Easter School Holidays at
Saddler's Creek
Your backyard getaway in the Hunter Valley
Sometimes the best holidays are the ones closest to home. With Saddler's Creek less than two hours from Sydney, everything you need for a proper break is right on your doorstep.
The weather cools, the vines turn gold and suddenly it's time for big reds, comfort food and long afternoons in the sunshine. The Hunter Valley in autumn is something else. Perfect temperatures, beautiful light and the kind of days where you can sit outside in a t-shirt with a glass of Shiraz and not want to be anywhere else.
This Easter and school holidays, we've got live music, Italian-inspired food, wine tastings, a picnic area and plenty of space for the whole family. Dogs included.
The Easter long weekend
Good Friday 3 April - Closed
Easter Saturday 4 April - Blues on the Grass with Zenith Pop Funk
Easter Sunday 5 April - Open with live music from Saralyn
Easter Monday 6 April - Open, cellar door and Mangia
Mangia at Saddler's will be serving Italian-inspired eats across the weekend on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Australian ingredients, Italian soul. Grab a table or take your food out to the picnic area and settle in.
Blues on the Grass - Easter Saturday
Saturday 4 April 2026
Kick off the Easter long weekend the Hunter Valley way. Live music from Zenith Pop Funk on the grass, Saddler's Creek wines by the glass and Italian-inspired eats from the Mangia Airstream. It's relaxed, it's outdoors and it's the kind of afternoon where no one's checking the time.
Bring a picnic rug, grab a glass and settle in. The kids can run around. The dog can come too.
Live music, good wine, Italian-inspired food and room for the kids to run. That's our kind of Easter.
School holidays at the winery
NSW autumn school holidays: 7 - 17 April 2026
A winery might not be the first place you think of for a school holiday outing, but Saddler's Creek is built for families. We're a family-owned winery and we know how important it is to keep the kids amused while you enjoy a glass of wine. That's why we've made sure everyone's looked after.
A lot of families come to the Hunter Valley over the school holidays for Hunter Valley Gardens and the Mega Creatures. We're just down the road in Pokolbin and the perfect place to stop in before or after.
Family tastings and kids paddles
While you taste your way through our range, the kids get their own tasting paddle with treats and drinks so they feel part of the experience too. It's one of the things families love most about visiting us.
Our cellar door is open daily from 10am to 5pm throughout the school holidays. Walk in any day and our team will guide you through what's pouring.
Friday Wine & Chill
Every Friday evening through autumn
Our Wine Garden comes alive on Friday nights with local musicians, wine by the glass and a proper wind-down to the week. It's a locals' favourite and seats do fill up, so booking is recommended.
Works just as well for date night as it does for a family outing or a group of mates catching the last of the autumn light.
Bluegrass Wine & Food Pairing
Daily at 12pm, April through June | 18+
Looking for something just for the grown-ups? Ever wondered what cellaring actually does to wine? Our Bluegrass Wine & Food Pairing is a three-course degustation that pairs current release wines with their cellar-aged counterparts. Side by side, course by course, with dishes by Chef Chiero.
Three brackets. Three dishes. Each one shows you what time and patience can do to a great red wine. This is an adults-only experience (18+).
Picnic area and wine and chill
Not everything needs to be booked. Sometimes you just want to grab a glass of wine, find a spot and let the afternoon happen. We've got picnic tables, picnic blankets, a putting green and lawn games set up so there's plenty to keep everyone busy. Bring your own picnic or grab something from Mangia. The kids can putt, play and run around while you sit back and enjoy the view.
Bring your dog
We know your dogs are part of the family, so they're welcome with us too. Saddler's Creek is dog friendly and your four-legged family member can join you in our outdoor areas, the picnic grounds and the Wine Garden.
We just ask that dogs are kept on a lead and are well behaved (but honestly, we've never met a dog who doesn't behave better than the average human after a few wines).
Kids, dogs, a glass of wine and nowhere to be. That's a holiday.
