Skip to content 
Your complete guide to visiting child friendly Cellar Doors in the Hunter Valley — from dedicated kids’ tasting experiences to farm animals, play areas, and lawn games.
Updated: 2026 | Category: Explore Hunter Valley | By: Palmers Lane Estate
The Hunter Valley is renowned for its award-winning wineries and breathtaking scenery, making it a top destination for wine enthusiasts. But, did you know it’s also a fantastic place for families? At Palmers Lane Estate, we understand the importance of creating an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone, including the little ones. Here’s our guide to the Top 13 child-friendly cellar doors in the Hunter Valley, ensuring a memorable day out for the whole family.
In this guide:
1. Elbourne Wines
Elbourne Wines is a boutique family vineyard conducting tastings from their home vineyard, with a large kids play area so your little ones will be entertained too, while you can focus on the wines! You can also bring your own small cheese-platter to nibble on while enjoying your tasting. They also have a number of farm animals the kids will love.
📍236 Marrowbone Rd, Pokolbin
2. Tulloch Wines
Tulloch Wines offers a Junior Tasting Experience where snacks are matched with non-alcoholics drinks as well as colouring in books available for the kids. They also offer a variety of outdoor games on weekends and school holidays.
📍 638 De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin
3. Calais Estate
Calais Estate offers a fun kids corner with a number of games and activities for them to enjoy. They also offer gourmet picnic packs from Calais Estate as well as having animals on property, including peacocks and geese.
📍 151 Palmers Lane, Pokolbin
4. Degan Wines
Degen Wines offer a Single Vineyard Kids Experience for children which includes a non-alcoholic drink, a snack plate, and colouring activities.
📍 365 Deasys Rd, Pokolbin
5. Pokolbin Estate Vineyard
Pokolbin Estate Vineyard offers a junior tasting paddle of juices and lollies as wel as outdoor games on the lawn like Jenga and giant Connect Four.
📍 289 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin
6. Saddler’s Creek Wines
Saddler’s Creek offer food, wine and live music in their outdoor wine garden during their Friday ‘Wine and Chill’ sessions. They also offer children’s tasting paddles, so the kids will be entertained and part of the tasting fun.
📍 15 Marrowbone Rd, Pokolbin
7. Peter Drayton Wines
Peter Drayton Wines offer a bunch of outdoor activities for the kids including soccer, cricket, totem tennis, quoits, and more while you eat. Kids meals are also available at Ironbark Hill Brewhouse which is part of the estate.
📍 694 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin
8. Scarborough Wines
The Scarborough Wine Co. cellar door offers ample outdoor area as well as outdoor games, including Jenga, hula hoops, quoits, and a large blackboard, as well as colouring in activities to keep the little ones entertained while you enjoy your wine tasting.
📍 179 Gillards Rd, Pokolbin
9. Comyns and Co
A boutique family operation, Comyns & Co. at the lovely Peppers Creek Village is a spot for the whole family. Set up the kids in the Kids Corner complete with a chalkboard, colouring, puzzles and toys then grab a seat at the tasting bar and find your new favourite Hunter drop. There’s an expansive grassed area leading down to the dam too that the kids can explore or use to play ring toss and bocce.
📍 1946 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
10. Hanging Tree Wines
Hanging Tree Wines offers kids activities, including giant chess, colouring, and naughts and crosses. There are also resident wine dogs that may come and greet you.
📍 294 O’Connors Rd, Pokolbin
11. Wild Ren Wines
Wild Ren Wines (located at Peppers Creek Village) offers kids tasting paddles with sweet and savoury treats and drinks they can enjoy while you relax and enjoy your wine tasting.
📍1946 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
12. Charteris Wines
At Charteris Wines (located at Peppers Creek Village), renowned head winemaker and senior wine show judge, PJ Charteris, crafts wines that reflect the site and season of the Hunter Valley and New Zealand, his hometown. For the kids, Charteris Wines offer a colouring competition to keep them entertained while you can relax and enjoy some premium wines.
📍 1946 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
13. Moorebank Vineyard
Moorebank Vineyard has wine tastings with cheese and condiments or chocolate parings. For the kids, there is plenty of space to run around and some resident sheep on property, as well as a friendly cellar door dog and a swing set for the little ones to enjoy.
