5 Must-See Sights on A Private Sydney Bus Tours

Oh Sydney, why are you so pretty? Picking the sights on your private day tour can be a difficult task. Sydney is Australia’s largest city and there is so much to see. To make your life a little easier, as you know we love to do, we’ve assembled a list of places we love to take our guests on during our private Sydney bus tours. Here are the must-see sightseeing locations that you won’t want to miss!

The Classics: The Opera House and Harbour Bridge

Well, you can’t really visit Sydney without having a stopover at these two Sydney classics. The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are just as iconic as they are beautiful to look at. We take almost our private Sydney bus tour guests to this location. There is truly no better reminder that Sydney is Australia’s most beautiful city than visiting these two spectacular sights. You won’t be disappointed, we can guarantee that!

A visit to Sydney is not complete without visiting its classics.

The Best View At Lady Macquarie’s Chair

Do you really want to see both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge from one of its most iconic viewpoints? Ask to include a visit to Lady Macquarie’s Chair on your private bus tour. Located on the other side of Sydney’s famous Royal Botanic Gardens, it provides one of the best views in the city!

The epic view from Macquarie’s Chair, Photo by Photoholgic.

See the Action at Bondi Beach

Ah, Bondi Beach, what a beauty you are! Bondi Beach is Australia’s most famous beach by a landslide. It’s the perfect beach in many ways. It has soft waves that are just high enough to surf on that are meticulously lined by soft yellow sand that can always be found full of good-looking locals. Some would even say that the inhabitants of Bondi are just as beautiful as the beach they live in. It’s definitely worth heading over to Bondi to have a look at all of this beauty!

Bondi Beach, where is the beach is just as beautiful as its locals!

Local’s Favourite: Blackwattle Bay

Blackwattle Bay at Glebe’s foreshore is one of our favourite stops as not many tourists make their way there. Glebe is one of Sydney’s inner-western suburbs full of delicious restaurants and it’s also right along the waters of Blackwattle Bay. Why do we love this place so much? The view! Especially at sunset and in the evening, Blackwattle Bay offers a pretty light-filled view of Anzac Bridge and the city of Sydney. It’s the perfect spot to end a day of sightseeing with a group of friends and a few drinks!

Blackwattle Bay, a local favourite for sunset beers!

Try a Craft Brew in Sydney’s hippest suburb, Newtown

Newtown is Sydney’s version of Brooklyn, New York. Plenty of vintage shops, great restaurants with food from all over the world, arguably the best street style in the city and lots and lots of delicious craft beer! Sydneysiders (as the locals are called) flock to Newtown and its surrounding suburbs Marrickville, St Peters, Erskineville, etc, every single weekend. It’s the place to be for an Insta-worthy brunch, for the best vintage outfits or for a night out. We take Sydney locals on a craft beer tour every single week, we bet you would love it too!

Sydney is So Much More!

These five locations are just a few of our highlights. Sydney is so much more than a few sightseeing locations, it is also the perfect city to take part in an almost endless list of activities. Talk to our team of experts about your options for a Sydney Private Bus Tour and about adding one of the many, many activities that we have on offer!

Cover Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash

12 Best Things To Do In Bowral: Wine Tours, Breweries, Waterfalls & More!

In need of a city escape? Why not head to the Southern Highlands! With its beautiful surroundings and many attractions, including wine tours, brewery tours, boutique shopping and great restaurants, there are plenty of epic things to do in Bowral. Being less than two hours from Sydney, both by car and by train, it’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Whether you’re craving a some time to immerse yourself in nature, or you decide to indulge in luxury and fine food and drinks, Bowral has got it all!

Visit Bowral Wineries On A Customised Wine Tour

A must-do for anyone visiting Bowral is to visit the Southern Highlands wineries. There are plenty of wineries to choose from and with a large selection of cool climate wines, we know you’ll find your new fav wine in the area! Not keen to the research? Join a Southern Highlands Wine Tour to visit a selection of handpicked boutique wineries. You will have a tour guide taking care of logistics and transport, so you can fully relax and enjoy your day of wining and dining. Epic gourmet cheese platter anyone?

Take A Hike

Keen to get out and stretch those legs? We highly recommend the Box Vale Walking Track for a great 9km hike that offers plenty of variety along the way. Suitable for the whole family, you can even bring your doggo! This walk is a great way to get some exercise and explore the wider Bowral area. Add in a stop at the Forty Foot Falls on your way back if you fancy making this a (slightly longer) loop.

Unique Bowral Accommodation

Home to many historic estates and manor houses, Bowral is a dream for those romantic history lovers. Many of these beautiful buildings are offering accommodation options these days, which means you can book a bed in style when visiting Bowral for the weekend.

If you’re keen on staying in Bowral while planning a wine tour or brewery tour, get in touch with the Urban Legend team for a few real insider gems in the area and grab yourself a Southern Highland Overnight Package. Perfect if you’re traveling in a large or small group!

Bowral is known for its epic waterfalls dotted across the landscape of the Southern Highlands

Visit Fitzroy Falls

Known as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Australia, you can’t miss out on a visit to Fitzroy Falls. Several lookouts offer great views of its water plunging down the 80m high cliffs. There are several walks to choose from and a stop at the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre is a great way to learn more about the history and wildlife of this area.

Kicking Back at Bowral Breweries

Is a winery tour not up your alley? No worries, just swap the wine for beer and wineries for pubs and make it a Bowral Brewery Tour instead. Try a range of beers with a guided or self-paced tasting paddle of locally-made craft beers, catch some live music and tuck into a tasty pub lunch while sitting in the sun enjoying the view.

Delish Bowral Restaurants

Bowral is truly a foodie’s paradise! Choices range from fine dining to family friendly to street food and beyond. Fancy some Italian cuisine? Book a table at Onesta Cucina and try something from their daily changing menu. For a classic Bowral experience, don’t miss out on visiting Bendooley Estate. Dine at the luxurious restaurant, try wines at the cellar door, browse new and secondhand books or pick up a scrumptious picnic hamper from the Bendooley Larder.

For award-winning bistro food including wood fired pizzas, head to The Imperial Hotel and listen to live music while sipping local Bowral beers and wines. We would also highly recommend popping into The Mill, a community hub featuring local street food, a co-working space and regular events including street feasts and farmers markets.

Hunting for a great new read is one of the many fantastic things to do in Bowral!

Sunset Magic

Who doesn’t love a good sunset? Bowral has several great spots to enjoy a good view, but our favourite is the Jellore Lookout on Mount Gibraltar. Either drive or walk up, bring some snacks and soak up that sunset magic!

Boutique Shopping at Green Lane

A weekend in Bowral wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Green Lane. This beautiful shopping and dining precinct offers a range of boutique shops selling plants, homewares, gifts and clothing, as well as a gorgeous setting to enjoy a coffee, brunch, lunch or dinner.

Bowral is the ultimate picnic heaven!

Bowral By Bike

Visiting Bowral in the cooler months gives you a great opportunity to explore the Bowral area by bike. Try out the Best of Bowral Loop, a 12km circuit over mostly flat terrain. Add in the Bong Bong Track for some great views as you weave your way along the Wingecarribee River.

For some more adventurous riding, visit the Welby Mountain Bike Trails to find excellent trails for all abilities. As you make your way back to Bowral, make sure to pick one of Southern Highlands restaurants, bars and breweries to treat yourself to a cold beer and a nice meal.

RELATED: THE 7 BEST EASY MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS IN SYDNEY: CYCLING ROUTES IN & AROUND THE NSW CAPITAL

A Coffee A Day

A city escape to Bowral isn’t complete without multiple coffee stops, preferably with a delicious treat. Bowral does great coffee! We can almost guarantee that you will find yourself pressed for time to try all the different cafes on offer. Visit Gumnut Patisserie for a great range of pastries, or stop in at the Plantation Cafe to enjoy a cuppa out on the garden terrace. Or why not indulge and treat yourself to a high tea at Dirty Jane’s Tea Salon?

Experience Bowral Distilleries

Keen to mix it up and do something different than a winery tour? Visit Bowral distilleries and go for a Spirits & Cocktail Tour instead! Enjoy a unique vodka, gin and schnapps tasting experience at one of Bowral’s famous lookout spots. Choose between a BYO picnic or splurge on a gourmet lunch, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from.

Have an epic pic with your hen party at our secret Bowral lookout!

Bowral Tulip Festival

There are lots of things to do in Bowral on any day, but if you come down in spring, you might be able to visit the Bowral Tulip Festival. During the latter half of September, the mass-planted Corbett Gardens come to life with more than 75,000 tulips in a spectacular display of colour. With additional entertainment and special events, there will be plenty to see and do for the whole family.

9 Amazing Things To Do In King Valley: Wineries, Breweries, Nature, and more!

Looking for great things to do in the King Valley? Don’t worry, we have your back! Here’s your new go-to guide for everything King Valley related – we’ve scoured the region to find the best wineries, wine tours, hiking trips, boutique breweries & brewery tours as well as local accommodation so you can make the most of your time in this stunning region.

