Cheese Tasting Hunter Valley: Your Hunter Valley Cheese Tasting Guide!

You know we’re big fans of the Hunter Valley for its fantastic wines, craft beers, olives and other fantastic local produce. But are you looking for a cheese tasting adventure in stead? Home to a variety of cheesemakers and tasting venues that are sure to satisfy your taste buds, the Hunter Valley is still the perfect destination! Located just a short drive from Sydney, and home to our favourite wine tours, is the perfect destination whether you're a seasoned cheese aficionado or just a casual cheese lover, there's something for everyone in the Cheese Tasting Hunter Valley scene.

Where to Go for Cheese Tasting in Hunter Valley?

If you're eager to try some fantastic cheeses, you're in luck! There are many great cheese artisans in the Hunter region, but here are a few of our favourites.

A Classic Cheese Tasting Room: Hunter Valley Cheese Factory

The Hunter Valley Cheese Factory is one of the oldest and most well-known cheese producers in the area. Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, Pokolbin, their range of cheeses is impressive, from classic cheddars to creamy bries, and everything in between. You can stop by their tasting room for wine pairings and cheese platters. Their location also makes them perfect to visit some close-by located wineries.

A Lesser Known Cheese Artisan: Binnorie Dairy

Binnorie Dairy is a great spot for artisanal cheeses and is a bit more off the beaten track if you’re looking for a smaller cheese artisan. They use traditional methods to create a stunning range of handmade soft cheeses, including delicious labne, marinated feta, triple cream brie, various goats cheeses -swoon-, and much more! Their tasting room also offers wine pairings and cheese platters.

The Popular Kid in Town: Smelly Cheese Shop

The Smelly Cheese Shop is a cheese retailer with two locations in Hunter Valley, and a popular stop amongst for many wine tour operators. They offer a wide variety of cheeses from all over the world, wine pairings, and cheese platters. They also offer cheese appreciation classes and workshops if you're looking to improve your cheese game.

The Smart Way: Join On Of Our Hunter Valley Wine Tours

We may be biased, but we love all the cheese artisans that we feature on our Hunter Valley Wine Tours! We love including the abundant local cheese and picnic platters to spoil our clients on each tour. This means that you’ll get a chance to taste a variety of artisan cheeses in one visit while enjoying the stunning views we like to pick out. Book your wine tour now and ensure an insanely good-looking cheese platter!

Creating the Perfect Cheese and Wine Pairing

Pairing cheese with wine can be a bit tricky, but it's definitely worth the effort. Here are some tips to help you create the perfect cheese and wine pairing:

Match Intensity in Your Wine and Cheese

When it comes to cheese and wine pairing, you want to match the intensity of the cheese with the intensity of the wine. Strong, bold cheeses like blue cheese or aged cheddar pair well with full-bodied red wines, while lighter, milder cheeses like brie or goat cheese pair well with lighter white wines. If you want to really step it up, start with milder cheeses accompanied by your favourite white wines, and move your way up to bolder flavours, both in wine and in cheese!

Consider Complementarity

Another approach to cheese and wine pairing is to think about complementarity. This means pairing flavors that complement each other, like pairing a creamy brie with a crisp, acidic white wine. The idea is to create a harmonious balance between the cheese and wine flavors.

Try Regional Pairings

If you're feeling adventurous, why not try pairing local cheeses with local wines? This is a great way to get a taste of the Hunter Valley's unique terroir. For example, you could pair a Hunter Valley cheddar with a Hunter Valley shiraz or a Hunter Valley blue cheese with a Hunter Valley semillon.

Put your Knowledge to Practise and try wine and cheese pairings

One of the most popular cheeses in the Hunter Valley is the locally made brie like the one from Binnorie Dairy or one of the many other locally-made bries in the region. This soft, creamy cheese pairs perfectly with a crisp, acidic white wine, such as the Semillon, a grape variety the Hunter Valley is famous for! The fresh citrus notes of the Semillon bring out the buttery, nuttiness of the brie, creating a great balance in flavours.

Another local cheese you should try is the Hunter Valley cheddar, like for example from Hunter Belle Cheese, located in Muswellbrook. This hard, crumbly cheese pairs well with a full-bodied red wine like Shiraz, like the one from Brokenwood Wines. The bold, fruity notes of the Shiraz complement the nutty, sharpness of the cheddar, creating a rich combination.

For a more adventurous pairing, try a local blue cheese like the Blue Moon from the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop. This bold, creamy cheese is perfect with a sweet dessert wine like a Late Harvest Semillon, like the De Iuliis Late Picked Semillon 2021. The sweetness of the wine cuts through the tangy, sharpness of the cheese, creating a truly unique and satisfying experience.

