Word of warning, in winter, it is going to be cold down here, and to get to the caves you will need to get into the water up to probably your knees. Its the perfect size to explore on foot and youll probably spend longer than youd think wandering around, as its hard to resist heading into all the old buildings. Do you have a favourite location from this list?? Park up, get out and start walking towards the water, down the track. Balloon rides take place at sunrise and see you gliding over the vineyards, looking out for kangaroos hopping through the valley below. There are so many opportunities to get pictures with your favourite little friends. The cave houses a spectacular depiction of Baiame, the great spirit and creator of the land and every living thing. Just stick to the cave rather than going for an explore! It is steep and rocky and can be very slippery, so be careful. Catch a sunrise from a hot air balloon 6. It was actually a lot of fun and I tried some cheeses that I would never have picked out to try in a cheese shop. Now you simply have to pick which location works best for you. And as it tends to do, when the sun comes up you will get this beautiful golden light spill over you. They offer romantic flights for two, private charters for small groups, or larger group rides on a sunrise ballooning adventure and breakfast. This gives off a really stunning softer finish to your images. This place has a plethora (its a real word, I can be smart too you know?) I should mention, unlike Newcastle and the Central Coast, the Hunter Valley is more about its wineries and as such its wedding venues. At times the swell and the winds can really pick up, and people standing too close to the edge have fallen over the cliffs. With over 8 kilometres of walking paths, winding through 14 hectares of flawlessly manicured themed gardens, waterfalls, statues, and murals. Browns River Covered Bridge, Shresbury. Congratulations Tess & Jarrod! Hunter Valley Horses. If you take the motorway all the way to the Hunter the journey is pretty dull. Initially, it is very flat and quite dark as the sun hides behind the clouds and giant rock formations. An alternative route, or perhaps an option for the return journey is to see a little of Sydneys convict history along the Old Great North Road. Flickr, 500px, and ShotHotspot. To be honest, you cant go wrong. Balloon rides last for roughly an hour, depending on weather and some include add ons like a champagne breakfast. Well, there is pizza and beer, but lets focus here! Once you get down there, on your right you open up this unreal world of rock formations, with huge swells smashing into them. The rooms at Elfin Hill are comfy and stylish and the whole place has a really relaxed feel. Take the time to relax and be treated to a memorable experience as you enjoy the breathtaking views and sample some of the award-wining food they have to offer. My recommendation here is, wear active wear to get down, and then once down there (it is usually completely empty of all human life), you can get changed into your actual clothes (this way they arent dirty) behind a rock or tree (unless youre into full frontal nudity, in which case, I wont judge Ive seen it all before). The Top 25 Hunter Valley Wedding Venues In the 20 minutes before the sun comes up, you will get stunningly soft light. Check out the reviews and prices on: Hunter Valley Travellers Rest Motel - Budget. From here there are ample photo opportunities (see images below), but I usually aim to be up here after the sun has set behind the cliffs to give it that more moody emotive appearance. I cant wait to hear from you! 20 Hunter Valley Wedding Photographers To Capture We were stunned when we saw Baiame Cave and it was like being whisked away to Kakadu! to utilise. But it is way more than that. The staff are knowledgable and happily answer any questions. The 19th century homestead is simply amazing and makes for stunning images. Now walk to the right another couple of hundred metres and you will reach another small beach, which is shadowed by a grassy hill pointing out to sea. Mr O Kitchen Espresso & Grocer. Points of Interest & Landmarks Monuments & Statues. The tops are just 1.5 hours north of Newcastle. Wedding Planning: The 5 Most Costly Mistakes Couples Make When Planning a Wedding, Wedding photography Top 3 myths brides need to stop believing, Budget wedding Creating the perfect wedding without spending too much, 4 Reasons Why a Pre-wedding Photoshoot Should Be Essential, Top 24 Engagement Photoshoot Locations in The Hunter Valley, Central Coast & Newcastle, Southern Highlands Engagement Photoshoot Locations. Frasers Beach sits just off your shoulder, and you can watch the surfers rolling in through the waves, yet they cant see you. With its tall trees, denser canopy of leaves and dark oranges tones throughout, it really does provide some amazing contrast in your images. However assuming that you are better organised than us, Audrey Wilkinson is the perfect place to catch a glorious Hunter Valley sunset. Rooms are fairly standard for a motel, but unlike the majority of other motels in the area, they are set back from the road, making it a quieter option. I highly, highly recommend a 4WD for this one, even my Forester was a bit worrying. You will hit a little carpark, sitting on top of some hollowed out caveswelcome to paradise. The walk to the middle falls, which would be worth seeing alone is just five minutes, but we recommend carrying on another five to see the lower falls as well, which are even more beautiful. Hunter Valley Congratulations! If you are after something special, not just a day, but rather an entire weekend, check them out. Theres a lot of beautiful flowers and formal gardens to explore, but what stood out the most for me was the fragrance. However, its incredibly popular and can be very busy on a weekend. Clients often stop and stare, in awe of how amazing mother nature really is. It's #1 of 89 things to do in Pokolbin on TripAdvisor thanks to the gorgeous views from the