Sip Away At King Valley Wineries

Any wine enthusiast will have heard of King Valley wines, and there’s a good reason they’re so famous! Cool climates, rich soils and the sparkling King River have resulted in a region perfect for winemaking. Combine this with early European migrants who brought with them a passion for good food and quality winemaking, and you can see why the King Valley is so popular!

A few of our favourite family-owned wineries include Dal Zotto Wines, Pizzini Wines, and King Valley Wines. Urban Legends King Valley wine tours are a great way to see everything the region has to offer. Don’t stress about who’s going to be the sober driver, instead sit back and let us take care of the logistics. You’ll be treated like a VIP and have a blast with your friends while sampling the King Valley region’s handcrafted wines, artisan food, and driving around in one of our luxury vehicles.

Magical King Valley Overnight Stays

Merrijig Lodge is a picturesque 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne, and only a short drive to the base of Mt Sterling and Mt Buller, making it the perfect base for all the Urban Legend Tours if you come on an overnight tour with us.

Merrijig Lodge operates year-round, so whether you’re looking for a winter paradise or a summer retreat, you’ve come to the right place! Set on the banks of the Delatite River, this 10-acre property caters for up to 52 guests, with a range of accommodation options to suit every need and every budget – from B&B style guest rooms to self-catered bunks.

A Short Hike to Paradise Falls

Paradise Falls will make you feel like you’ve stepped into fairyland. Only a 20-minute drive from Whitfield, this stunning walk is only 0.5km long and the perfect spot for a picnic. Pack lunch or grab some tasty local produce from Whitfield and soak up the natural wonders of the King Valley.

Unique Flavours at King Valley Distilleries

If wineries aren’t your thing, don’t stress! The King Valley region is bursting with boutique distilleries, handcrafted spirits and artisan gins made from locally sourced grain. Many of these distilleries are family owned-and-run and offer a range of homemade meals or delicious platters filled with seasonal local produce to enjoy alongside your drinks. What more could you want?

Make sure to check out some of our favourite artisan distilleries in the King Valley, including Hurdle Creek Still, Nightingale Bros Alpine Produce and Cider, Hobbledehoy Distillery and Café, and more!

Enjoy a Cold One at King Valley Breweries

Enjoy a locally brewed cold one at one of the popular King Valley breweries. Sit on a deck, surrounded by the natural beauty of the King Valley, and sample craft beers made with fresh mountain water from the King River. Many breweries also have viewing stations where you can watch the process in action and learn some more about the history of the Valley and its beer.

Some of our favourite King Valley breweries to grab a cold pint, tasting paddle, or wood-fired pizza are the Bright Brewery, King Valley Brewing, Bridge Road Brewers, Billson’s Brewery, and a bunch more.

Can’t decide where to go first? Check out our Urban Legend’s King Valley Brewery Tours!

Take a Dip in Lake William Hovell

Whether you’re into fishing, canoeing, hiking, or four-wheel-driving, Lake William Hovell has something for everyone! An 18km trip out of Cheshunt, this charming lake is family-friendly and perfect for all sorts of summer activities. Chuck some snags on the public BBQs and have a refreshing dip in the lake’s cool water. Or, if you’re into fishing, try your luck with the trout and redfin – fresh fish for lunch, anyone? Alternatively, hire a canoe and paddle around in the sunshine, or take a walk through the lake’s stunning surrounds.

Get Adventurous with White Water Rafting on the King River

Feeling like an adrenaline rush? Gain a new perspective of the King River as you glide through rapids and dodge rocks on a white water rafting tour. This experience is perfect for anyone who’s excited to get in the water and learn some new skills, so don’t worry if you’ve never been rafting before. However, while you’ll be surrounded by qualified guides, it’s still important that you’re a competent swimmer and comfortable around water.

There are several companies that offer rafting trips departing from both Bright and Mansfield, so have a look around to find the one that suits you best!

Soak up the beauty of the King Valley

There are so many fun King Valley attractions you’ll never find yourself getting bored. Enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside, the friendly locals and the delicious food and wine. A couple nights away and you’ll never want to leave again!

Cruise through the Countryside on a Cycling Trail

Whether you enjoy meandering through rolling hills on a road bike or pumping down single tracks on a mountain bike, there is something in the King Valley for every cycling fanatic, or anyone keen to give it a try!

The 100km long Murray to Mountains Rail Trail gives riders the full King Valley experience and is filled with unexpected delights. You’ll find yourself exploring a huge variety of landscapes, from mountains to bushland, rolling farmland to hidden valleys and historic sites. Reward yourself for your cycling efforts and make sure to sample some delicious local treats as you pass through towns including Rutherglen, Milawa, Wangaratta and Wandiligong.

Wangaratta also makes an excellent base for cyclists, with rides starting at a cruisy 18km long and reaching up to 125km long. Zoom along trails that pass through classic Australian countryside, bushland and stunning mountainscapes.

The King Valley has many other cycling trails well worth checking out during your stay. Make sure to pop on a helmet and explore the way along the Cheshunt Cruise to Lake William Hovell, or if you’re feeling energetic the Strade Nero is perfect for those looking for a challenge.

Make sure to check out Ride High Country if you’re interested in a full list of cycling trips for your time in the King Valley wine region.

Shred the Slopes at Falls Creek and Mt Hotham

The King Valley is an ideal spot to be based if you’re a snow bunny and keen to check out the Victorian High Country during the winter months. Falls Creek is a scenic two-hour drive from Wangaratta, and under an hour and a half from Bright. A family-friendly mountain with plenty of runs for beginners (but also with its fair share of more advanced tracks), it’s perfect for day trips and overnight stays alike. Keen for something on the cheaper side that’s a bit less of an adrenaline rush? Falls Creek also has a large range of cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing trails, perfect for making the most of the region’s stunning snowscapes.

Mt Hotham is also conveniently close to the King Valley, a two-hour drive from Wang and only an hour from Bright! This mountain also has something for everyone, but it is particularly known for having some of the most challenging ski/snowboard runs in Victoria. Both mountains are absolutely worth the visit during your time in the King Valley!

The 5 Coolest Sydney Day Tours For Groups

Whether you're visiting just Sydney or living in the city and looking for a fun day out, there are plenty of Sydney Day Tours to choose from. In this article, we'll dive into all the Sydney tour options for you and your group and help you figure out which day tour is perfect for you! See Sydney in a day, go adventuring in the Blue Mountains, taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley or the Southern Highlands, or stay close to home by spending your Sydney day tour in the inner west!

Photo by Christopher Burns via Unsplash

Best Day Tour For Groups: See the Sydney sights on a private bus tour or by bicycle!

Sydney is a large city, is it possible to see Sydney in a day? Of course! With that right tour guide that is. Sydney is jam-packed full of amazing sights, but getting to see them all in a day can be challenging. So can you see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, discover the hip inner-west and see one of the famous beaches? Especially if you are wrangling a group of mates! We say, Hell yeah! But how? Sure, public transport can be a way to go, but Sydney is notorious for its 1-hour bus rides everywhere and forget about parking several cars in the CBD.

We recommend hopping on a private bus tour (psssst, we organise a few epic ones!) and finding a company that is willing to customise your trip. A private bus tour is a fantastic option for both small and large groups. Anywhere between 4 and 52 people can hop on one a private Sydney bus tour and see the city. No more worrying about being on time or whether your group is having fun. At Urban Legends, we love customising tours to make sure that you and your group see everything that you want to see, something that is not offered by all Sydney tour companies.

Another option to see Sydney with a group is to move that body and jump on one of our bicycle tours. Accompanied by long-term Sydney locals, we show you the coolest spots. You know, those spots that are hard to find if you haven't lived in the city. Bike riding will also give your group the option of stopping to admire Sydney's best views. Who doesn't love that?! Did you know it is only a 40-minute bike ride from Sydney Opera House to Bondi Beach? You got this!

Explore the Blue Mountains with a group of mates! Image by Christopher Burns via Unsplash

Go on an Adventurous Sydney Day Tour In The Blue Mountains

One of our favourite escapes from the big smoke is a Blue Mountains tour. Whether you are looking to see the famous three sisters, Jenolan Caves or you want to visit one of the lesser knows waterfalls, the Blue Mountains National Park is full of epic places to explore. The hard part is, not getting to the Blue Mountains, but choosing between all the possible hikes, lookouts and waterfalls! If you get the opportunity, we recommend staying overnight and including a sunrise hike to one of the many excellent sunrise lookouts.

Whether your group is visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time and want to get the full tour or whether you are looking to organise transport for your group of experienced hikers to and from a hike, our buses can get you there.

Taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is the most famous wine destination in NSW and for good reason. We love the Hunter Valley so much that you can find us exploring boutique wineries in the region every weekend. Boutique wineries in the Hunter Valley are our favourite because these beautiful small wineries, which are often family-run, provide the nicest service and serve excellent wines! We are always learning something new about their craft and adore tasting the wines that the Hunter Valley is known for. If you need any more reasons why you should visit boutique wineries, read our blog post here!

The Hunter Valley is located at a 2-2.5h drive from Sydney, so planning a day tour from Sydney means that you will have to have an early start for a day trip! Even though it will be a long day, it is very worth your time. We love this destination so much that we even offer several customisable Hunter Valley wine tours! If you would rather have a shorter day tour, check out the scenic tours of the Southern Highlands below.

