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Hunter Valley car rental

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

Once you have spent the morning working up a thirst strolling through the local parks, it is time to investigate what the region is most famous for - wine! This is the oldest wine growing region in the country and boasts some of the world’s finest Semillon and Shiraz among others.

Some of Australia’s most prestigious wine labels are grown and produced here including: Lindeman’s, Wyndham Estate, Tyrell’s and McGuigan’s. You can tour the more than 120 wineries and sample their delights as well as taking advantage of cellar door sales. If you are more of a beer lover than a wine connoisseur, then you are not forgotten here in the Hunter either. Pay a visit to the Bluetongue Brewery, which produces four boutique beers – a rich premium lager, a bitter, a refreshing wheat based beer and the house specialty an alcoholic ginger beer. You can see the brewery in action as you enjoy the ale on tap and you can also purchase the products from the cellar door.

If you are partial to a glass of wine, but can’t pick a Chardonnay from a Cabernet Sauvignon, then there is assistance at hand with a short course at the Hunter Valley Wine School. Their two hour session will teach you all you need to know to truly appreciate a good drop.

As well as fine wine, the Hunter Valley region has a strong food culture. Everyone knows that wine and cheese go together like the proverbial horse and carriage, so why not trot over to the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory or the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop to sample their gourmet handmade cheeses and preserves? If you have a sweet tooth that demands to be abated, then the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company is the place to go. There are plenty of exquisite chocolates and fudge on offer making use of the finest Belgian chocolate combined with locally grown nuts and dried fruits.

In the late afternoon why not get a different perspective on the valley with a Hunter Valley helicopter tour through Slattery Helicopter Charter. Glide over the vineyards getting a bird’s eye view of the region that you will never forget. Alternatively you can taka a horse ride through some of the scenic routes in the region or explore the area with a horse and carriage ride around the wineries.

There is plenty to do in the Hunter Valley, which makes it one of the most enjoyable and romantic destinations to be found anywhere around Australia. Explore it for yourself!

Hunter Valley travel

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.

The Great North Road was the first major link between Sydney and the Hunter Valley region. It stretches for just over 260 kilometres and was built by convicts in the early 1800s. Although parts of it have fallen into disrepair over the ensuing years, it is still used. If you don't have your own transport, it is possible to take a one-day tour from Sydney or book a coach for a single or return trip.

Hunter Valley accommodation is available for every budget and there is huge variety of Hunter Valley hotels, beach resorts and country-style retreats to choose from.

Some of the major Hunter Valley attractions are the Hunter Valley wineries. Many world famous wine producers are based in the region and most of the larger vineyards (and also many smaller ones) offer tours and wine tastings. Whether you have a day or a week to explore, you can take in a number of wineries and also get a flavour of the countryside as you travel around. You can work out your own itinerary, or book a Hunter Valley wine tour.

However, it's not just the wine that keeps visitors coming back. The Hunter Valley has plenty of other attractions that make it a wonderful holiday destination. You can explore the rainforest in Barrington Tops National Park , visit Lake Macquarie, or stroll around the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens. There are wildlife trails, golf courses and, of course, plenty of wonderful Hunter Valley restaurants to dine in. Expedia.co.uk has late holiday deals on destinations worldwide.