Adventure | Family | Food and Wine 30 September 2016

5 Ways To Get Your Thrills In The Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is about more than sipping wine and sampling cheese (although you can expect plenty of that too). Beyond rest, relaxation and romance this spectacular wine region is loaded with adrenaline pumping activities that are sure to get your heart racing.

Admire the rolling vineyards of Australia’s oldest wine region as you leap from a plane, or soak in the blue skies and great weather as you race around a track. Here are the best adventure and thrill-seeking activities to do in the Hunter Valley, a two-hour drive from Sydney.

Go skydiving 

Those who want to get high above the vines can take on a drop zone challenge with Skydive Hunter Valley. Hold your breath as you approach the plane door and get ready to freefall. First timers are in good hands when they join a tandem jump, or if you are a self-confessed pro you take that leap of faith solo. If you want to take your sky-high thrills up a notch, you can even study a nine-stage skydiving course! There is nothing quite like plummeting your way towards a valley of grapes… you’ll certainly have earnt your wine by the time your feet return to solid ground.

Girl on a sky-high thrills up a notch as she tried the freefall Skydive at the Hunter Valley

Experience the air with Warbird Flights

Feel the G-Force in a supercharged warbird plane with Aerohunter in the Hunter Valley. Get your thrills as an experienced RAAF or Ace Aerobatic pilot twists and turns, ducks and weaves, and rolls about the skies. From up here you’ll feel the G’s while you experience the best views of Newcastle's beaches and the stunning Hunter Valley. If you’ve always wanted to star in the Top Gun movie, this experience is as close as you are going to get and there are a number of different aircraft to choose from. Those that are extra keen can even learn to fly these planes.

Take a spin with Rally Driving

Rally School sounds pretty awesome for those who love a bit of sideways action. This education spot in the Hunter Valley has an epic rally course with 20 odd performance cars for you to churn up the dust with. Great for groups or solo drivers, this is an experience that literally puts you in the driver's seat. Hit the tracks, then later you can relax (with a glass of Hunter Valley wine, of course).

Performance cars taking a spin with rally driving school in Hunter Valley Australia

Find gentle thrills while hot air ballooning

Not all thrills require high speeds and fast action. Take off before dawn and watch the sunrise over the vineyards from the comfort of the wicker basket lifting into the air. All you will hear is the whoosh of the fire burner as it sends you drifting higher into the sky. Balloon Aloft offers a truly beautiful experience for those without a heights complex (or those looking to overcome a fear). Many people have been known to pop the question either in the sky or at a champagne breakfast… food for thought folks. 

Breathtaking horizon of hot air ballooning in Hunter Valley

Trot about on horseback

Picture yourself soaking in the spectacular sights of the Hunter Valley while bopping up in down with the rhythm of a horse. While beginners will take it at a gentle pace with Hunter Valley Horses, experienced riders can request to take that trot to a canter as they tour from winery to winery. Step into the saddle and breathe in fresh air as you traverse between the bushland and cellar doors, stopping to taste local award-winning wines.

A family enjoys horseback riding at the scenic valleys and mountains of a 8,000-hectare property

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort is located in Pokolbin right in the heart of the Hunter Valley and close to these thrill seeking adventures. Chill your nerves at our Bodega Bar when you return from an awesome day out.