How close are you to the vineyards?
Around Hermitage is in the heart of the Hunter Valley Wine Country. Cellar doors and restaurants are within 5 – 10 minute drive from accommodation venues some even walking distance.
How far are you from the concert venues?
Wherever you are staying you will be no more than 5-15 minutes from the venues of Bimbadgen, Hope Estate and Roche Estate.
Rover Coaches provide a shuttle service to the concerts, fees apply, must be pre-booked.
Can we bring pets?
There are several pet friendly accommodation venues Around Hermitage where well behaved pets are welcome. Your pets should be vaccinated and flea and heartworm treated. Please check with individual venues for facilities and conditions of stay.
What does fully self-contained mean?
Self contained cottages are set up so that you can prepare all your own meals. The kitchens will generally have an oven, microwave, fridge/freezer, plenty of pots and pans, serving dishes etc. There will usually be a gas BBQ outside. Check with individual venues for exact facilities. Cottages are generally not serviced daily.
Starter breakfast hampers may be provided, check with individual venues.
Where is the nearest supermarket?
There is an IGA at Maitland Street, Branxton just off the New England Highway. There is a Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA in Singleton and Cessnock.
Basic provisions can also be purchased at the General Store at Pokolbin Village on Broke Road and also at the store at thhttp://www.twofatblokes.com.au/kitchen/e Hunter Valley Gardens complex.
Cheeses and antipasto can be purchased at the Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Kitchen, the Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shops located at Pokolbin Village and Tempus Two, also at Binnorie Dairy on Hermitage Road. Barbeque packs are also available from Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Kitchen.
Locally grown olives and olive products at Tintilla Estate on Hermitage Road and Pokolbin Estate on McDonalds Road.
We are not into wine, what else is there to do??
There is plenty to do even if you are not into wine or need a break from wine tasting. How about:
- a round of golf at The Vintage or Cyprus Lakes
- visit the Hunter Valley Gardens
- visit the Hunter Valley Zoo
- art and sculptures at Mistletoe on Hermitage Road
- antiques at Hermitage Road Antiques
- Spa Anise Day Spa at Spicers Vineyards Estate
- other day spas at Chateau Elan and the Golden Door at Cyprus Lakes
- horse riding from Hunter Resort
- cooking school at Hunter Resort
- scenic flights by plane, helicopter, hot air balloon, if you are feeling really adventurous then you could try a flight in a fighter plane!
What can we do with the kids?
There are several child friendly activities:
- Hunter Valley Zoo
- Hunter Valley Gardens has a special themed area for children and has extra activities during school holidays
- Many restaurants are child friendly
- Baby sitting information.
Where can we eat out?
There are several restaurants within 5-10 minutes of most accommodation venues to suit all budgets and tastes.
Around Hermitage is fortunate to have some of the top rated restaurants in the area. Please ask your accommodation hosts for recommendations. Bookings are often required at weekends or busy periods.
Can we book a wine tour?
There are several wine tour operators providing half day or full day tours. You can pick from horse drawn carriage tours, bicycle tours, small / large groups or private limo tours.
Weddings and Functions
Around Hermitage you’ll find some great venues for your wedding or function, from larger venues to smaller, more intimate venues.
Remember to send your guests the link to accommodation in our area “Stay Around Hermitage” so that they can easily find a place to stay near the venue.
Don’t leave booking your accommodation too late particularly during the concert season! Accommodation is often fully booked within days of a concert being announced.
When's a good time to visit?
Around Hermitage Hunter Valley is a great place to visit at any time of year.
Australian seasons: Summer December to February, Autumn March to May, Winter June to August, Spring September to November.
Summer: The grapes are ripening and in January and February you may get the chance to see a harvest and winemaking in progress.
Autumn: Brings on the wonderful autumn leaf colour on the vines before the leaves fall and pruning starts.
Winter: Is a great time to visit, cooler nights but quite warm days, many of the wineries do fireside tastings. May and June is the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival with activities at various venues throughout the area.
Spring: The vines come to life and the valley becomes green again. The first of the open air concerts start in October with the Opera in the Vineyards.
Mobile coverage and WiFi
Mobile phone coverage is generally good in the area although in some more remote areas you may lose the signal, this is also dependant on your service provider. WiFi, your accommodation may provide free WiFi, ask when you check in, likewise with cellar doors.
Wine tasting charges and etiquette
A visit to one of our cellar doors give you the unique opportunity to try wines that you may not have come across before. Many of the wines are only available at the cellar door so don’t miss out on the opportunity to buy some.
Some cellars doors have a nominal charge for tasting; this charge is generally refunded on purchase.
What to expect from a wine tasting: Tasting at a cellar door should be a fun and informative experience. You are likely to be offered a tasting of perhaps 5 wines. Don’t be afraid to try something different, many cellar doors have varieties that you may never have come across! Ask questions, even if you think it’s a silly question…we’ve heard it all before!
How to taste wine: Tasting wine is an indulgence of all the senses, Look… what does the wine look like…depth of colour and so on, aroma…this is where you get to swirl the wine in the glass and then smell the aromas, taste…take a sip of the wine and swish the wine around your mouth and think about the flavours that you can taste. Enjoy!
Drinking and Driving: No don’t do it! If you are the designated driver and you would like to taste some wines please ask for a spittoon, it is perfectly acceptable to spit the wine once you have swirled it around in your mouth to taste the flavours.
Generally, a tasting measure is 20ml and so 5 measures is approximately equivalent to a standard drink of 100ml depending on the alcohol content of the wine.
If your favourite tipple is port or fortified wines then 3 x 20ml measures is about 1 standard drink.
Depending on the person, 1 standard drink is processed by your body each hour.
Cellar doors have to abide by the same rules as pubs and bars in relation to the responsible service of alcohol.