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MayFood & WineWorth the trip

Hunter Valley Lovedale Long Lunch: Trip Planning Guide

Lovedale, Australia

May
When
$120–$175
Entry
6 days
Suggested trip
Sydney
Nearest airport

Going to Hunter Valley Lovedale Long Lunch?

A self-drive wine and food trail across eight Lovedale Road wineries in the Hunter Valley, each hosting a unique long-table lunch on a May weekend. Ticket holders drive between wineries at their own pace, with wine matched to courses at each stop. The Lovedale precinct's intimate scale and cellar door character gives it a more personal feel than Hunter Valley's main events.

Your trip blueprint

1
Arrive a day early
Settle in and visit a local producer before the crowds arrive — fly into Sydney Airport (SYD).
2
Festival (3 days)
Mid-May long weekend. Best for foodies and couples.
3
Extend into the region (2 days)
Hunter Valley has 150 mapped wineries — add 2 days to explore at your own pace.
Insider tip

Hire a driver or buy a designated driver ticket for one person in your group — police enforcement is strict during this event. Tickets sell out within days of release (usually February) so subscribe to their newsletter.

About Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest wine region, with vineyards dating to the 1820s on the banks of the Hunter River in New South Wales. Just two hours north of Sydney, it produces two wines of global significance: Hunter Semillon — arguably the world's greatest expression of the variety, capable of ageing 20 years or more — and Hunter Shiraz, a savoury, earthy style quite unlike the power of Barossa.

Read the full Hunter Valley wine region guide →

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Festival info: www.lovedalelonglunch.com.au