Taking the kids along doesn’t mean wine tasting is off the table. The Hunter Valley has one of the best spreads of family friendly vineyards and wineries in NSW, with cellar doors offering everything from kids tasting paddles and lawn games to playgrounds, farm animals and even a sculpture park to explore. If you’re planning a bigger trip, check out the full guide to things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids for more ideas beyond the cellar door.
Not every cellar door welcomes kids, so it pays to check ahead, especially during peak season or events. The wineries below are all known for being genuinely family friendly, whether that means a big grassy lawn to run around on, a dedicated kids tasting experience, or both.
Good to Know
Most Hunter Valley wineries with kids activities are concentrated around Pokolbin, so it’s easy to combine a few stops in one day. Bring hats, sunscreen and a picnic blanket, since a lot of the best kid-friendly space is outdoors on open lawn. Kids tastings and activity packs are sometimes available on request only, so it’s worth calling ahead or checking the winery’s website before you visit. If you’re planning to taste properly, arrange a designated driver or book a tour.
Family Friendly Wineries A to Z
Audrey Wilkinson
One of the Hunter Valley’s oldest wineries, established in 1866, Audrey Wilkinson sits on a hilltop with sweeping 360 degree views across the valley. There’s no structured kids program here, but the large grassed picnic grounds give kids plenty of room to run while adults enjoy a tasting or a picnic. Best paired with a rug and something for the kids to kick around rather than visited for organised activities.
Briar Ridge
There’s plenty of room for the kids to run around in the peaceful surrounds of Briar Ridge. You can book a private picnic in your own corner of the grounds, and the winery caters for four-legged family members too, with a selection of hand-crafted dog treats available at the cellar door.
Calais Estate
Order a gourmet picnic pack from Calais Estate and enjoy it on the winery grounds while the kids play. The estate is home to peacocks, geese and other wildlife, which tends to be a hit with younger visitors.
De Iuliis Wines
While the adults taste De Iuliis’ award-winning wines at the cellar door, kids can explore the picturesque vineyard surrounds. The Hunter Valley Family Fun Pass, available through De Iuliis, packages together a wine tasting for adults, an activity pack for kids, a tasting at Hunter Belle Cheese Room, lunch and drinks at Taste of the Country, and entry to Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, making it an easy full-day option.
Degen Wines
Degen Wines is a small, personalised single vineyard cellar door with a dedicated Single Vineyard Kids Experience for children under 10. It includes a hot chocolate or alcohol-free grape juice, a snack plate and a colouring-in or game pack. Given its boutique size, it suits smaller family groups rather than larger gatherings.
Elbourne Wines
Elbourne Wines is a family-owned and operated boutique vineyard, and one of the more hands-on stops for kids in the valley. While adults taste handcrafted wines, younger visitors can play in the large play area, complete with a trampoline and sandpit, and meet the resident sheep, geese and chickens.
Gartelmann Wines
The Deck Café at Gartelmann Wines in Lovedale overlooks a peaceful dam surrounded by bushland, and is a relaxed, family-friendly spot for breakfast or a tapas-style lunch. The café has changed hands since we first included it in our list, now run by chef Matt Dillow, so confirm current kids menu options.
Gemelli Estate
Gemelli Estate is a boutique, European-style vineyard with a pretty courtyard and grassy grounds where kids can play bocce, totem tennis or kick a soccer ball. It works well as an easy add-on stop on a winery day rather than a standalone family destination.
Glandore Estate
Glandore Estate is a dog-friendly cellar door known for its wine and chocolate pairing experience, with a cosy fireplace and outdoor tasting areas that make it a good year-round option. Kids are well looked after too, often walking away with a chocolate treat of their own while the adults taste through the pairing.
Hanging Tree Wines
Hanging Tree Wines is a family and pet friendly cellar door with sweeping valley views, duck ponds and rose gardens for kids to wander through. Resident farm animals, including chickens, roosters and guinea fowl, give kids another reason to want to stay a while. Older kids will enjoy the treasure hunt with lolly prizes, giant chess and a rotating line-up of lawn games.
Hollydene Estate
The large, level lawns at Hollydene Estate are ideal for kids to run and play on. The alfresco dining area and big windows at the onsite Vines Restaurant let adults relax and enjoy the views while keeping an eye on the kids outside, and the restaurant menu includes kid-friendly options.
Hunter Farm Wines
Part of the larger Hunter Farm & Adventure Centre, Hunter Farm Wines offers plenty beyond wine tasting. Families can try pony rides, horse riding, Segway tours, archery or axe throwing, and get up close with sheep, goats, ponies and alpacas at the interactive animal farm. Set on 100 acres, there’s ample space for kids to run around, and the onsite 4 Pines restaurant has a kid-friendly menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Pepper Tree Wines
If a picnic in the beautiful Hunter Valley sounds appealing, head to Pepper Tree Wines. Picnic benches and blankets are available for use, and the picnic grazing package includes a charcuterie board suitable for one to five people.
