Flights to Bikes: The Top Mudgee Wine Tours To Experience

Make the most of your visit to the vineyards around Mudgee with the following wine tours and experiences.

Described by Lonely Planet’s Wine Trails, Australia & New Zealand as a ‘region on the rise’, Mudgee takes its name from the Wiradjuri word ‘moothi’, which means ‘nest in the hills’ referring to its position on the flanks of the Great Dividing Range.

With its viticultural history stretching back to 1858, the Mudgee wine region, built around buttery chardonnays, robust shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, is according to the Mudgee Wine Association, also branching out and creating ‘new’ Australian styles of riesling, barbera, sangiovese, tempranillo, vermentino and pinot grigio.

Squeeze every drop out of your weekend getaway by taking up these top Mudgee wine tours and experiences.

1. Learn from the experts at Mudgee Wine & Country Tours

Take the guesswork out of planning your perfect weekend in Mudgee wine country by leaving your itinerary up to the experts at Mudgee Wine & Country Tours .

vehicles lined up for Mudgee Wine & Country Tours — Embark on a full-day wine tour with Mudgee Wine & Country Tours.

Indulge your oenophilia by booking a full-day wine tour with the family-run company that has six Mudgee cellar doors on the list as well as a long lunch in a vineyard.

After picking you up from your accommodation, your knowledgeable guide will teach you wine-tasting terms and their meaning, wine-tasting etiquette, and what makes the fertile Mudgee wine country so magical.

girls having fun during Mudgee Wine & Country Tours — Hop between six cellar doors on a full-day tour and enjoy a long lunch.

2. Cycle your way around Mudgee

Meander around Mudgee by bike by following a one-day self-guided tour with Tour de Vines or take it up a few notches with a Cycling Mudgee package that includes three different tiers of accommodation: Local, Comfy and Luxury.

a couple cycling around he scenic vineyards with Tour De Vines, Mudgee — Cycle the scenic vineyards with Tour De Vines.

There are more than 35 cellar doors in and around Mudgee and the self-guided and group cycling tours mapped out for you are designed to take in some of this stunning terroir. Best of all: if your tyre is flat or you have over-indulged at Logan’s Wines, the Tour De Vines team are on hand to pick you up.

The easy, self-guided cycling tour on quiet country back roads will steer you around some of Mudgee’s lesser-known wineries and cellar doors and on to a wine bar said to be Australia’s oldest.

Couple cycling Mudgee vineyards with Tour De Vines — Tour De Vines also offers a pick-up service if you’ve enjoyed your tastings a little too much.

3. Understand how to best appreciate Mudgee wines

A Vigneron Experience at the 1850s-era stallion stable that is now part of the De Beaurepaire Wines’ cellar door ranks as one of the best ways to experience wine in the sub-region of Rylstone, 45 minutes from Mudgee.

the entrance to De Beaurepaire Wines Tasting Room inRylstone — Travel to the charming town of Rylstone to visit De Beaurepaire Wines. (Image: Destination NSW)

The De Beaurepaire family established their first winery in Australia in the 1970s and drew on their Burgundy heritage to produce highly regarded French-style wines.

a couple exploring the vineyard at De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone — Soak up the beauty of the vineyard at De Beaurepaire Wines. (Image: Destination NSW)

Although visitors can choose from three exclusive vineyard experiences, it’s the Vigneron Experience that is most immersive. The private tour for two to six people goes for 90 minutes and includes a tour of the vineyard with someone from the De Beaurepaire family and finishes with a private tasting amid the vines.

a 170-year-old sandstone stable at De Beaurepaire Wines — The Vigneron Experience is held inside a reimagined 170-year-old sandstone stable. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Time your visit to coincide with annual food and wine festivals

Mudgee, located just three-and-a-half hours’ northwest of Sydney, is the first Australian wine region to be known for organic wine thanks to pioneering work done at Botobolar Wine. That’s one of many reasons for conscious travellers to celebrate the region, which was first established as a wine-growing area by a German viticulturist named Roth in the 1830s.

