Things to do in Hunter Valley

Classes & Workshops

Auslan Interpreted Gallery Tour

Sat, 21 Nov, 2:00 pm AEDT

Maitland · Free admission

Explore the exhibitions with a Gallery Guide and Auslan interpreter Karen Lantry, where you will learn more about the Gallery's exhibitions and events along with fascinating stories about the artworks on display. Bring a friend or two for a relaxed social afternoon.

Classes & Workshops

Spilling the Tea

Sat, 28 Nov, 11:00 am AEDT

Maitland · Free admission

Join artist Shan Turner Carroll for a relaxed workshop where you can explore a range of materials and mediums, including collage and drawing. Spilling The Tea: Is a monthly, inclusive, empowering art program designed specifically for queer-identifying youth living in regional and rural areas. This workshop offers a safe, supportive, and creatively stimulating space where young people can explore artistic expression, connect with peers, and build a sense of identity and community.

Markets & Expos

Christmas on John Street

Fri, 4 Dec, 6:00 pm AEDT

Singleton · Free admission

Deck the halls, hang the stockings and get ready to rock around the Christmas tree – Christmas on John Street is back to transform Singleton's Town Centre. A massive evening of music, food and fireworks is on everyone’s list, and Santa will be checking it twice with free photos at Singleton Rotary’s North Pole grotto. John Street will become Santa Claus Lane, overrun with roving entertainers, performances from local dance groups and musical acts, food trucks and Laneway Bar, plus a huge range of free kid's activities like jumping castles, face painting, putt putt and more! Markets and retailers will also be open for late-night shopping so you can check off all the items on your Christmas list. The evening will finish off with a bang with a fireworks display.

Festivals & Fairs

Lavender Field Walk and Tour

Sat, 5 Dec, 10:00 am AEDT

Broke · Free admission

Take a stroll around the lavender fields in bloom in the Hunter Valley and lose yourself in the magical sea of purple this summer! Whether you’re looking for that perfect Instagram snap, wanting to take your significant other on a romantic stroll, or just looking to soak in the beautiful countryside scenery, we have just the thing for you. Gather up your friends or family and head on out for an unforgettable experience.

Food & Drink

Street Eats - Maitland

Fri, 11 Dec, 5:00 pm AEDT

Maitland · Free admission

Get into the Christmas spirit with a magical night of Street Eats and Christmas movies at Maitland Sportsground. Bring the family along for an evening packed with Christmas activities, carols from the Maitland Musical Society and special visits from Santa and the Grinch! Grab a bite from the food trucks, settle in and enjoy a festive night out with the whole family. Free tickets are required, so make sure you register to secure your spot. Street Eats is a Council-run program that brings mobile food vendors into public places across the Maitland area. Locations, times and food trucks vary from month to month and are subject to change. To stay up to date with Street Eats events, follow the My Maitland Facebook page.

Classes & Workshops

70s and 80s Singalong Paint and Sip by Paint Juicy in Pokolbin

Sat, 12 Dec, 1:00 pm AEDT

Pokolbin · From $59

Paint Juicy hosts a 1970s and 1980s singalong paint and sip session in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. Guests gather for an afternoon of guided painting set to 1970s and 1980s music, with a host artist leading the group through a step by step canvas while a curated playlist runs through the room. Painters sing along to the bangers, paint at their own pace and leave with a finished canvas worth keeping. No painting experience is needed. All materials including canvas, paints, easel, brushes and aprons are supplied. Natural breaks between layers give everyone time to grab a drink, take photos and catch their breath before the next singalong moment. The format suits adults after a more memorable day out than a standard lunch or drinks, and it is a popular pick for hens nights, birthdays and work groups. Paint Juicy is a fully mobile paint and sip experience travelling across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The brand has hosted more than forty two thousand guests and has won the Best of Queensland Experience award every year since 2022. Hosts are warm and entertaining, the soundtrack is properly curated and the focus is on real entertainment rather than silent painting.

Zoos, Sanctuaries, Aquariums and Wildlife Parks

Heavenly Hunter Massage and Wellbeing

Lovedale

Adding Aloha to every treatment, Heavenly Hunter Massage & Wellbeing loves being a flowing service to your beautiful accommodations or homes. Being Grounded at Blue Bush Estate in Lovedale, they offer luxury Treatments to you. Their Angel Therapists' specialty massages are KaHuna Bodyworks and Lomi Lomi Heartworks along with Remedial, Relaxation and Deep Tissue. Obtain a state of Zen with a Reiki Energy Healing, Facials or Feet (Reflexology) Treatments. They even offer Restorative Yoga/Meditation sessions. Or you could also uncover more of yourself with an Astrology Reading plus Workshops you can design or attend. Mandi and the Angels aim to create some stillness to busy lives. By adding their services to your stay, they are able to enhance your pre/post Wedding day, Hens/girls' weekend, golf break, celebration/party or "time out from the world" stay! Corporate is never forgotten as well. They look after your complete relaxation, calm and restoration. Established in 2002, Heavenly Hunter Massage offers wonderful treatments from Angelic Therapists in the wine region of Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Covering the Pokolbin, Lovedale, Mount View, Wollombi and Surrounding areas. Book in with them at their base location at Blue Bush Estate, Lovedale.

