Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Do you have alternative options for payment if I don’t have a credit card?

If you would prefer to pay via bank transfer just use the details below:
Greater Bank
Tastes of the Hunter Wine Tours
Bsb: 637 000
Acc: 723712416
Please use your name and the tour date as a reference number.
Your booking/seats will be confirmed once we receive the funds for your tour.

2. Can we join your tour from our local accommodation in the Hunter Valley?

Of course you can! We offer pickups from Hunter Valley accommodation locations in Pokolbin, Rothbury, Lovedale, Cessnock, Nulkaba, Bellbird, Bellbird Heights, Broke, Singleton, Elderslie, Dalwood, Branxton, Quorrobolong, Maitland and more. See our Hunter Valley Tours page for the full list of pickup locations. If your pickup location doesn’t appear on this list please email us at tastesofthehunterwinetours@gmail.com and we’ll let you know if we can pick up from your location.

3. Can you pick us up from our hotel in Sydney?

Yes we can pick up from Sydney on private tours only (pricing suits a minimum 8 guests) on selected dates. Please enquire via our Contact Us page to check if Sydney pickup is available on the date you have in mind.

4. Do you pick up from Newcastle?

Yes – We can pick up from most Newcastle hotels and residential addresses including those in the Newcastle CBD, Wickham, Cooks Hill, Carrington, Hamilton, Jesmond, Wallsend, Maryland, Fletcher and even Minmi. Feel free to get in touch to ask if we can pick up from a particular Newcastle suburb you have in mind.

5. Can I ring for further information?

Of course! Call or text us on 0403 001154 (International: +61 403 001154)

6. Should I bring money for “extras” on the tour?

If you wish to purchase lunch and/or any wine/beer/craft beer paddles/cocktails by the glass, you’ll need to bring some extra funds. Most lunch venues charge around $30-$40pp for meals (drinks can be additional).

If you have booked a private tour where you have chosen to pay your cellar door tasting fees on the day, you’ll need to bring extra funds for these. Most cellar doors will bill their tasting fees as the one transaction for the whole group so it is best to have the tasting fees ready on the one Eftpos card to tap and go at the start of the tasting. The cellar doors generally won’t bill individually due to the time involved in processing multiple transactions for a large group.

If you wish to pay your private tour tasting fees in cash, then this will need to be as the one amount of cash for the whole group so you’ll need to advise your group members to bring cash/small change so this can be collected on the day (either by yourself or our driver can assist).

7. What days do the tours run?

We offer full day shared bus tours with pickups in the Hunter Valley on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and selected public holidays (no tours on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Years Day). Shared bus tours from Newcastle are only available on Saturdays. We can do private tours from most Hunter Valley accommodation locations, Maitland, Singleton, Newcastle and the Central Coast on any day of the week (Mon-Sun).

8. Can we choose our seats on the bus?

There are no allocated seats so guests can choose their seats as they board the bus. We ask guests to be kind and courteous and consider anyone with special needs when it comes to their choice of seats. If you are being picked up from one of our last pickup points (shared bus tours) you will have the last choice of seats. If you would like more choice when it comes to seating please contact us and we’ll see if we can arrange to pick you up earlier in the schedule.

9. If the tour is full for a particular date do you have a waiting list?

Yes, we’d love to fit you in if we can! Please use our Contact Form or email tastesofthehunterwinetours@gmail.com and let us know how many people you would like to book for, the tour date you are after and your contact details. A mobile phone number is preferred (or an email address that you check very regularly) as you may not receive alot of notice (it is usually the night before) if we are filling a cancellation.

10. What currency is accepted for tour bookings and whilst on the tour?

Only the Australian Dollar ($AUD) is accepted.

11. Can we consume beverages or food aboard the vehicles?

NSW law for the transportation of public passengers stipulates that bottled water is the only item that can be legally consumed aboard vehicles.

12. How long does the tour go for?

Most full day tours that pick up from within the Hunter Valley are 8.5-9 hours long (including travel time from pick up to drop off). Exact times cannot be guaranteed due to road conditions or delays that may not be within our control so please allow a few hours either side of this time frame just in case.

13. Can I book a private tour where a bus is reserved only for our group?

Yes! Check out our Private Hunter Valley Wine Tours options here, complete the online enquiry form and we’ll be in touch. Once we have worked out the details based on your requirements you can pay via direct bank deposit (EFT/Internet Banking).

14. What if we have less than the required numbers for a Private Group Tour?

Our private group tours usually require 8 people or more and are the most economical for groups of 10-12 or more. We are happy to take groups of less than 10 people for a private tour however the minimum price will still apply. Please contact us to enquire about what price would apply to your specific situation.

15. Is it possible to cancel a tour or alter the tour/event date?

Please email us at tastesofthehunterwinetours@gmail.com. This must be done a minimum of 7-14 days before your tour departs (please note different minimum times apply to tours charged with a group price). To read all of the details regarding bookings, cancellations and other terms please visit our Terms and Conditions page.

16. If we are unable to get to the pickup location on time and the bus departs without us can we get a refund or change to a future tour date?

Our drivers may be able to wait a maximum of 10 minutes past your given departure time on our Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Adventure Tours if time permits however this is not guaranteed (it is up to the driver’s discretion on the day). “Holding up” the bus and making other guests wait is obviously not fair to others and our tours must run as close to time as possible as the cellar doors require us to arrive within 15 minutes of our booked tasting time or they may not serve the group which obviously affects everyone else on the tour. Generally we cannot wait for late passengers (regardless of the reason) and we also cannot offer refunds or tour date changes as we will still have held that spot on the tour whether you attend on the day or not. It is best to arrive at the departure point 10 minutes before your given time to ensure you don’t miss the departure!

17. Are there vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten free lunch options available?

Vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten free alternatives are available at most of the lunch venues we visit however we cannot guarantee it.

18. Can children join the tour?

The Hunter Valley Wine and Beer Adventure Tour is available for adults of legal drinking age (18 years of age and over). Children (anyone under 18 years of age) are permitted on our private tours only by prior arrangement. You must contact us to let us know if anyone under 18 years of age will be on the tour as we may need to have child seats onboard that meet the legal transportation requirements in NSW.