The gorgeous Southern Highlands is known for it’s beautiful flower gardens and great cool weather wines.

Scenic wine tasting in the Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands is a wonderful destination all year round and is particularly popular in the autumn season due to its large number of deciduous trees. The colder climate also makes the region perfect for producing excellent Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Location at only 1.5h drive, it is actually our favourite NSW winery tour location for a Sydney day tour!

Become a craft beer expert in Sydney's Inner West

Who says that you have to leave Sydney for an epic Sydney day tour! One of the best ways to get to know the real Sydney is through bar hopping the Inner West of the city. The local craft breweries serve a few of Australia's best craft beers and allow you to soak up the local culture better than any other activity. The area of Sydney's inner west is full of beautiful murals and street art and there is more delicious food than you can ever finish!

Plan your own walking brewery tour by sticking to one suburb, Marrickville, or get your group to join one of our popular Sydney brewery tours. This tour combines all the best Sydney craft beers together in a meticulously organised day so your group can relax and focus on having fun. All our tours include a behind-the-scenes tour where you learn how these delicious beers get made and are combinable with one of the many fun add-ons such as axe-throwing, lawn bowls, go-karting, and more!

Feature image by Christopher Burns via Unsplash

The Best Sydney Wine Tours: Where To Go and How To Choose!

The Best Sydney Wine Tours: Where To Go and How To Choose!

Sydney is home to world-class beaches, gorgeous bars and restaurants, a world-famous harbour, bridge, opera house, and so much more. We love being based in Sydney because life is, frankly put, pretty epic. Whether you enjoy being in the outdoors or whether you want to dress up and hit the town, Sydney has it all. And for the weekend? There are too many options to choose from. A day trip to the Blue Mountains, exploring the local craft breweries, or one of our favourites, going on a Sydney Wine Tour.

We know a thing or two about Sydney Wine tours, -wink, wink- we run one of Sydney's favourite wine tours! And while we're tempted to tell you all about our Sydney wine tours, this article focuses on all the best wine regions you can visit from Sydney. We won't go into specific tour companies, but we'll tell you all about where to go and what to pay attention to when booking a tour!

The Wine Regions Near Sydney

Nestled between two of NSW’s best wine regions, Sydney is the perfect starting point for a wine tour. While you might not be able to do an actual Sydney wine tour as there are no Sydney vineyards, you can start various wine tours from the NSW capital. You have two options for starting a Sydney wine tour, which is either a trip to the Hunter Valley or to the Southern Highlands. So which one should you choose if you really want the best Sydney wine tour? Well, that depends on a few factors.

Which factors matter? We won't leave you hanging, we're delving deep into the pros and cons of both wine regions and why to choose one or the other!

Hunter Valley Wine Tours: The Pros and Cons

We’re not going to claim that the Hunter Valley is a hidden gem amongst the Australian wine regions. Nope, the Hunter Valley is one of the oldest and most famous wine regions in the country. In fact, we love the region so much that we organise a few Sydney Wine Tours to taste the Hunter Valley Semillons, Shiraz, Chardonnays, and more, almost every weekend!

Why you should visit the Hunter Valley Wine Region on your Sydney Wine Tour

The Hunter Valley is one of the most famous wine regions in Australia, alongside the Barossa Valley in South Australia, the Yarra Valley in Victoria, and Margaret River in Western Australia, due to its rich history. Settlers have been working the land for wine for over 200 years and the region is now home to a few of the country's most famous wines such as Lindeman's Wines, Tyrrell's Wines, Audrey Wilkinson, and more. Due to their legacy, these wineries, and others, have been able to build grand estates and beautifully designed tasting rooms and cellar doors. These big, famous wineries have built up their brand to a point where they can charge a significant amount for their, often standing, tastings and cater to high volumes of guests each day. Many of these Hunter Valley wines are even sold in the mainstream stores in Sydney and around the country.

But the Hunter Valley is not only home to these big-scale wineries, there are still small, often family-owned boutique wineries located in the area. Most tour groups don't even make it here as these wineries are located off the tourist trail. Luckily our Hunter Valley wine tours love visiting small boutique wineries off the beaten track. With tasting fees varying from free to $15, these wineries are true hidden gems. A few of our favourite wines are located in this region, wines that you probably have never heard of! And this makes the Hunter Valley one of the most abundant regions to visit with over 150 wineries to choose from. Between the big and small wineries, one thing is for sure, you won't be going home empty-handed.

One of our goo-looking tour groups exploring boutique wineries in the Hunter Valley

Why You Should Skip the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is Sydney's most famous wine region, but it is actually not the closest. Located about a 2-2,5h drive from the city, the Hunter Valley is perfect if you have the time to spend a weekend away. Due to the driving distance, the Hunter Valley is not perfect for a day tour, unless your heart is really set on visiting this specific wine region and you're comfortable spending some time in the car or tour bus. We recommend making a weekend of it and spending the night in this gorgeous area.

Southern Highlands Wine Tours: The Pros and Cons

The Southern Highlands is a well-known wedding destination due to its beautiful landscapes and estates. But it is also known for its fantastic cold-weather wine selection. The colder climate and high elevation above sea level make for a beautiful Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Why you should visit the Southern Highlands wine region on your Sydney Wine Tour

Being the closest wine destination to Sydney, at only 1,5-hour drive, the Southern Highlands is a fantastic destination, and our recommendation, for a day tour or half-day tour from Sydney. Our Southern Highlands Wine Tour is fast becoming one of our most popular tours, next to the Hunter Valley Wine Tours of course, for big and small groups, office parties and more. People adore the region in all seasons due to the beautiful changing landscapes and because of the delicious wines that the area has to offer.

Why You Should Skip the Southern Highlands

With over 60 vineyards and 15 cellar doors to choose from, the wine region has a beautiful selection of wines to choose from. However, compared to Hunter Valley's 150 wineries, if you want more choice, the Southern Highlands might not be for you. Other than that, we can honestly not think of any reason not to head to this gorgeous wine region!

One of the many delicious cheese boards you can taste on Sydney wine tours, here pictured The Southern Highlands

How to choose the best Sydney Wine Tour?

As we already said, the best Sydney wine tour for you will depend on a few factors, after all, we can't make that choice for you! To make choosing even easier for you, we've shortlisted the most important factors here!

• How much time do you have? Do you have the time for a day tour, a weekend trip, or would a half-day tour suit you better?

• Do you want to taste famous wines or do you prefer discovering hidden gems?

• What type of landscapes do you want to see?

• Do you prefer quick tastings or would you like to learn more about the wines you're tasting?

• Do you like stocking up with wines you can't find in the shops or do you just want to enjoy a few glasses of wine?

• And more! Read more on what to expect on a NSW winery tour here!

We hope this article has been helpful to allow you to choose your own best Sydney Wine Tour. But we won't leave you without one last important message, which is a kind reminder to not forget to buy a few bottles if you are planning to visit any boutique wineries. We believe this is incredibly important as this is what keeps these wonderful businesses alive. Read more about why buying wine is key here!

Are you keen to go exploring? Check out our Hunter Valley Wine Tours or our Southern Highland Wine Tours! We look forward to taking you legends out on an unforgettable day!

5 Epic Byron Bay Day Trips: Hinterland, Waterfalls, Breweries & More!

Byron Bay is loved amongst locals and tourists alike for the beachy bohemian heaven that it is. Surrounded by tropical-looking beaches and suburbs that look like they are still in the 70s, we love a good trip to this laid-back town! Byron Bay is home to many fantastic hotels, breweries, shops, brunch spots and much more! But did you know that it is also filled to the brim with epic day trips? We love exploring the Byron Bay area so much that we've made a list of five epic Byron Bay Day Trips. Keep on reading!

1. Explore the Hinterland suburbs!

With dreamy names such as Mullumbimby, Newrybar and Bangalow, these hinterland towns are a photographers dream. While none of them are particularly big in size, their Instagram footprint is beyond anything you've seen before. You see, these little towns are filled with photogenic brunch spots such as Harvest Newrybar and WOODS in Bangalow and many cute little nooks to explore and hang out. Brunch is not the only activity in these popular hinterland suburbs, a day trip from Byron Bay to these formerly sleepy towns is filled with wonderful moments.

Want to combine these hinterland locations with a few epic Byron Bay Breweries? Enquire about our Byron Bay Brewery Tours today!

Newrybar Merchants, one of Byron Bay’s favourite local spots (Photo by Marijs Vrancken)

Newrybar's main location is just a street, so keep your eyes peeled for the turnoff! Newrybar was put on the map with Harvest Newrybar, the restaurant we already mentioned above, and the hard-to-resist stores Newrybar Merchants and Driftlab. Head here for the best homeware the area has to offer and a memorable dining experience. Our favourite spot? The local general store! It's just such good value!

Bangalow is home to many of the locals that we love to Insta-stalk. This town is both functional and a great place to explore. Start your Byron Bay day trip with breaky in WOODS, pick up a new outfit in Assembly Label and enjoy the local art at the next-door gallery. Do you have excellent timing and are you in Bangalow on the 4th Sunday of the month? Make sure to plan in a stop at the local market for more artisan locally-made products, boho clothing and lots of delicious food!