Take Home a Taste of Hunter Valley

Don't forget to bring some local cheeses and wines home with you to impress your friends at your next dinner party or simply to enjoy after a long day in the office! It's a great way to share your Hunter Valley experience with friends and family, and it makes for a fantastic gourmet gift idea. Most of the cheesemakers in the region offer cheese and wine for sale, so stock up on your favourites before you head home!

Chocolate and Olive Tastings

Of course, the Hunter Valley is not just about cheese or wine. The region is also famous for its local chocolate and olive tastings, so you can savour the region's flavours to the fullest. If you want to add a chocolate or olive tasting to your tour experience, simply head to our booking page or contact our team!

Make the Most of Your Hunter Valley Experience

Look guys, we might be biased, but we’ve poured so much love in creating our tour itineraries that we really think we can offer you an experience like no other! What makes Urban Legends Wine Tours unique? You get to visit exclusive boutique wineries that usually don’t take group bookings with a fun and knowledgable local tour guide whilst listening to your favourite tunes along the way. If you want to experience the ultimate gourmet adventure in the Hunter Valley, our tours are the way to go.

11 Reasons Why Our Hunter Valley Brewery Tours are a Must-Do Experience

Discover the Best Craft Breweries in the Hunter Valley with our brewery tours!

Did you know the Hunter Valley isn't just famous for its wines but also for excellent craft breweries? At Urban Legends Tour Co, we love exploring the legendary region and showing our guests all the best craft breweries.

1. Taste the Best Craft Beers in the Hunter Valley

Our Hunter Valley Brewery Tours take you to taste the finest craft beers and enjoy a fun day out exploring the Hunter Valley. We'll introduce you to a variety of styles and flavours, from hoppy IPAs to refreshing lagers. We’ve been in the biz for some time, and our founder, Jared, is one epic craft beer connoisseur. Follow his nose and taste-buds to the nicest beer and wines the Hunter Valley has to offer.

2. Learn about the Craft Beer-Making Process

Get an inside look at how the golden nectar is made with a behind-the-scenes tour of the breweries. Our expert guides will take you through the entire process from grain to glass. We love starting our tours with a behind-the-scenes tour. While it’s always 4pm somewhere, learning about the brewing process is the perfect way to digest that first cold brew.

3. Customisable Tours to Suit Your Needs

The Hunter Valley has many styles of tours to choose from, from public hop-on, hop-off tours to fully private tours. It will be no surprise to you that we have a completely objective -wink, wink- preference to private tours to the Hunter Valley. Why? Because we see how much our guest have fun in a private bus all to themselves. With their favourite tunes blasting on the 2.5h trip up, our tours are fully customisable to suit your needs for one particular reason, fun! And with fully customisable, we really mean fully customisable! Whether you want to visit specific breweries, combine your brewery tour with a winery or distillery visit, or trust our insider knowledge, we can do it all!

Whether you have a large of small group, a Hunter Valley brewery tour is always great fun!

4. HaVe a Fun-Filled Day Out with Your Mates

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a good time, a Hunter Valley brewery tour is always an epic time. The best part? You don’t have to stress about any of the organising of the day, it’s all done for you. Even better, we pick you up from a location of your choice in one of our private buses and head straight off for the day to explore the Hunter Valley.

5. Unforgettable Memories with Your Team

Aren’t we all over the awkward moment of a trust fall into the arms of a colleague? We’d do one better, have a genuine chat about all the important stuff in life over a cold beer. Our brewery tours have proven to be a loved team-building activity that will have your team talking for years. Doing something you actually all enjoy, you’ll see the benefits of enhanced collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills.

6. Knowledgeable and Entertaining Tour Guides

The Hunter Valley is chockers with new and old wineries and breweries. Just open Google Maps and anticipate overwhelm. When we say we love this region and have visited most, if not all, breweries to scope out the best for you, we mean it! We greatly value our knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides to ensure that your experience is unforgettable. They'll provide you with insights into the history and culture of the Hunter Valley, as well as the craft beer making process.

7. Supporting Local Breweries and the Community

We're committed to providing sustainable and responsible tourism experiences that benefit the local economy. By choosing to go on a Hunter Valley Brewery Tour with Urban Legends Tour Co, you'll be supporting local breweries and the community!

8. Perfect for Celebrating Special Occasions

Whether you're planning a bucks party, birthday celebration, or just a fun day out, our brewery tours are the perfect way to celebrate special occasions with your friends.

