes of our booked tasting time or they may not serve the group.

Yes, for all private wine tasting tours. These tours can be adjusted to cater to children (anyone under 18 years of age), yes.

You must contact us to let us know if anyone under 18 years of age will be on the tour.

Car seats for children are required by NSW Transport laws. Children aged six months up to four years must use a rear-facing or forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness. Children aged four years up to seven years must use a forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness or a booster seat with an adult lap-sash seatbelt or child safety harness.

No, not for shared wine tasting tours. All passengers must be adults of legal drinking age (18 years of age and over).

Yes, our tours will operate in all kinds of weather – rain, hail or shine! You’re mainly indoors in the warmth and comfort of a winery in the cooler months. Most of our tour buses have umbrella’s onboard, just ask for one if you need it. Wear suitable clothing and shoes for wet weather.

With taxis and Uber’s in short supply, the best way to get around the Hunter Valley is on a group tour or with your very own bus and driver for the day. We offer both.

Nice, smart but casual clothes are absolutely fine to wear as long as they’re clean. It is good not to wear clothes with confrontational (swear) words or sayings on them. It is also good to wear clothes that provide you with a bit of sun protection and suitable for all-weather conditions. It is good to have closed in shoes due to uneven ground and being in a rural country area. Thongs are best left at your accommodation for when you get off the bus. We will be visiting cellar doors, wineries, vineyards and other locations that whilst they are for recreation purposes for us, these are workplaces for others.

Generally, from 10am to 5pm. Some venues are better at different times of the day depending on which way they face. The Hunter Valley is known for its extremes in temperature variation. In Summer the heat can be very hot and in winter it gets quite cold.

Many of the larger venues are open 7 days per week. Many will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and even Wednesday. Best to check their websites before you head there.

It really depends on what you’re looking to do. If wine tasting is your thing you’ll need to allow a whole week because there are over 150 wineries to explore.

We recommend 3 at the most for a full day tour.  3 tastings also allow you to take your time so you’re not rushing around. A half day tour we suggest 2 wine tastings. Each wine tasting venue provides you with on average 6 to 8 different wines to try. A standard wine tasting pour is typically 60-90 ml, allowing for a balanced sampling experience without over-indulging. Times 60mls by 8 wines =480mls x 3 is 1440mls. A standard bottle of wine is 750mls.

Semillon. Semillon is definitely the variety the Hunter Valley is most famous for. Shiraz. Chardonnay. Verdelho follow close behind Semillon.

Drayton’s Family Wines. The family arrived in the Hunter in 1853 and over the generations built one of the most iconic brands in Australia. Pioneers of the Hunter! Wyndham Estate in the Hunter Valley, established as Dalwood Estate in 1828 by George Wyndham, is frequently cited as the oldest winery in Australia.