Last but not least, Mullumbimby is a regular on our Byron Bay day trips, located just 15 min drive from the Byron Bay centre. This bubbly town is a shopping heaven and, big surprise, also home to many great foodie spots. We love having eggs on sourdough with a coffee at Punch & Daisy and picking up a pizza slice at the locally famous Milk and Honey. Want to have a good craft beer with your pizza? Punch & Daisy also stocks one of our favourite Sydney Craft Beers, The Grifter Brewing Co.!

2. Jump in a local waterfall!

There are plenty of waterfalls to explore on one of these epic Byron Bay day trips! Minyon Falls is a much-loved waterfall with a swimming hole at the bottom of the waterfall. On a hot summer's day, you are guaranteed to bump into a few people from your hostel or accommodation as it is the perfect place to cool off!

A smaller and lesser-known waterfall is Killen falls. Located close to Newrybar, it is a short hike down from the car park where you are greeted by a swimming hole with a picturesque little waterfall. We love visiting both waterfalls and finishing the day trip at one of the Byron Bay Breweries on the way back home to Byron Bay!

Blogger Marijs from Rooftop Antics at Killen Falls, an epic waterfall to visit from Byron Bay

3. Go Kayaking with Dolphins

Say what? Oh yeah, this is a thing. The location of Byron Bay is perfectly suited as a home for many marine mammals. Visitors to Byron Bay frequently spot whales when they are in season and it is not uncommon for dolphins to join the surf line-up! So why not head out on a day trip from Byron Bay to go and kayak with these curious creatures. They are spotted so often that you are even guaranteed sightings or you can go back out the next day!

See dolphins in Byron Bay from a kayak! Photo by Jen Milius

4. Learn How to Surf

It's hard to spend any time in Byron Bay and not get tempted to get on a surfboard! It is, after all, a quintessential Aussie activity and it's a perfect Byron Bay day trip. There are many local surfing schools that offer lessons at one of the local Byron Bay beaches or on a surf break close by. We recommend starting off on one of the larger foam boards if it's your first go at it, but if you're a bit more confident, try asking for a smaller surfboard! Make sure to avoid the super busy line ups as Byron Bay is home to many great surfers which aren't always too happy with beginners interrupting their wave party.

Byron Bay is one of the best places to learn how to surf! Photo by Kate Darmody

5. Go on a Byron Bay Brewery Tour

Over the past few years, Byron Bay has been put on the map in the craft beer brewing game. If you're new to our website, you might not know that we organise Sydney & Hunter Valley Craft Beer Tours. That means that we are slightly obsessed with finding the best craft breweries in Sydney and surroundings and have now also branched out to Byron Bay! Read more about our memorable Byron Bay Brewery Tours here!

Photo by Tim Bennett

Stone & Wood Brewery is the first Byron Bay brewery that caught our attention and with good reason! Most famous for their Pacific Ale, their handcrafted beers include a great assortment of ales, crisp lagers, and a few epic pale ales! You can even go on a behind-the-scenes brewery tour and discover just what makes their craft beers so special.

But Stone & Wood isn't the only brewery in the Byron Bay area. In fact, there are plenty of breweries around to fill a Byron Bay day trip! As most of them are located outside of the Byron Bay centre, we recommend visiting them on a mini road trip! If you plan carefully or hop on one of our future tours, you can even combine a waterfall tour with a visit to a hinterland town and a schooner at a craft brewery on your Byron Bay Day Trip.

Photo by Barbara Rezende

Cover Photo by Shubham Sharma

15 Reasons To Visit a Boutique Winery in Australia + How To Find them

Australia is home to many fantastic wine regions. Travelling around the country you can hit up legendary areas such as the Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, Margaret River, our personal favour Hunter Valley, and many more. From large-scale wineries to smaller boutique wineries, Australia has it all! But where do you find the best wines or the most unique flavour pallet? We personally love Australia's small-scale, often family-owned, boutique wineries.

These boutique wineries are dotted across the landscapes of all wine regions and might not be on the conventional tourist trail! In this article, we tell you 15 reasons why you should visit a boutique winery in Australia instead of visiting a commercial winery. We are spilling the tea on how to find these epic boutique wineries around the country and let you know what to pay attention to. Ready? Let's go!

How can you beat sunset in the Hunter Valley?

What is a boutique winery?

We love boutique wineries because they tend to have so much passion and love for the winemaking process. But what makes them so unique?

While there isn't a precise definition of what a boutique winery is, the wine industry considers a winery a boutique winery if they are producing less than 10,000 cases per year. That means that boutique wineries tend to be small, often family-run businesses that focus on a limited-production, high-quality and hand-crafted product. There is real respect in this industry for everything artisanal and this shines through in the delicious boutique wines in Australia.

A boutique winery will be working hard to develop a highly personalised product that is a true masterpiece from the second the first vine gets planted, often several generations back. It's important to remember that these winemakers will pour their heart and soul into harvesting the grape at the exact right time, tending to the vines all year round, making sure that the barrel-ageing is done to perfection and will often even be there to serve you their wine. They want their wine to shine and their customer to understand the craftsmanship that has gone into their fine product.

Read more about What to expect on a NSW wine tour: All your questions answered here

The Hunter Valley is filled with amazing views

15 Reasons to choose a boutique winery over a commercial winery

If you haven't figured it out, we adore small boutique wineries! While we applaud big wineries who are able to sell their wines into the big suppliers such as BWS and Liquorland, there are many benefits to choosing a small boutique winery over a big commercial winery.

1. The Atmosphere!

The boutique wineries are small, family-run companies that have a beautiful and welcoming atmosphere for all their guests. They tend to be located on beautiful properties and have people closely connected to the winemaking process serve you. They are generally super happy to see you in their cellar door and will share a wealth of knowledge while letting you taste their excellent product.

2. A High Level of Service

The hosts of a boutique winery are not in a rush to turn over as many tasters as possible as commercial wineries often do. They focus more on making sure clients really understand and enjoy their wines as they want you to go home with a few bottles that you really love.

3. Fewer Chemicals in the Wine

It might come as a surprise, but not all wine is just grapes and yeast. Some wines have chemicals that are added in the winemaking process to be able to produce bigger quantities and to preserve the wine for longer. As boutique wineries focus on smaller batches that get sold at the optimal consumption time for that specific wine, you will generally find fewer additives and chemicals in the boutique wines.

4. Unique Beautiful Tasting Palette

Boutique wineries are a true gem. From growing and picking the grapes to the actual winemaking process, they are on it! This tends to bring out unique flavour palettes in their wines that will be hard to find in commercial wineries.

5. Unique Tasting Experiences

The winemaker at a boutique winery puts a big focus on the customer. They genuinely want you to find the wine you love the most so you can bring it home and enjoy it. These smaller wineries tend to provide a more unique seated or standing tasting experience than the high-volume wineries. These tastings will often even take place in special tasting rooms. Some even have 200-year old wine presses in them, how cool is that!

A beautiful luxury seated tasting sessions at one of our favourite boutique wineries!

6. Minimal to no External Staff That Doesn't Know Their Wine

In boutique wineries, the chances of you being served by a member of the family, a close friends or the winemaker itself are high! The people serving you the wine will most likely have been involved in the winemaking process from beginning to end. They will know which year was the best for which grape and what wine to take home for that pasta dish you're trying out next week!

7. Many 5-star Halliday Rated Wines

The Halliday Wine Companion rates over 9000 Australian wines each year and awards them with a 5-star system to indicate the quality of the wine, the consistency over the years. Boutique wineries tend to shine in these awards and luckily for us, many of them are also located in the Hunter Valley! Perfect for a weekend wine tour!

8. Taste Other Artisan Products

The rich soil of the wine regions lends itself well to farming other products, resulting in fantastic products being made either on the property itself. This includes products such as cheeses, estate-grown olives, homemade condiments and sauces, made with family recipes passed down from generation to generation.

9. Cute Animal-Galore!

As boutique wineries are small, family-run businesses, the home of the family is often on the same property (compared to large venues that get closed every day as the staff goes home). This results in the chance for you to pet the family dog/cat or even a few farm animals such as sheep, goats, llamas, etc. And if you time your visit well, you might even get to hold a baby goat!

Who could resist a baby goat?

10. Special Relationships

Many people who find their favourite new wine at a boutique winery try to go back as much as possible. We've known of many beautiful friendships developing between the customers and the winemakers.

11. Longer Tasting Experiences & More Generous Servings of Wine

At a boutique winery, it is not all about making a profit. Sure, the winery has to be able to keep running. That's why we find it so important to buy a bottle when you book a wine tour with us! But as the emphasis is on the customer, their tastings tend to be a lot longer with more generous servings of wine! After all, the end goal is that you find the bottle of wine that you love!

12. A Larger Selection of Wines in the Tasting

Boutique wineries tend to be more generous with the number of wines they let you taste. Again, the emphasis is on making sure that you find your favourite bottle of wine! Expect to be tasting 8 to 10 different wines rather than the commercial standard of 4 to 6 wines.

13. No Big Groups

Because boutique wineries tend to be smaller properties, they value the tasting experience over having high volume tours come through. That's why it is much less likely to have loud hens parties come through.

