Cheese Tasting, Lakeside Lunch

Activity Tours runs this full-day run from Sydney, pairing cellar door tastings with a guided cheese tasting across an 11 hour itinerary. Rated 4.7 from 400 reviews, from $249 per person.

Overview

This is a full-day wine and cheese run out of Sydney, run by Activity Tours, and it packs a lot into 11 hours. Travellers meet at designated points in the city, then travel to the Hunter Valley in an air-conditioned vehicle, where the day is built around tastings at three or four boutique wineries. Between wineries there is a guided artisan cheese tasting, a lakeside lunch with a glass of wine, and a fair chance of spotting kangaroos among the vines, though the operator is upfront that sightings are not guaranteed. The route also passes the Hunter Valley Gardens without stopping.

The tour is capped at 14 participants, and one traveller called the group size perfect for the day. The recent feedback repeatedly praises the guides as funny, well informed and good at keeping the schedule without any hard sell at the cellar doors. One traveller summed up the feel of the day as relaxed, and another found the tastings generous.

It suits adults who want a guided taste of the Hunter Valley without driving or planning anything. It is not a fit for children under 18, and the listing advises against it for pregnant travellers.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in SydneyThere is no hotel pickup. Travellers join at designated meeting points in Sydney.
2. Drive to the HunterThe scenic journey north is done in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, with the Hawkesbury River passed along the way.
3. Hunter Valley wineriesRoughly 5 hours are spent on wine tastings at 3-4 boutique wineries, with admission included. Kangaroo spotting sometimes happens among the vines.
4. PokolbinOne hour in Pokolbin with free admission, passing by the Hunter Valley Gardens.
5. Cheese Factory tastingA 30-minute stop at the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory & Tasting Rooms, with admission included, for the guided artisan cheese tasting.
6. Saddlers Creek WinesA 30-minute tasting stop at Saddlers Creek Wines with admission included.
7. Return to SydneyThe drive back takes 1 hour and 30 minutes per the itinerary, with return to Sydney around 6-6:30pm depending on traffic.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you decide whether this day fits, from the meeting point to what the cheese tasting actually involves.

• Meeting, not pickup. Hotel pickup is not included. You need to make your own way to a designated meeting point in Sydney, and the listing says these are near public transportation.
• Long day out. The tour runs 11 hours with a return around 6-6:30pm depending on traffic. Expect to be on the bus for stretches between stops, so factor that into your plans for the evening.
• Small group feel. The group is capped at 14 travellers. One reviewer called the size perfect, and the listing confirms the tour will have a maximum of 14 travellers.
• Food and drink. Wine tastings, the cheese tasting and a lakeside lunch with a glass of wine are all included. Several reviewers mention a chocolate tasting stop on their trips, though it is not listed among the included items, so treat it as a possible extra rather than a promise. Gratuities are not included.
• Buying wine. There is no pressure to buy. One reviewer noted there was no hard sell for the wine, so buy only if something takes your fancy, and plan how to carry bottles home if you do.
• Adults only. You must be 18 or older to taste wines, and the tour is not suitable for children under 18. The listing also says it is not recommended for pregnant travellers, and wine knowledge from the guides is certified.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met it can be cancelled, in which case you are offered a different date or a full refund. It is not wheelchair accessible, and there is no hotel pickup, so getting to the meeting point is on you. A few reviewers flagged real disappointments: one said the food at the golf course took too long to arrive, and one wished the guide had talked more about the scenery and history on the drive. Kangaroo sightings, which the listing promotes, are not guaranteed.

Choosing Your Tour