back verandah, delish wines, gourmet cheese platters and the gaggle of geese who meet and greet all visitors. When we saw you could do a formal tasting at the Hunter Valley Cheese Company we decided to give it a try. There is so much to see and do in Wollombi Valley, if you want to find out more information about history and heritage, food and wine, accommodation, and more, visit their website. If youre feeling up to it, give it a crack, I love a challenge! Be very careful as it is very rocky and uneven for the first few hundred metres. Upon arrival you will wind through the National Park for 5 minutes along the beautiful coast line. Undercliff Winery - Our favourite in Wollombi is the Undercliff Winery, which has an absolutely beautiful view and the tasting is done with the owner, who is happy to have a good chat! In the on season many people use this as a place for elopement ceremonies, or even wedding ceremonies (you can book it from the council). So now you know. Thank you so much, I appreciate the love. Its known for awesome arches, rock formations, desert scenery and the famous Joshua trees that make up the park name. You can hire the place for the entire weekend. Located up in Olney State Forest, this beautiful Pine Forest provides the perfect backdrop for a more moody engagement photoshoot location. Many of the vineyards will let you picnic in the grounds as long as you buy something from the cellar door. Well first and foremost, choose a photographer. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. Whatever you do with this location, remember, you will have to walk along a rock cliffside to get to these locations. Its also worth driving a further two minutes down the road to Mcleans Lookout which offers another incredible view of the Hunter Valley. Its pretty straightforward. Hired 18 Dont get me wrong, the close ups are soft, moody, and really bring on the feels (I always cry, I am such a bitch lol), but with the sun billowing through the tall pines like that, how could you not want to capture it all? Huge open roads with no cars on them to play on, really epic factories in the background, chain link metal fences, this might just have your name written all over it. $2250 MOTHERS DAY GIVEAWAY - CLICK HERE TO CELEBRATE MUMS. They have different events happening throughout the year including the popular Christmas Lights Spectacular. All Rights Reserved. Photo Lets plan your engagement shoot in Newcastle! The contrast can look cool though, so it really is a subjective call. Maybe youve been going through this list and thinking, hmmm, loads of really nice natural locations, but thats not really me. This also tends to mean you get a lack of the one-on-one experiences that can make the Hunter Valley special. WebLocated in in the heart of wine country, two hours north of Sydney, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley occupies an ideal location in one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions. Hunter Valley This truly is one of my favourite engagement photoshoot locations for a summery sunset shoot. Youre most likely to see them in the early morning or from around an hour before sunset. With the best photo spots ranging from beautifully empty desert to As far as scenic locations go, this one takes the cake. And once that drops, you simply head down to the sand, and use that gorgeous soft light to shoot in the water (yes you will get wet). hunter valley winery. Hunter Valley - Accommodation, restaurants & wineries | Visit NSW Another iconic Newcastle location! Well that depends on what time of year, but ideally, being raised on a cliff, you will get about 15 additional minutes of sun. We took a tour at one of our favourite wineries in the Hunter, Whispering Brook, which is a 20 minute drive from Pokolbin. These are my Top engagement photoshoot locations in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Central Coast (as well as a few for you Sydney folk). Worth it? As well as lovelier scenery you will also pass a few remaining relics of the Old Great North Road. If you have any questions, or would to like to talk about engagement shoots, always feel free to contact me. The tastings ($10pp) take place on individual tables in the stunning courtyard with lots of shady trees, resident peacocks and soft jazz playing in the background. Fly high in the sky as you capture a spectacular sunrise over the picturesque wine regions of Pokolbin, Lovedale, Rothbury, and Broke. Loads of little spots to explore in this little stretch of road, offering such dynamic variety to your engagement photoshoot. Mix it up at the Hunter Distillery 9. I mean, honestly, the Blue Mountains brings it every single time. This one is very well reviewed. When the sun is yet to fall behind the mountains, this is perfect for that perfect backlit shot. This post is purely about the best engagement photoshoot locations though! The landscape is just so simple, and so soft. Its a small boutique winery with outstanding, friendly service that makes you feel right at home. Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens 8. Bask in the lavash array of colour and scent found in the Rose Garden with hundreds and thousands of roses on display, or take in the superb views from the lookout that sits above the 10-metre-high waterfall of the Sunken Garden. Sunset, overcast, windy and rainy? The session itself is just us playing games, doing weird and at times, crazy stuff and laughing. There is something a little magic about this location, that offers the space to run and play! Take in the scenic views from the Mount Bright lookout, located on the Great North Walk. Enter the Munmorah State Park from any of the 2 entrances, and head towards Frasers Beach. This is a huge time in your life, and you will want to enjoy every second of it. Our current fave is Tyrrells in Pokolbin. This place quickly became one of my absolute favourites since moving up here. Are you sensing a trend here? Gundog - Youre not coming for the views, but you are coming for the great service and fab wines.