If you want to visit a boutique winery with a larger group, these wineries tend to only work with trusted tour operators that have built a relationship with the winery over a long period. This is because they need to trust that the groups coming through will not upset the quiet and cosy atmosphere they treasure so much. Our winery tours tend to be one of the few group tours that focus on boutique wineries and that is only possible due to years of relationship building within the industry.

14. Personalised Tastings

Boutique wineries will want you to taste the wines that you will love. They will tailor each and every tasting to the individual client, meaning that you might taste 8 to 10 wines from a wine list with 20 wines and your friend can taste 8 to 10 completely different wines. Boutique wineries heavily rely on cellar door bottle sales to survive as this is their only source of income, therefore they usually put much more effort into making the tasting special so people go home with their ultimate favourite wine.

15. They Might Throw in Extra Wines That Aren’t On The Wine List

If you are genuinely interested in wine, boutique wineries often like to add a few wines to the tasting that aren't even on the wine list! You will be able to taste and buy bottles that the people before or after you would not have the chance to. Talk about special treatment

Relaxing in the vineyard with the vineyard dog, sounds like heaven to us!

How to find a boutique winery: What to look out for!

There are a few ways to find Australia's best boutique wineries! Remember, these businesses are often much smaller than commercial wineries and they tend to have very limited marketing budgets. So don't expect to see them in magazines or advertising.

1. Ask around! The best boutique wineries are often found through word-of-mouth. Ask friends that have visited the area what wines they loved. Also ask the wineries themselves whether they have any recommendation in the area.

2. Visit the Tourism Information Centre: The tourism information centres are often run by locals who know the area well. They can guide you into the direction of a few local secrets! Make sure to tell them that you want to focus on small boutique wineries and explore from there.

3. Browse Google Maps: We often use Google Maps to find new places. Just zoom in far enough so you can see the local area and have a look at each winery. The wineries often have a few photos on their page and will have reviews from people that have gone there before.

Artisan cheeses often accompany boutique wine tastings on our wine tours.

Do you need to book in advance at a boutique winery?

Boutique wineries often request guests to book an appointment in the cellar door. Booking in advance can easily be done by calling up each winery or by emailing in advance through their website. If you book a wine tour with us, this will all be done for you.

Please note that due to current COVID-19 regulations almost all wineries in NSW are requesting that you book beforehand.

Best Half Day Wine and Brewery Tours Hunter Valley: Discover The Hunter Valley in Less Time

So you want to see the beautiful Hunter Valley, but you only have half a day to spare? Or maybe you know your night is going to be a bit too much fun and you want a late start? No worries! You can spend less time on a half day wine and brewery tour in the Hunter Valley and still have an epic time!

The Hunter Valley is the most well-known wine region close to New South Wales' capital, Sydney, for good reason! With heritage of the first settlers dating back over 200 years, the area of Pokolbin is known for its quality wine production. It's therefore not surprising that it became the heart of wine tasting tours in the Hunter Valley. The area is blessed with so many varieties of wines that you will not get bored.

But the Hunter Valley does more than just producing fantastic wine, the region is also home to, amongst others, craft breweries, artisan cheeses, and chocolates. On top of that, the Hunter Valley wine region also has an amazing offer of activities: mountain biking, hiking, hot-air ballooning, and much more. You can even head to the Hunter Valley for a spa day!

Half Day Wine and Brewery Tour Hunter Valley: What can you see in a half day?

The Hunter Valley is a 2.5h drive from Sydney. When heading to the Hunter Valley from Sydney for a half-day, planning is crucial. You need to know which wineries or breweries to visit and potentially book and, maybe more importantly, which Hunter Valley wineries you really want to buy a few bottles of!

There are over 120 wineries in the Hunter Valley to choose from, so we always recommend having a chat with Jared, the founder of Urban Legends Tour Co., to see which wineries and breweries are going to be your favourites! We are biased towards the smaller boutique wineries as we love supporting small family businesses and because they make stellar wines.

That doesn't mean that you'll be spending all your time in the car through! Having your transport sorted by hopping on one of our mini-vans or luxury vehicles means that you can get picked up and dropped of at your home or your booked accommodation, as we do for all of our tours. Put on some tunes and we'll drive you straight to the first boutique wineries on your personalised schedule!

On our half-day Hunter Valley tours, we visit 3 beautiful wineries where you get to try artisan cheeses, olives or chocolates. Another option is to choose to visit only one winery and then head to 2 craft breweries or distilleries. Whether you're on a double date, celebrating a birthday, or want to escape the office with your small team, these half day tours are the ideal relaxed city escape!

The Half Day Hunter Valley Tour 3 Epic Legends Wineries + Chocolate, Cheese & Olive Tasting

A half day winery tour allows you to have a nice and lazy start to your day. We head straight to one of our favourite boutique wineries where you can have a wine tasting and also enjoy local produce such as cheeses, chocolates and olives. From there, we head to boutique winery number two. Here you will enjoy a premium seated wine tasting experience.

Around lunch-time, you have a few options. You can pack your own lunch, book a lunch experience (we know all the best places) or have a picnic with one of the gourmet platters that we love so much.

Time to head to the final destination of the day, another amazing small family-run winery that will blow your mind. We love that the wineries chosen for this half-day tour often have their winemaker themself explaining all about the wines that they produce. No rushed wine tastings here! You can really feel the love for their craft during your visit. Book this epic half-day adventure here.

The Hunter Valley Epic Half Day Tour with 1 Epic Winery + 2 Breweries or Distillery

Love wine but want to taste the beers or distilleries that the Hunter Valley has to offer as well? I can't blame you! After all, there are plenty of breweries and distilleries to discover. Of course, we have a few favourites and we're more than happy to take you to them.

Even though we love a good craft beer, we always start these half day Hunter Valley tours with a stop at your preferred boutique winery. We hope you don't mind starting with an excellent wine tasting and a few artisan cheeses, chocolates and olives before heading to the breweries or distilleries of your choice. For the ultimate wine, brewery, and distillery half-day tour, book here!

Don't forget to bring a bottle home!

We like to look at our half day wine and brewery tours in the Hunter Valley as an escape from the big smoke, but also as an excellent opportunity to bring home some fantastic bottles of wine. At Urban Legends Tour Co., we focus on bringing you to the best boutique wineries that are usually small family businesses. They have had a rough year (haven't we all!) and can use you support! Therefore we ask you to buy a few bottles during your tour. This will not financially benefit Urban Legends Tour Co, but it will support these small local business like you wouldn't believe. If you want to read more about the expectation to buy wine, read our elaborate article on what to expect on a winery tour here!

What about the current restrictions?

At the time of writing this piece (beginning of September), the restrictions of tours are limited to 10 people or less. When restrictions change, we will follow whatever the current restrictions in place are. Read of our COVID-19 safety page or reach out to our team directly if you want to know more.

The good news, however, is that our half day wine tours in the Hunter Valley are perfect for a smaller group! You can book these epic short tours from a group of 4 up to 10 people (with the current restrictions in place). They will still be available when the allowed amount of participants go up again so you can also choose to do them with a big group at a later time in the year. But not quite yet!

That's all legends! No go ahead, be your group's organising hero & find out today why we are the Hunter Valley’s most experienced, epic wine tour specialists.

Featured photo by Chelsea Pridham on Unsplash

Classy Hens Party Ideas for Sydney (+ Hens Party Packages Sydney and surroundings)

Classy Hens Party Ideas for Sydney

+ Hens Party Packages Sydney and surroundings

Do you cringe at the thought of wearing a princess outfit all day or are you less than keen on having a half-naked stranger dance on your lap on one of your last days as a single women? Or are you organising a special day for one of your best mates and know that she wants to have a fun, but truly meaningful day? Then we have some great classy hens party ideas in Sydney and surroundings for you!

Sydney is the city of gorgeous beaches, insane vistas, and beautiful weather for a large part of the year. It is also a great city to organise your hens party with plenty of classy hens party activities at your fingertips. Whether you are Sydney-based or flying in for the hens party, we know you and your loyal group of girls will have a fantastic time. But what should you do to organise an effortlessly cool hens party? We've got you covered!

In this article, we'll be covering epic classy hens party ideas in and around Sydney. That means that if you are in Newcastle, Central Coast, or Wollongong, you can definitely also use these ideas!

Classy Hens Party Ideas In Sydney

There is a lot to discover within Sydney's suburbs! One of the finest features of Sydney is the unique character of each suburb. Do you like the CBD with its high-rise buildings and hidden bars, or The Rocks with epic views on the Harbour Bridge, and an obligatory stop at the Sydney Opera House? Or maybe you prefer the close-by Botanic Gardens with the all-too-famous Lady Macquarie’s Chair? What about Sydney Habour's newest builds in Barangaroo and the adjacent Barangaroo Reserve, a landscaped park with 75,000 native trees and shrubs and thousands of sandstone blocks. The surrounding suburbs are home to historic buildings, great bars, distilleries, gorgeous beaches and headlands, and much, much more!