Anzac Day long weekend
Saturday 25 - Monday 27 April 2026
The school holidays wrap up but the long weekends keep coming. We're open for the Anzac Day long weekend with live music on Friday 24th featuring Isabella McGavin, plus cellar door tastings and Mangia all weekend. Another perfect excuse for a Hunter Valley day trip or overnight stay.
Closer than you think
The Hunter Valley is one of those places that feels like a holiday from the moment you turn off the highway. Rolling hills, vineyards in every direction and that feeling of space you just can't get in the city.
| From Sydney | Around 2 hours |
| From the Central Coast | Around 1 hour |
| From Newcastle | Around 45 minutes |
| From Newcastle Airport | Around 50 minutes |
| From Maitland | Around 30 minutes |
| From Cessnock | Around 15 minutes |
Whether it's a day trip with the family, a weekend away with friends or a few days over the Easter school break, the Hunter Valley delivers the holiday feeling without the long haul.
Key dates
Good Friday 3 April - Closed
Easter Saturday 4 April - Blues on the Grass with Zenith Pop Funk
Easter Sunday 5 April - Open, live music from Saralyn
Easter Monday 6 April - Open
School Holidays - 7 to 17 April (cellar door open daily)
Friday 10 April - Wine & Chill with Wayne Leffler
Saturday 11 April - Wine & Chill with Javier
Friday 17 April - Wine & Chill with Howard Shearman
Saturday 18 April - Wine & Chill with Nieko
Friday 24 April - Wine & Chill with Isabella McGavin
Anzac Day Weekend - 25 to 27 April (open all weekend)
Come and see us
We're at 15 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin, right in the heart of the Hunter Valley. Open daily from 10am to 5pm and until 7:30pm on Fridays.
Pack the kids, pack the dog, pack the picnic rug. We'll have the wine ready.
See you soon,
The team at Saddler's Creek
Plan your visit
Blues on the Grass - Easter Saturday
Bluegrass Wine & Food Pairing
Plan your cellar door visit
Frequently asked questions
Is Saddler's Creek Wines open on Easter weekend?
Saddler's Creek Wines in Pokolbin is open over Easter weekend except Good Friday. Easter Saturday features Blues on the Grass with live music from Zenith Pop Funk. Easter Sunday has live music from Saralyn with the cellar door and Mangia at Saddler's open. Easter Monday is open as usual.
Is Saddler's Creek Wines family friendly?
Yes. Saddler's Creek Wines is a family-owned, family-friendly winery in the Hunter Valley. Kids tasting paddles are available at the cellar door so children can enjoy their own tasting experience while adults sample wines. There is a picnic area with picnic tables, picnic blankets, a putting green and lawn games with plenty of space for kids to play outdoors.
Is Saddler's Creek Wines dog friendly?
Yes. Saddler's Creek Wines is a dog-friendly winery. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas including the picnic grounds and Wine Garden. Dogs must be kept on a lead.
How far is Saddler's Creek Wines from Sydney?
Saddler's Creek Wines is located at 15 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. It is approximately two hours from Sydney, one hour from the Central Coast, 45 minutes from Newcastle and 50 minutes from Newcastle Airport.
What is the Bluegrass Wine & Food Pairing?
The Bluegrass Wine & Food Pairing at Saddler's Creek Wines is a three-course degustation that pairs current release Bluegrass wines with their cellar-aged counterparts. Each course is matched with a dish by Chef Chiero of Mangia at Saddler's. It runs daily at 12pm from April through June 2026 and is an adults-only experience (18+). Book online.
Is there live music at Saddler's Creek Wines?
Saddler's Creek Wines hosts Friday Wine & Chill with live music every Friday evening in the Wine Garden. Booking is recommended as it is a locals' favourite and seats fill up. During the Easter long weekend, Blues on the Grass on Easter Saturday features Zenith Pop Funk and Easter Sunday features Saralyn. Live music on Saturdays also runs throughout autumn.
