Golf & Wine Tours
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's great golf and wine destinations - and Cessnock Hotel puts you right in the middle of it. We take the hassle out of planning your group trip with bespoke, fully customised golf and wine touring packages built around your group's needs.
Play championship greens in the morning, visit award-winning cellar doors in the afternoon, then come back to a proper pub. Rooms upstairs, meals downstairs, and a bar that stays open. Whether you're organising a corporate golf day, a mates' weekend, a bucks' trip, or a wine touring group, we'll handle the accommodation, dining, and tour planning so you can focus on enjoying the Hunter Valley.
Talk to us about group room bookings, private dining, golf tee time coordination, winery transfers, and fully tailored itineraries. No two groups are the same - and neither are our packages.
Golf Tours
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's great golf and wine destinations - and Cessnock Hotel puts you right in the middle of it. We take the hassle out of planning your group trip with bespoke, fully customised golf and wine touring packages built around your group's needs.
Golf Courses Near Cessnock Hotel
Image credit: Visit NSW - Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club
Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club
6.5km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 9 mins
Set among the vineyards of Pokolbin, Hunter Valley Golf & Country Club is one of the most scenic championship courses in the region. Located at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley on Lovedale Road, the 18-hole layout winds through the Brokenback Ranges backdrop with fairways framed by vines on all sides. It's consistently rated as one of the top golf experiences in regional NSW, attracting serious golfers from Sydney and beyond. For groups, this is the marquee round of the trip - the course that everyone talks about on the drive home.
Image credit: www.branxtongolfclub.com.au
Branxton Golf Club
21km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 21 mins
Branxton Golf Club is the ideal choice for groups who want a relaxed, no-fuss round without the premium greens fees. This established 9-hole course is perfectly suited to an early morning hit before the day's wine touring begins. The friendly, community club atmosphere makes it a great option for mixed-ability groups where not everyone is a scratch golfer.
Image credit: The Vintage Golf Club - Chateau Elan
The Vintage Golf Club
15km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 17 mins
Designed by golf legend Greg Norman, The Vintage Golf Club at Chateau Elan in Rothbury is the premium golf experience in the Hunter Valley. This championship layout is widely regarded as one of the finest resort courses in Australia, with fairways weaving through wetlands, native groves, and vineyard views with the Brokenback Ranges as a constant backdrop. The course rewards precision and strategy, with challenging bunkers and undulating greens that test golfers of every level. For groups looking to make a statement, a round at The Vintage is the centrepiece of any Hunter Valley golf itinerary.
Wine Tours
Wineries Near Cessnock Hotel
Image credit: Destination NSW
Brokenwood Wines
11km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 12 mins
Named 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year and 2025 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year, Brokenwood is the benchmark Hunter Valley winery experience and an essential stop for any wine touring group. Established in 1970, Brokenwood has built its reputation on exceptional Semillon and the iconic Graveyard Shiraz - one of Australia's most celebrated red wines. The cellar door offers everything from relaxed standard tastings to private hosted experiences led by passionate winemakers, making it ideal for groups who want something more than a quick pour and move on. For corporate groups or those celebrating a special occasion, ask about private tasting room bookings. This is the winery that impresses first-timers and seasoned wine lovers equally.
Image credit: Destination NSW
Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
14km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 18 mins
Few cellar doors in Australia can match the setting of Audrey Wilkinson. Perched on the crest of a hill with sweeping 360-degree views over the patchwork of vines and paddocks below, this is the Hunter Valley at its most photogenic. With over 160 years of winemaking history, Audrey Wilkinson is one of the region's oldest and most respected producers, known for elegant Semillon, Verdelho, and Shiraz. For groups, the Breakfast with Bubbles experience is a standout - a leisurely morning spread paired with the winery's finest sparkling wines while the valley wakes up below you. The sandstone and timber cellar door building adds a sense of heritage and occasion that makes every visit feel special.
Image credit: Destination NSW
Tulloch Wines
14km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 16 mins
One of the Hunter Valley's most storied wine families, Tulloch has been crafting fine wine since 1838 - making it one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in Australia. The cellar door experience is relaxed and genuinely welcoming, with knowledgeable staff who take the time to walk your group through the range without any pretension. Tulloch is particularly well suited to mixed groups - those who take their wine seriously will appreciate the quality and heritage, while less experienced tasters will feel completely at ease. The cheese and charcuterie platters are excellent, and the indoor and outdoor games make it a great spot to linger for an afternoon. Don't miss the kombucha tasting option for non-drinkers in the group.
Image credit: Destination NSW
Scarborough Wine Co.
14km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 15 mins
Scarborough Wine Co. has earned a devoted following for its outstanding Chardonnay, consistently regarded as among the best produced in the Hunter Valley. With two cellar door locations - Gillards Road and Hermitage Road - groups have flexibility depending on what kind of experience they're after. The Gillards Road location is the pick for groups, with a sprawling lawn perfect for a relaxed afternoon in the sun. The atmosphere is informal and fun, with lawn games, hula hoops, and giant Jenga keeping the energy up between pours. Scarborough is the kind of cellar door where groups settle in for longer than planned - which is exactly the point.
Image credit: Destination NSW
Ivanhoe Wines
10km from Cessnock Hotel - approx. 13 mins
Rated 4.9 stars on TripAdvisor and consistently praised for its exceptional service and stunning vineyard views, Ivanhoe Wines is one of the Hunter Valley's best-kept secrets for groups who want a premium boutique experience away from the bigger crowds. Set atop a slope with panoramic views over the estate's vintage vines, the contemporary cellar door - a modern interpretation of the historic 19th-century Ivanhoe Homestead - creates an immediate sense of occasion. Family-owned and operated by Stephen and Tracy Drayton since 1996, the personal touch here is genuine. Tastings span Semillon, Verdelho, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, with wines that have earned multiple international awards. For groups who want to feel like genuine insiders rather than tourists, Ivanhoe is the pick.
Ready for us to build your group's itinerary? Contact the team at Cessnock Hotel to discuss dates, group size, accommodation, dining, and touring preferences. We'll take care of the rest.