Sydney provides the perfect backdrop to more hens party possibilities than you can count! Are you, or the bride you're organising the hens for, obsessed with the ocean or does her heart beat faster when tasting a newly-distilled gin that nobody has heard of? We've gathered the best classy hens party ideas in Sydney. You can stick to one idea or combine a few of these to organise an unforgettable hens day!

Sydney Scavenger Hunt in Scenic Locations

Sydney truly is a playground filled with scenic locations. From Bondi Beach, the Harbour Bridge to local secrets such as Blackwattle Bay along the Glebe Foreshore. Why not take a trip down memory lane and visit all those spots that are important for your bride and her significant other? Is your bride a first-time visitor of the city? Give her a chance to see one of Australia's most beautiful cities on a guided bus tour! These locations are perfect to plant a few clues along a scavenger hunt that will entertain both your bride and your entire group of mates.

Here are a few tips and tricks to organise a successful Sydney hens scavenger hunt:

• Include locations that relate to the relationship of the bride and her fiance

• Include a drink and snack stops (why not a great distillery?). Scavenger hunts without snacks make for a hangry group of mates.

• Keep your group together or split up, why not organise two luxury vans to drive your group around

• Include at least one beautiful scenic location with the whole group -gotta have those photo ops!-

• Engage the whole group, not just the bride. While this day is all about the bride, if you engage the full group, the bride will get to enjoy her day without worry.

• Put a time limit on the games to keep it exciting and don't make it too long (max 2-3h).

Go Paddle boarding in Rose Bay or Kayaking on Sydney Harbour

For a more adventurous bride, a water-based activity is a must! Sydney is, after all, famous for its beaches and harbour. No sunny day would be complete without a bit of fun on the glassy waters of the city. A paddle session or kayak is easily included as a part of your classy hens party or great to experience on its own!

With so many locations to choose from, we love heading to Rose Bay for a paddle boarding session or a kayaking session in Sydney Harbour on our guided tours. Views of the harbour bridge and luxury vehicles to your location are included in all our hens party packages!

Cocktail and Distillery tours (and have a cheeky craft beer)

Sydney is blessed with a multitude of amazing cocktail bars (have you discovered all the hidden bars yet?) and the finest distilleries. Why stick with one bar on your hens party when you can visit 3 or 4 on an inner-west distillery tour? From gin to high-end whiskey, Sydney allows you to taste the world's best cocktails! We'd even bet that the bridal party would love you even more if you threw a craft beer into the mix. Who said women don't enjoy a good craft beer!

Cycle Around Sydney

Does your bride love to stay fit and is she looking for an adventurous day? Take your classy hens party to the next level with a Sydney bicycle tour! Sydney is filled with extraordinary mountain bike trails and has too many vistas and photo ops to count. We love exploring one of the many secret local locations with easy to cycle paths. Why not combine the idea of a scavenger hunt with some paddle boarding and a few cocktails to round up the day? Your whole group will love it!

Classy Hens Party Ideas Around Sydney

One of the biggest perks of being based in Sydney is the multitude of amazing getaway locations! Whether you are organising a hens day party or a hens weekend, the options are endless. The surroundings of Sydney have so much on offer: local produce, many NSW wineries, craft breweries and stunning vistas. We'll be giving you a few classy hens party ideas in the Hunter Valley, the Southern Highlands, and the South Coast.

Hunter Valley Wineries and Gourmet Cheeses

As the closest and most famous wine region, the Hunter Valley offers over 150 wineries to choose from. Due to its fertile soil and abundance of delicious produce to try, the Hunter Valley will not make narrowing down your hens party activities easy. But that's why we're here!

A successful hens winery tour starts off with a private pickup in Sydney or the Hunter Valley itself (or anywhere in between). We'll head straight to one of the boutique wineries that you selected with our help (we love Moorebank winery) and we'll make sure to include the gourmet cheese or chocolate platters (if selected of course)!

The Hunter Valley has so much more to offer than just wine though. We recommend including a few stops at one of the Hunter Valley distilleries or breweries. But the day doesn't have to end there. After a day full of indulgence, why not stay overnight with one of our overnight hens party packages? The Hunter Valley is full of idealistic accommodation and we know a few that are perfect for a memorable weekend getaway!

South Coast Picnics With Ocean Views

Have you been to the Hunter Valley one too many time and want to offer your bride a unique experience? How about the lush green rolling hills of the South Coast? Image this, a beautiful carpet on a hillside with a pillow-lined table filled with a breathtaking gourmet grazing platter. It literally could not get more classy than a South Coast winery tour!

Top your classiest of classy hens party with a visit to the Coolangatta Estate. Built on the site of the first European settlement on the South Coast of NSW, you are stepping into a part of Australia's history. The family-owned boutique wineries that we visit on the South Coast offer a wide variety of wines including Chardonnay, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. But let's not forget about the incredible local cheeses and seafood that can be consumed with views on let's say ... 7 Mile Beach. Oh yeah, we know all the best local spots for the perfect group photo!

Best for Autumn: Southern Highlands Winery Tour

Found out that you need to organise a last-minute hens party now that regional travel will be allowed again? How about colourful vistas filled with more orange, red and yellow leaves than you imagined possible? That's the Southern Highlands. Better-known as a wedding destination, it is also an epic winery destination!

Specialised in Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, this area is known for its fantastic wines and its great photo opportunities (why else do you think so many weddings are hosted here?). We love this area as it really offers a different experience than a coastal wine tour or the frequently-visited Hunter Valley. And the best part? You can head here on short notice! Perfect for a last-minute Autumn hens party! Contact us to see what is possible within your dates.

But hey, we're not here to box The Southern Highlands into only being visited in autumn. After all the area is also abundant in beautifully landscaped gardens that are particularly photogenic all year round!

Tips for a Successful Wine Tour Hens Party

Ok, we've gone over three amazing areas that you can treat your bride to. But, we didn't want to let you go without giving a few extra tips to make this special day go even smoother!

• Limit your wine tour hens party stops to 2-3 wineries in a day. This will leave enough time for everyone to enjoy each location and will allow for time to visit a few scenic locations as well. This is especially important if you are planning a big hens party. The bigger the group, the longer it will take for everyone to get on and off the bus. While that might seem like a small detail, we know from experience this will make all the difference between a rushed day and a smooth experience.

• Tell your bridal party to wear comfy shoes! While we all love a good stiletto heel, winery tours involve a bit of walking and some of the scenic locations tend to be less than heel-friendly.

• Plan for a bit of extra budget to buy a few wines for the wedding day. Not only is it good tasting etiquette, but you can also enjoy these bottles when getting ready for the wedding! What better detail than bottles of wine you hand-selected on your hens day to enjoy on the special day!

• Have a dress-code for the day. It's not only the wedding day that should have a dress-code! A classy hens party is not complete without a beautiful invite letting the guests know what to wear on the hens day. We recommend garden-chic, all-white or cocktail dress.

• Don't forget the playlist! You will be spending a bit of time on the bus getting driven from one location to the next. While we have a few great playlist for the ride up our sleeve, why not make a personalised playlist so you know your bride will have the best time!

• Want to know more about what to expect on a NSW winery tour? Read our dedicated article here!

Organising your Hens Party in, Berry, Bowral , Newcastle, Central Coast or Wollongong? 

Reading all these classy hens party ideas and thinking "well, that's great, but I'm not in Sydney!". That is not an issue at all. While Urban Legends Tour Co. is a Sydney-based operator, we are more than happy to organise a pick up from Berry, Bowral, Newcastle, Central Coast or Wollongong! Just reach out and have a chat with our wonderful team and we can sort you and your bride out!

Did you know that we can even start the tour from the planned location itself? Staying overnight in the Hunter Valley? Not a problem at all. Already down on the South Coast? What time do you want to start?

Booked an airbnb in Bowral? even better we can pick you & your group up from your front door!

That's it legends, we look forward to helping you plan a memorable and classy hens party!

Stay safe and keep in touch.

Kind regards,

Marijs Vrancken & Jared Malcolm

Urban Legends Tour Co

What to Expect on a NSW Winery Tour: All your questions answered

What to Expect on a NSW Winery Tour: All Your Questions Answered

Going from winery to winery, tasting the best wines that NSW has to offer? We couldn't think of anything better! New South Wales is home to three amazing wine regions: the Hunter Valley, the Southern Highlands, and the South Coast. The Hunter Valley shines with its 200-year old winemaking history and is by far the most famous wine region in NSW. The Southern Highlands and the South Coast are worthy competitors however with excellent boutique wineries and scenic landscapes. We get a lot of questions on what to expect on a NSW winery tour. So, we decided to answer all of them!

Don't have time to read them all?

Table of contents

Look & CLICK THROUGH this table of content to guide you towards your specific question!

• Cheese platters

• Buying wine & why this is so important on any wine tour

• What’s included

• Boutique wineries

• Tasting fees

• What to wear

• The different wine regions

• Etiquette

• Different tour styles

• The tour industry and more…

We are so lucky to have such a great variety of wineries in NSW that provide such different experiences. You can visit large-scale wineries such as Ben Ean Winery and small boutique wineries that you have never heard of, but that serve some of the best wines and deliver the best tasting experiences of the region. Some tastings will be conducted by the cellar door staff and others will be by the winemaker himself, which always is an amazing treat. Tastings could take place standing at the counter for $5 or you might get spoiled with a free tasting and locally made complimentary cheeses. Some wineries allow you to rock up with your mates while others only take appointments or don't even allow groups. The best tastings for large groups in our opinion are always done seated, and usually cost 2 or 3 times more than these cheaper, quick standing style tastings. You see, there is a lot involved in planning your NSW winery tour. Thankfully, we have put in the hard yards for you. Happy wine tasting legends!

