I love the late afternoon light. It’s a photographer’s best friend, with the sun dipping down and stretching shadows across the ground; elongating your photos and adding depth. Digging back into the archives, this photo does exactly that. Taken at voco Kirkton Park, the gum trees stand tall, their shadows reaching out across the grass like long fingers, drawing your eye towards the distant ridgelines. It’s been awhile since I’ve visited. In fact, I’m not sure these trees are there any more, but it’s one of my fondest (and earliest) memories of Australia before I decided to move here permanently. With kangaroos hopping across distant fields, it was a definitive “I’m in Australia” moment.
A Weekend in the Hunter Valley
Of course, the Hunter Valley isn’t just about quiet landscapes and tree shadows—it’s one of Australia’s most celebrated wine regions, and for good reason. A long weekend here gives you the best of both worlds: slow mornings with coffee overlooking the vineyards with kangaroos dotting the landscape, afternoons spent wandering cellar doors, and evenings where the food is as memorable as the wine poured alongside it. Just down the road is our favourite winery and cellar door, Iron’s Gate Estate. Further afield are activities like golf, hot air ballooning and the famous Christmas seasonal displays at the Hunter Valley Gardens. While it’s no Bavarian Christmas Market, it’s still worth visiting. With always plenty to do, it’s easy to make a long weekend out of any trip to the Hunter Valley, conveniently only a few hours from Sydney (provided you beat the Friday evening traffic).
Wineries Worth Visiting
No trip to the Hunter Valley is complete without exploring its world-class wineries. Each has its own charm and story, making cellar door visits a highlight of any stay:
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Audrey Wilkinson – Perched on a hilltop, this winery not only offers excellent wines but also some of the best panoramic views in the valley. A glass of Semillon here, with the sun setting over the vines, is an experience to remember. You’ll get some great panoramic photos from here, and almost surely see kangaroos in the late afternoon at the bottom of the hill.
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Tyrrell’s Wines – One of the oldest family-owned wineries in Australia, Tyrrell’s is steeped in history. Their Vat 1 Semillon is iconic, and a guided tasting gives you a sense of the valley’s wine-making heritage. Fantastic rustic buildings can frame up a great photoshoot at Tyrrells.
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Brokenwood Wines – Known for approachable yet premium wines, Brokenwood is a must for Shiraz lovers. Their modern cellar door also makes it a great spot to linger, though afternoons on the weekend can get quite crowded.
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Pepper Tree Wines – Set among manicured gardens, this boutique winery combines atmosphere with consistently excellent reds and whites.
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Scarborough Wine Co. – Famous for Chardonnay, this family-run winery offers tastings that feel personal and welcoming. It’s also one of the best spots if you enjoy pairing wine with cheese. Off the beaten path and their cellar door isn’t as “impressive” as others, but don’t let that hold you back.
Visiting a mix of large, historic estates and smaller boutique wineries gives you a true taste of the Hunter—quite literally.
Capturing the Moment
Capturing the moment isn’t just about the photos of sunsets or shadows creeping across the landscape. It’s about capturing a moment in time – a feeling. For me, it was the Australiana of this place, somewhere that (unbeknownst to me at the time), would become home for me in the not so distant future. 18 years on, I still look upon this photo fondly. Sometimes all it takes is a moment and, sometimes, that’s all a weekend away needs to be.
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