Travelling to the Hunter Valley with Kids? No problem! We seek out all the best kid friendly wineries in the Hunter Valley so you can still taste what the region has to offer.
We have never let travelling with kids get in the way of a good day out wine tasting and luckily there are plenty of family friendly Hunter Valley wineries to explore on a family trip.
Being just a two-hour drive from Sydney, we head up to the Hunter Valley often, giving us plenty of opportunity to check out all the best wineries for families.
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About the Hunter Valley
Sydney’s closes wine region is just a two-hour drive away (on a good traffic day) and is a great place for some family fun.
There are loads of fun things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids, but most people head here to partake in some of the great wine on offer.
Australia’s oldest region has over 150 wineries to discover, serving up plenty of fine wine and many fantastic restaurants dishing up paddock to plate cuisine.
The Hunter Valley flagship wines are their Semillon and Shiraz but there are also many other delicious varieties of wine to explore.
Family Friendly Hunter Valley Wineries
Most wineries in the region have space outside for the kids to frolic and we have never been made to feel unwelcome anywhere because of having kids with us.
Many cellar doors have toys and games for the kids, and there is often a winery dog who is willing to play too.
Here we highlight some of our favourite Hunter Valley wineries for families.
[2021 update: due to social distancing restrictions some wineries require bookings for wine tastings. Check their websites before you go.]
Tulloch Wines
One of our favourite wineries in the Hunter Valley (we are members of its wine club), Tulloch not only has amazing wine to taste, its fun for the kids too.
There are indoor and outdoor games to play, such as giant jenga and connect 4 and plenty of lawn space for rolling around. Dogs are welcome too!
Even more fun for the kids, they offer a Junior Tasting Experience, where kids can pair non-alcoholic drinks to snacks so they can experience what a wine tasting experience is like.
Charcuterie and cheese platters are available and kids will enjoy getting involved in the chocolate side of the wine and chocolate pairing too!
Click here to learn more about Tulloch Wines.
Elbourne Wines
Tastings are by appointment only at this family-run boutique winery in the Hunter Valley. But it is definitely worth planning ahead and making a booking as it is one of the best places for kids in the Hunter region.
While parents enjoy a personalised tasting with the Elbournes on their verandah, kids can play in the playground and sand pit, jump on the in-ground trampoline or meet the resident farm animals, including a very cute pony!
Click here to learn more about Elbourne Wines.
Scarborough Wines
Tell anyone you are visiting the Hunter Valley and they will tell you to go to Scarborough to sample their Chardonnay.
Scarborough has two cellar door location in the Hunter Valley: Gillards Road and Hermitage Road.
Gillards Road has more space to run around and a giant blackboard for the kids to scribble on. Both locations are welcoming to families though, with activity packs and lawn games, hula hoops and skipping ropes on offer.
Click here to learn more about Scarborough Wines.
Bimbadgen
Bimbadgen is a great spot for a leisurely fine dining lunch in the Hunter Valley.
Its restaurant Esca Bimbadgen enjoys spectacular views over the vines and was awarded Australia’s Best National Restaurant in a Winery three years in a row from 2017-2019.
Although not an obviously child friendly restaurant, they have a kids menu and there is lots of room for them to run around o the lawn in full view of the restaurant deck. There are also hula hoops and soccer on the grass.
If you’re not in the mood for the fine dining menu, the wood-fired pizzas being served up in the relaxed downstairs courtyard should go down well with the kids.
Click here to learn more about Bimbadgen.
Misty Glen Wines
You know the kids will be welcome at a winery when they clearly advertise the fact on their website.
Misty Glen actively encourages you to bring your kids and dogs along to their cellar door and enjoy a family game of croquet or boules.
There is also a ‘Kidzone’ within the tasting room, with toys and games, play doh and colouring. Alternatively, send the kids out to play on the lawn with the friendly wine dogs Fiano and Chambourcin.
The picnic boxes area also put together with families in mind, with special kids picnic provided.
Click here to learn more about Misty Glen.
Glandore Estate
Glandore Estate is an innovative boutique winery that welcomes families into its beautiful cellar door. They have a interesting selection or wines on offer for tasting, including savagnin and their recent addition of sparkling shiraz.
Kids colouring packs and games are provided and there is plenty of grassy space outside to run around with the friendly winery dogs. Kids will also enjoy getting involved in the chocolate half of the wine and chocolate tastings here.
Join the Cellarhands Wine Club (yes, we are members!) to get access to a whole calendar of family friendly events, including the Cellarhands picking day and their famous Burning of the Barrel, named in the Top 50 Gourmet Wine Traveller World Wide Wine Experiences.
Click here to learn more about Glandore Estate.
Peter Drayton Wines
Beer lovers are welcome too at Peter Drayton Wines and their onsite Ironbark Hill Brewhouse. Staff are renowned for being knowledgeable and friendly here, where you can sample both boutique wines and craft beer under one roof.
Kids are encouraged to play on the large lawn with a good selection of fun activities, lawn games and sporting equipment provided for them.
The whole family will also love the wood-fired pizzas here and the menu also features plenty of other family favourites, including pasta, chicken wings and nachos.
Click here to learn more about Peter Drayton Wines.
Gemelli Estate
Family-run Gemelli Estate provides picnic blankets and cheese platter, making it the perfect place for mum and dad to kick back and enjoy a bite to eat and a glass of wine in the picturesque gardens while the kids play.
Kids are given a warm welcome with games and play equipment and there are even ice creams on offer.
Keep a look out for the once-a-month high tea, where you can enjoy sweet and savoury treats under the shade of the willow tree.
Click here to learn more about Gemelli Estate.
Do you have any other kids friendly cellar doors in the Hunter Valley to recommend? We’d love to hear about them!
Love Wine? You may also like these articles:
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- Things to do with Kids in Margaret River
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