Although it’s best known for its robust red wines, Mudgee is also known for its food and the best of the region’s bounty can be enjoyed at Mudgee’s signature events, from Go Tasting to Go Grazing and Flavours of Mudgee .

a festival held at Flavours of Mudgee — Celebrate the culinary traditions of the region with Flavours of Mudgee.

5. Visit Mudgee’s original vineyard

There’s a lot to be said for lounging on the lawn at Lowe Family Wine Co. which has become a destination in its own right. This Mudgee mecca is a must-stop during a winery weekender, with the hybrid hub offering everything from twilight tapas to guided farm tours, long dinners under a canopy of vines in the Tunnel of Lowe bush chapel, and garden gigs attracting some of Australia’s best musicians.

the sprawling vineyards at Lowe Wines & Co. — There is always a new reason to revisit Lowe Family Wines Co. (Image: Destination NSW)

Zin House is one of the best places to eat in Mudgee, and the accommodation offered here is also on point, making it one of the most luxurious places to stay in the region too.

friends dining at the Zin House Restaurant, Lowe Wines, Mudgee — Lowe’s organic wines are also served at the onsite restaurant, Zin House. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Tour together with Mudgee Explorer Tours

If you’ve gathered a gaggle of oenophiles and it’s suddenly become all too unwieldy to herd everyone in the same direction, book yourselves onto a tour with Mudgee Explorer Tours . A fully organised tour complete with knowledgeable guides, this is the way to delegate a good time among the vines. With half- and full-day tours and a one-hour orientation tour on offer, you can choose your level of immersion. The full-day stretches over 6.5 hours with visits to five to six wineries, while the half-day checks out three wineries in three hours, both include snacks and drinking water and each stop is pre-booked for you. With a fleet of 8 buses and 10 guides, Mudgee Explorer Tours can accommodate large gatherings, such as hens and bucks parties, as easily as small groups.

7. Get chauffeured around by Mudgee VIP Wine Tours

Wear some comfortable kicks while channelling your favourite Kardashian with Mudgee VIP Wine Tours ’ local guide Alyson Scarbrow. Alyson has extensive knowledge of local wines and wineries and loves to share her passion for talking terroir and demonstrating why Mudgee wines are so distinct. Alyson has been in the Mudgee wine industry for 14 years after moving to the region in 2006, where she managed the cellar door at both Petersons Winery and Huntington Estate.

an aerial view of vehicles driving across the scenic vineyard landscape, Mudgee VIP Wine Tours — Learn why the region’s wines are so distinctive with Mudgee VIP Wine Tours.

Mudgee VIP Wine Tours will take you to the region’s best wineries, including Logan Wines.

a van driving along a vineyard, Mudgee VIP Wine Tours — Absorb the wealth of knowledge shared during the tour.

Logan’s Wines is one of five wineries Alyson loops in on her full-day tour and the option to enjoy a tasting experience here is a highlight for keen quaffers as it looks over the terraced vineyards that tumble down to Appletree Flat.

the scenic landscape in Logan Wines, Mudgee — Take in the lofty vistas of Logan Wines. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Wine and flights with Mudgee Tourist Bus

If you fancy a wine flight with, well, an actual flight, you can splash out on a wine tour by air. Mudgee Tourist Bus offers a wine tour and scenic flight package that lifts you up and over the countryside for a view that puts the region into beautiful perspective. Included on the eight-hour tour is a half-hour scenic flight and stops at five-to-seven wineries in the region, as well as pick-up and drop-off to your accommodation. You’ll need a minimum of four flyers for lift-off.

a helicopter and van for wine tour, Mudgee Tourist Bus — Hop on a wine tour by air or land with the Mudgee Tourist Bus.

For more travel tips and expert advice, read our Mudgee travel guide.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

8 memorable Mudgee wine tours that offer more than just transport