Peter Drayton Wines
Enjoy wine and beer tasting under one roof at Peter Drayton Wines, where kids can dip into a toy box stocked with soccer balls, totem tennis, quoits and mini golf gear. Stay for a freshly made gourmet pizza at the onsite Wildstreak Kitchen, which also has kids meals on the menu.
Pokolbin Estate
Both young and old are catered for at Pokolbin Estate. Adults can enjoy a Wine Paddle Pairing with cheese or chocolate, while kids aged 6 to 17 get their own Junior Tasting Pairing Paddle with a rotating selection of juices and lollies. Lawn games are available year-round.
Ridgeview Wines
Ridgeview Wines keeps kids entertained with colouring-in sheets and an activity box in the cellar door while parents taste. During school holidays, Ridgeview often runs kids pasta-making classes, so it’s worth checking their website ahead of a visit.
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 out front has room for kids to run around, and the Hunter Valley Gelato Company, located inside the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop, is a handy bribe for good behaviour.
Saddler’s Creek Wines
Saddler’s Creek Wines has been a Hunter Valley favourite since 1990, with kids tasting paddles served alongside the adult wine tasting. The outdoor wine garden gives plenty of room to spread out, and if timing allows, the Friday Wine and Chill sessions bring food, wine and live music together for an easy family afternoon.
Scarborough Wine Co
Kids are made to feel genuinely welcome at Scarborough Wine Co, with a spacious lawn area and lawn games to keep them entertained while adults taste.
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 bushwalking, birdwatching, mountain bike riding and, of course, wine tasting. Stonehurst also runs family-friendly seasonal events with kids activities such as a petting zoo, worth checking their events calendar for.
Tintilla Estate Wines
Sample the wine at Tintilla Estate Wines, a family-run vineyard where kids are kept happy with a toy box and colouring-in books while parents taste. Cheese and meat platters are available to order alongside the tasting.
Tranquil Vale
Tranquil Vale is a kid-friendly cellar door and accommodation option in Luskintyre, with a children’s playground complete with cubby house, swings and slide, plus a tennis court for older kids. There’s a toy box for toddlers and a small mob of farm animals, including sheep and a friendly cow, that kids can meet around the property. Children are also welcome on winery tours.
Tulloch Wines
At Tulloch Wines, kids get their own Junior Tasting Experience, matching non-alcoholic drinks with kid-friendly snacks, while older teens can try the Kombucha Tasting. Outside, there are large-scale lawn games on the terrace, including croquet, Connect 4 and giant Jenga.
Vinden Wines
Everyone’s welcome at Vinden Wines, dogs included, making the indoor and alfresco spaces a good option with kids in tow. The winery’s minimal intervention, organically farmed wines are an added drawcard for adults.
Whispering Brook
Visitors can sample wines and olive products at Whispering Brook, either at the cellar door or outside on the verandah overlooking the vineyards, olive groves and Yengo and Wollemi National Park. A cubby house just outside the tasting room keeps kids entertained while the adults taste.
Wild Ren Wines
Wild Ren Wines offers a dedicated kids tasting paddle for children up to 15, pairing sweet and savoury snacks with non-alcoholic drinks alongside the adult tasting. The cellar door is smaller and more intimate than some of the larger family-focused wineries, so it suits families with older kids or teens better than toddlers who need space to run around.
Winmark Wines
Winmark Wines stands out for families wanting more than lawn games. The vineyard is home to a sculpture park, with a self-guided Sculpture Walk suitable for prams and strollers. Kids receive an A3 colouring map and crayons to sketch the artworks as they go, then get their own tasting plate of cheese, biscuits, juice and ice cream back at the cellar door. A bookable family package is available for $95, covering two adults and two children, with extra children $10 each, including the sculpture walk, two barista coffees, an adult wine tasting and the kids plate. Good for a half-day outing rather than a quick stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many are, though it varies by cellar door. Look for wineries that specifically mention kids activities, tastings or play areas, and always check ahead if you’re visiting with young children.
Wineries with dedicated play equipment, sandpits or trampolines include Elbourne Wines. Several others, including Hanging Tree Wines and Hollydene Estate, offer large open lawns rather than formal playground equipment, which still give kids plenty of room to run.
Yes, several wineries offer non-alcoholic kids tastings designed to mirror the adult experience, including Tulloch Wines, Pokolbin Estate, Wild Ren Wines, Degen Wines and Saddler’s Creek Wines. These usually pair juice or soft drinks with snacks and are aimed at different age groups, so check the details before booking.
Wineries that combine tasting with a broader activity, such as De Iuliis Wines with its Family Fun Pass, or Winmark Wines with its sculpture park, tend to work best for a longer family outing rather than a quick stop.
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