** All photos in this blog post below are from real Urban Legends Tours **

Can I go on a winery tour by myself or do you recommend a tour?

Visiting the vineyards of NSW is a great day out! All three wine regions of NSW, the Hunter Valley, South Coast and Southern Highlands, can be visited both through a tour or with your own vehicle. What option is best for you depends on a few factors. We will go into the pros and cons of both so you can make the best choice for your group.

Self-drive winery tour

Let's start with the self-drive option! First things first, this adventure cannot be taken without an appointed sober driver. Are you the 'flipping a coin' or 'drawing straws' kind of group? While the driver will be able to do a little bit of the tasting here and there, we do not recommend taking on this adventure without someone who's prepared to miss out on all these delicious wines!

Heading out and finding vineyards is easily possible with resources that you can find online and maybe even a quick Google Maps search. We also recommend popping into the local tourism office for extra advice. They might even give you the names of some insider wineries that you would not have found yourself. The trick is finding wineries that allow visitors without an appointment and that accept your size of group. While a couple driving around the vineyards might be able to squeeze in, a group will be turned away in many wineries. With over 150 wineries to choose from, it is a little tricky finding all the best spots with out a little insider knowledge.

Winery Tours

So how are you able to get into all of the best boutique wineries that don't accept groups? That is, my friends, where tours come in. Many tour operators, including our founder Jared, have spent many years developing a good relationship with unique winery owners that might otherwise be reluctant to receive groups. On a NSW winery tour, you gain access to the best wineries without having to call around yourself or being turned away at the door.

The very best tour operators also work to cultivate special experiences that are exclusive to their relationship with the winery, for example epic gourmet picnic platters , longer tastings, private areas, expert sommeliers and wine makers, extended tastings and bonus wines.

Just as there is a huge variety between wineries, no tour on offer is the same. The tour price will often dramatically effect what is included, and the quality of tasting experiences you will be given. It's your job to find the perfect one for you, but we're here to help! Start by looking at the types of wine you want to taste (small artisan wines or larger scale wines) and the type of tasting you prefer (quick and dirty at the counter or slow and comfortable at a seated tasting). You’ll also need to decide if you are happy with just wine or if you want to spoil your group with incredible home made cheese platters to share during your wine tasting. Still struggling? Here are a few questions to ask yourself and your tour operator.

• Do you want to learn lots about wine and bring home the best bottles, or are you just looking to taste as many wines as humanly possible?

• Do you want lunch included with a variety of options, or do you prefer to take your own picnic?

  Picnic by the sea are the picnic specialists on the south coast!

• Do you want to enjoy epic complimentary cheese platters or artisan chocolates during your wine tasting, or do you not mind just being dropped off at the local cheese store instead?

• Do you want to learn with recommendations from the winemaker, or do you prefer to drink and dash from less experienced cellar door staff?

• Do you want to see exquisite landscapes during the tour with an operator that also takes time to show you the sites, or would you be happy with a shorter urban indoor experience?

• Do you like to taste anything else along the way such as craft beers or liquors such as vodka, gin or schnapps?

But wait a minute this all sounds a bit too serious? is the tour still fun? We would also argue that is also one of the major differences between the best tour operators and the best wine tasting experiences. Your tour will select only a few wineries so you want to make sure they have the best of both worlds so that the tour always exceeds your groups expectations. Your tour should certainly be loads of fun for everyone involved!

Lots of things to think about! Want to know what is included in the Urban Legends tours? Keep on reading!

I want to book a tour! What is the day going to look like?

Awesome, we're so excited to have you and your group on one of our tours. At Urban Legends, we know how important it is to get value for money and make sure the person who organises the tour looks like a hero by the end of the day. That is why we spend plenty of time figuring out the best type of experience for each and every group. No Urban Legends tour is the same!

While we do have lots of fantastic ready made packages available, we always make a discovery call to make sure the package is right for you and tailor the tour accordingly.

A winery tour allows you to sit back and relax without having to worry about who will be the sober driver. You will also never have to worry about having enough space for all that wine that you want to bring back. We will pick you up from your chosen location, keep all your wine on ice and you can fully customise your winery tour to your group's wishes! We specialise in groups and can take any size of group in one of our private airconditioned standard or luxury buses and coaches. Our best tour guide Jared is licensed to drive any size vehicle from a 10 seater mini bus right up to a 57 seat luxury coach that looks like a private jet inside!

With Urban Legends tours you know that all the legwork has been done for you. We tend to visit only 2-4 wineries in a day and take you somewhere special for lunch. We also include at least one amazing scenic location. We focus on visiting fewer venues, but making sure they are all epic full range tasting experiences with up to 10 wines each, this allows for a smoother less rushed schedule and gives you more time to fully enjoy the experience. This is more and more important the larger your group is. Large groups take much longer to get on and off the bus as well as in and out of each wine tasting.

The perfectly laid out schedule focuses on the best boutique wineries which we only know about because we have spent a lot of time cultivating relationships with the winery owners. This means that you will never be treated like 'just another tour'. Our wineries are actually super happy to see you coming through the door! Our guests are often treated like royalty with premium seated wine tastings, explanations by the winemaker or owner himself and artisan cheeses or chocolates to accompany the star of the show, the wine!

As mentioned above, we provide winery tours to The Hunter Valley, the South Coast, and the Southern Highlands. As every wine region is a little bit different, we recommend that you check out the more detailed descriptions on each Urban Legends winery tour below:

• Hunter Valley Winery Tours

• South Coast Winery Tours

• Southern Highlands Winery Tours

Still can't choose? We've listed out all why we love each and every region below!

Which wine area should i choose? Hunter valley, South coast or Southern Highlands?

We might be biased but we love all of NSW! It is an amazingly diverse state which means that all these areas are great for different reasons.

The Hunter Valley is the most famous wine region close to Sydney due to its 200-year old winemaking history. There is an abundance of wineries to choose from (over 150) and plenty other delicious produce to try. The Hunter Valley's soil produces high quality vines, olives, great dairy, and much more. It also draws in craftsmen that make chocolates and distilleries that produce different kinds of liquor. There are even a few breweries and you bet that we love a good craft beer!

The best winery in the Hunter Valley? What an impossible choice! We can, however, let you in one of our favourites at the moment: Moorebank winery. The winery serves a fantastic selection of wines during their seated tasting and even includes an incredible homemade cheese and picnic platter for our tours. It's one of the best platters we have ever seen! Our guests are treated to a private tasting room “the press room” which is home to the 2nd oldest wine press in the Hunter Valley ! This family run winery has been shared by 3 generations of wine makers. You will likely be greeted by the Summer, the beautiful daughter of the owners Deb and Ian.

The South Coast winery tour has the obvious advantage of ocean views. It's also home to lush green rolling hills and due to high rainfall, this area has an incredibly fertile soil! Visit Coolangatta Estate, which is built on the site of the first European settlement on the South Coast of NSW, have a picnic by the sea and make sure to check out one of the other 5 cellar doors in the area.

Last, but not least, the Southern Highlands. While the area is better-known as a wedding destination, it is also a fantastic location for your winery tour! The area has many beautiful gardens to visit with an abundance of deciduous trees. The colder climate and high elevation above sea level contributes to the area's specialisation in Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Head here during the autumn to see the colourful foliage and try a Pinot Noir or three.

Bendooley estate pictured below

Can we visit a boutique winery? What's the difference?

All Urban Legends wine tours include visits to boutique wineries. This is quite unique as many tour operators focus on the easier to visit cheaper, larger wineries. What makes boutique wineries so special is the level of care that is given to visitors. These craftsmen take their time to show you all of their best bottles in the hope that you fall in love with at least one. The wines usually come with a unique story and expert tasting and pairing notes. The visits are often accompanied by complementary artisan cheeses or chocolates, bringing out the flavour of the individual wines even more. This can be in stark contrast with wineries where the tastings are done standing by the bar where a cellar door staff member gives you a quick recap of each wine and the entire tasting can be finished in 15- 30 mins instead of 1-1.5 hours at a good boutique winery.

Due to the nature of their business, many of the boutique wineries will ask you to make an appointment or call in advance. After all, they might be out working on the vineyard when you pop in. They also often are only big enough to host 1 large group at a time. If you want to visit only boutique wineries with a group, the easiest way to visit them is with tour. This way, you won't need to spend any time calling around to make sure that you can get in.

The tasting fee for both boutique wineries and larger scale wineries varies between $0-$15,+ the cost of cheese platters if included by the tour operator which should all be included in the price of your tour (it always is in ours). Keep in mind that the less you pay for a tasting, the more that is included and the longer the tasting goes for, the more the winery depends on visitors purchasing wine to keep the business going. So, do pick up a bottle when you go to show your support.