📍 150 Palmers Lane, Pokolbin
Planning Your Family Cellar Door Day
A few things worth knowing before you head out with the kids:
- Call ahead on the day Kids’ activities (especially seasonal ones) can vary, so a quick call to confirm what’s on is always worth it.
- Timing matters Mid-morning to early afternoon tends to work best for families with most play areas and outdoor activities at their best before the heat of the afternoon and before kids hit the wall.
- Peppers Creek Village is a cluster worth visiting Comyns & Co, Wild Ren Wines, and Charteris Wines are all in the same precinct at 1946 Broke Rd — you can visit three cellar doors in one stop.
- Closest to Palmers Lane Estate is Calais Estate (151 Palmers Lane) and Moorebank Vineyard (150 Palmers Lane) are literally neighbours. A very pleasant 2-minute drive or 5 minute walk.
- Bring sunscreen and hats Most of the outdoor activities will be in the sun.
After Winery Fun
Once you get back from enjoying your tastings, you can let the kids have a swim in the pool, ride their bikes, play some outdoor games (available from reception), or roast some marshmallows over the fire, while you enjoy your new wine purchases.
Or relax back at your lodge in front of the fire in winter with some board games (available from reception) or a movie on the Smart TV (with free WiFi).
No matter the age of your children, there are plenty of cellar doors that offer a relaxing tasting with activities and games to keep the kids entertained.
Read about more great kids activities available in the Hunter Valley that will keep everyone happy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hunter Valley wineries child-friendly?
Yes, many Hunter Valley cellar doors actively cater for families with children. The cellar doors in this guide all offer specific kids’ activities, play areas, outdoor games, or dedicated non-alcoholic tasting experiences for children.
What can children do at the Cellar Doors?
At child-friendly Hunter Valley cellar doors, kids can enjoy their own non-alcoholic tasting paddles (juice, lollies, snacks), play on outdoor games like giant Jenga, Connect Four, and chess, visit farm animals, use kids corners with colouring and puzzles, or simply run around on the grass while parents taste wine
Which cellar doors in the Hunter Valley offer kids tasting paddles?
Several Hunter Valley cellar doors offer dedicated non-alcoholic tasting experiences for children, including Tulloch Wines (Junior Tasting Experience), Degen Wines (Single Vineyard Kids Experience), Pokolbin Estate Vineyard (junior juice and lolly paddle), Saddler’s Creek (children’s tasting paddles), and Wild Ren Wines (kids tasting paddles with sweet and savoury treats). Please be sure to check with each Cellar Door as things can change.
Can you visit Hunter Valley wineries for free with kids?
Most Hunter Valley cellar door tastings are free or low-cost for adults, and children’s activities and play areas are generally included at no extra charge. Some cellar doors offer paid kids’ tasting packages as an optional extra.
What is the best area to stay in the Hunter Valley for families?
Pokolbin is the most convenient base for families, as it places you closest to the majority of cellar doors, restaurants, and family activities. Palmers Lane Estate in Pokolbin offers self-contained, exclusive-use accommodation for groups of 2–97, with a pool, outdoor areas, and activities that keep kids entertained between cellar door visits.
Are there cellar doors near Palmers Lane Estate that are child-friendly?
Yes indeed – located on Palmers Lane you will find Calais Estate (151 Palmers Lane) and Moorebank Vineyard (150 Palmers Lane). Due to Palmers Lane Estate’s central location, most cellar doors are just a few minutes drives away.
Where to Stay for a Family Hunter Valley Trip
A Hunter Valley trip with kids is genuinely better when everyone stays together. Palmers Lane Estate in Pokolbin offers exclusive-use accommodation across ten self-contained log cottages and houses, sleeping groups of 2 to 97 guests.
After a day of cellar door visits, the kids can swim in the heated pool, play on the lawns, roast marshmallows at the fire pit, or spot the resident kangaroos. Adults can uncork their cellar door purchases and decompress. It’s the kind of place where the trip extends naturally from the wineries to the property — without anyone needing to drive.
- 10 self-contained log cottages and houses (3–6 bedrooms)
- Heated outdoor swimming pool
- Fire pits, tennis court, lawn games
- Children’s playground and outdoor activities
- Resident kangaroos
- 5-minute drive from The Vintage Golf Club, Cypress Lakes, and multiple cellar doors
- 4.9-star Google rating and 4-time TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winner
