11 things to do around the Hunter Valley Region with kids

The Hunter incorporates four very different cities – Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland and Cessnock – each packed with plenty of fun for families. We have found the best things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids!

Just 2 hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is an ideal family destination. Get back to nature, take in some culture and have a whole stack of fun.

While the Hunter Valley’s special grape juice might be the biggest lure for mum and dad, it’s not all about wine. There are myriad parks, playgrounds and reserves to explore, animals to pet at the Hunter Valley Zoo, and lots of cheese, chocolate and freshly made fudge to be devoured. Explore the region on horseback or Segway, or take to the sky in a hot air balloon.

1. Hunter Valley Gardens

Located in the heart of the Hunter vineyards, at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, are the spectacular Hunter Valley Gardens. Spanning over 25 hectares, be amazed by the sensational sights, colours and fragrances of the twelve stunning feature gardens.

Little ones will love the storybook garden at Hunter Valley Gardens, where timeless tales come to life among the flowers. Mid-year, the garden transforms in to a winter wonderland with ice skating, tobogganing and a snow play zone, and from November to January the gardens boast the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest holiday lights display.

2. Hunter Valley Aqua Golf

Right next to the Hunter Valley Gardens is the super fun Aqua Golf range. It is the perfect place to get into the swing of things and (with luck) win some amazing prizes. The aim of the game is to hit golf balls into the lake; if your ball lands in the floating target net then you win. Prizes include vouchers to cellar doors, restaurants, helicopter rides, hot-air balloon rides and more.  It’s a cheap Hunter Valley activity the whole family will enjoy.

Aqua golf costs $9 for one bucket of balls and putt-putt is $6 for adults and $5 for children.

3. Hunter Valley Wildlife Park

Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is a fun family-friendly day out in beautiful surrounds. Wander through interactive enclosures, get hands-on with a reptile, watch the daily shows or check out the cheeky moneys being fed. Bring your Esky and cook up a BBQ lunch with free-to-use facilities in the picnic grounds.

You also can book personalised encounters to get up close with your favourite animals.

During the school holidays, kids aged 8-11 can join the zookeeper for a day programs to see experience a days work at the zoo.

Open daily 9am – 4pm

Cost: Adults $42, children 3 – 15 years $28, children 2 and under are free. Family ticket bundles are available.

4. The Sculpture Walk at Winmark Art Gallery

David Ball, the owner of Winmark Wines has always been an avid collector of art. He has used his passion to create the Sculpture Walk with works by talented Australian artists. This is one of the best free things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids.

Explore the property to find the red Portals of Illusion or the newest installations of Lollipops, Celest and Fight or Flight sculptures. Find Bronze Flower and Field of Aggies set against the natural landmarks of the property. Winmark is a place of remarkable beauty and unexpected discovery.

5. Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory

The closest thing you’ll find to Willy Wonka’s in the Hunter Valley, the Hunter Valley Chocolate Factory was established at the turn of the last century. It is now one of the Hunter Valley’s best attractions. With a reputation for quality and innovation, you and the kids can get your hands on all kinds of handmade chocolate goodies here. Tired from all the sugar consumption? Enjoy a coffee in the on-site cafe.

6. Heddon Greta Drive-In

Whet your appetite for nostalgia at Heddon Greta Drive-In: the only drive-in theatre in the Hunter Valley servicing Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Heddon Greta. The whole family will love getting comfy in the car with pillows and blankets and catching a flick on the big screen. Mainstream movies are screened on Friday and Saturday nights.

7. Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures

Enjoy the spectacular views of the Hunter Valley on horseback and explore 300 acres worth of trails. Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures offers riding experiences every day, for first-timers all the way to experienced riders. Not big enough to ride? The little ones can have a pony ride, meet the donkey and enjoy farm life.

8. Pasta-making classes

These family-focused pasta-making classes make four hours of fun. Cooking school, Our Italian Table, will teach you to make traditional hand-rolled pasta, seasonal sauces and biscotti. Classes run from 10:30-1:30 on select Tuesdays.

Cost: $165 for 1 adult and 1 child

9. Hunter Farm at the Hunter Valley Resort

Hunter Farm plays host to a range of adventure activities for families. Try horse riding, electric-bike hire, segway tours, candymaking, pizza making, grape-stomping, barrel rolling and more.

10. Hot Air Ballooning

Children aged 7 and over can take to the clouds with Balloon Aloft. The Hunter Valleys’ vineyards provide a stunning backdrop for a hot air balloon ride. The tour starts just before sunrise so that you are up in the air taking in the views as the sun makes its way up from the horizon.

The ride lasts for one hour with breakfast served after the descent.

Cost: from $245 per person

11. Fighter World

Fighter World, just 20 minutes’ drive north of Newcastle, is a unique and totally hands-on museum dedicated to Australian aviation. Visitors can wander through two hangars full of exhibits, touching and looking into the cockpits of famous aircraft like the Gloster Meteor, the first Vampire jet built in Australia, and the mighty F-111. There’s also the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a Mirage interceptor and Macchi jet trainer and experience first-hand what it’s like to be one of Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ pilots in today’s hi-tech world.

12. Newcastle Ocean Baths

Newcastle is famous for it’s stunning beaches, but if you want to do as the locals do, make sure to leave time for a swim at Newcastle Ocean Baths. Opened in 1922, the complex is fronted by the magnificent art deco facade of the pavilion which offers the perfect photo op. The baths are open all year round, subject to maintenance and cleaning, offering a picturesque and wave-free swim for families.

13. Lake Macquarie

One enormous lake, 32 kilometres of pristine coastline, mountain ranges and swathes of unspoiled wilderness link the 90 villages in Lake Macquarie.

The centrepiece is, of course, the lake itself, which at twice the size of Sydney Harbour. It promises a world of fun with boating and fishing to swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and jet boating. There are numerous patrolled ocean beaches to explore. Or head to the hills to explore the extraordinary Watagans National Park and its waterfalls, rainforest gullies and bushwalking trails. Got a need for speed? Hoon through the rainforest on two wheels at the Awaba Mountain Bike Park.

Read: 16 things to do in Lake Macquarie with kids

14. Newcastle

Along with its beautiful beaches, parklands and playgrounds, Newcastle – Australia’s seventh-largest city – is also a haven for history buffs. Visit Nobby’s Lighthouse, the earliest surviving lighthouse in New South Wales with spectacular views. At Fort Scratchley you can clamber around 200-year-old cannons and tunnels. Then there’s more to explore at the Newcastle Museum, where the past, present and future come alive in awesome interactive style. If you prefer to get active, join an eco-tour of the harbour by kayak, or take to the trees at TreeTops Adventure Park where the 96 challenges include 20 scream-inducing flying foxes.

Read: 27 things to do in Newcastle with kids

15. Maitland

Maitland has an irresistible combo of city convenience and country fun. Surrounded by some of the most fetching countryside in NSW, the city is rich in history, with a bounty of fresh food and a thriving creative arts community.

Pack a picnic to watch the birds at Walka Recreation and Wildlife Reserve, cycle or kayak along the river, walk in the footsteps of early Australians in the historic town of Morpeth (leaving time for a sneaky stop at Miss Lily’s Lollies), explore the iconic Maitland Gaol and get lost among the masterpieces in the world-class Maitland Regional Art Gallery

Read: 19 awesome things to do in Maitland with kids

Main image: Hunter Valley Gardens © The Legendary Pacific Coast

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