9. Add on other epic activities

We can easily fill a great day with amazingly tasting Hunter Valley craft beers, but there are plenty of other activities in the Hunter Valley that could be added in to your Hunter Valley Brewery tour! Here are a few options that you and your mates may love:

Go-Karting in Rutherford

Get your adrenaline pumping with a few laps around the track at Go Karts Go in nearby Rutherford. Perfect for groups, this is a great way to add some excitement to your day.

Golf at Cypress Lakes Resort

For golf enthusiasts, Cypress Lakes Resort offers a stunning 18-hole course set against the backdrop of the Brokenback Mountains. Take a break from beer tasting and hit the links for a round of golf.

Aqua Golf at the Hunter Valley Gardens

Aqua Golf is a fun way to test your skills and have a few laughs with your mates. See who can hit the floating targets and win some prizes along the way.

Hunter Valley Distilleries

In addition to craft breweries, the Hunter Valley is home to a number of distilleries that produce everything from gin to vodka. Consider adding a distillery tour to your itinerary to learn more about the process of creating your favorite spirits.

Hunter Valley Winery Tours

Of course, the Hunter Valley is most famous for its wines, so it's worth considering adding a winery tour to your brewery tour. Sample some of the region's best wines and learn about the process of winemaking.

Adding one or more of these activities to your Hunter Valley Brewery Tour can help to create a truly unforgettable day out with your mates. Plus, it's a great way to break up the beer tasting and explore everything that this beautiful region has to offer.

10. Private Tours for a Personalised Experience

Want a more personalised experience? We offer private tours for individuals, couples, and small groups. Our expert guides will create a tour itinerary that meets your specific needs and interests.

Convenient Pickup and Dropoff

We'll pick you up from a location of your choice and drop you off at the end of the day. You won't have to worry about driving or navigating, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the tour.

11. Bucks Party Brewery Tours the Hunter Valley

Why a Hunter Valley Brewery Tour is the Ultimate Choice for Your Next Bucks Party. A Hunter Valley Brewery Tour is the perfect event for your next bucks party. Here's why:

Craft beer: The Hunter Valley is home to some of the best craft breweries in Australia. You and your mates can sample a variety of different brews, from lagers to ales to stouts.

1. Behind-the-scenes tours: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the beer-making process and learn how the golden nectar is really made. You'll gain a new appreciation for the art of brewing.

2. Fun tour guides: Our tour guides are knowledgeable and fun, and they'll keep the party going all day long.

3. Private transportation: Our private buses can pick you and your mates up from a location of your choice and take you on a fun-filled tour of the best breweries in the Hunter Valley.

4. Customisable tours: If you have a certain brewery in mind that you would like to visit, or you want to throw in a visit to a winery or distillery, our tours are fully customisable to ensure you have the best day.

5. Music: You can play your own tunes for the entire day, ensuring the party vibe is always present.

6. Safe and stress-free: With our private transportation and experienced tour guides, you don't have to worry about driving or planning the day's itinerary. We'll take care of everything, so you can focus on having a great time.

Want to learn more? Read our best tips for how to organise the perfect bucks party in or around Sydney!

So, if you're planning a bucks party and looking for a fun and memorable event, consider a Hunter Valley Brewery Tour with Urban Legends Tour Co.

Start Planning Your Hunter Valley Brewery Tour Today!

At Urban Legends Tour Co, we specialize in Hunter Valley Brewery Tours and are dedicated to creating the best experience for our guests. Book your tour today and see why Hunter Valley Brewery Tours are a must-do experience! Don't forget to visit our website and check out our other tour offerings, including custom tours for your team-building activities.

4 Tips to Find The Best Blue Mountain Private Tour

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of those must-see destinations when you visit or live in Sydney or even Australia! This stunning UNESCO destination is a one-stop destinations for seeing wildlife (still waiting to see your first kangaroo?), hiking, breathtaking scenic views, or adventure. Escape the city to explore ancient rock formations and valleys that make the Blue Mountains so famous. Whether you are looking for a private tour for a small group or a large group, a short stroll or extreme adventure, the Blue Mountains has it all. And the best part? You can do it all on a day tour. Here are our best tips for finding the best Blue Mountains Private Tour!

1. Can you do a Sydney day trip to Blue Mountains?

Yes, absolutely! The Blue Mountains is one of the most loved and visited destinations nearby Sydney. It really is the perfect day trip located at only 1.5 hours from Sydney. On a Blue Mountains Private Tour you can visit all the sights that are on your to-see list. With iconic nature surrounding cute mountain villages, there are endless adventures to be include in your private Blue Mountains tour!

There is nothing quite like watching the sun come up or go down in the Blue Mountains. Photo by Gilberto Olimpio on Unsplash.

