The Hunter’s vineyards are surrounded by bush, and wildlife is part of everyday life here. Eastern grey kangaroos graze on lawns, golf fairways and between the vines at dawn and dusk, and you will hear kookaburras and see cockatoos and rosellas throughout the day.
For a closer look at Australian animals there is a wildlife park near Cessnock, and for fresh air there is horse riding, golf, cycling and bushwalking in the nearby ranges.
Top things to do: Wildlife & Outdoors
Spot kangaroos at dusk
The hour before sunset is the best time. Resort golf courses and open paddocks around Pokolbin and Lovedale are reliable places to see mobs of kangaroos. Keep your distance, do not feed them, and drive slowly — they are a real hazard on the roads after dark.
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
Formerly known as Hunter Valley Zoo, this park at Nulkaba, between Cessnock and Pokolbin, keeps koalas, wombats, kangaroos you can hand-feed and a range of exotic animals. Allow two to three hours; it is a favourite with children.
Ride a horse through the bush
Local stables run guided trail rides for beginners and experienced riders, including sunset rides and horse-drawn carriage tours between cellar doors.
Play golf or hire a bike
Three resort courses — at The Vintage, Cypress Lakes and the Lovedale golf resort — welcome visitors. Bicycles and e-bikes can be hired in Pokolbin, and a cycleway runs alongside part of Hermitage Road.
How to get there
- Wildlife park: Lomas Lane, Nulkaba, about 10 minutes from central Pokolbin and 5 minutes from Cessnock.
- Riding stables and golf courses: spread across Pokolbin, Lovedale and Rothbury — all need a car or a transfer.
- Bushwalking: the Watagans, Yengo and Werakata national parks are all within about 30–45 minutes’ drive.
Insider tips
- Kangaroos are wild animals; a large male can be dangerous if approached.
- In summer, carry water, a hat and sunscreen for any outdoor activity and avoid the midday heat.
- Book rides, tee times and bike hire ahead on weekends.
Best tours & tickets: Wildlife & Outdoors
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to enjoy Wildlife & Outdoors and the rest of the Hunter Valley:
Horse riding from A$175 Hunter Valley: Sunset Horse Riding Tour
A 90-minute guided ride timed for the end of the day, through bush and paddocks with the sun going down behind the Brokenback Range. Dusk is also when the kangaroos come out to graze.
- A guided ride through bushland and farmland
- Sunset over the Brokenback Range
- A good chance of seeing kangaroos at dusk
Carriage tour from A$159 Pokolbin: Harvest the Hunter 3-Hour Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
Three hours at the pace of a horse: a carriage ride along Pokolbin’s back roads and vineyards with stops for wine, cheese and chocolate. It is as much about the ride as the tastings.
- A horse-drawn carriage along local roads and through vineyards
- Wine, cheese and chocolate tastings
- A slow, old-fashioned way to see Pokolbin
Scenic flight from A$150 Pokolbin: 10-Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight
A short helicopter flight over the heart of the wine region — vineyards, dams and the long wall of the Brokenback Range. Allow about half an hour including check-in and the safety briefing.
- The vineyards and the Brokenback Range from the air
- A short flight that fits into any day
- Small groups
