Top 10 School Holiday Activities in the Hunter Valley

From cosy cellar doors to outdoor adventures, the Hunter Valley is full of ways to keep the family entertained these winter school holidays. We are child friendly here at Scarborough Wine Co and have a fabulous kids zone with a lovely grassed area, giant blackboard and games but we thought we would also share with you some of our favourite things to do with kids in between wine tasting.

Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
Open every day of the school holidays, the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is home to a wide range of animals: lions, giraffes, meerkats, capybaras, kangaroos, alligators, monkeys and almost everything in between. The park offers FREE daily zookeeper talks, plus animal encounters – you can even feed some of the resident kangaroos!

138 Lomas Lane, Nulkaba

GravityX
This all-weather indoor trampoline park caters for all ages, with Little Astronauts Playground and Junior Trampoline Spaces for youngsters. GravityX has Australia’s biggest Big Air Bag, offering a safer, more hygienic alternative to a foam pit, without sacrificing any of the fun.

18 Bradmill Avenue, Rutherford

Chocolate Escape Room at Sutton Estate
This Willy Wonka, chocolate themed escape room is family friendly with no dark or scary elements. Visitors are given a variety of puzzles and clues that need to be decoded in order to ‘escape’ the room. To top it off, a chocolate tasting activity is part of the game. Sound too easy? There’s only one way to find out!

381 Deasys Road, Pokolbin

Tulloch Wines – Junior Tasting Experience
Let the kids get involved and keep them entertained whilst you enjoy your Tulloch Wines tasting experience. A specially prepared kids tasting with 3 different soft drinks & 3 matching snacks (nut & gluten free) will be presented. Please note, a Junior Tasting Experience can only be booked as an add-on to an adults tasting.

638 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin

Hermitage Road Cycleway
If you need a break from all of the food and wine tasting, and the kids need to burn off some energy, the dedicated cycleway is a great way for the family to get some fresh air and admire the Brokenback Mountains from a different angle. Stretching all the way from the New England Highway to Broke Road, you can choose to cycle for as little or as long as you like, and there’s no shortage of bike hire in the area.

Hermitage Road, Pokolbin

Balloon Aloft
For the family who aren’t afraid of heights and early mornings, nothing quite compares to witnessing the sunrise from the basket of a hot air balloon. View the magic of the Hunter Valley as it comes to life in the morning light, and once you’re back on solid ground, enjoy a gourmet breakfast at Peterson House. An experience that’s sure to delight the whole family.

Hunter Valley Ceramics Studio
Boutique studio offering wheel throwing and hand-building classes, courses and workshops for all skill levels; one option is a full-day wheel-throwing class, suitable for adults and kids from age 12 (accompanied by a paying adult).

18 Rosehill Place, Branxton

Aqua Golf and Putt Putt
You’ll find this fun little golf lovers paradise nestled in the Hunter Valley Gardens Village. For big and little kids alike, the putt putt course is 18 holes of fun. Aqua Golf is a great test of your golf swing, with the chance to win prizes if you’re lucky enough to get your ball in one of the baskets!

Hunter Valley Gardens Village, Broke Road, Pokolbin

Go Karts Go Hunter Valley
For the thrill seeking family, Go Karts Go is located about a 10 minute drive from Cessnock. With specifically designed Junior Go Karts and Double Carts, they cater for kids as young as 5. The race track is the longest and fastest track in the Hunter Valley region, and it’s sure to get the adrenaline pumping!

202 Neath Road, Kearsley

Hunter Valley Gardens
From Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026, bloom into spring with a vibrant, family day out set among a breathtaking seasonal Gardens. Wander through ten themed gardens bursting with colour while enjoying a range of interactive and educational attractions. Get up close with a live butterfly aviary, meet adorable baby lambs, discover the fascinating world of bees, and enjoy fun family activities including daisy chain making and face painting.

2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin