Hunter Valley Lights

Depart Moorabbin at 8.00am for Cessnock in NSW’s Hunter Valley. A short transfer will have you at beautiful Spicer's Guesthouse in Pokolbin, surrounded by gardens and vineyards. Tastefully decorated rooms provide a perfect base for your stay.

After a light lunch, the adventure begins! At McCaffrey’s Estate, a hands-on blending tutorial allows you to create your own signature wine blend, bottle it, and personalise a label to take home. Return to Spicers Guesthouse for a couple of hours to relax and maybe explore the property.

Dinner is a Degustation at Muse Restaurant - a five-course culinary showcase matched with premium local wines. Set inside the atmospheric Hungerford Hill winery, Muse is considered one of the top restaurants in regional Australia.

2 nights: Spicer's Guesthouse, king room

A visit to Baiame Cave this morning, on a Walkabout with Warren, offers a privately guided cultural experience with Uncle Warren. Walk to Baiame Cave, hear Dreaming stories, and gain insights into the indigenous history of this region in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range.

Replenish with a delicious morning tea, a picnic in a shaded bushland setting.

Next is Margan. You’ll be guided through Margan’s kitchen garden, estate vineyards, and sustainable winery, followed by a four-course degustation lunch with matched wines. Margan Restaurant offers acclaimed agri-dining with a focus on estate-grown produce. Menus are created around what is harvested from the property to maintain a truly local and seasonal focus.

Visit Vamp Wine Rooms for a tasting of sparkling wine paired with freshly shucked oysters inside this bold, design-led cellar door.

Back to Spicer’s Guesthouse, time to freshen up and enjoy a light dinner. Then head out to Hunter Valley Gardens. Wander at your own pace through the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Christmas light installation, covering eight acres with millions of themed lights. Sundown is about 8:00pm, so you’ll time to explore the gardens before and after sunset.

After a leisurely start, depart Spicer’s at 10.30am. Fly south across NSW and over the mountains before a grand entrance, landing at the Brown Brothers airstrip. First, a tasting and the chance to purchase your favourite wine to enjoy at home, then settle in to savour The Slow Lunch, a magnificent five-course degustation with matching wines at Patricia's Table Restaurant. Named in honour of the family matriarch Patricia Brown, Patricia's Table's relaxed and inviting atmosphere complements the fresh, local, seasonal produce. Soak up the ambience and greenery before flying back to Moorabbin, arriving by 5.00 pm.