Savor some of the tastiest and most characteristic cheeses and wines produced in the Hunter Valley, a fertile landscape of rolling hills and crystal-clear rivers.

Follow the appropriately named Wine Country Drive toward the town of Pokolbin, where you will find the Hunter Valley Cheese Company. The family-owned business produces several preservative-free cheeses on site, and you will have the opportunity to taste several of the finest.

Hunter Valley is even more highly regarded for its wine, as it’s the oldest wine-producing region in Australia. As an introduction to the various types of wines produced here, you will visit two renowned wineries.

Established in 1989, Mistletoe soon earned a five-star rating for its products and places in the top 7% of Australian wineries. Mistletoe has stocks of museum wines which are re-released periodically. To further showcase the local culture, the winery also displays fine art in its gallery and sculptures in the surrounding gardens.

After sampling several Mistletoe wines, you will continue on to the award winning neighboring Tulloch Winery for another wine tasting. The Tulloch story began in 1838 when James Tulloch arrived in Australia from his homeland of Scotland and settled in Camberwell. Through the years, the winery changed ownership several times till finally, in 2001 the opportunity arose to buy back the old family company. Tulloch was again family owned and a new era began, with the family’s commitment to quality.

OVERVIEW

Walk through the heart of Newcastle and admire the architecture as you learn about the city’s transformation from a 19th-century penal colony into a cultural center. While strolling the historical district bordering the Hunter River, you will pass verdant parks and landmarks that reveal Newcastle’s past. Built in 1877, the former Customs House is a wonderful example of Victorian Romanesque architecture and Newcastle’s maritime heritage. It now houses a luxury hotel. The building towers over Watt Street, the city’s oldest thoroughfare, which was built atop a path that the indigenous Awabakal people used before Europeans arrived. The street is named for James Watt, a pioneer in the development of the steam engine that helped fuel the Industrial Revolution. Another highlight is the Convict Lumber Yard, one of the earliest convict workplaces in Australia. Excavations have unearthed artifacts associated with Newcastle’s early 19th-century convict occupation and aboriginal artifacts found at a much deeper level.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the historical landmarks on a leisurely guided walk through Newcastle.
• Recognize how the city has transformed from a penal colony into a cultural center.
• See the former Customs House and one of the first workplaces for convicts in Australia.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a leisurely cruise along the coast south of Newcastle with an entertaining guide that will describe the history and significance of the landmarks. As you leave the harbor, you will see countless coal loaders as the port exports more coal than any other place in the world. The lighthouse at beach-rimmed Nobbys Head has been guiding vessels into the port on the Hunter River since 1854. Not every ship has been successful as you will see at Stockton Beach, where the remains of the Adolphe still rest against the rocky shore after shipwrecking there in 1904. You will hear more about Newcastle’s maritime heritage while passing Bogey Hole, an oceanside swimming pool that hundreds of convicts hand-chiseled out of the rock shelf there in 1819 – solely for the personal use of the commandant. The nearby beaches that you will cruise past are known for their surf culture and scenic beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hear about Newcastle’s rich maritime heritage while cruising along its southern shore.
• Pass a 19th-century lighthouse and the rusted remains of a ship that wrecked in 1904.
• See an oceanside swimming pool that convicts hand-carved out of sheer rock.
• Watch for surfers off Bar Beach and learn about Newcastle’s flourishing surf culture.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Fly high over the fertile Hunter Valley in a helicopter for bird’s-eye view of this bucolic setting that is Australia’s oldest wine-growing region. Once you take a seat and the rotors start turning, the thrills will begin in earnest. The R44 helicopter features large windows and seating for only three passengers so you will be assured of an excellent view of the natural beauty below. You will first soar over the coast of Newcastle, where you will look down on the largest ocean baths in the Southern Hemisphere and the ANZAC Memorial Walk, which commemorates the sacrifices of Australia’s soldiers during World War I. As you fly inland, the landscape will change dramatically as agriculture dominates, especially vineyards. Upon landing at one of the valley’s most prestigious cellar-door restaurants, you will sit down to a three-course gourmet lunch. Ask recommendation for paired wines produced in the Hunter Valley to be served to enhance the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Soar over Newcastle in a large-windowed helicopter that holds only three passengers.
• Enjoy the ultimate bird’s-eye view of the city and its naturally beautiful coast.
• Fly above the Hunter Valley, an incredibly fertile wine-producing region.
• Land at a cellar-door restaurant for a gourmet lunch served with Hunter Valley wine.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Meander through two vastly different gardens: one predominately devoted to indigenous Australian flora; the other a lush paradise with plants from all over the world. Your drive takes you inland, somewhat following the Hunter River until reaching the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens. On arrival you will be met by a local guide from the Botanic Gardens to start your one-hour induction. The Botanical Collections, which are predominantly Australian flora, are arranged into a number of Themed Gardens including acacias, Australian plants for the home garden, succulents, banksias, hakeas and grevilia’s, plants of the Hunter Region, boronias and their relatives, prostrater’s, eucalypts (mostly of the Hunter Region), proteas of South Africa, local water plants, native myrtles, palms, rainforest plants, Australian arid plants, conifers, cycads and ferns.

You will also visit the Hunter Valley Gardens, which blanket more than 60 acres in the foothills of the Brokeback Ranges. Spanning over 25 acres, be amazed by the sensational sights, colors, and fragrances of the ten stunning feature gardens. During approximately 1.5 hours here, you can explore each garden, and enjoy an exciting journey through the thousands of flowers, trees, and shrubs with discovery at every turn. Bask in a lavish array of color and scent found in the Rose Garden with hundreds and thousands of roses on display, rest above the 10m/32ft high waterfall, of the Sunken Garden and take in the superb views from the lookout. Along the 8km/5mi of walking paths are more than six thousand trees, one million ground covers and six hundred thousand shrubs. A floral display featuring a variety of plants and statuary, all of a standard that you won’t see elsewhere in Australia Hunter Valley Gardens is also wheelchair friendly and allows access to all areas.

OVERVIEW

Explore the history of Newcastle and surrounding Hunter Valley with stops at a 19th-century fort, a former prison and a frontier river town that still thrives today. The journey begins with highlights drive from the pier, passing several of the city’s architectural treasures, including the Romanesque Revival former Customs House and imposing Christchurch Cathedral, 200 years old and decorated with 70 beautiful stained-glass windows. Soon, you’ll pause to take in the dramatic setting of Fort Scratchily Scratchley, a hilltop historic treasure that overlooks the Hunter River estuary and Nobbys Beach. Before its decommission, this bastion famously returned fire on a Japanese submarine that was menacing the city in 1942. Next, visit Blackbutt Reserve, a sanctuary for native Australian wildlife. Enjoy the lush bushland and see animals such as koalas, kangaroos, and native birds. Learn about local conservation efforts and enjoy the natural surroundings. A bit further inland along the Hunter River, the colonial frontier town of Morpeth retains much of its historic character. During free time here, you can stroll streets lined with period architecture, walk the heritage trail, or do some window-shopping along picturesque Swan Street.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a guided orientation spin through Newcastle’s, seeing landmarks like the old Customs House and Christchurch Cathedral.
• Stop for a view of Fort Scratchley, built to repel the Russians but last firing its guns on a Japanese sub.
• Visit Blackbutt Reserve and see animals like Koala, Kangaroos and native birds.
• Spend free time in Morpeth, a riverside town in the country that never quite left its colonial era.
• Back in Newcastle, shuttle back to the ship or explore the city a while on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, a bottle of water from the ship, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.