Summer Holiday Time at The Hunter Valley

Here's to family adventures in the Hunter Valley!

Treat the children to a weekend full of fun and new experiences.

Let's Start With Outdoor Fun and Games

If you want acres of beautiful scenery for the kids to soak up nature, and see life-sized Story Book characters that will thrill their little imaginations, then Hunter Valley Gardens is the place to visit. An outing to the award-winning themed gardens will take between 2-3 hours, and all the pathways are stroller friendly. There is also a fun train ride for the littlies or for those who may find walking all over 14 hectares of the garden too tiring. Explore a 10m high waterfall, topiary displays, man-made ponds, statues, murals, beautiful architectural structures and much more. The Gardens hold special signature events throughout the year. 

The surrounding Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village is a quaint place to go if you're looking for a bite to eat, souvenirs and knick-knacks or forgot to bring your toothbrush from home! The collection of over 20 boutique stores sells sweets, honey, wine, candles, books, toys, handmade crafts and loads more. Children may like to stare at the rows of sweets at the British Lolly Shop or glance over the books and toys at Village Books. There is a small playground adjacent to the Village.

Get Active

On your bike! Explore the vine-fringed path of Hermitage Road on a 10km bike-friendly pathway. Bring your own or hire an electric bike. 

Sweet Spot

Eat your body weight in treats at one of Hunter Valley's sweet spots – Cocoa Nib Chocolates, Sabor Dessert Bar, Hunter Valley Chocolates and Hunter Valley Cheese Co. 

It's not Willy Wonka's, but it will still give your kids a buzz! This factory is where all the magic happens for the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. They make all kinds of chocolate goodies like chocolate honeycomb, mint slices, giant jaffas and sprinkles, handmade choccies disguised as penguins and frogs, chocolate-covered jelly snakes, and pretzels. Watch the kids' eyes light up in front of the jelly bean towers or the chocolate fondue fountain. The factory also sells an impressive range of fudge, candies and nuts and you can taste test a few of their favourites. 

Child-Friendly Cellar Doors

You'll be happy to know that wine tasting can be fun for the whole family. Try the Junior Tasting Experience at Tulloch Wines or visit child-friendly cellar doors to keep the little ones occupied.

Cooking Schools

Junior MasterChefs will not be disappointed. Learn how to make pizza, pasta and cheese or discover the provenance of local produce with educational garden tours. 

Day On The Green

Right next to the Hunter Valley Gardens is Hunter Valley Aqua Golf & Putt-Putt. The driving range is a 50,000m2 lake with a number of floating target nets, and they off fantastic prizes for those lucky enough to hit their ball into one of them. It's probably a tad challenging for very young kids, but they'll have fun watching mum and dad smack golf balls into the water (and it's therapeutic for the parents!).

Kids four and over will have a ball playing a game of putt-putt on the 18-hole course beside the lake. It winds through landscaped gardens within the stunning Hunter Valley Gardens Village and is an idyllic place for family fun that is super affordable - a family pass is only $20. Allow around 30 minutes to complete the course - and remember, the lowest score wins! 

Giddy Up

Saddle up and soak in the views with a gentle horse ride between the vineyards and the bush, take a Segway tour or get the adrenaline pumping at the region's biggest, fastest and most exciting 4-stroke GO KART GO Hunter Valley hire track with a massive 850m long track! Challenge your friends and family to an epic speed race like no other in the latest specification RIMO Schumacher full-sized Go karts from Europe. Junior and adult-accompanied twin seated go-karts are also available to ensure the little ones get a go at zooming around too.

Or you could choose to step back in time and discover the region's horse and cart style these school holidays with Hunter Valley Classic Carriages. Book your Wild West Children's Adventure Tour in an authentic Wild West American Chuck Wagon, offering entertainment for the whole family with rope tying games, lassoing and an experiential fun Western theme! Hunter Valley Classic Carriages have several holiday specials on offer, so be sure to check them out during your visit.

Get Up Close and Personal With Wildlife 

The Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is one of the region's best attractions and home to a menagerie of native and exotic fauna, from dingos to iguanas and monkeys to lions! Having been recently acquired by Sydney Wildlife Parks, Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is now part of the biggest private collection of animals in Australia, delivering world-class care and a unique, up-close experience. Kids will love hand-feeding some of the farmyard animals, kangaroos and birds in the walk-through interactive yards, or you can take it to the next level with an amazing animal encounter where you can feed and interact with exotic creatures like Meerkats, Lemurs and Tamarins. There are daily zookeeper talks and BBQ facilities for those keen to make a day out of it.

Ballooning

Get your camera ready for a super unique sky-high adventure that will delight the kids and take your breath away, turning fantasy into reality on a hot air balloon flight. Float high above picturesque Hunter Valley wine country with the award-winning Balloon Aloft - the most experienced balloon operator in the region. They offer unforgettable sunrise ballooning adventures every day where you can ascend with the dawn in your colourful Balloon.

You will all be completely secure in your basket as you are guided by the breeze above the treetops ascending to heights of 2000 feet or more. Soak up unrivalled views of the vineyards on a magical one-hour tour over the iconic regions of Pokolbin, Lovedale, Rothbury or Broke, followed by a Gourmet Champagne Breakfast at Peterson House winery. 

Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley - School Holiday Events

Nestled in beautiful wine country in the aptly named township of Lovedale, the family-friendly Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is a luxurious retreat for parents that boasts amazing onsite activities to keep kids entertained, including the only splash park in the region.

Equipped with a dedicated Water Dragons Kids Club, teen lounge and games room, indoor crafts, mini train rides, a carousel and the new guests-only heated water park, your little travel buddies will have a ball at the Crowne Plaza. Their year-round kid's club has an activities schedule that will keep the kids busy for hours, even days! Check their School Holiday schedule. 

Voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley - School Holiday Events

Just a 2-hour drive from Sydney positioned in the heart of wine country, voco Kirkton Park is your perfect base for enjoying everything the Hunter Valley has to offer during the school holidays. Spend a weekend or a full week enjoying delicious all-you-can-eat buffet breakfasts, feeding the animals, toasting marshmallows by the fire, having a hit of tennis, swimming in the indoor heated pool or relaxing to live music in Epoche Bar every Friday & Saturday with local wine and cheese. Whether you plan to stay onsite and enjoy our range of activities or explore the region's many attractions, make voco Kirkton Park your home base for experiencing the best school holiday activities on offer in the Hunter Valley.

Winmark Sculpture Walk 

Enjoy the summer holidays at Winmark with a beautiful walk through the spectacular Sculpture Walk. Enjoy two barista coffees for the adults as you stroll through the grounds. The kids are provided with A3 colouring maps & crayons to capture their creativity as they stop and draw what they see! Return to Cellar Door for a Wine Tasting and cheese platter with Winmark's award-winning olives for the adults. Kids are treated to a cheese & bicky plate, popper and ice cream. Additional children at $15 per head. Winmark is a place of remarkable beauty and unexpected discovery.

 

Want More Summer Fun in Sydney?

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FREE Water Parks in Sydney
 

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