Destinations
Go camping in stunning Hunter Valley wine region guide
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Planning a visit to the Hunter Valley and hoping to take the road less travelled? Only 1.5 hours from Sydney and close to an hour from Newcastle and the Central Coast, take the scenic Tourist Drive 33 and prepare for amazing food and scenic views. Together with online farmers market, Your Food Collective, we sent road-tripping legends Karstan, Maxine and little Zuri on an adventure-filled weekend away to explore this beautiful region. Read on to get the lowdown on how best to enjoy a road trip to the Hunter Valley.
Camping
Cranky Rock. Set at the base of the mountains on a beautiful valley floor, located in wine country in the lower Hunter Valley, Cranky Rock gets its name from a 25-tonne sandstone rock that graces our home. They have a fabulous space and being a working farm, you can say hello to their horses, cows and chickens.
Finchley Campground. This is in the National Park and it’s simply stunning. Yengo National Park is heritage-listed and has a lot of significant Aboriginal sites. Please respect the Aboriginal engraving site and do not walk on or mark the carvings. For the stargazers out there, bring a blanket and prepare for some incredible views, if the night sky is clear.
Milsons Camp is a beautiful natural campsite nestled along the Wollombi Brook. You'll love relaxing & exploring their beautiful Aussie bush camp.
Must Do’s
Finchley Trig. Located in the Yengo National Park you’ll find the Finchley Lookout. If you go at sunset, prepare yourself for spectacular sunset views of the National Park. If you’re into mountain biking there’s a great track up there too. For a cultural journey book in with the tour group that will take you up there and let you be a part of an Aboriginal smoking and storytelling ceremony.
The Convict Trail. The Great North Road is a 240 km convict-built masterpiece along Tourist Drive 33. It’s very fascinating to see how the convicts made the road and that it is actually still around today. You can also do a historic walking trail of the Village. There is a self-guided map that takes you to the significant buildings and discusses their history. It only takes an hour but well worth it.
Book Yourself a Wine Tour. Mel from Grape Experience Wine Tours does a really lovely full or half-day tour of the local wineries. A stop at Tinklers is a must - why not pair a glass of the region's famous Sav Blanc with a morish cheeseboard.
Where Pigs Fly Farm Sanctuary. Located just south of Laguna this farm is a refuge for unwanted or neglected farm animals. Debbie who owns the sanctuary takes visitors on a tour of the sanctuary and explains the process of farming and encourages people to make better choices when buying and consuming animal products. It is a great tour and wonderful for families as well as couples.
Bare Nature. BARE Nature’s skin products will leave your skin & soul feeling nourished and alive. Michelle’s organic and sustainable way of living flows into her products. She harvests her own herbs, flowers, seeds, minerals and will make use of any other gift nature provides. Whether she is milking her goats or tending to her pigs, this woman leaves you deeply inspired about what is truly possible when we become one with nature.
With so many amazing things to see and plenty of unique local producers at your fingertips, it's easy to understand why locals, Karstan and Max, call this region home. Whether you're after a weekend escape or looking for your next family vacation, theHunter Valley is teeming with life!
We all deserve a little taste of freedom.
Whether it's on the road or in your home, take your taste buds on tour and discover the magic of locally grown flavours with us. Find your van and the flavour inspiration for your next adventure.
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.