7.5-Hour Day, Lunch With Wine

HV Tours runs this award-winning 7.5-hour wine and food experience for visitors based in the Hunter Valley, from $230 per person with free cancellation. It holds a 4.9 rating across 156 reviews.

Overview

This full-day outing from HV Tours runs for 7.5 hours and centres on small boutique cellar doors rather than the big-name operations. Pickup is included from local accommodation, so the day starts at the door and finishes back there. Along the way the group tastes wine at several family-scale wineries.

Lunch is part of the package: a casual sit-down meal at a local restaurant with a glass of wine, served with views over vineyards. The listing is upfront that group-oriented lunches cannot cater to every dietary requirement, so anyone with specific needs should contact the operator ahead of booking.

The tour suits travellers staying in the Hunter Valley area who want a relaxed, sociable day with someone else doing the driving. It is not a Sydney product. The listing states clearly that there is no pickup from Sydney, and the group is capped at a maximum of two travellers on this product. Reviewers regularly praise the guides and describe the wineries visited as friendly and welcoming.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupThe guide collects travellers from local accommodation as detailed at booking. There is no pickup from Sydney.
2. Included experiencesThe listing describes the day as wine tasting at genuine Hunter Valley small boutique cellar doors and wineries, a leisurely casual lunch with a glass of wine at a local restaurant, complimentary cheese tastings and a chocolate fudge tasting, plus chances to see and photograph kangaroos and other wildlife. The listing does not publish a fixed stop-by-stop schedule.
3. Return transferTravellers are dropped back at their accommodation at the end of the day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things are worth knowing before booking this tour.

• Stay locally. Pickup only covers local accommodation in the Hunter Valley, not Sydney. Book a place to stay in the region if coming from the city. One reviewer staying well outside the area said the operator helped arrange a lift.
• Tiny group. The listing caps this product at a maximum of two travellers, which makes for a very small group. Confirmation is subject to availability, so book ahead to secure a place.
• Pace and timing. The day runs 7.5 hours door to door. One reviewer described the tour as well coordinated.
• Food and drink. Lunch with a glass of wine, cheese tastings and a fudge tasting are all included. Personal food and beverage purchases at the venues are not. The listing warns that not all dietary requirements are catered to, so contact the operator about restrictions first.
• Accessibility. The listing states the tour is wheelchair accessible, including transportation and surfaces, and that service animals are allowed. Most travellers can participate.
• Bring a camera. Kangaroos and other wildlife can be seen and photographed, according to the listing. Travellers also mention taking in the sights the Hunter Valley has on offer.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run; if that minimum is not met, travellers are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Weather can also cause cancellation, with the same options of a new date or a full refund. Refunds are only given when cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time. One reviewer found a brewery lunch below par, so a single venue on the day may not suit everyone.

Choosing Your Tour