The Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region, is where family fun meets gourmet delights. It’s packed with vineyard tours tailor-made for parents and outdoor adventures for the little explorers, less than three hours’ drive from Sydney.
The Hunter is one of the most popular NSW holiday destinations, famous for its crisp, clean air and rolling countryside that undulates from gentle hilltops to rich green valleys, and for its diverse towns, dining, entertainment, and attractions.
And there’s plenty here for the kids – let them run wild in Hunter Valley Gardens, explore the vineyards on horseback or view them from up high on a balloon ride.
What to do in the Hunter Valley with kids
Here are some of the top things to do on a family trip to the Hunter Valley – in between the cellar doors!
1. Explore the magical Hunter Valley Gardens
The Hunter Valley Gardens is a vast landscaped park with 10 feature gardens spread out over 25 acres. This popular attraction has ten internationally-themed gardens to explore, including the magical Storybook Garden filled with littlies’ favourite characters.
Kids can sit at the Alice in Wonderland table and go rolling down the hill with Jack & Jill. There are also five rides open during school holidays and event periods, including a carousel, swing chair, giant ferris wheel, 35m-long super slide and teacup ride.
OAWK Tip: Avoid the queue at this popular attraction (especially during school holidays) by pre-purchasing tickets on Klook.
2. See Australia's largest Christmas lights display
Every summer, the Hunter Valley Gardens hosts the Southern Hemisphere’s largest lights display of over three million lights. The Christmas Lights Spectacular is set to light up the region from 7 November 2025 to 26 January 2026.
3. Build a snowman in the Hunter Valley
In winter, the Snow Time in the Garden festival is a family favourite with loads of activities including ice skating, snowball challenges, and ice sculpting. The event runs from 28 June to 27 July in 2025.
4. Meet the animals at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
See animals including African white lions, cheetahs and lemurs, kangaroos, koalas and Tasmanian devils at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park. You can also get up close with meerkats, tamarins and marmosets by booking an encounter.
Younger kids will love to feed the kangaroos and wallabies, hold a few reptiles and say hello to koalas. The zoo has a wide variety of exotic and native animals, including monkeys, American alligators, Tasmanian Devils, dingoes and lots of birds.
OAWK Tip: Get discount admission when you pre-purchase tickets through Klook.
5. Take a horse or pony ride with Hunter Valley Horses
Take a horse ride with Hunter Valley Horse Riding and Adventures, suitable for kids aged ten and over. The one-hour ride is beginner-friendly, taking you through the vineyards and past spectacular views of the valley below.
Under-tens can opt for a pony ride and the chance to meet the farm’s adorable baby animals. Another option for all ages is to take a rustic horse-and-cart tour of the Hunter Valley’s vineyards (complete with wine, cheese and chocolate tastings)
6. Explore the Hunter Valley on a Segway or 4WD
On a Segway tour, you get to go off-road and through the surrounding bush where you’re likely to see kangaroos, foxes, hares and wombats. But you’ll need to be quiet so you don’t scare them away. If horse riding is too calm, try an off-road 4WD evening adventure. It’s a great opportunity to see native nocturnal wildlife.
7. Head up in a hot air balloon with Balloons Aloft
It’s an early start at 4 am, but a hot air balloon flight over the Hunter Valley is an experience you will never forget. The balloon glides swiftly and silently above the valley as you watch the vineyards drift by below, and kangaroos scatter in your shadow. The experience includes breakfast and is suitable for kids seven or older.
8. Try a family-friendly tasting experience
The Hunter Valley Cheese Factory has a number of different tasting experiences to choose from, from mild to smelly, as well as some other dairy product delights including gelato and chocolate.
Kid-friendly Hunter Valley wineries
There are several Hunter Valley wineries catering to families. At Tulloch Wines, children aged four to 12 can enjoy a special Junior Tasting Experience which consists of three snacks paired with three non-alcoholic drinks.
There’s also a dedicated kids’ zone at Misty Glen Wines, indoor and outdoor games at Scarborough Wine Co., a cubby house at Whispering Brook, and play equipment at Gemelli Estate.
Scarborough Wines Co.
Fine wines, cheese platters and wide open grassy spaces for the kids to explore. The cellar door at Scarborough Wines Co has everything you need for a family-friendly wine tasting experience. While adults are sampling Scarborough’s award-winning wines, kids will be sipping on something sweet of their own. They’ll get a kids pack with a juice, colouring activities and puzzles to keep them entertained. And that’s before they even step outside. The kids zone has hula hoops, giant Jenga, chess boards, quoits, and a huge chalkboard outside to draw on.
179 Gillards Rd, Pokolbin
Open 7 days from 10 am – 5 pm
Wandin Estate - Lovedale
Wandin Estate cellar door is a crowd-pleaser for kids and grown-ups. Let the kids run free outside exploring the cricket ground and pavilion. An activities table has been set up permanently just inside the cellar door to keep the kids busy while the grown-ups sample some fine wine.
12 Wilderness Rd, Lovedale
Open 7 days from 10 am – 5 pm
Where to stay in the Hunter Valley with kids
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley - Lovedale
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley is located at Lovedale, a two-hour drive north of Sydney and one-hour from Newcastle. The luxury resort with a huge variety of accommodation options, from standard hotel rooms to three-bedroom villas. It has the Water Dragon Kids Club, for children aged three to 12, Splash Park, games room and teen lounge. Miniature trains and a carousel operate at set times during the school holidays.
The Lovedale resort also offers a miniature train and a carousel (operating on weekends and during school holidays), a games room, teen lounge, and last but not the least, a water park designed for all-year-round use.
Harrigan's Hunter Valley - Pokolbin
Harrigan’s Hunter Valley in Pokolbin provides a comfortable stay for families with everything from studios to three-bedroom apartments. Wake up to buffet breakfast and then let the kids explore the vineyards behind the hotel.
Browse more Hunter Valley family accommodation below to find your perfect stay:
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Opening image: Families enjoying the Superslide Ride at Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin © Destination NSW
