Sydney Travelogue | Hunter Valley 2-Day Trip: Winery Tour + Hot Air Balloon Sunrise
After planning for a while, my friend and I finally decided to visit Hunter Valley. Luckily, the weather cooperated, and the hot air balloon ride was able to proceed smoothly.
Our itinerary was as follows: The first day would be dedicated to wine tasting, visiting three wineries, and staying overnight there. On the second day, we would wake up early for a hot air balloon ride, then stop by the Central Coast to enjoy the sea breeze on our way back to Sydney.
No rushing, and no need to get up at an ungodly hour to leave home, making it much more relaxing.
Day One: Pure Winery Tour, Stay in Hunter Valley
We departed from Sydney CBD at 8:30 AM. After Hornsby, the traffic noticeably thinned out, and the scenery gradually changed from urban landscapes to rolling hills and vineyards. Two hours later, we entered Pokolbin.
At 10:30 AM, we arrived at Brokenwood. This winery is very famous—it was named Winery of the Year by Halliday in 2026 and won Cellar Door of the Year at the Hunter Valley Legends in 2025.
For wine tasting, we chose the mid-range Taste Experience. A staff member guided us through seven wines, which took about 45 minutes. The most famous Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz was rich and full-bodied, while the ILR Reserve Semillon was bright with a hint of minerality. The sommelier explained everything in detail, from the vintages to the winemaking process.
Brokenwood has a large estate and boasts The Legends Grill restaurant, which has a good reputation. We had lunch directly there, and the food was excellent.
After lunch, we set off for our second stop, Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard, which was less than a ten-minute drive.
This was the most scenic and photogenic winery of the entire trip. Built on a slope, it offered expansive views. Standing on the platform outside the tasting room, you could see the entire vineyard spread out below, with the Brokenback Range silhouetted in the distance. Any photo taken here looked like a postcard. Many tourists specifically come here for photos, especially in the afternoon when the light casts long shadows from the grapevines, creating a beautiful effect.
The winery was established in 1866, making it one of the oldest vineyards in Pokolbin. The cellar is not large, but with its wooden bar and old photos on the walls, it has a lot of character. Their Semillon was truly beautiful, crisp and layered, and the staff shared many historical anecdotes. We bought a bottle of Semillon, and the tasting fee was waived. We spent over an hour here, enjoying the wine and the view.
Next, we went to Tyrrell's Wines, a fifteen-minute drive away. This winery was founded in 1858 by a British immigrant and is now run by the fifth generation. They have a block of over one-hundred-year-old Semillon vines in Hunter Valley that are still preserved today.
The tasting area in their cellar was simpler than the previous two, but the quality of the wine was impeccable. We tasted their iconic Vat 1 Hunter Semillon, which was crisp, light, and had beautiful acidity. The staff mentioned that this wine was once called "the best representation of Australia and the unique charm of Hunter Valley."
If you spend more time at the first two wineries or want to explore other places, you can skip Tyrrell's.
After leaving the winery, we headed straight to our accommodation. After checking in, we had some time to explore the surroundings or just relax at our lodging. We went to bed early, as we had an early start the next day.
Day Two: Hot Air Balloon Sunrise, Detour to Gosford for Sea Breeze (or Alpaca Petting) on the Way Back
For the hot air balloon ride, I chose Balloon Aloft, which included breakfast. When my alarm went off at 4:30 AM, I honestly wanted to hit snooze, but I thought, since I'm already staying in Hunter Valley, it would be a waste not to go.
We left our accommodation at 5:00 AM, and it only took about fifteen minutes to drive to the Peterson House meeting point. It was still completely dark, but the parking lot already had many cars. The staff checked our names and took our breakfast orders—this way, breakfast would be ready when we returned, no waiting required.
Around 5:30 AM, we took a shuttle bus to the launch site, about a thirty-minute ride. Everyone on the bus was chatting quietly, a little excited.
Upon arriving at the launch site, we first listened to a safety briefing, then watched the inflation process. It was truly spectacular to see the huge balloon slowly rise from the ground, with the roaring flames and rushing heat. The staff even had everyone help hold the edges of the basket, as a warm-up.
