The view from above as the horizon is smudged in a burnt orange hue is spectacular and watching the pre-dawn light paint the landscape is a quiet kind of thrill. Balloon Aloft, Beyond Ballooning and Hunter Valley Ballooning all set off at sunrise. Plump for the Balloon Aloft experience, which includes breakfast and bubbles at Petersen House Winery, one of the unmissable Hunter Valley wineries.

Romantics should ask Aero Logistics Helicopters to curate a bespoke itinerary that includes visits to the many cutting-edge cellar doors peppered across the region and map your route to include restaurants such as Esca Bimbadgen, which has an adjacent helipad.

Skydiving in the Hunter Valley remains one of the best bucket list ideas for adrenalin-seeking lovebirds. There’s nothing that quite gets the heart racing as plummeting toward the earth while the G-forces pull your face into a permanent grin. Tandem jumps are the go here, unless you’re qualified. Once your parachute has been deployed, you can enjoy the more mellow experience of floating above the countryside. For city folks, the added thrill of seeing pastures dotted with cows and sheep is real.

You can ask Miss Mays Picnics to put together a luxuriously styled spread with one of the Hunter Valley wineries it partners with. You can also forage for ingredientsyourself on the Hunter Valley chocolate and cheese trail and at foodie pit stops such as Lovedale Smokehouse Gourmet Pantry and the Hunter Valley Smelly Deli. Pukara Estate Pokolbin, Binnorie Dairy Cheese and Tinkler Fresh Seasonal Produce also rank as some of the best places to pick up provisions.

When it comes to romantic restaurants, Bistro Molines should be on the list. Two-hatted Muse Restaurant is also a must, with its swish staff, playful platings and food that’s so carefully cooked. Ask for a corner table at 1813 or Margan Estate, both great places to impress a first date.

The zoo is spread out over four hectares, making it doable for little legs to bounce between enclosures. Children can see Australian birds, native mammals and reptiles as well as African animals such as lions and cheetahs. The zoo is located in Nukulba, five minutes from Cessnock.

Featuring Aqua Golf and Putt Putt as well as permanent rides such as a Ferris wheel and Superslide. Book into the nearby Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, which has a new splash park, and keep your promise to return for the Christmas Lights Spectacular in December, Easter Egg Hunt in April and Snow Time in June.

While the adults will love sitting and sipping six top drops at Tulloch Wines, a specially prepared kids’ tasting of four different soft drinks with matching snacks is on offer. Other kid-friendly cellar doors include Scarborough Wine Co. which has hula hoops, giant Jenga and skipping ropes, and RidgeView Wines, which has old-school Totem Tennis and fish to feed in the dams.

The cooking classes on offer in the Hunter Valley are all pretty casual, so you get to enjoy a bit of tableside chatter followed by a spot of lunch or dinner without having to worry about the washing up. Book ahead for Majors Lane Cooking School, Our Italian Table, and the Lovedale Smokehouse Café & Deli Cooking School.

It’s one of the most beautiful places to stay amid the vines and roses of the tranquil Broke Fordwich region of the Hunter Valley. Miss May’s Picnics can also come to the party with themes that range from ‘Retro Vintage’ to ‘Amalfi Coast’ depending on your vibe and tribe. Check out our guide to beautiful luxury accommodation in the Hunter Valley for inspiration.

Book in for a massage at Heavenly Hunter Massagein Pokolbin, Bhutra Thai Massageor Ubika SpaAlternatively, you can check into a wellness retreat such as The Spa at Chateau Elan Hunter Valleyor Elysia Wellness Retreatto pause and reset for the entire weekend.

Those who lack confidence when it comes to picking up a paintbrush are made to feel at ease in the classes, led by founders Pierre and Mercedes who work with local boutique producers to curate a laid-back fun-filled experience that includes a wine tasting, cheese and much laughter over lunch. Participants will get to take away their works of art, which serve as a memento of a great weekend.

