Getting to the Hunter Valley

Looking for a weekend escape or romantic getaway? Only 165km north of Sydney, the world-famous wineries, delicious restaurants and tranquil towns of the beautiful Hunter Valley are easy to get to by car, bus, train or plane. Once you’re there, wine tours will pick you up from your accommodation.

By car

The most direct drive north from Sydney takes around two hours via the M1 motorway, following the Cessnock/Hunter Valley Vineyards exit sign to Cessnock. For a scenic road trip, take the Calga exit for Tourist Drive 33 to historic Wollombi and then on to Pokolbin. This drive takes around 2hr 30min.

By train & bus

You can catch a suburban train from Sydney to Morisset Station and use your Opal card to pay. Then hop on a connecting bus to Cessnock. The whole journey takes around three hours. Regional Trainlink trains run between Sydney and Singleton, which is a 20min taxi ride from Cessnock. The trip takes three hours and you’ll need to book ahead.

The Hunter Line starts in Newcastle and trains run to Maitland and Singleton, where you can transfer to Cessnock. It also connects towns in the Upper Hunter, like Paterson and Dungog. Coaches offering day tours and wine tasting tours depart from Sydney and Newcastle daily.

By plane

Flying to the Hunter Valley is another option, with daily flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other regional cities to Newcastle Airport. Car rental is available for the easy drive to the vineyards – Pokolbin is 50 minutes away. Helicopter tours, with golf and dining packages, are also available from Sydney.

Getting around

Once in the Hunter Valley, you can drive yourself or join a tour. For romantics, Hunter Valley Classic Carriages and Hunter Valley Horses offer horse-drawn carriage tours. You can hire bicycles and pedal to wineries. The Hunter Valley Visitor Centre, near Pokolbin, will help you plan your trip.