We lifted off around 6:30 AM. The moment the basket left the ground, it felt incredibly surreal—one moment we were standing on the grass, the next we were suspended in mid-air. The sky was still dark, with only a thin orange-red line on the eastern horizon.
As we slowly ascended, the vineyards below began to shrink, their rows forming patterns. The morning mist lay like a thin veil over the valley floor, occasionally revealing the crowns of a few trees. When we reached about 500-600 meters, the sun began to peek out. It wasn't a dazzling brightness, but rather a small red rim appearing first, then the entire sun slowly rising as if supported by something. The light slanted across the vineyards, outlining each vine with a golden edge. The morning mist, illuminated by the sun, turned a faint gold, and the entire valley seemed to light up. That moment was truly breathtaking.
We flew for about an hour. Seeing the morning light over Hunter Valley from above is a memory I will never forget.
We landed at 7:30 AM. The landing spot isn't fixed; it depends on the wind direction that day. After landing, everyone helped pack up the balloon—folding the envelope into bags and moving the basket onto a trailer. That nylon fabric was incredibly heavy, and it took over twenty people about half an hour to get it done. Although it was a bit tiring, it was a lot of fun and a unique experience.
At 8:30 AM, we took the shuttle back to Peterson House, where breakfast was already waiting. Champagne, sparkling wine, toast, bacon, scrambled mushrooms—eating and drinking beside the vineyard, all traces of morning grogginess disappeared. Breakfast finished around 9:30 AM, and the hot air balloon tour officially concluded. By this time, the sun was quite high, and the weather was perfect.
At 10:00 AM, we departed from Peterson House for our return journey. We planned to make a detour to the Central Coast. If you prefer animals, you could opt for an alpaca farm instead—Starline Alpacas Farmstay Resort is located within Hunter Valley, about a thirty-minute drive from Peterson House. We'd been there once before, so we skipped it this time, but it was a great experience that I'd recommend.
Starline is in the Broke region of Hunter Valley and is a proper alpaca farm with over a hundred alpacas. They offer an "Alpaca Encounter" experience where you can enter the enclosure for close contact with the alpacas and hand-feed them. The farm also has other animals like donkeys, goats, and miniature horses. A tour takes about an hour, and it's a good idea to check their opening hours before you go.
We arrived at The Entrance before 11:30 AM. The town's name is quite interesting—"The Entrance" literally means "the mouth of the sea," because it's situated at the junction of Lake Tuggerah and the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by water on three sides, offering a unique landscape.
We first took a stroll along the lakeside promenade. The lake was calm, and we saw many people boating and fishing. The whole atmosphere was leisurely and very relaxing. There's also a playground by the shore, which is convenient if you're traveling with children. We had lunch right by the sea.
After lunch, we walked to Pelican Plaza, where the daily pelican feeding show takes place at 3:00 PM. Although it was still early, we could already see a flock of pelicans lazily sunbathing on the shore. The feeding starts promptly at 3:00 PM every day, and as soon as the volunteers arrive with fish, the pelicans neatly tilt their heads back to catch the food, creating a lively scene. We arrived early this time and left before 3:30 PM, but just watching these big-billed birds waddle around the shore was quite entertaining.
Next, we went to Long Jetty. It was only a ten-minute drive from Pelican Plaza. Long Jetty is, without a doubt, the most photogenic spot on the Central Coast. There are three long jetties extending into the lake. If you visit around sunset, the lake surface will be dyed pink and gold by the setting sun, creating a particularly dreamy silhouette effect in photos. After twenty minutes of taking pictures at Long Jetty, we headed back to Sydney, arriving home around 2:30 PM.
If you have more time or want to see another spot, you can drive another fifteen minutes south to Norah Head Lighthouse, where you can climb to the top for 360º ocean views. You could also visit Terrigal Skillion Lookout; the ocean there is truly a brilliant blue, and the scenery is stunning. We wanted to get home early to rest that day, so we didn't go.
A few small tips
· Bookings: Hot air balloons, winery tastings, and lunch all require advance booking. For hot air balloons, I recommend Balloon Aloft, specifically the package that includes breakfast at Peterson House.
· Hot air balloon attire: It's cold in the morning, so dress warmly, wear a hat (the flame from the balloon can make your head feel very hot), and wear flat shoes.
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