The adventure starts with a vermouth cocktail while wandering through the kitchen garden, around the olive grove and past the tangled vines for a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery, which includes a tasting of wines yet to be released from the barrel. Learn how the single-vineyard wines are produced – from the grape to the glass – as the sun sets on the day. The twilight experience, held over summer, includes an off-grid degustation dinner in the restaurant.

This terroir-led tour will give wine enthusiasts a better understanding of how the different sub-regions affect the wine in a trifecta of signature experiences, which also vary from vineyard to vineyard at Audrey Wilkinson, Brokenwood and Tyrrell’s.Join Ngarrindjeri elder Mark Koolmatrie for a walk on Country at Gemtree Wines who partnered with the senior cultural custodian to share Tirkandi – Culture, Connection and Country, for another inspired Ultimate Winery Experience.

Expect an outstanding line-up of musicians in the Hunter Valley everywhere from the Cessnock Stomp Festival to A Day on the Green and Grapevine Gathering.

Flick the switch to Turbo and flit between the different dairies marked on your wine country map, such as Binnorie Dairy, Hunter Belle Cheese, Hunter Valley Cheese Factory or Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese. The Hunter Valley Resort is one of the most family-friendly places to stay in the Hunter Valley and it’s from here that visitors can also set off with Segway Tours Hunter Valley along an old 1880s stock route, which is fringed with beautiful bush land.

While some wineries charge a fee to sample wines, others offer one-on-one tutorials with the winemaker. Most places will ship a box of wine home for you (for a fee). To get the most out of your tasting experience, join Tastes of the Hunter Wine Tours, or become a member so you get a VIP experience. Many of the boutique Hunter Valley producers rely on cellar door sales to survive so your server will appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment to a minimum spend.

The golf course is suited to golfers of all levels and the backdrop, of the Broken Back Ranges in the distance, is spectacular. You can also join your friends on the fairway at the Vintage Golf Club in Rothbury, a Greg Norman-designed course where you can test your mettle in the bunkers, alongside wetlands and vineyards and around groves of trees near Bimbadgen Estate. Stay at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort to gain access to the Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club, a Steve Smyers-designed championships course.

Travel to Purple Pear Farmand Morpeth Ginger Beer + Gourmet Foodsto bring back food-focused souvenirs from your escape to the country.Snap a selfie in front of the iconic farm shed painted with a Dr Morse’s Indian Root Pillsadvertisement.

The RIMO Schumacher Go-Karts at Go Karts Go Hunter Valley are designed for both children and adults and there are twin-seaters for little ones, too. It’s fast and furious, but steering around the twisting track is also a lot of fun. There are some concessions you need to make as a parent: for some of us, playing paintball is one of them. Put your pride aside and let the family fun begin at Hunter Valley Paintball.

Jump into an oak barrel barefoot to take part in the age-old tradition of pressing wine grapes by foot, followed by a few glasses of the best Hunter Valley varietals. Grape stomping is seasonal and on offer at the Hunter Valley Resort. You can also take part in Barrel Rolling, one of the quirkier activities on offer in the Hunter Valley.

From Foghorn Brewery to Hunter Distillery, Small Mouth Vodka and Pokolbin Cider House, these destination distilleries and breweries give hopheads and lovers of small-batch artisan spirits another reason to head to the Hunter.

Hike to the Forestry Hut in the Werakata National Park, in the Lower Valley, gaze out from a lookout in Heaton State Forest, part of the Watagan Mountains and explore Mount Royal National Park, part of Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Apart from the farmland the Hunter Valley is known for, the topography of the region includes grassy mid-altitude forests, wet eucalypt forests and vast swathes of shrubland. You can also hike to the lookout on the top of Pokolbin Mountain which has views over some of the region’s oldest vineyards.

The offering includes 20 cheeses ranging from Branxton brie to vintage cheddar, goat’s cheese and blue vein.Time your visit to the Hunter Valley Cheese Company to coincide with lunch and you can add a few additional ingredients such as cold cuts, local olives, dips, cornichons, salmon, and anchovies.