Pokolbin attractions

The Harvest the Hunter Horse and Carriage Wine Tour, offered by Hunter Valley Horses, gives you a relaxed, distinctive way to experience the Hunter Valley. Riding in a horse-drawn carriage, you will take in the region’s beautiful scenery while sampling some of its award-winning wine and local produce. The tour includes tastings at three venues: two wine tastings and a combined cheese-and-chocolate tasting. As you move through the valley, you’ll enjoy the flavours of locally produced wines, cheeses and chocolate and appreciate the landscape that shapes them. The experience is focused on tasting and scenery, offering a pleasant introduction to the Hunter Valley’s food and wine culture.

At McCaffrey’s Estate in the Hunter Valley you'll enjoy a relaxed, seated wine and cheese tasting and hear first‑hand stories of life lived and loved amongst the vines. The estate is family owned and operated and is one of the smaller producers in the region, with 11 acres under vine. During the tasting you’ll sample a range of the estate’s premium, handcrafted wines while seated and paired with cheese. The vineyard produces a variety that includes sparkling, Semillon, Verdelho, Chardonnay, Rosé, Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and fortified wine. Along the way you’ll hear personal stories from the family about the vineyard and its life among the vines, alongside conversation about the wines you’re tasting.

This experience offers an ideal taste of what the Hunter Valley has to offer, especially if you have only a limited amount of time in the region. You will visit three boutique wineries where each stop includes a private tasting of their wines. Along the way you will get a clear sense of the variety on offer from small producers. At one winery you will take part in the provider’s famous cheese & wine masterclass, where you will be taught how to match seven different cheeses with seven different wines. The tours are presented in an informative and professional way, with a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Your hosts and the tour partners typically offer great wines and will look after guests well, so you can focus on tasting and learning as you move through the Hunter Valley.

You will start with a self-guided tour of the onsite museum, where you can explore exhibits at your own pace and learn about the vineyard’s story. Along the way, an in-house wine expert will lead a master class and a premium tasting, explaining the wines you sample and the techniques behind them. After the tasting, you will collect a bottle of handpicked wine and a picnic hamper to share between two. Choose a scenic spot somewhere on the estate’s 270-acre property to enjoy the view and immerse yourself among the vines. As you relax with your picnic and wine, you will feel as though you have the whole vineyard to yourself.

Tulloch Wines sits in the Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest wine region, an easy two-hour drive from Sydney and about 45 minutes from Newcastle. At the winery you'll take part in a chocolate and wine pairing experience that brings together Tulloch's wines and artisan chocolate made locally in the Hunter Valley. Seated in a private area, one of the Wine Educators or Guides will introduce the tasting and guide you through five wines paired with five matching chocolates. Along the way you'll explore questions such as which wine suits white chocolate and whether chocolate can be enjoyed with drier red wines. You’ll receive a tasting mat to follow each pairing and a take-home wine experience guide to refer to after your visit.

This helicopter flight offers a quick way to take in the highlights of the Hunter wine region when you have limited time. It’s aimed at people who want an overview of the area from the air rather than a long ground-based tour. The experience is focused on giving you a compact, scenic perspective of the region’s character. From above you’ll enjoy sweeping views that capture the layout and landscape which define the Hunter wine region. Along the way you may see the patchwork of vineyards, cellar doors and rolling countryside that make this area distinctive. The flight provides a clear, aerial sense of the region’s scale and setting, making it easy to spot the places you might want to explore on a later visit.

At the Air Force Base you’ll have the chance to sit in a real fighter jet and explore a wide range of displays. Along the way you can examine weapons, radars, ejection seats and other artefacts on show, and see the Norm Forrester Collection of hand‑made model aircraft. If you’d like to try flying, motion simulators that recreate an F/A‑18 Hornet are available for an additional cost. When you’ve finished viewing the exhibits, a short step up to the Observation Deck will let you sit and watch some of the world’s most advanced aircraft take off and land. There’s also a souvenir shop where you can find something truly unique. The on-site cafe offers a warm welcome, good food and a friendly atmosphere; you can stay cosy indoors or sit outside to enjoy the noise and activity of the fully operational Air Force Base.

This half-day tour will allow you to discover Hunter Valley's wines and cheeses. The excursion will take you to three boutique wineries. At each site, you’ll have an opportunity to soak up the countryside views of the vineyards and catch a glimpse of resident kangaroos. You'll also be able to sample a selection of the vineyards' wines. The highlight of the tour will be a wine tasting experience paired with a variety of cheeses at Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Kitchen. As you explore Hunter Valley, your guide will offer informative commentary about Australia's oldest wine region and local wine traditions.

