Indulge your inner foodie on a full-day gourmet tasting tour of the Hunter Valley, including breakfast and lunch. Follow your guide, a professional chef, to shop for fresh fish and seafood at the Sydney Fish Market and sample local specialties with a visit to an artisan producer. Then, visit the region’s best boutique wineries, where you indulge in fine wines paired with regional delicacies like pan-fried barramundi, kangaroo steak, or freshly rolled sushi. This small-group tour is limited to 14 people, ensuring an intimate local experience.

Full-day gourmet tasting tour of the Hunter Valley led by a professional chef
Shop for fresh fish and seafood at the Sydney Fish Markets
Enjoy wine and food tasting at boutique wineries
Sample local specialties like barramundi and kangaroo
Breakfast, lunch, and wine tastings included
Pickup and drop-off from select Sydney hotels included

What's Included

Beverages
Bottled water
Breakfast
Food tasting
Lunch
Snacks
Wine tasting
Driver/guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Selected hotel pickup and drop-off

Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

06:30 am

Pickup details

Pickup is NOT at 6:30am from all hotels. Please contact Tour Operator directly, 24 hours prior to the tour to confirm exact Pickup time and location and to advise of any special dietary requirements or food allergies if any. Other locations: 6:30 AM YHA Central on corner of Pitt & Rawson; 7:00 AM Adina Apartment Hotel Darling Harbour on Shelley St; 6:30 AM Bondi - Please make own way to Pullman Hotel on College Street (Hyde Park); 6:30 AM Breakfree Apartment on Sussex St; 6:30 AM Capitol Square Building - Please make own way to the Metro Hotel Marlo Central; 6:40 AM Castlereagh Boutique Hotel (Castlereagh Inn) - Please make own way to Park Regis; 6:50 AM Circular Quay - Please make own way to Sydney Harbour Marriott; 6:40 AM Downtown Serviced Apartments - Please make own way to Radisson on Liverpool St; 6:40 AM Fullerton Hotel Sydney; 6:40 AM George Street Private Hotel - Please make own way to Metro Hotel Marlo Central; 6:40 AM Harbour Rocks Hotel on Harrington St; 6:30 AM Hotel Stellar Wentworth Avenue; 6:30 AM Hyde Park Inn; 7:00 AM Ibis Sydney Barangaroo on King St Wharf; 6:30 AM Kings Cross or Potts Point - Please make own way to Pullman Hotel Hyde Park; 6:50 AM Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel - Please make own way to Harbour Rocks Harrington St; 6:40 AM Maestri Towers on Sussex St; 7:00 AM Mantra on Kent Sydney - Please make own way to Seasons Harbour Plaza on Sussex St; 6:40 AM Maze Backpackers - Please make own way to Metro Hotel Marlo Central; 6:30 AM Medina on Lee St - Please make own way to Mercure Central on Little Regent St entrance; 6:40 AM Meriton Suites Campbell Street, Sydney - Please make own way to Metro Hotel Marlo Central; 6:40 AM Meriton Suites World Tower, Sydney - Please make own way to Rydges World Square; 7:00 AM Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour on Sussex St - Please make own way to Four Points Sheraton; 7:10 AM Metro Aspire Hotel Sydney on Bulwara Street; 7:00 AM Napoleon On Kent - Please make own way to Mercure Wynyard; 6:40 AM Nomads Sydney (Base Backpackers) - Please make own way to Adina Hotel on Kent St; 6:30 AM Novotel Sydney Darling Square - Please make own way to Holiday Inn DH; 6:30 AM Pacific International Inn - Please make own way to YHA Central; 6:30 AM Posh Hotel Sydney - Please make own way to Mercure Central; 7:10 AM Pyrmont Bridge Apartments - Please make own way to Goldsbrough; 6:45 AM QT Sydney; 6:50 AM Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney on O'Connell St; 6:55 AM Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks; 6:30 AM Rendezvous Central Hotel; 7:00 AM Savoy Apartments - Please make own way to Hyatt Regency; 6:30 AM Surry Hills - Please make own way to Veriu Central on Wentworth Avenu; 7:10 AM Sydney Fish Market Pyrmont - Please Meet in front of Claudio's; 6:30 AM Sydney Park Inn - Please make own way to Pullman Hotel on College St; 6:30 AM Sydney Railway Square YHA - Please make own way to YHA Central; 6:30 AM The Ultimo Sydney (Aarons Hotel); 7:00 AM The York by Swiss-Belhotel (York Apartments) - Please make own way to Mercure Wynyard; 6:40 AM Travelodge Hotel Sydney Martin Place on Phillip St; 6:30 AM Ume Haymarket (Pensione) - Please make own way to Break free Apt next door on Sussex St entrance; 6:30 AM UniLodge Ultimo - Student Accommodation Sydney - Please make own way to Mecure Central; 7:10 AM Veriu Broadway - Please make own way to Sydney Fish Markets - meet in front of Claudio’s; 6:30 AM Vulcan Hotel - Please make own way to Mecure Central; 6:30 AM Wake Up! Sydney Hostel - Please make own way to YHA Central; 6:40 AM Waldorf Apartments on Liverpool St; 7:10 AM Woolstore 1888 by Ovolo; 7:00 AM Wynyard Hotel - Please make own way to Mercure Wynyard; 7:00 AM YHA Sydney Harbour - The Rocks - Please make own way to Shangri-La Hotel; 6:30 AM Zara Tower Hotel on Wentworth Avenue