Tasting Fees

The tasting fee for both boutique wineries and larger scale wineries varies between $0-$20 per person,+ the cost of any cheese platters if included by the tour operator. This is all usually included in the price of your tour (it always is in ours). 6 - 10 premium wines are usually poured out averaging about 3.5 standard drinks in a 1 hour seated tasting experience. It is worth noting that the relatively small fee payed for a tasting, with the volume of wine that is included, as well as the time spent inside the venue, does mean the wineries depend heavily on the visitors purchasing wine to keep the business going & insure large group wine tastings are financially worth while for the wineries. So please do pick up a bottle when you go to show your support and keep the tour industry alive for large groups.

Are Gourmet cheese platters usually included on a wine tour?

The short answer is no not really, but this will depend which tour operator you choose. Cheese and produce spreads are usually an optional extra and they vary in price depending what’s included in them, how big they are, the variety of cheeses and condiments, how big your group is and whether they are locally sourced or imported just to name a few. We have seen hundreds of cheese platers over the years and they vary in quality from winery to winery and region to region. In our experience the standard for cheese platters is a lot higher in the Hunter Valley, especially at the boutique wineries we use. However they are also often included on the South Coast and Southern highlands , but tend to be a lot smaller and cheaper in these 2 areas.

In the Hunter Valley most tour operators offer the option of a cheese tasting on their tour. It is important to realise that many cheaper tour operators might just take you to a local cheese shop, such as the Smelly Cheese Shop, rather than providing a real tasting. After all, this costs them nothing as the cheese shop will be the one investing the time & money into the tasting. Our tours, however, offer the option of gourmet cheese platters with amazing local cheeses during all of your wine tastings. Hand made by the wineries with local Hunter valley cheeses. This will give you and your guests a more authentic and tastier experience. Having a cheese platter during your wine tasting will also provide you with an extra experience with better use of time, rather than having to rush to an additional stop such as a local cheese shop. We pay extra at each winery to provide our guests with gourmet cheese platters during each and every wine tasting for the ultimate Hunter Valley experience.

Should i bring extra budget on my winery tour?

Great, your tour is booked! Time to sit back and enjoy the ride. You're about to be spoiled with fantastic wines to taste, cheese platters, chocolates and panoramic views. Before you leave, we have to let you in on a little, but very important, secret. What is one of the best parts of winery tours? The wines, chocolates, local cheeses, condiments, olives and vodkas you take home!

We know that the expectation to buy wine is not talked about often, but we wouldn't be supporting our friends in the wine business if we were to let you go without telling the truth. It is actually incredibly important, both for our business and the wineries, that your group buys some bottles of wine at the wine tastings. In fact all tastings including cheese, chocolate, olives and vodka all run on this same premise. We will explain why below.

Are you on a really tight budget and can't afford a whole bottle? That is totally fine! Try buying a glass of your favourite wine instead. Or maybe a few of the cheeses or condiments that are on sale. Share a bottle with your friend or you could even buy the chutney to enjoy at home. Trust me when I tell you that buying just one glass of wine or a jar of condiments makes a massive difference. It is an important gesture of good will that you have appreciated the effort the wine maker has put in to their tasting and the many premium wines they have poured out for you and your large group.

Why it is important to buy wine on a winery tour (self-guided or in group)?

To understand why it is important to buy wine on a winery tour, we have to explain how the wine industry works. Don't worry, we won't bore you! Did you know that making wine is a long process? A winemaker invests anywhere between 3 and 5 years to grow a vine up to wine-producing quality. Knowing that most wines also need time to age before they can be sold, it can take up 7-8 years before for a wine maker is able to sell his best product. Sure, they can produce wine with the grapes off a 3-year old vine and sell it the next year, but a strong wine-making business is not built on these young wines. So how do wineries survive and thrive?

Enter the tasting system! Winemakers like our friends at Two Figs Winery pictured here bring their finest product to customers so that they are sure you are taking home your favourite wine. However, to survive, a winery needs to sell their wines by the bottle, not through the tastings. If a winery's turnover only consists out of their tasting fees, there would not be a wine industry. While the small tasting fee might cover the cost of the tasting, it does not cover the cost of their location, their over heads, the staff, the land, the cheese, and so much more. If a winery chooses to not charge or only charge $5-$10 for their tastings (which many do) they cannot even cover the cost of all the delicious wine you just had. Especially large groups, which is our specialty, can cause cash-flow problems for a winery if there are not enough bottle sales. A winery simply cannot compensate for a large group doing a free or low-priced tasting if they don’t make sales.

Especially for our Saturday tours, it is important to pick up a bottle. As this is the winery's busiest day (the weekdays are so much quieter!), it is such a great opportunity for a group to make a positive impact by buying a few bottles!

This also especially important for boutique wineries that often do not sell their wines in bottle shops.

Yes, you legends are already paying for a winery tour and this price includes your tasting fees, the transport, our wonderful guide, all the research that went into setting up the perfect tour and so much more. While we love you for joining our tours and they enable us to show people around our favourite wineries, this alone is not enough to keep the wine industry going. Especially the smaller family-run wineries, which Urban Legend Tours focuses on, which really struggle without enough cellar door sales. So, go ahead, take a bottle home for you AND for your mum, we know you'll both love it!

Remember the wine makers beautiful stories that come with each vintage and variety, and then share the story when you eventually decide to open that special bottle with your friends and family.

The Wine industry and tours

A lesser-known fact about our industry is that the wine industry and winery tours have a bit of a love-hate relationship. On the one hand, it is great that tours allow for so many people to get introduced to NSW's best wines. All wineries, big or small, love receiving people and get so much joy from seeing people enjoying their wines. It's an industry that is all about passion, hard work, and connection with their customers.

On the other hand, tour operators who bring in big groups (which is our specialty) can cause a problem when tours focus too much on the 'cheap' drinking experience. As we explained above, if a small winery lets all our guests try their best wines for a very small fee, they quickly run into trouble without the sales of bottles. Did you know that many tour operators have actually been banned from wineries all around the state? Before we knew as much about the wine industry as we do now, we even got temporarily banned from 9 wineries in the Hunter Valley for wasting their time and poor group behaviour.

The industry is still grappling with the boom in tour groups and the changes this brings to the business model. For now every winery deals with this differently, the tasting fees are always changing, groups are being more and more restricted and wineries are becoming more and more selective over which tour operators they allow.

Our prescription to help both the small tour companies and the small wineries out? Buy a few bottles on our tours and enjoy your bounty with your friends while reminiscing on the day! Didn't like the wine in one of the wineries? Buy some condiments for your next BBQ or DIY cheese platter instead!

What should i wear on a winery tour?

Another question that we get asked a lot is what the correct wine tasting attire is. Flip flops or sneakers? Something light and airy or something that protects yourself from the elements? What about themes? Could you wear that animal costume you bought for a festival last year? Sometimes it's not that easy to figure out what to wear on your wine tasting day.

Winery attire is a special type of outfit that you whip out for a day of breathtaking sceneries, plenty of photo-ops and for meeting a few of the best craftsmen in the country. The ideal outfit consists out of comfortable footwear (think flat sandals or sneakers) and a comfortable, yet stylish, outfit that you won't mind wearing on the bus ride. Throw in a hat and a jacket and you’re ready to roll. Think more chic garden party, less rowdy beach party! So, the animal costume or your loud Hawaiian shirt? Best to leave that one at home. Some of our favourite dress themes include special head peace, all white and cocktail dress, Do you want more inspiration? Check out this article!

Is there any ettiquette while at the wineries?

Yes there is a few things you should ideally keep in mind during a wine tasting, while usually common sense at the first tasting, your friends may need reminding by the end of the day.

• Tastings are always fun and social experiences where you will of course always be chatting and having a great time amongst your friends through out the day.

• It is worth mentioning though that it is polite to use inside voices , when in large groups and to not be shouting over the top of each other, so as not to affect the experience of other guests inside the venue.

• It is also polite to pause conversation and listen if and when the wine maker is explaining a new wine he or she is about to pour.

• It is quite frowned upon to pour your wine into your friends glass, you should always pour it into the spittoon if you don’t like the wine.

• You must also never open take away alcohol of any kind, including wine or vodka, while still on a wineries property as this is against the liquor licensing laws the wineries must adhere to.

• RSA remains a serious consideration for boutique wineries, if guests appear to be overly intoxicated from BYO alcohol or previous venues they may be denied service or entry to the venue

Supporting the Local Legends

We're not sugar-coating it, 2020 has been a rough year for our small businesses and, in particular, the rural community. First a drought, followed by the bushfires, floods and now a major health crisis. Many small businesses will struggle greatly to get back up on their feet after this is all done. Including us.

Therefore, we would love to encourage you to bring a little extra budget the next time that you go on one of the Urban Legends winery tours. The best thing you can do to help the rural community right now is buying an extra bottle or ordering an extra glass of wine. Until then order a a case of wine delivered! Both the businesses that we work with and our own business will be very grateful for this extra gesture of support!

Whoop Whoop, you just finished a very long post, congratulations! Do you still have more questions? Contact us here.

Stay safe and keep in touch,

Kind regards,

Jared Malcolm & Marijs Vrancken

Urban Legends Tour Co