{"id":125,"date":"2013-09-25T04:35:13","date_gmt":"2013-09-25T04:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/stories\/a-hunter-valley-girls-weekend\/"},"modified":"2022-04-21T00:07:31","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T00:07:31","slug":"a-hunter-valley-girls-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/stories\/a-hunter-valley-girls-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"A Hunter Valley Girls Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Craving a gourmet weekend getaway with your girlfriends? Or maybe you want to celebrate your hen\u2019s party with wining and dining? Look no further than Hunter Valley holiday.<\/p>\n

Just a couple of hours north of Sydney, this haven of quaint villages, fresh produce and fine wines is an authentic artisan experience and one of my favourite spots for a short break. If you\u2019re considering making the trip, here\u2019s a few of my treasured highlights:<\/p>\n

Where tranquility and luxury collide<\/h2>\n

For secluded rustic cabins, cosy fires, hot tubs and warm crusty bread,\u00a0Manzanilla Ridge<\/a>\u00a0is a truly boutique experience when it comes to Hunter Valley accommodation. I absolutely love this place. Dominic and Jane run these secluded cabins with a dose of old fashioned hospitality. They\u2019ve put a lot of thought into what makes a perfect escape and sometimes a smaller scale helps. Boutique hotels in the Hunter are popular with Expedia\u2019s Kiwi travellers\u00a0and it’s obvious why.<\/p>\n

My last visit to Manzanilla Ridge was in winter and my cabin was a cosy home away from home. The fire was crackling, soothing music crooned from the Bluetooth stereo, the wine rack was stocked and a decanter of port and a welcome letter sat on the kitchen bench. An espresso machine and a fridge full of local produce for breakfast was the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n

Add a hot tub on the balcony and I was in heaven. And there\u2019s the fact the cabin is located just up the road from my favourite Italian restaurant outside of Italy.\u00a0Lillino\u2019s Bar and Trattoria<\/a>\u00a0is a must, the simplicity of the handmade pasta and fresh local produce is a gourmet delight.<\/p>\n

If you’re after something closer to the main wineries,\u00a0The Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley<\/a>,\u00a0Crowne Plaza<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0The Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens<\/a>\u00a0are popular with Expedia’s Kiwi travellers.<\/p>\n

Cycle the artisan trail<\/h2>\n

The perfect way to soak up all the Hunter Valley has to offer is definitely by bike. The freedom of the open air, the beauty of the Australia bushland and the thought of the next winery to quench your thirst makes this a fun way to spend the day.<\/p>\n

Depending on what you want to see and do, plan your ride around visiting cellar doors, tasting local produce, visiting local art galleries, stopping off at alfresco cafes, squeezing in some shopping, visiting a day spa or taking a picnic break. Check when the local markets are on too.<\/p>\n

Grapemobile Bicycle Hire<\/a>\u00a0offers a huge selection of bikes for rent and they can also give you ideas on a suggested trail to follow. Or if you have a sense of adventure why not download the\u00a0Hunter Valley Map<\/a>, draft up your route and see where the day takes you!<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Just a couple of hours north of Sydney, this haven of quaint villages, fresh produce and fine wines is an authentic artisan experience and one of my… Continue reading A Hunter Valley Girls Weekend<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,72,5,2,4,30,6,11],"tags":[25,170,230,10],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","category-celebration","category-destination","category-experiences","category-explore","category-food","category-oceania","category-relax","tag-australia","tag-hunter-valley","tag-seoparty","tag-tips","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA Hunter Valley Girls Weekend | Expedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.co.nz\/stories\/a-hunter-valley-girls-weekend\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Hunter Valley Girls Weekend | Expedia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Craving a gourmet weekend getaway with your girlfriends? 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