UNIQUE EXPERIENCES RYHOPE

$85.00pp -  lunch not included
$120.00pp - two course restaurant lunch included

Showing you the beautiful Hunter Valley wine country and tasting some of the best wines that the hunter has to offer.

Best Tour (Bestour) is family owned and operated and has been giving the best fully escorted small group wine tours to the Hunter Valley Vineyards since 2001.

Pick up is from your accommodation. Your driver guide is friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. Your tour vehicle is modern, air conditioned and has adjustable seats. Which ever tour you choose, you will take home with you lasting memories of a great day out! For great group tour prices please email besttour@bigpond.com

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery is an exceptional cultural and tourist destination. Beautifully located on the shores of Lake Macquarie, the unique precinct embraces expansive leafy grounds, a sculpture park and an award-winning exhibition facility with a national reputation. The gallery's innovative and relevant program ensures that every visit is a visual treat. Noteworthy touring shows alternate with lively gallery-curated exhibitions featuring nationally significant artists, many of whom share a connection with the Hunter. Strong and respectful Aboriginal projects and exhibitions are integrated within the program. The gallery shop offers a unique selection of the highest quality handcrafted ceramics, glass, jewellery and textiles, as well as books, catalogues, cards, novelty items and exhibition-related merchandise. Featured are crafts people from the Hunter and Central Coast regions along with work by established and emerging craft practitioners from further afield. Sharing the gallery's spectacular site is the celebrated Awaba House Restaurant Cafe.

Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery is an exceptional cultural and tourist destination. Beautifully located on the shores of Lake Macquarie, the unique precinct embraces expansive leafy grounds, a sculpture park and an award-winning exhibition facility with a national reputation. The gallery's innovative and relevant program ensures that every visit is a visual treat. Noteworthy touring shows alternate with lively gallery-curated exhibitions featuring nationally significant artists, many of whom share a connection with the Hunter. Strong and respectful Aboriginal projects and exhibitions are integrated within the program. The gallery shop offers a unique selection of the highest quality handcrafted ceramics, glass, jewellery and textiles, as well as books, catalogues, cards, novelty items and exhibition-related merchandise. Featured are crafts people from the Hunter and Central Coast regions along with work by established and emerging craft practitioners from further afield. Sharing the gallery's spectacular site is the celebrated Awaba House Restaurant Cafe....

Rathmines is located on the western shores of Lake Macquarie. It is a quiet historical town with peaceful parklands and beautiful views of the lake. Rathmines was once home to the Rathmines Park Catalina Sea Plane Base, the major RAAF seaplane base from 1939 to 1952. Explore the base on a guided walk or enjoy a picnic by the lake's edge....

Locals love this spot, and who could blame them? At the southern end of Awaba Bay Foreshore walk, Alexanders picnic area provides a peaceful and very pretty area for walkers to rest on the trail. Listen to the frogs calling from the nearby swamp, lie on a blanket after lunch, and look for sea eagles or see who can spot a dolphin in the lake. Flower-spotters may see the threatened cycad and the various orchids that flower in winter. Those interested in the history of the area might like to have a look at Hepplewhites Shack. And if you’re approaching by boat, why not push your kayak ashore for a while and enjoy some lunch on land?...

Discover why the locals love living here and take Awaba Bay Foreshore walk. Listen to the birds first thing in the morning, enjoy the views of the sparkling lake, and feel the cool breeze off the water on a warm day. You’ll hear the call of frogs and the laughter of kookaburras, and see lorikeets and sea eagles above the tree tops – don’t forget your binoculars for birdwatching. As you walk along the shore, perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to spot the beautiful dolphins and green sea turtles that call Lake Macquarie home. Diverse habitats make this an interesting and varied walk; you’ll pass a swamp complex between Alexanders picnic area and Hepplewhites Shack, as well as tall open forest and the grassy areas of the picnic sites. Take the time to stop at one of these and enjoy the peace of this beautiful place, so special to locals and visitors alike....

Nestled in the bush within Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, you’ll find idyllic Marmong picnic area. It’s perfect for families and those looking for a moment of serenity by the lake, yet there’s also plenty to do. It’s a beautiful spot to stop for a bite to eat while bushwalking along Awaba Bay Foreshore walk. With an abundance of birdlife, it’s also a great place to get out the binoculars for a bit of birdwatching. You can also enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake or throw in a line and try your luck fishing. It's a great paddling destination if you have your own kayak or canoe and, if you’re out on the water, you might catch a glimpse of a dolphin or a sea turtle. For those who just want to relax, there's plenty of soft, grassy patches to spread out a blanket, admire the scenic views across the lake and laze away the day under the trees with a good book....

Located on the shores of Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, the leafy grounds include the award-winning art museum with a sculpture park, mosaic pathways and cafe. Lake Macquarie is unique among regional galleries due to its location and quality of programming. Touring shows alternate with museum-curated exhibitions featuring nationally significant artists, many of whom share a connection with the Hunter. Contemporary visual arts, craft and design practice is the main focus of our exhibitions, and respectful Aboriginal projects under the banner of Yapang are a strong component of the program. MAC can be easily reached via the lake foreshore cycleway, the water or by public transport. ...