Even if you’ve got kids in tow, you can still visit the Hunter Valley wineries. Just choose a cellar door that is child friendly so that you can sample and stock up on wine. Here’s a list of the best kid friendly Hunter Valley wineries that the whole family can enjoy.
There’s a variety of family-friendly wineries in the Hunter Valley to choose from including some cellar doors with activity packs, animals, lawn games, cubby houses and special kids junior tasting experiences as well.
Please check with individual wineries to determine if they still have toys, games and kids activities available and if they require an appointment.
Briar Ridge
There’s plenty of room for the kids to run around in the peaceful surrounds of Briar Ridge. You can even book a private picnic in your own corner of the grounds. Bring your fur babies along too – Briar Ridge have a selection of hand-crafted dog treats available to keep them happy.
Calais Estate
Order a gourmet picnic pack from Calais Estate and enjoy it on the winery grounds while your kids play on the estate grounds, which are home to peacocks, geese and other wildlife.
De Iuliis Wines
You can pick up a Hunter Valley Family Fun Pass, offered by De Iuliis Wines, for a day of fun for the whole family (two adults and two kids aged 3-18 years). It includes a wine tasting for adults, activity pack for the kids, cheese, fudge and gelato tasting at Hunter Belle Cheese Room, lunch and drinks at Taste of the Country and entry to Hunter Valley Wildlife park. De Iuliis Wines has a spacious indoor area where they provide a basket of toys as well as colouring books and other activities to keep kids entertained.
Elbourne Wines
Elbourne Wines, a family-owned and operated boutique vineyard, is the perfect destination for a day out with the kids. While adults enjoy handcrafted wines, the little ones can have fun in the large play area and meet the friendly sheep, geese, and chickens that call the vineyard home.
Gartelmann Wines
The Deck Cafe at Gartelmann Wines features a dedicated children’s breakfast and lunch menu. The also occasionally offer Kids in the Kitchen kids cooking classes (visit their website for details). Enjoy tapas on the deck while overlooking a relaxed, bushland setting. There’s also an animal farm which includes goats, geese, ducks and alpacas.
Glandore Estate
With a cosy fireplace and outdoor tasting areas, Glandore Estate is a great choice year-round. You can also enjoy chocolate tastings here and they are kid-friendly and dog-friendly. There’s also a beautiful outdoor space for kids to run around.
Hollydene Estate
The large, level lawns on Hollydene Estate are perfect for kids to run and play on. The alfresco dining areas and large windows of on-site Vines Restaurant allow adults to relax and enjoy the views while still being able to keep an eye on the kids as they play on the lawn. Their menu also features kid-friendly options.
Hunter Farm Wines
Part of the larger Hunter Farm & Adventure Centre, Hunter Farm Wines offers a wide variety of activities beyond wine tasting. Families can enjoy pony rides, horseriding, segway tours, archery or axe throwing. The property is home to an interactive animal farm, with the opportunity to get up close with and feed animals including sheep, goats, ponies and alpacas. Situated on 100 acres, there’s plenty of space for kids to run around. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeaway 4 Pines at The Farm’s extensive menu features kid-friendly options.
Pepper Tree Wines
If you feel like a picnic in the beautiful Hunter Valley, enjoy the scenic gardens and atmosphere of Pepper Tree Wines. They have picnic benches and picnic blankets available for use and their picnic grazing package includes a charcuterie board suitable for 1 – 5 people.
Peter Drayton Wines
Enjoy wine and beer tasting all under the one roof at Peter Drayton Wines. The kids can have fun with lawn games. They’ve stocked a toy box full of fun games for kids to enjoy like soccer balls, totem tennis, quoits and mini golf clubs and balls. Stay for a freshly made gourmet pizza at the on-site Wildstreak Kitchen. Kids meals are available as well.
Pokolbin Estate
Both young and old are invited to enjoy the tasting experience at Pokolbin Estate. Adults can enjoy a Wine Paddle Pairing with cheese or chocolate, while kids aged 6-17 can enjoy a Junior Tasting Pairing Paddle, with a rotating selection of juices and lollies. They also have lawn games available all year round.
Ridgeview Wines
Another kid-friendly winery is Ridgeview Wines. Here you’ll find colouring-in sheets and an activity box to amuse kids in the cellar door while parents enjoy some wine samples. During school holidays, Ridgeview Wines often offer kids pasta-making classes. Visit their website for more details.
Roche Estate
There’s plenty at Roche Estate to keep the whole family happy. As well as cellar doors McGuigan Wines and Tempus Two, the lawn outside has plenty of room for kids to run around. Bribe the kids to behave with a gelato at the Hunter Valley Gelato Company located in the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop. They have a range of flavours of gelato and sorbets. There are 36 varieties available in-store at any one time. If you have time, stop for a bite to eat at Goldfish. As well as a delicious menu, they also offer kids meals.
Scarborough Wine Co
Kids are made to feel welcome at Scarborough Wine Co where there is a spacious lawn area and lawn games to keep them entertained.
Stonehurst Cedar Creek
Families can stay at Stonehurst Cedar Creek in one of the Cedar Creek Cottages and enjoy the natural bushland setting of the 550 acre property with vineyards, farm animals, creeks and mountains. Activities include bush walking, bird watching, mountain bike riding, cycling, astronomy, and, of course, wine tasting.
Tintilla Estate Wines
Sample the wine at Tintilla Estate Wines. To keep kids happy, they stock a toy box and colouring-in books. As part of the wine tasting, you can order cheese and meat platters.
Tranquil Vale
Tranquil Vale are a kid friendly cellar door (and accommodation) if parents want to try some wine with their children in tow. They have a children’s playground and tennis court for the older ones and toy box for the toddlers. They also have some friendly farm animals that kids can meet. There are some sheep and a very friendly cow. Children are also welcome on their wine tours.
Tulloch Wines
You can get the kids involved in tasting at Tulloch Wines and keep them entertained whilst you enjoy your Tulloch Wines tasting experience. They organise a specially prepared kids tasting session (for kids aged 3-12)with four different soft drinks and four matching snacks (nut & gluten free). Kids are also kept entertained with colouring and giant lawn games such as Jenga, Connect Four and Tenpin Bowling on the spacious grounds. For teens, Tulloch Wines offer a Kombucha tasting experience.
Vinden Wines
Book in for a wine tasting at Vinden Wines. This kid-friendly winery features lawn in front of the tasting room so you can see your kids while they play. As well as a toy box, there is also colouring-in, pens and pencils to keep kids busy while you
Whispering Brook
Visitors can sample wines and olive products at Whispering Brook at the cellar door tasting room or outside on the verandah overlooking the vineyards, olive groves and the Yengo and Wollemi National Park. A cubby house is just outside the tasting room to keep kids entertained while you enjoy your tasting.
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