Exploring the New South Wales Hunter Valley, where championship fairways and cellar doors combine for the ultimate golf getaway.
It’s only two hours up the highway from Sydney, but the Hunter Valley might as well be another world. The air smells cleaner. The traffic disappears. And before long the road dips and you’re rolling through vineyards and paddocks that glow in that soft country light.
If you love golf – and you’ve got a weakness for good wine and great food – there’s really nowhere better for a weekend escape. The Hunter has always been known for its shiraz and semillon, but in recent years it’s become one of the most enjoyable golf getaways in the country. Championship courses, cellar doors, boutique stays and meals you’ll talk about long after you’ve unpacked the clubs.
The Vintage Golf Club is the Hunter’s showpiece. Designed by Greg Norman and Bob Harrison, it’s a course that feels like it’s grown out of the land – rolling fairways, smart bunkering, and greens that test you just enough to make the post-round drink taste even better.
Early mornings are special here. The mist hangs low over the vines, kangaroos wander across the fairways and the smell of freshly cut grass mixes with that hint of grape must from the nearby Bimbadgen vineyard. It’s golf with a sense of place. You know exactly where you are.
When you’re done, you don’t have to go far to relax. Château Élan sits right beside the 18th fairway, offering plush rooms, a proper spa and a restaurant that turns out the sort of lunch that makes you forget you’re still only a couple of hours from the city. Order a bottle of local semillon, grab a table on the terrace and watch the last groups come home.
A short drive away, Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club takes full advantage of its setting against the Brokenback Range. It’s a Steve Smyers design that starts gently before winding its way up into the hills, where the views stretch forever.
It’s a course that rewards a bit of thinking, but it’s never cruel. Every hole gives you something different – an elevated tee, a tricky approach or just a moment to stop and admire the view.
If you prefer your weekends a little more relaxed, Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club at Lovedale is ideal. The course rolls gently through the countryside, with wide fairways, vineyard views and plenty of room to breathe. It’s social golf at its best – grab a few mates, keep the phone in the car and just enjoy being out there.
And there’s more coming. Lovedale Farm is developing a brand-new course, set to open in the next couple of years in another sign that the Hunter’s golf scene is only getting stronger.
The Hunter Valley spoils you for places to stay, from big resorts to boutique hideaways. One of the newest – and best – is The Lane Retreat on the Bimbadgen property. Sixty modern studios tucked among the vines, with views that’ll make you forget about checking your email. It’s peaceful, stylish and just far enough from everything to feel like a real escape.
If you prefer to be right in the action, Château Élan at The Vintage or Cypress Lakes Resort both make great bases. You can park the car on Friday and not touch it again until Sunday.
Watch episode one of great drives in Australian golf:
Wine, food and time to unwind
Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to the Hunter without sampling the local drops. Start next door to The Vintage at Bimbadgen, whose cellar door has been a staple for years. Then head to Elbourne Family Wines, where Adam Elbourne and his team are making small-batch wines that capture the region’s true character.
Dinner options are just as impressive. The valley’s food scene has stepped up in a big way, led by EST, now widely regarded as the best regional restaurant in Australia. It’s refined without being fussy, and every course tells a little story about the Hunter. For something more classic, Bistro Molines still delivers that French country magic – think slow lunches, long conversations and sweeping views across the vines.
A weekend that plans itself
Friday: Leave Sydney mid-morning, arrive in Pokolbin for lunch and a tasting. Check into Château Élan or The Lane Retreat, then play nine holes at The Vintage as the sun dips behind the hills. Dinner somewhere easy – a pizza and a bottle of red will do nicely.
Saturday: Early start at Cypress Lakes. Enjoy the views, the challenge and the fresh country air. Spend the afternoon meandering between cellar doors – Bimbadgen, Elbourne Wines, maybe Brokenwood if you’re feeling ambitious. Then treat yourself to dinner at EST, where the only hazard is deciding which wine to match with dessert.
Sunday: Sleep in. A lazy breakfast, one last round at Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club, then a slow drive home with a couple of bottles in the boot and a smile that’ll last all week.
The Hunter difference
What makes the Hunter Valley special isn’t just the golf, the wine or the food – it’s the combination. You don’t have to choose between a great course and a great meal. Here, they come together naturally. You can walk off an 18th green and be at a cellar door in five minutes.
What we drove
For those who believe the journey should be as refined as the destination, the Genesis GV70 is every golfer’s dream drive. Its cabin oozes sophistication – heated and ventilated front seats, genuine metal trim and a sweeping, 27-inch OLED display that feels more private jet than SUV. This is the perfect car to load the clubs and get away for the weekend in, the panoramic sunroof basks the cabin full of light, whilst the Head-Up Display helps you keep your eyes on the road ahead.
And when the carpark gets tight, simply tap the Remote Smart Park Assist and watch it ease itself out of trouble. Add in the Smart Power Tailgate, where you simply approach the boot and it automatically opens, allowing for quick easy access to your clubs, and you’ll soon realise the GV70 isn’t just for getting to the course; it’s part of the experience.
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