Image: leaves and fishes

Shopping and Markets

The Trove

Lovedale

Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, Trove offers a thoughtfully curated collection of unique homewares, furniture, and living pieces that bring warmth and character to any space. Trove believes that every home deserves pieces that tell a story. Its handpicked selection includes everything from rustic, handmade stools to artisan vases and inviting daybeds, all designed for relaxed, stylish living. Each item is chosen for its distinctive character and quality craftsmanship. Customers are encouraged to pair their finds with vibrant houseplants to create spaces that feel fresh, welcoming, and uniquely personal. Whether styling a home, searching for the perfect gift, or adding a one-of-a-kind touch to a room, Trove presents timeless treasures designed to inspire.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Sandra Blackburne Art Studio and Gallery

Pokolbin

View works in oils and drawings on paper by Sandra Blackburne. Sandra has 30 years of experience working in Sydney as a professional artist and designer. Furthermore, in the past five years, she has also been the resident artist at me Artspace in St Leonard's, Sydney. Her work explores the textures and layers of the Australian landscape. As a landscape artist, she sees the world in terms of painterly images. Sandra is drawn toward isolated places and wild spaces. The feeling of the place - the effects of light, shapes and colour in nature is what she loves to paint. Exhibitions that Sandra has participated in include the Hunters Hill Art Show, Northern Beaches, and Korean Art Exhibition, and has also had major solo exhibitions throughout Sydney, including The Incinerator Art Space and Dank Street Galleries. Sandra's works are also represented at The Watershed Gallery in Pokolbin.

Image: Phillippa Sutton

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Hunter Valley Axe Throwing

Pokolbin

Ready for some axe throwing fun? Age - 16 upwards. Must be with parent if under 18 All sessions begin with an axe-throwing lesson and safety demonstration with one of their friendly staff. They will teach you all you need to know to get you started with axe throwing, no experience necessary! Our venue has been designed indoor, with air-conditioning to maximise your comfort. Then you start with a briefing and then given a demo, with 30 mins practice time and then onto the competition. ​ At the end, the two highest-scoring players will battle it out in the finals to be crowned Uncorked Champion to win a bottle of Hunter Valley wine! They are the only wine based axe throwing facility in the world (so they think), taking uncorked to a whole other level. People can book private events, celebrate special occasions and corporate events. Companies love bringing their clients and employees to Uncorked because of how fun and great of an experience it is. ​ They decided to do a wine theme as they are in the heart of the wine country and all of their activities are wine themed. Its not your ordinary axe throwing that you would expect but come and take a look at what we have designed for max fun.

Image: Phillippa Sutton

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Hunter Valley Smash Room

Pokolbin

Located at Sutton Estate in the Hunter Valley, we offer activities such as the Smash Room, Axe Throwing, the Wine Escape Room and the Chocolate Escape Room and electric bike hire. What is a Smash Room? Glad you asked. Hunter Valley Smash Room has two rooms available where you get suited up and go in, pick your weapon and smash wine bottles, plates, wine glasses and anything that is restaurant/ winery based. They see it as a positive release of tension and who doesn't need that now? It is a safe environment to get your anger out and walk away (without having to clean up) or take it out on anyone. Each smasher gets a crate of wine bottles included and extra items can be purchased. The wine bottles are donated from local wineries and repurposed to have an extra life before they are recycled, so they are fully doing their thing for the environment. They look forward to seeing you get smashed!

Image: Phillippa Sutton

Sports and Recreation Facilities

Hunter Valley Wine Escape Room

Pokolbin

The Wine Escape Room is an adventure games based on wine, in which players work together to solve a series of puzzles using clues hidden using elements of the room, to complete the objective, which is to escape. Suited for small groups of two up to ten people, you and your team have 60 minutes to solve the mystery, get maximum points and unveil the secret bottle of wine.

Spas and Retreats

Wine Body and Spirits

Lovedale

Wine Body & Spirits (formerly Yoga in the Vines) is a mobile business, curates bespoke individual wellness experiences and/or blended wellness and wine signature experiences for corporate and private groups across the Hunter Valley. At the heart of every experience is a philosophy of balance. Wine Body & Spirits invites guests to embrace a realistic approach to wellbeing, one where a glass or two of wine sits comfortably alongside yoga, pilates, meditation or sound bath and mindful self-care, free of guilt. Sessions are gentle and welcoming for every level, designed to stretch, restore and quiet the mind before a big event or during a weekend away, with guests having the option to add a "sip session" and settle in to savour the region's celebrated wines. From corporate retreats and team gatherings to weddings and hen celebrations and weekends away with friends, each experience is thoughtfully tailored to the occasion and hosted to leave guests feeling refreshed, connected and well looked after.

