The Best Ways to get to the Hunter Valley from Sydney Stress-Free

A trip to the Hunter Valley is all about kicking back with a glass of wine and relaxing, but how can you relax if you’re stressing about how to reach the destination in the first place?! Fortunately, there are a few different options to get to the Hunter Valley, and they are all super easy.

Getting to the Hunter Valley is around a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney and just a 45-minute drive from Newcastle airport, so while it isn’t exactly a remote town in the middle of nowhere, it also is not smack bang in the centre of a transport hub. Read on and we’ll help you find a way that matches your needs and budget.

Psst! With the new normal, wine tasting bookings are also now essential, so avoid getting turned away and secure your spot when you book with Klook.

Ok, it seems super obvious, but driving to the Hunter Valley is clearly your best option and is the most popular way to travel there.

If you don’t own or otherwise have access to a car, you should seriously consider hiring one for the duration of your trip. The Hunter Valley is not just one suburb and actually covers quite a vast area. In fact, you may have heard it referred to as ‘region’ and for that reason, it is not the type of destination where you can meander from place to place easily, so having private transport at your disposal will definitely come in handy.

If you don't have a car, there are plenty of car hire options in Sydney and if you are flying into Williamtown Airport in Newcastle you can also rent a car here too. The safest option is to book in advance, plus you'll get a better price this way too.

Once you arrive, if you'd prefer to sit back and relax while someone else drives you around the vineyards, then book a wine tasting tour - it takes all the stress out of the day, so you can focus on your new career as a sommelier.

The train may not take you right into the heart of the Hunter Valley, but it will bring you pretty close and by that we mean Singleton, Maitland or Morisset; all of which are great connecting points to a central location like Cessnock, which is one of the most popular areas to stay in the Hunter Valley.

While the train may not be the quickest route, it is definitely a reliable one and it is also the cheapest! Just make sure you pack a book or download that new series you’ve been planning to binge on for the train trip.

If you're trying to have a more affordable Hunter Valley escape, try the wine tasting at Tulloch's Wines - it's only $10 and is super interesting and great fun! They also have a drink's tasting for kids - think milkshakes, juices and more. It's so cute!

It is not recommended to get a bus allll the way from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, unless you're booking a bus winery tour that leaves from Sydney. Instead, catch the train using the directions above i.e. hop on a regular City Rail service to Morisset. From there, you can jump on a connecting coach run by Rover Coaches, whose timetable matches the incoming trains and services the popular tourist spots in the Hunter.

Rover Coaches also offers day trips around the Hunter Valley for those who choose not to drive. For just $75 you can hop on a tour departing Cessnock, or for a little extra be picked up at Maitland, Singleton, Branxton & Wollombi or even Newcastle. It doesn’t get more convenient!

If you're saving your pennies on transport so you can splash out when you get there, we recommend booking a private luxury wine tasting.

With a leisurely mid-morning start, you will kick off with a wine and oyster pairing before an in-depth tour of the winery. Afterwards, a fine dining degustation lunch with expertly-matched wines awaits you before you are taken to the Barrell Hall to unwind and reflect on the day with some more wine and a charcuterie board.Finish off your day with a take-home gift of a bottle of Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz as a memento of your fabulous day at Brokenwood.

If you can’t spare the time to sit in traffic or take the train, the quickest option by far is a helicopter.

It may seem a little extravagant but when time is money, a quick trip on a chopper can make all the difference, plus it's super romantic... and fun...and extra, and just great.

With Slattery Helicopters or Sydney Helicopters you can enjoy pick up from Sydney domestic or international airports or similarly, be picked up from Williamtown Airport in Newcastle. From there you can simply be dropped off at or near your Hunter Valley accommodation, enjoy a scenic flight over the vineyards or take advantage of one of the wine tasting and dining packages on offer.

If a beer tasting sounds more up your alley, try this half-day beer tasting.

A lot of people don’t realise that the Hunter Valley is home to more than just wine producers and that it also plays host to many boutique breweries. So, if you prefer a bit of that liquid gold over wine, perhaps a beer tasting experience is more your style. On this half-day beer tasting, you’ll sample the best beers the region has to offer, with cheese and charcuterie accompaniments.

Taking it up a notch for those who love to travel in style, why not charter a plane so you can cruise right into the heart of the Hunter, landing at Cessnock airport?

Thought private planes were just for rappers and Kardashians? Well, it may seem totally far-fetched, but if there is a group of you who plan on living it up for a special occasion like a milestone birthday, bucks or hens, a charter plane can allllllmost work out to be the same cost as hiring a private driver and it most definitely saves you time. Ok, it may be a bit more pricey than a private driver, but sometime you need to splash the cash.

Once you've landed in the Hunter, how does a decadent sparkling pancake breakfast sound? Book this luxury food and wine tour to really up the ante of an already extravagant weekend.

We are not suggesting you should tackle the whole trip to the Hunter on two wheels (although you could if your heart reaallly desired) however, once you find your way to the region using one of the above methods, a popular way to get around is by bike!

Cycling not only serves as a way to enjoy the fresh air and the picturesque surrounds, it will also help you burn off all that food and wine you’ve ingested! Win win! There are a plenty of options available, it's even worth checking with your accommodation as they may have some on site for you, but if not, we recommend Suttons Estate Electric Bike Hire, because it's nice to be in the fresh air... but peddling up a hill in this outfit? Pass.

This last suggestion is just a bit of fun and we certainly do not recommend it as a means by which to travel a long distance, however, if you are after a unique and definitely very insta-worthy way of riding around the Hunter Valley, why not try it on horseback or by horse-drawn cart?

With Hunter Valley Horses you can add an exciting activity to the itinerary and go riding through the vineyards or be carted from cellar door to cellar door on a ‘Taste the Valley’ tour.

The girl gang will love it and so will your Instagram followers!

If you want to finish the trip with something completely epic (read Instaworthy), then it has to be a Hot Air Balloon ride over the vineyards. Hands down one of the best things you can do in the Hunter. This is a morning activity, so you may want to plan for an afternoon nap after your long lunch...

Once you've made your way TO the Hunter, you're probably wondering how you can get AROUND the Hunter? If you have opted for something other than driving a car, a great alternative is the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus full-day pass which will allow you the flexibility of your own itinerary and going about Hunter in your own time!

This super convenient service offers you unlimited access to the bus throughout the day. To make things even easier, it operates on a continuous loop in the same direction all day with return transfers to your local accommodation before and after the first and last loops. You can check out the timetable here, which covers 16 top Hunter spots!