Looking for a fun weekend away in NSW? My girl group and I had an incredible time in Hunter Valley, and the best part—it wasn’t all about the wine! Here’s a recap of our amazing weekend.
Activity 1: Bistro Molines
Bistro Molines is undoubtedly the most beautiful restaurant and cellar door in the Hunter Valley region. The outdoor courtyard, shaded by vines overhanging French provincial tables, is a sight to behold. Sunflowers and lemons add pops of yellow, creating a vibrant and inviting dining area.
I had been waiting forever to enjoy a lazy Sunday lunch here, and who better to share it with than my girls? The dishes were delicious and quite filling—by the time we finished the entrees, I was already feeling full!
A small note: since the dining area is outdoors, there are some insects, particularly flies, that might try to join your meal. Thankfully, the staff at Bistro Molines have an automatic fly swatter system, so you won’t need to spend your lunch swatting away flies. You just have to navigate eating around the fly swatters, but we managed just fine!
Activity 2: Horse Riding
Before our horse-riding adventure, I was a bit anxious. The activity was almost canceled due to rain and slippery terrain, and I was terrified of falling off. However, I am so glad it went ahead. My friend, Chloe, planned for it to be during sunset, allowing us to witness the most spectacular colours over the fields.
My horse, Dave, had a lovely personality. Each horse had its own quirks—some liked leading, while others preferred to be at the back. Some were gluttons, sneaking bites from the bushes along the path. Dave was well-behaved, and we had a wonderful ride through the bush and open fields of Hunter Valley, making it back just in time for his dinner.
Activity 3: Alpaca Feeding
On our last morning, after breakfast, we went to feed alpacas before heading home. Feeding alpacas in Australia is a unique experience compared to New Zealand. In NZ, alpacas are cuddly and enjoy hugs, but in Australia, they might spit on each other to get more food from you. While you’re not the target, you could become a casualty!
This activity was really fun. We fed alpacas directly from our hands and also got to feed other animals, including goats, pigs, cows, and more alpacas on the large farmland. Although we didn’t stay as long as we would have liked, we could have easily spent another two hours exploring the scenic farm.
Conclusion
Overall, we had an amazing time in Hunter Valley. It was a perfect weekend getaway, close to home and filled with fun activities. We didn’t focus on wine tasting this time, as we’ve all done that before, but instead enjoyed a more wholesome and diverse set of experiences.
Hunter Valley is a fantastic destination, whether you’re into wine or just looking for a fun and relaxing escape with friends.
Ange on a plane 
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