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Mudgee is nudging the Hunter Valley as New South Wales’s hottest wine destination.
It’s a romantic get-away destination for many couples. But Mudgee with kids is possible.
Many Mudgee wineries are family-friendly.
According to David Cumming of Define Wine, Mudgee’s wine and food culture has really come of age. And families are starting to take notice.
The regional town is not far from Sydney, just under four-hour-drive. It’s a great weekend escape from the rat race.
Once there you will find a thriving community and a food and wine culture that is impressive. It’s less commercial than the Hunter. You’re far more likely here to actually meet the winemaker or owner at the cellar door.
“The younger winemakers are taking over and doing good things and generating a youthful exuberance in the wine community,” Cumming says.
“The food culture is growing. Pipeclay Pumphouse and The Zin House are the best restaurants, and are as good as any in the Metro regions.”
Sunset over Mudgee. Picture: Cameron D’Arcy / Shutterstock
Mudgee’s wines are now distributed into shops and restaurants in most Australian capital cities. People are more aware of the region as a producer of great wine now, Cumming says.
The great thing about Mudgee is that there are plenty of family-friendly wineries to visit.
Here’s a few that we recommend.
Lowe Wines on Tinja Lane in Mudgee has a wine walk and cycle trail that’s great for families. The trail highlights more than 20 points of interest across the vineyard property including biodynamic compost, rescue donkeys, a wooded picnic area and access to Federation Hill, which has sweeping views over Mudgee.
The kids will love the chook palace – a fun example of waste put to work. Local artist Rachael Flynn was commissioned to illustrate the tour on a map. You can pick up copies at the cellar door. The map also explains the history and geography of the organic vineyard, farm and winery.
Pick up a copy of the trail map and explore Lowe Wines with kids. Picture: Lowe Wines
Another great thing about Lowe Wines is they have some low-alcohol varieties available – so you can still sample the wine and wrangle the kids.
Robert Stein Wines on Pipeclay Lane is the place to go with kids who love cars.
The vineyard, farm and cellar door is also home to a motorcycle museum, jam-packed with motorcycles, rare motorcycle collectibles and photographs curated by the vineyard founder Robert Stein. The museum is open 7 days a week from 10am to 4.30pm. Entry is free.
Of course, you can’t go there without tasting the wine. This winery has been awarded five stars in the Halliday guide and it is also home to the Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant.
Burnbrae at 548 Hill End Rd, Mudgee has a large lawn for kids to play and pizzas are available every Sunday between 12 noon and 3pm. Every third Sunday the vineyard also has musicians playing smooth tunes.
Burnbrae means “the brook at the foot of the hills” and it’s that little stream that keeps the vines well-nourished. Burnbrae produces shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Muscat and Merlot, all of which you can taste on-sight. The vineyard is open everyday from 10am to 4pm.
Bunnamagoo Estate at 603 Henry Lawson Drive Mudgee, has great lawns that can be seen from the tasting bench (so you can keep an eye on the kids while you’re tasting the wines).
The cellar door is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm. Bunnamagoo is an Indigenous world meaning “the meeting of the waters”. On the estate you will find a homestead quarried from local stone, which is the house pictured on the label of the bottles.
Current releases include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir Chardonnay sparkling, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Rose, Merlot and more.
Cummings also recommends Moothi Estate, Huntington Estate and diLusso: “They have good grounds, a big deck (at Moothi) and food at diLusso.”
So what are you waiting for? Why not book a family holiday at Mudgee today.
Check out our Mudgee page on Family Travel for more things to do with kids in Mudgee.
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Travel allows you to get outside your bubble. It makes you realise there are other ways to do things, and that’s OK. Plus, I am a huge fan of skiing and for the best powder – you need to head overseas.