Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney: 3 Wineries, Gin & Lunch

A distillery visit is part of the wine tour: most people don't expect that.

A small group wine tour from Sydney to Hunter Valley visits 3 wineries and a local distillery over 11 to 12 hours, with guided tastings at each stop and behind-the-scenes production tours at select locations. You choose your pickup time from three central Sydney locations (7:25am, 7:35am, or 7:45am), travel by air-conditioned minivan with a knowledgeable guide, and enjoy a relaxed one-course lunch with wine, craft beer or cider included. Closed-toe shoes are required for the production tour. Minimum age is 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hunter Valley wine and food tasting

• Travel from Sydney to Hunter Valley
• Visit first winery for guided tasting
• Visit second winery for guided tasting
• Visit third winery for guided tasting
• Tour and tasting at distillery
• Enjoy relaxed lunch with wine or beer
• Sample local cheese and chocolate
• Return to Sydney

The experience

The day starts with pickup at one of three central Sydney locations, then a drive north to the Hunter Valley. Once you arrive, the guide leads you through three separate wineries, each with its own tasting and a behind-the-scenes look at how the wine is made. Between stops, you get a sense of the valley itself (the vineyards, the landscape, the rhythm of the region) rather than rushing through a checklist. A local producer runs each tasting, so you're not hearing a script. You're hearing someone who works there explain what they make and why.

Lunch happens midway through the day at a relaxed pace. You get a one-course meal with your choice of wine, craft beer, or cider, which means you can sit down, eat, and actually taste what you're drinking instead of standing at a bar. The gin and vodka tasting comes at a separate stop, so the spirits are their own moment, not squeezed in between the wine. By the time you finish the distillery visit, you've moved through four different producers and tasted across wine, spirits, and food: all of it local to the valley.

Transport is handled in an air-conditioned minivan, which matters on a day when you're tasting alcohol and the valley can get warm. The guide stays with the group the whole time, so questions get answered as you go. Closed-toe shoes are required for the production tour, and you'll need to be 18 or older. The tour wraps up with a return to your Sydney pickup location, arriving back in the afternoon.

What’s included

• Guided tastings at 3 wineries with behind-the-scenes production tours at select locations.
• gin and vodka tasting at a local distillery.
• one-course lunch with wine, craft beer, or cider.
• air-conditioned minivan transport.
• pickup and drop-off at your choice of three central Sydney locations.
• knowledgeable local guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:25

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 21 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Daves Tours

Is this one for you?Book the early pickup time that works with your schedule: the three options let you choose between central Sydney, the Sheraton Grand, or Circular Quay, so you're not traveling across the city before the tour starts. The small group format and local guide mean you're tasting with people who know the valley, not moving through a large tour where questions get lost.

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Top questions

What exactly do I taste at each winery stop?

Each winery includes a guided tasting run by someone who works there, with behind-the-scenes access to the production area at select locations. The specific wines vary by winery, but the Hunter Valley is known for Semillon and Shiraz, and you'll sample what each producer specializes in.

Is the lunch included, or do I pay extra?

Lunch is included in the tour price. You get a one-course meal with your choice of wine, craft beer, or cider to drink with it.

What's the group size on this tour?

It's a small group tour traveling together in an air-conditioned minivan, though the exact maximum group size isn't specified in the tour details.

Do I have to drink alcohol at every stop?

No. At lunch, you can choose wine, craft beer, or cider, and you're welcome to taste or skip tastings at any stop. The minimum age is 18, but there's no requirement to drink at every location.

What time do I need to be ready for pickup?

You choose one of three pickup times when you book: 7:25am from central Sydney locations, 7:35am from the Sheraton Grand, or 7:45am from Circular Quay. You'll need to be ready at your chosen location at that time.