Not every wine country event doubles as a great day out for the kids, but the Hunter Valley Highland Games at Saltire Estate manages exactly that. Alongside the caber tossing and pipe band competitions, the Games are built around family-friendly programming that keeps younger visitors just as entertained as the adults sipping wine on the lawn.
A dedicated kids' play area runs throughout the day, with face painting and Celtic-themed craft activities designed to keep little ones busy between events. Meeting the estate's resident Highland cows is a highlight for many families — those famously shaggy, gentle-natured coos are a guaranteed hit with children and a popular photo stop. Dogs on leads are also welcome, making it one of the rare wine country events where the whole family, four legs included, can come along.
Add in the spectacle of Highland dancing, the drama of the heavy athletic events, and food stalls offering everything from Scotch pies to more familiar family favourites, and it's a day that balances cultural experience with genuinely easy, relaxed entertainment for all ages.
If you're planning ahead, the Games return annually, so it's worth marking the date for next year's family outing. In the meantime, Saltire Estate's cellar door remains open and continues to be recognised as a five-star winery well worth visiting from Sydney, even outside Games season. Many families use a cellar door visit as a relaxed weekend escape in its own right — a chance to enjoy the estate's setting, take in the Scottish-inspired grounds, and plan next year's Highland Games visit around a broader Hunter Valley getaway.
