Hunter Valley a Romantic getaway

Hunter Valley is one of Australia's premier wine growing districts
Whoever said Australia was all about beach and bush had clearly never been to the Hunter Valley region! How does mile after mile of vineyards sound for starters? Having now captured your attention, sit tight for a ride through Australia’s oldest wine growing region.

Only a 2 hour drive from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is home to an estimated 120 wineries, offering a vintage suited to every wine connoisseur’s palate, not to mention those of the novices! Here you will find everything from boutique to internationally acclaimed vineyards, offering the full spectrum of Chardonnays through to Shiraz, with a particular speciality in Semillons (which has been described as ‘Australia’s unique gift to the world’!).

What to do in Hunter Valley

Wine Tasting: It is suggested that you put at least a whole day aside for tasting, but then again why stop at 1? Once you get started you’ll probably wish you’d saved 3 days to sample the local grape. For hard core tasters, the doors of many wineries open at 9.30 in the morning, plenty of time to take a tour and even to cycle from one winery to another, stopping for lunch in between. See if you can cycle in a straight line by the end of the day!

Eating: The surroundings are a rural delight but the attractions do not end at the cellar door. Not only is the Hunter Valley a wine lover’s paradise, but it is also ‘foodie’ heaven. Good food and good wine have always gone hand in hand and the Hunter Valley is no exception. Expect to find cheese factories, delis, organic farm shops selling an eye boggling array of chutneys, jams and jellies, alongside numerous other culinary delights. The restaurants range from classy to rustic, but the general theme that runs through all is apparent - first class food and wine (although there is a good range of locally produced beers too!) served up in the mild climate and spectacular rural backdrop of the Valley. There are opportunities to join local wine and cooking schools too for wannabe Gordon Ramsays. To top off the day’s over-indulgence, it is a must to call in at the Hunter Valley Chocolate Factory, to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Music: Often with wine, comes sophisticated culture. Make your trip even more memorable by combining it with one of the many scheduled fairs, festivals, markets and events that are put on throughout the region annually. Carrying names such as ‘Opera in the Vineyards’, Tamburlaine Twilight Concert’ and ‘Jazz in the Vines’, who could fail to enjoy an alfresco evening in the company of fine wine and music?

Leisure Activities: The region offers far more than just gourmet delights however. To expunge the morning’s muzzy head, why not play a round of golf, or take a leisurely ride out through the Valley on a four footed friend, run by one of the local horse trek operators? The Upper Hunter area around Scone is one of the largest horse breeding areas in the world. You’re more likely to get a sure footed Dobbin than a fast paced Shergar for your trek, but that is probably not a bad thing. Alternatively, cruise down Hunter River in a canoe, or go bushwalking in nearby Barrington Tops National Park and mingle with the local birdlife. Better still, fly high above the vineyards in a hot air balloon, leaving at sunrise for full effect.

Shopping, Art and Relaxation: Or perhaps just meander lazily around the antiques shops and local artist’s studios and galleries. There is a real community feel and a slow pace of life that is infectious. At the end of a long but quite frankly relaxing day, why not indulge in further relaxation by booking into one of the region’s health spas. Can anybody have too much of a good thing?

With all of the above and more, it’s no wonder the Hunter Valley is Australia’s 6th most visited place according to tourism figures! It’s the perfect place to wind down, which is, after all, what a holiday should be all about.

Looking for Hunter Valley romantic retreat for two? Cheap Tickets and Air Tickets provide great deals on Hunter Valley romantic getaways.

Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley Travel planner

• Day 1.
  Sydney to Katoomba (2 hours 130 km). After the buzz and excitement of Sydney, head to the Blue Mountains, named for their distinctive blue haze caused by oil evaporating from millions of gum trees, and home to over 1500 species of plants and plenty of birds and wildlife. There are several small attractive towns along the way and the area is well set up for visitors — it’s a favourite spot for Sydney ciders to get away to in the weekends. Go bushwalking, see waterfalls, visit the antique shops, take a rail car ride ride up the mountains or a horse trek.

• Day 2.
  Spend the day exploring the towns of Leura and Katoomba. Visit the Wentworth Falls and take a drive to the Jenolan Caves to see the limestone formations. Have a picnic lunch somewhere in the park, or in one of the many private gardens open to visitors, or perhaps a game of golf at one of the five courses in the area before returning to your accommodation.

• Day 3.
  Leaving the Blue Mountains area travel to the Hunter Valley wine region via the pretty towns of Richmond and Windsor to Cessnock (2 hours 160 km). The drive takes in some typical Australian countryside and you are likely to see some wildlife along the way. From here you can explore the Hunter Valley wine region.

• Day 4.
  Pick up a wine country map and visit the vineyards for tasting and purchasing wines — there are over 50 wineries in the lower Hunter region. There are also plenty of cheeses and other specialty foods available and some outstanding cafes, antique and craft shops. There are several festivals held throughout the year as well so you may get the chance to enjoy opera in the Vineyards, Art Festivals, Jazz in the Vines, Harvest or Budburst festivals (check with the local Tourist Information Services). Visit the towns of Scone, Maitland, Pokolbin, Broke and Kurri Kurri.

