Tour Talk: You can now drink your way around Hunter Valley on a London-style double decker bus

Super convenient activities and experiences booking service Klook has now made it much easier, and cheaper, to plan the most quintessential Hunter Valley itinerary by opening the platform to 25 instantly bookable wine tastings. What’s more is that over 10 of those tastings have been made available for just $1 (with promo code “WINETIME”), with all just as easy and quick to book as an Uber.

Live on the site (and app) as of the last week, the initiative syncs with current requirements that wine tastings must now be pre-booked ahead of visiting the Hunter Valley. This is a swift adaptation for Klook, who are aiming to make it much easier to wine enthusiasts to make the most of their trip to the famed wine region, as well as bring in more customers to help the wine industry get back on its feet, after both the 19-20 bushfires and global pandemic devastated the scene.

Alongside the new wine-tasting listings, Klook has also launched a limited edition “Taste of Europe” winery tour, sourcing a 1965 classic Big Red Double Decker bus to double down on the countryside vibes. While European travel remains out of reach for many, this day tour showcases the very best of Hunter Valley’s European style ambiance, as well as a few surprises along the way. Guests on the tour will visit four award-winning wineries for expert-led tastings, tuck into a specially organised lunch, and even invoke a little Oktoberfest by adding a brewery visit to the trip.

Those booking the tour, which is limited to 10 people and priced at $199 per person, can expect their journey to begin at the Hunter Valley Visitor Centre, boarding the London-style ride before enjoying a full suite of premium sparkling wines at the first stop – Peterson House. Then it’s onto to 2020 Cellar Door of the Year, Glandore Estate, for a chocolate and wine pairing; Two Fat Blokes for a cheese and wine pairing, as well as an Italian-styled lunch in their courtyard; and then onto the Spanish-esque Irongate Estate. The day wraps up with a refreshing beer flight tasting at IronBark Estate before being dropped back at the Visitor Centre.

The tour is very limited, so any groups who want to book should make room on their schedule for the dates of either 24th October or 28th October. The tour starts at 9:30am each day and can be booked here.

Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.