Hunter Valley Lovedale Long Lunch — a 3-day weekend in Hunter Valley

The weekend, day by day

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Lovedale

   Land at Sydney Airport (SYD), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

2. Day 2

   Hunter Valley Lovedale Long Lunch

   Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Insider tip: Hire a driver or buy a designated driver ticket for one person in your group — police enforcement is strict during this event. Tickets sell out within days of release (usually February) so subscribe to their newsletter.

3. Day 3

   Wine country day in Hunter Valley

   Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch at one of the regional addresses below before heading home.

Where to stay

Three angles for the festival window. Festival hotels book out 6+ months in advance — apartments are the contingency when the main shortlist is sold out.

• Hotels in Lovedale

  Live inventory around the festival window — 2 adults, all star ratings.

• 4–5 star options near Lovedale

  Higher-end shortlist when you want the milestone weekend treatment.

• Apartments in Lovedale

  Self-catering option — useful when festival hotels sell out 6+ months ahead.

Booking.com links — we may earn a commission. We never recommend hotels we wouldn't use ourselves.

Practical

Nearest airport

Sydney Airport (SYD)

Festival site

Visit official site