• Day 5.
  Cessnock to Port Stephens and Sydney via Pacific Highway (200 km 2.5 hours) Drive to Port Stephens and Nelson Bay where you can go on a dolphin watching cruise and visit a koala habitat. Return south to Sydney down the Pacific Highway.

Holidays to Byron Bay

In the previous topic, i was discussing about "Adelaide outdoor cinema guide".
I am now in "Byron Bay" and my plan is to stay here and spend my last week in Byron Bay and enjoy the nature. I believe there is much “germs” in the air of Byron Bay.

In the 1970s, Byron Bay was well and truly put on the map by surf junkies and it has firmly retained its foothold as a surfing mecca ever since. In keeping with the 1970s, Byron Bay also gained a reputation for being a hippie hangout. Even today, the Bay tends to attract the less conventional beach goer, but this only adds to the peaceful, laid back vibe of the place, which in itself is one of the main attractions. No city slickers in suits here. Just a relaxed way of life where the most difficult decision you need to make in a day is whether to ride a wave, swim with dolphins, or lay back and enjoy one of the many therapeutic massages on offer. It’s a tough life but someone’s got to do it!

The Bay itself is located on Cape Byron, the most easterly point of Australia, about 600 km north of Sydney and 140 km south of Brisbane.

So escape the high rise cities and take yourself down to the most laidback bay in Australia, for some down time, superb undeveloped beaches, chill out music and surf galore. Like many before you, you may find that you never want to leave this unspoilt slice of paradise.

What to do in Byron Bay

Surfing: There is an inevitable emphasis on water activities, not surprising since this is where temperate and tropical waters merge, making it an absolute pleasure to sink deep into the bays watery womb. But what if you don’t know your rips from your swells? Never fear, for if there is anywhere in the world to learn surfing, this has got to be one of the best! So hang ten and join one of the many surf classes on offer and before you know it you’ll be off on the crest of a wave (if you can hang onto the board long enough!).

Diving: For those who prefer the beauty of what lies beneath, head to Julian Rocks, a short boat ride from Main Beach for some thrilling underwater encounters. Hard core divers have rated Julian Rocks amongst the top 10 dive sites in the whole of Australia – go there before the news gets out!

Boating and Whale Watching: If you prefer to be ‘on’ the water rather than ‘in’ the water, head out on a boat charter or even hire a sailing yacht if you’re willing to take the helm! At certain times of year, Cape Byron is a passageway for humpback whales migrating north and there are spectacular opportunities to enjoy the awesome experience of whale watching. The size of these magnificent mammals has to be seen to be believed. If you’re unlucky enough to miss out on the whales, you are almost certain to spot pods of bottlenose dolphins that frequent the bays almost daily.

Walking: Perhaps you never discovered your sea legs and you’d rather remain on terra firma? Why not just relax in one of the hip cafes overlooking the bays, treat yourself to a leisurely lunch and then walk it off by taking the 5km walking trail up to the headlands to see the famed lighthouse, looking downwards at the jaw dropping scenes. On your way back down you can take in the splendour of exotic palms and flowers in the nearby lush sub-tropical coastal rainforest. Reward yourself for the effort by stopping in at one of truly luxurious health retreats on offer and let someone else soothe the aches and pains away, while you dream of supper overlooking the bay at sunset.

Biking: Or you could try an altogether very different way of taking in the Bay’s attractions. Be the envy of friends and family by regaling them with tales of your laid back biker trip round the coastline on the back of a Harley Davidson! You can even see the sights from above by tandem hang gliding – an experienced instructor is of course the recommended buddy! And for those that prefer 2 muddy wheels, there are numerous natural reserves to explore on mountain bike. Feel the adrenalin rush of the steep downhills before stopping off for a well earned beer.

Shopping: It doesn’t end there. After indulging in the natural delights on offer, why not sample the tastes and textures of the local roving markets? Ask any of the locals and they’ll soon give you the low down. Byron Bay’s markets are known for miles around and offer up everything from delicious home-made organic cuisine to new age and local crafts. It’s the perfect place to buy all your travel gifts. There is something for everyone, not least of all the kids who will thoroughly enjoy the face painting artists who can create a visual work of art on even the naughtiest liveliest little devils!

Sleeping

Despite the laid back bohemian feel of Byron Bay, you are not restricted to staying in a ‘PEACE’ painted ‘love bus’ parked at the edge of the beach, there are accommodation options to suit all tastes and pockets here, including some rather up-market suites. Or at the other end of the scale, if you want to feel ‘at one’ with nature, you could head to Broken Head Nature Reserve where the rainforest truly does meet the sea, with pristine sandy beach acting as go-between. This is the only Reserve in which you are permitted to pitch a tent, so why not make the most of it and settle down under the doona to the cacophony of bird calls and cicadas, while re-living the memories of classic scenes from the cult surf movie ‘Morning Of The Earth’, filmed at Broken Head. What better way to end a day? 

Brisbane

Famous for its laid-back lifestyle, Brisbane is great for the arts, entertainment and shopping. Brisbane is also the gateway to South East Queensland. Officially Australia’s “most liveable city”, Brisbane has a sub-tropical climate, a vibrant city centre and a host of major cultural, sporting and business venues.
It is Australia’s fastest growing city and is rapidly becoming a major commercial player in the Asia Pacific region.