In the heart of the Hunter Valley, you’ll enjoy a relaxed, small-group experience that highlights premium, small-batch wines and artisan food against the region’s scenic backdrop. You’ll visit handpicked boutique cellar doors for premium wine tastings and enjoy a cheese and wine pairing with a local tasting board at one stop. Depending on the venue, you may also try vodka and gin at a local distillery and sample artisan cheeses and chocolates. For lunch, you can choose what you like from the menu at a local brewhouse (own expense). Along the way, keep an eye out — you may spot kangaroos in the countryside. You will travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle with a friendly, knowledgeable local guide who will share insights as you move through the valley. The day is suited to couples, friends and food-and-wine lovers who want a relaxed, personable outing in a small-group setting.

Travel with the highest award-winning tour service in the Hunter Valley on a full-day wine tasting experience that takes you to local Hunter Valley boutique cellar doors. You will sample small-batch wines from labels found only in the region, typically tasting between six and eight different wines at each cellar door sitting. Along the way you'll stop to try local cheeses and chocolates, with the option to purchase items to take home. A relaxed, casual-style lunch is included, and you will receive a complimentary glass of wine or beer with it. The tour is suitable for wine enthusiasts of all ages. Free transfers are offered from Hunter Valley accommodation within 12 km of Pokolbin CBD, and travel is in modern, clean, air-conditioned vehicles. As you move between cellar doors, you may see kangaroos and other Australian native animals in the surrounding countryside, adding a bit of wildlife spotting to the tasting experience.

At Ivanhoe Wines, the seated Premium Wine Tasting is a fun and informative tasting in a relaxed setting. You will sample a selection of the estate’s premium wines, paired with a delicious cheese plate. Along the way, your host will share tips and hints about wine etiquette and tasting, helping you notice flavour and aroma nuances. The host is passionate and knowledgeable, so you can expect clear, friendly guidance throughout. The cellar door sits on a beautiful 80-acre estate and overlooks the vineyard, giving you a pleasant view as you taste. Ivanhoe’s wines are not sold in bottle shops, making them more boutique and exclusive. The winery also offers premium engraving, which can personalise bottles for birthdays and weddings if you choose to add that option.

You’ll set off from Newcastle on an eco-tourism boat to see humpback whales in their natural habitat. The vessel will keep a respectful distance while a guide offers live commentary about whale behaviour and the coastal scenery. Along the way you’ll hear about local landmarks, culture and history as you scan the water for marine life. Watch for dolphins and seals as well; sightings are part of the experience but not guaranteed. Wet-weather gear is provided and there is a choice of departures to give flexibility. You can prebook to secure a place at a time and day that fits your trip. The cruise is run by CoastXP, an accredited quality and sustainable tourism business.

At Pokolbin, you can choose from two tasting paddles that suit adults and younger guests. The Wine Paddles let you savour five exceptional wines, each reflecting Pokolbin's rich terroir and offering distinct notes. Each wine will typically be paired with an assortment of cheeses or chocolates, so you can compare how flavours interact as you move through the tasting. For younger visitors, the Junior Tasting Paddle provides an age-appropriate alternative. It features a rotating selection of vibrant juices and colourful lollies, and is offered for children aged 6 to 17. This option is designed to make a family visit more enjoyable along with the adult tastings. Both paddles focus on tasting and comparison rather than a formal course of study, so you’ll spend time sampling flavours and noticing differences between pours and pairings as you go.

You will taste a carefully arranged pairing of the best local handmade chocolates with dessert-style wines. Each wine has been matched to a particular chocolate so the flavours play off one another and bring out different notes. Along the way, you’ll experience how contrasts and complements between wine and chocolate can change what you notice on your palate. Wines are pre-poured, so you can relax and enjoy the pairings at your own pace. The setup gives you time to savour each combination, consider the flavour profiles and move between tastings without feeling rushed. This experience is focused on the sensory match between local handmade chocolates and dessert-style wines, letting you explore the nuances of each pairing.

On this 90-minute guided walking tour, you'll visit the scenes of crimes from Newcastle's past. You'll explore one of Australia's oldest settlements and discover the secretive history of the city. Your guide will take you between famous sites such as the Convict Lumber Yard and one of Newcastle's historical cathedrals, telling you tales of the famous crimes that unfolded along the way.