What To Expect

Sydney Fish Market

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hawkesbury River

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Maximum number per booking is 16 people
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Dress code is smart casual

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking as most food is prepared prior
Near public transportation
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Reviews

5.0

417 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 417 reviews

Personal Chef - Amazing Quality and Value

Brittany_L, Mar 2023

Jimmy was the best host. This is a one of a kind tour. He’s a professional chef and will cook just for you. You learn to make your own sushi. It’s great rain or shine. The fish market is INCREDIBLE. It feels expensive because of price point but it’s a 12-hour tour. Value is well worth it. It’s amazing. You can nap on the way back so pack something comfy to lean on (2 hours). Check the pickup time - it’s between 6:30 and 7am but not automatically 6:30 like you think. Cannot recommend more highly. DO THIS. You will not be disappointed.

Delightful classy food-wine experience

William_H, Mar 2023

The morning began with a visit to the Sydney Fish Market-for a couple of reasons: to obtain coffee and pastries, to appreciate the diversity and volume of fresh seafood and to see some of the local produce (oysters, “bugs”, shellfish, beautiful fresh fish of great variety), to see the auction floor where fish are sold and bought, but most importantly, for our chef Jimmy to purchase fresh product for our consumption later in the day. We had a delightful drive (with commentary) through Sydney suburbs to the oyster farms on the Hawkesbury River to Brooklyn for a delightful picnic breakfast- I especially enjoyed the veggimite toast, the fresh grilled banana bread with banana rum butter. We then enjoyed a fun sushi-making class using some of the earlier-purchased ingredients. We heard kukaburros but could it convince them to appear in scene- kangaroos were about, hopping or relaxing in some of the meadows. The boutique wineries were very interesting and their hosts were knowledgeable, entertaining and very congenial. We enjoyed flights of tastings. At one winery we paired our sushi rolls with wine samples. At other wineries there was a delightful pairing of wines with a lovely selection of amuse-bouches (more from the morning purchases plus much more). Our chef-driver-host Jimmie was very congenial, jolly, positive, entertaining. He was a fabulous chef, taking great personal delight in creating lovely food pairings and sharing his experiences, describing the ingredients and preparation processes. This tour was not your typical winery tour (emphasis on drinking) but more of a gastro experience and a food-pairing experience. One of the best planned and executed tours that I have experienced. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone. Well done Jimmie!

Pleasant day

Valerie_K, Mar 2023

Going to the fish market is a creative and excellent idea. Everything was very well timed. The information, not only about food and wine, but about the region was interesting and well delivered. The food, chosen to pair with the wine was well portioned, which made imbibing much more pleasant. The only thing that prevented us from giving a 5-star rating was the choice of wineries: It did not show the valley at its best.

Lovely to visit the...

Liesl_K, Mar 2023

Lovely to visit the Hunter Valley for the first time. This was a good way to do that; however we had expected to be eating at the Vineyards - this tour included food cooked by the Tour Guide/Chef in different locations - but was not food from the restaurants in the Hunter Valley. It had a way to go to be gourmet.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi all, Jimmy here. I thought it was best to clarify a few things with this particular experience. As shown in the photos and as described in the tour description, we absolutely don’t eat at Hunter Valley restaurants as I’m not only your guide for the day but I am also your chef! This is what makes my tour so unique. I do try to make this as clear as possible in all the information given to you before you decide to book as this is one of the main reasons why I hope you will book the tour! Will you eat at the vineyards? Yes! I’m really not sure why this guest thought they weren’t eating at vineyards. I’m suspecting they may have now confused my tour with another. But I can assure you, we do visit various vineyards where I set up my purpose built kitchen and cook for you along the way as well as breakfast. Please reach out to me if you would like any clarification. jimmy@gourmetgetawaytours.com.au

Great food and wine experience.

Sharon_C, Mar 2023

A very good day out. Jimmy the chef provided some fantastic food in various locations including 3 vineyards.

If you love food and wine this trip is for you! Had a fantastic day.

Sandra_B, Mar 2023

Loved visiting the fish market at the beginning of our glorious day. Jimmy was the best guide and such a joy.

A Perfect Culinary and Immersive Experience

MaryEllen_F, Mar 2023

Wonderful day. Great experience from beginning to end. If you want to spend the day with an engaging, informative tour guide, who is also an excellent chef, in beautiful Hunter Valley, visiting boutique wineries and enjoying multiple courses of a la minut amazing food, this is the small group tour for you. We cannot say enough good things. Thank you Chef Jimmy.