Entertainment Venues

Hunter Wine Theatre

Pokolbin

Hunter Wine Theatre at Hunter Farm in Pokolbin brings the story of Hunter Valley wine to life through an entertaining and informative audiovisual experience. Vintage in the Hunter Valley happens for only a short period each year. Hunter Wine Theatre gives visitors the opportunity to see what happens during harvest and winemaking at any time of year, from grapes being picked and crushed through to the journey into the winery. Presented in a dedicated theatre, the experience follows the winemaking process on the big screen and explores the history and traditions of Hunter Valley wine. Visitors discover how grapes travel from vineyard to winery and how Hunter Valley wines are created. Hunter Wine Theatre is ideal for visitors who want to learn more about wine without committing to a longer experience. For those wanting to go deeper, the immersive two-hour Hunter Valley Wine School explores grape growing, winemaking, tasting and blending. The Theatre is located at Hunter Farm, a family-owned 100-acre Pokolbin property where visitors can also enjoy wine tasting, vineyard experiences, grape stomping, barrel rolling, farm animals, horses, adventure activities and dining.

Image: HUNTER VALLEY ADVENTURE CENTRE

Amusement and Theme Parks

Hunter Farm and Adventure Centre

Pokolbin

Hunter Farm and Adventure Centre is a family-friendly Hunter Valley attraction in Pokolbin, bringing adventure, farm animals, horses, food, wine and hands-on experiences together on one family-owned 100-acre property. There is something for couples, families, friends and groups, including Segway tours, archery, axe throwing, laser target shooting and other outdoor activities at Hunter Adventure Centre. Meet the farm animals, enjoy horse riding or explore the countryside on a horse-drawn carriage tour. Visitors looking for hands-on experiences can try grape stomping, barrel rolling, pizza making and candy making. Wine lovers can visit Hunter Farm Wines, experience Hunter Wine Theatre or go deeper with the immersive two-hour Hunter Valley Wine School. Hunter Valley Cooking School offers another hands-on experience for visitors who would rather participate than simply watch. There is plenty to do for visitors who do not drink wine, making Hunter Farm an easy choice for families and groups with different interests. Stay for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks at 4 Pines at the Farm, or stay onsite at Hunter Valley Resort and Farm. Come for one activity or spend a few hours discovering just how much there is to do at Hunter Farm.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Hermitage Road Antiques

Pokolbin

A very large shop, established early this centenary in Pokolbin, the heart of the wine region in the lower Hunter Valley NSW. Specializing in a broad range of quality products and services including Repair, Restoration and Manufacture. General Antiques Collectables and Furniture. Marine Industrial and Railway. Memorabilia Silverware and Porcelain. Books Tools China and Glass. Products from around the world and around the corner with an emphasis on quality, value and craftsmanship. Restoration and Repair is an integral aspect of the business and with full workshop facilities on site, many of the above-mentioned products undergo a complete restoration. Recycled Australian hardwoods, Kauri and various Pines are prominent throughout the shop and our restored furniture is Guaranteed. Repair and Restoration is not limited to timber products and furniture. Steel, cast-iron, brass, copper, aluminium and silverplate is cleaned, machined, buffed, polished and hand-finished, extending the product range to fuel stoves, fireplaces and grates, lamps and lights, hardware, cookware, instruments, cutlery, fixtures, fittings and more. A good wow factor and a unique shopping experience.

Spas and Retreats

Spa Anise

Pokolbin

Experience complete relaxation and rejuvenation at Spa Anise in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley. This elegant day spa features two serene treatment rooms, each with its own private courtyards. The fully qualified therapists are on hand to ease the stress of life with a luxurious range of treatments. Whether you're indulging as part of a luxury stay at Spicers Vineyards Estate or visiting as a local for a restorative escape, Spa Anise delivers timeless tranquillity. Spa Anise offers stunning rituals for the face and body, blending advanced techniques with meticulously formulated spa products to ensure each treatment delivers a slice of relaxation haven. Spa Anise uses organic products from the premium Australian brand Waterlily, formulated exclusively for day spas using the purest aromaceuticals and phytonutrients to create a performance driven sensory journey. From express skin rituals and a full-body rejuvenation to couples' treatments and pregnancy massages, Spa Anise invites you to unwind in the most luxurious way.

Image: Maitland City Council

Parks and Gardens

Maitland Park

Maitland

Maitland Park is a centrally located reserve offering Victorian landscapes and architecture amongst sporting fields and facilities for leisure activities. The Park currently boasts both winter and summer sporting opportunities including a croquet lawn, 32 resurfaced netball courts, and a state of the art hockey field, soccer and football. Organise a family or friend gathering at Maitland Park where you can enjoy up to date facilities, including BBQ, toilets and filtered water station. Let the kids run wild in the enclosed playground which caters for all ages and abilities with inclusive equipment, including a liberty swing available. The key to use the liberty swing can be borrowed from Maitland Aquatic Centre kiosk. Food and drinks are also available to purchase from the kiosk. Kids can enjoy the interactive miniature 'road' with a model petrol refill station, making it the perfect route to ride little bikes, scooters and remote control cars. Maitland Park gardens and rotunda are popular photography and wedding locations.