2. Include all the best Blue Mountains Private Tour Highlights!

Visitors are spoiled with choice when visiting the Blue Mountains. From walking trails, waterfalls, spotting of wildlife to mountain bike rides, abseiling tours, cave explorations, and more. The Blue Mountains is a great destination for people of all fitness levels and for those who crave any type of adventure. Whether you want to spend your private Blue Mountains Tour on our luxury bus seeing all the picturesque highlights or whether you want to canyon your way down a river, it’s all possible in the Blue Mountains!

Most private Blue Mountains tours will allow you to visit exactly what you want. So it’s just a matter of talking to the tour operator! We love customising the best Blue Mountains private tours for our clients! Here are a few of our highlights!

A visit to the Blue Mountains National Park is not complete without viewing the Three Sisters.

Visit the Iconic Three Sisters

Can you visit the Blue Mountains without stopping over at the iconic Three Sisters lookout? Heck no! The ancient rock formation is located on the north escarpment of the Jamison Valley and is of cultural significance to the local indigenous Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. If you’re lucky, you may even spot one of the local lyrebirds, who are famous for their ability to copy human sounds like ringtones or cars. Located in the cute mountain village of Katoomba, the Three Sisters are easily the most accessible viewpoints to visit as you can simply hop off the bus and see them in all their glory, so it’s a must-visit on your first Blue Mountains Private Tour!

Jenolan Caves are an iconic destination to experience the magical cave systems of The Blue Mountains.

Explore Jenolan Caves Tours

Another iconic location in the World Heritage Blue Mountains are the famous Jenolan Caves. Often described as a truly magical spot, Jenolan Caves is home to the largest and most popular caves in Australia. Rather than one big cave, Jenolan Caves consists out of 7 different cave systems known as Lucas, Chifley, Imperial, Diamond, Orient, Temple of Baal, and River Cave. If you’re interested in learning more about aboriginal culture, local birds or wildlife, or just have a cool adventure, this is the place to be. You may even get a chance to see the elusive platypus which lives in the local waterways. If you’re interested in this trip, you can talk to our team today.

Pop into Featherdale Wildlife Park on a Blue Mountains Private Tour

While the Blue Mountains are still home to wild endangered koalas, sadly their numbers have dwindled significantly due to various reasons, including development of the region and the deadly bushfires of 2019. That makes the chances of seeing one in the wild are very small. If seeing a koala is something that is very high up on your to-do list, consider including Featherdale Wildlife Park on your tour. The park is a great destination to see Australian wildlife up close and personal in a way that makes sure the animals are kept safe. You can take a selfie with a Quokka (endemic to Western Australia), help feed the koalas or their wallabies! Who could resist all this cuteness?

Should I visit Scenic World on my Blue Mountains tour?

Would you love to see the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls, but want to see from a one-of-a-kind viewpoint? Include Scenic World in your Blue Mountains Private Tour! You can choose between the Scenic Railway, the Scenic Cable Way, the Scenic Skyway, and the Scenic Walkway, all of which provide fabulous views over the blue-hued eucalyptus trees of these unique location.

Leura Cascade

If you are hoping to get out on a bushwalk, but don’t want to go on one that will have you sweating too much, Leura Cascade is the perfect one! Starting from the picturesque town of Leura, this scenic hike will give you impressive views of the cliff line and spectacular views of Gordon Falls lookout. And if you are in Leura anyway, why not visit the historic Candy Store that has been going strong since 1990!

3. How the weather can affect your Blue Mountains Private Tour?

The weather in the Blue Mountains can be very different than the weather at the beaches in Sydney. It’s always worth keeping an eye on the weather when traveling to the Blue Mountains. When it’s sunny in Sydney, it could be raining in the mountains and the other way around. Other than being a bit wetter than Sydney, don’t let the weather deter you from a day trip to the Blue Mountains. Even if it’s wet weather, the Blue Mountains are so worth the visit! Make sure that you pack an extra layer, as the mountains tend to be a few degrees colder than the coastal areas, and you’re good to go! Check in with your private tour guide and they will be able to help you pack for your day out!

4. Include some Adventure in Your Blue Mountains Private Tour with Canyoning!

Amongst the Blue Mountains locals and Sydney-siders, there are many who spend their weekends exploring the Blue Mountains rivers and canyons! Within our team of tour guides, there are also many lovers of this adventurous sport. In our humble opinion, canyoning is one of the best experiences you can have on any blue mountains tour. It encompasses all the best parts of adventuring: exploring new places, being physically challenged, sliding on natural waterslides, jumping off cliffs and swimming through the fresh mountain water. It’s a pretty epic experience and one that we love to include on our Blue Mountains Private Tours!

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.