NEWS
Shane Lenard
HUNTER AUTUMN SPECIAL There are great options for short stays at Hunter Valley YHA with a wine tour, or a family package including a visit to the Hunter Valley Zoo. Book online
THINGS TO DO Port Stephens: A dolphin cruise and sandboarding combo in Port Stephens can be booked through Moonshadow, costing $39.50 for YHA members. Hunter Valley: Full and half day wine tours can be booked through the YHA. Or rent a bike for $20 a day and make your own way around the wineries.
WHERE TO STAY HUNTER VALLEY YHA ◆ (+612) 4991 3278 ◆ huntervalley@yha.com.au ◆ yha.com.au
NEWCASTLE YHA ◆ (+612) 4925 3544 Shutterstock
◆ Newcastle@yha.com.au ◆ yha.com.au
PORT STEPHENS YHA ◆ (+612) 4982 1921 ◆ portstephens_samurai@yha. com.au ◆ yha.com.au
Clockwise from above: A kangaroo grazes on grass amongst the vines; explore the vineyards by bike; vineyards for miles at one of the Hunter's many vantage points.
about which wines you’re most likely to enjoy and narrow down the number of samples to the ones cellar door staff particularly recommend. Not being in a group leads to a much more personalised service – and, if you ask nicely, further recommendations for other wineries that may fit the bill. It starts becoming a treasure trail – Adina also does olive tasting, there’s excellent cheese to try next to the big McGuigan cellar, Peterson’s does rare-for-the-Hunter Zinfandels. In the morning before heading back to Sydney, I pop into Kevin Sobel’s on Broke Road for a sneaky final tasting session. As an unusually sweet, fruity verdelho is poured, out walks Archie. He’s the winery’s resident St Bernard, ever-ready for a good fussing. The road trip ends as it begins – with a heart-warmingly unexpected wildlife encounter.
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