A spectacular experience!

Paul_H, Mar 2023

Jimmy is a fantastic Gourmet Chef and host! His knowledge of the area, cuisine and wines was a thing in itself! He took us to places that we might not have gone ourselves such as the Sydney fish market. As people that love to prepare and eat food it was an ideal place to extend our knowledge of different types of fish and experiment with Sydney rock oysters and “bugs”……don’t be put off! We also learnt how to make sushi! He chose and prepared perfect food for us to try with our wine tasting venues all cooked on his special stove designed by him in his very special bus! He works so hard to make this a trip of a lifetime for every one of his customers. We got to know different people and make new friends ! Thank you Jimmy we will treasure this spectacular experience!

Jimmy is awesome!

Daniel_B, Mar 2023

Jimmy was absolutely phenomenal. Great chef, and coming from Napa and eating at Michelin stars he sources locally beautifully, cooked everything to proper temp and beautifully. He is knowledgeable about food sourcing as well as a genuinely kind and caring person. The wineries he chose continued to increase in quality throughout the day as well as the deliciousness of his wine pairings. Was cute to roll sushi. Recommend to anyone wanting a fun wine day.

Awesome tour!

Jane_L, Feb 2023

Highly recommend this tour! Jimmy was an excellent host and chef. The menu he selected and prepared far exceeded our expectations. The wineries we visited were all very welcoming, informative and generous. We traveled with friends on an extended tour that lasted 28 days, included three countries and a 2-week cruise with numerous ports and excursions, and we all agreed that this tour was the highlight of the whole trip. Jimmy prepared and served a wonderful breakfast at a mountain-top park and a delicious lunch at the last winery (with numerous gourmet snacks in between). We even learned how to roll our own sushi, which we got to eat at the last stop! The stop at the Sydney Fish Market was awesome and we wished we’d had more time in Sydney to revisit it. Unfortunately, we scheduled this tour on our last day in Sydney so we were unable to go back. If you take this tour you’ll want to schedule it early in your trip so you’ll not only be able to revisit the fish market, but also purchase more wine at the wineries to enjoy while in Sydney. My only criticism is that the van ride was very noisy for those of us in the back rows. With all the gear for the food and dining being stored in the back, it was a very noisy and bumpy ride.

Beyond Perfect.

Denise_Y, Feb 2023

Our group of 6 world travelers was extremely impressed with every aspect of our trip with Chef Jimmy. It was wonderful from start to finish. He has put together a unique combination of activities, and is an excellent guide as well as superb chef. It was the highlight of our 5 week trip.

Great fun & wine in the Hunter Valley

Charlotte_R, Feb 2023

Great concept! Delicious food! A real treat. Jimmy is a wonderful host and creative chef. The Sydney Fish Market was eye-opening, we walked to a fine breakfast picnic, we made our own sushi, and the winerys were very well chosen.

Chef Jimmy was extremely...

Cynthia_H, Feb 2023

Chef Jimmy was extremely organized and worked very hard to provide a wonderful experience for us all. He was aware of some visitors’ dietary needs and made accommodations to provide variations for those individuals. What a fun day!

Do this excursion!

Lauro_B, Feb 2023

Highly recommend this day trip out if Sydney. Chef Jimmy was fun, engaging and friendly. Food he prepared was excellent!

Jimmy’s gourmet wine tour

Shirley_I, Jan 2023

Jimmy was a great guide and his food was a perfect accompaniment to the wines we tasted. An interesting visit to the fish market before we set off, with a stop at a beautiful picnic stop for breakfast and sushi making before heading to the 3 wines cellars. Would definitely recommend.

Great Day Trip

Lee_H, Jan 2023

Jimmy’s knowledge of Hunter Valley and the details of his delicious and creative foods was excellent!

Fun, food, great scenery, talented host!

Gary_M, Jan 2023

Our chef-driver!! Talented, informed, great food and hands on food experiences, nothing too much he would not do, fun! Excellent driver, great stories of stops, friendly to all.

Best Chef & Wine Tour

barbara_b, Jan 2023

Chef Jimmy was simply put, "Incredible and amazing"! Jimmy was a one man show: tour bus driver, tour guide, and chef! Intricate detail and effort was put into every stop along the way. Delightful stop at the Fish Market, homemade breakfast stop in Brooklyn by Jimmy as well as learning how to make sushi! The three wineries were delightful along with the delicacies prepared by Chef Jimmy! Kudos to Jimmy for an incredible tour! Thank you!

Highlight of Sydney trip

MarkAndrew_T, Jan 2023

Such a fabulous day from start to finish. Food and wine pairings was amazing. The views in Hunter valley are so beautiful. Worth going just for the drive. Highly recommend, best day trip from Sydney.

Amazing Wine & food tour

Richard_B, Jan 2023

The whole day was very memorable. From the start at the fish market, the freshly cooked breakfast to the 3 different wineries and different accompanying food that tasted amazing and complimented the wine perfectly. This is one tour I would fully recommend to anyone.

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