How to spend 48 hours in the Hunter Valley

Want to squeeze a whole Hunter Valley vineyard escape into two glorious days? Perfect. Buckle up (wine glass in hand) and let’s roll through the best way to spend a (quite packed) 48 hours in NSW's Hunter Valley.

Getting there

If you're coming from interstate, your best gateway to the Hunter Valley is Newcastle Airport. Recent renovations to the airport include larger, stylish arrival halls, better signage and enhanced pick-up zones, meaning that you can be in and out smoothly and on your way in no time. The airport is less than an hour's drive from Pokolbin, so once you're on the road it's all rolling hills, gum trees and a sense that good things are ahead.

Day 1: The perfect introduction

Morning

Once you've settled in for your drive, the first item on the agenda is finding a good coffee. I'd recommend stopping by Cafe Enzo on Broke Road, Pokolbin; the courtyard of the Tuscan-inspired cafe is glorious on a sunny day, and it's also right next door to the Charteris Wines cellar door. Owned by Kiwi-born winemaker PJ Charteris and his wife, Chrissi, Charteris produces elegant wines from Central Otago and the Hunter Valley. If you've got time, why not stop in for a tasting and sample your first semillon of the trip?

Bistro Molines is a slice of Provence in the Hunter Valley.

Lunch

Your next stop of the day is Bistro Molines in Mount View. With linen-draped alfresco tables, rustic charm and sweeping valley views, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've wound up in France, not Australia. Lead by Robert and Sally Molines and head chef Garreth Robbs, the menu features French provincial dishes perfect for sharing and savouring over a long, long lunch. Order the crumbed zucchini flowers, a glass of chardonnay and settle in.

Afternoon

Once you've finished your long lunch, it's time to check in at your base for the next 48 hours: The Lane Retreat. Nestled on 15 hectares of vineyard and natural bushland, The Lane Retreat features 60 premium suites dotted across the property, each with a private deck for you to enjoy the view and the fresh vine air.

If you've got time before dinner, go for a stroll around the lake, take a dip in the pool or (if you're like me) sleep off your post-lunch food coma with a quick nap. You'll want to be refreshed and with an appetite for the evening ahead.

Dinner

As night falls, head to EXP. Restaurant – recipient of two Hats and Regional Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 SMH Good Food Guide. Founded in 2015 by husband and wife duo Emma and Frank Fawkner, EXP. champions creativity and local ingredients, so come expecting creative plates and an immersive dining experience (and a few 'wow' moments). I'm still thinking about the buttery sourdough crumpet topped with salmon caviar, sour cream and finger lime.

Day 2: Food, wine and a final farewell

Morning

Start slow – you're on Hunter time now. As part of your stay at The Lane Retreat, you'll receive a complimentary selection of gourmet breakfast provisions ready for you to enjoy, so can start your morning at your leisure. Grap a coffee from The Lane Pantry, just a few minutes' stroll from your room, or enjoy a juice on your private deck. Don't sleep in too long though, because you've got another busy day ahead.

Taste award-winning wines at the Thomas Wines cellar door.

After breakfast, start your day the right way with a tasting flight at one of the Hunter's many standout cellar doors. Unfortunately, it's impossible to visit them all, so here's a shortlist for you to choose from:

• Thomas Wines – Come for a deep dive into the region’s defining varieties. Andrew Thomas is one of the Hunter’s leading champions of semillon and shiraz (two of his wines made this year's Top 100 Wines list), and his single-vineyard tastings show just how expressive these classics can be.

• First Creek Wines – This 5-Red Star Halliday winery is the family business of Greg Silkman, son Shaun Silkman and Shaun’s wife, Liz, Halliday's 2025 Winemaker of the Year. First Creek Wines encompasses a range of classic and emerging varieties, with something for every palate and pricepoint, so it's a great spot to pick up a bottle for your suitcase, too.

• Scarborough Wine Co – This homely cellar door feels like stepping into your favourite family lunch, only with better chardonnay. Expect warm hospitality, killer views and wines that always overdeliver.

• Bimbadgen – Bimbadgen is your go-to for big Hunter energy: striking architecture, sweeping vineyard vistas and a lineup of wines that shine just as brightly. It’s the kind of place where one tasting can easily turn into an entire afternoon.

• De Iuliis – De Iuliis is where serious quality meets zero pretension. Think award-winning drops served with a generous side of fun. Come for the standout semillon and shiraz; stay because the vibes (and the wines) are just that good.

Stop by Bimbadgen during your 48-hour trip for old-vine semillon, shiraz and chardonnay.

Lunch

Make your way out to Broke for lunch at Margan Wines & Restaurant, where 'estate to plate' isn’t a catchphrase. It's slightly out of the main hub, but it's well worth the trip. Almost every ingredient comes from the on-site kitchen garden or surrounding farmland, and the wines are crafted just metres away.

Established by Andrew and Lisa Margan, and now incorporating two of the second generation, Alessa and Ollie, in viticulture and winemaking respectively, Margan crafts wines from Hunter classics as well as new and exciting varieties. If, like me, you love riesling, make sure you try the Huesgen & Margan Riesling – a collaboration between Andrew Margan of the Hunter Valley and Ado Huesgen of the Mosel.

Afternoon

It's hard to squeeze everything into 48 hours, to we've got a couple of options for you here. Drop by Yellow Billy Restaurant for a pre-dinner drink or small plate by the firepit. This Pokolbin gem centres around open-flame cooking – think fire-roasted meats and vegetables – and makes for a perfect in-between stop to graze, sip and recharge. Or, if you couldn't eat a thing more, swing by specialty butcher Hungerford Meat Co. in Branxton. Their premium cuts, heritage-breed meats and house-made charcuterie are perfect souvenirs for the trip home – or the next time you’re cooking with a glass of semillon in hand.

Dinner

As if you haven't eaten and drunk enough already, it's time for one last (spectacular) hurrah. Round off your Hunter adventure with dinner at Muse Restaurant, located at Hungerford Hill. With a five-course set menu for dinner Tuesday–Friday, and a seven-course menu on Saturday, Muse is contemporary Australian fine dining done right. The menu is seasonal, with many of the ingredients coming from owner and chef Troy Rhoades-Brown's personal idyllic kitchen garden.

Confession time: I'd never had a scotch egg before visiting Muse, and I'm pretty sure it's ruined all other scotch eggs for me for life – I can't imagine anything could top this. Perfectly paired to Hungerford Hill wines, this dining experience is a fitting finale to your 48-hour feast.

Muse Restaurant at Hungerford Hill is the perfect finale to your whirlwind 48 hours.

Before you go

Book ahead – every restaurant and cellar door in this guide fills fast. Organise a designated driver or local transport service, stay hydrated and leave a little room in your luggage for the inevitable bottle haul.

Two days in the Hunter might sound short, but with this itinerary, it’s just enough time to fall completely in love with one of Australia’s most storied wine regions.

Top image credit: First Creek Wines

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