The Hunter Valley is located in New South Wales, Australia. Book accommodation using the search box above for the best value Hunter Valley accommodation.
The Hunter River was ‘discovered' by European settlers in the 1700s. The river takes its name from John Hunter who was the Governor of the New South Wales colony at the time. The discovery of coal quickly led the Hunter Valley to become an important settlement, with coal mining providing work and revenue and attracting more settlers and industry. It remains a major coal producing area to this day.
One of the best ways to explore the Hunter Valley is to rent a car. The search box below allows you to choose the location to pick up your hire car and then book without paying at this stage at discount rates, just the best system, so give it a go.
Hunter Valley weather
The climate of the Hunter Valley is a variation of Mediterranean, warm with rain in summer and cool in winter. The region also experiences a subtropical effect, due to the maritime effects from the Pacific Ocean. This weather system makes the region great for growing grapes and producing some of Australia’s finest wines - yet it is also the warmest and wettest of all the wine growing areas of Australia.
In Summer the average daily temperature can often reach 30C with a minimum of 18C, but beware as the heaviest rainfalls occur during the months of December-March. During these months the Hunter Valley receives an average of 7.5 hours of sunshine a day.
A day in the Hunter Valley
For lovers of vino and la dolce vita, the Hunter Valley north of Sydney is awaiting you with a welcome bottle of some of Australia’s best wines and fine dining experiences. The Hunter Valley regularly tops the list of most popular holiday destinations in Australia offering a range of luxurious attractions that will revive your spirit. The Hunter Valley region is the perfect place to escape the big city and bright lights for a vacation or a simple weekend getaway. It is located a mere 50 kilometres from Newcastle and only an hour and a half drive north of Sydney making it easily accessible from anywhere in the country.
Start your day in the most relaxing manner possible with an early morning yoga class at Embody Arts or one of the many other yoga centres in the area. Follow the class up with a massage at one of the many local day spas and you will be floating on cloud nine and ready for a truly hedonistic day. There are many Hunter Valley National Parks, one of which forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring the hiking trails in these parks with a picnic stocked with some of the best local produce and getting to know the superb landscape is the perfect way to unwind your mind and spark your energy levels. Barrington Tops is a World Heritage Site and national park that has many walking trails for different experience levels as well as some real excitement in the form of white water canoeing, four wheel driving and kayaking. The park is set on a 1500 metre plateau of extinct volcanoes. Other parks in the area that offer beautiful natural settings include: Wollemi National Park, Goulburn River National Park and Yengo National Park. read more about the Hunter Valley

The lush green landscapes and gently rolling hills that characterize much of the Hunter Valley are a result of the mighty river. This permanent water supply, combined with the climate and soil, made the area ideal for growing vines and today there are over 60 wineries in the Hunter Valley.
