Once a year, the rolling vineyards of Lovedale swap their usual quiet for the skirl of bagpipes, the thud of caber tosses and the cheer of thousands of visitors. The Hunter Valley Highland Games at Saltire Estate has grown into one of the region's most anticipated events, drawing crowds from Sydney, Newcastle and beyond for a full day of Highland athletics, pipe bands, dancing and Scottish culture set against the backdrop of a working winery.
Held on Saltire Estate's expansive lawns, the Games feature a proper lineup of heavy events, including caber toss, the Husafell stone carry, open stone put and keg toss, alongside more delicate spectacles like Highland dancing and Jacobite history displays. Add in Highland cows, a dedicated kids' zone, food stalls slinging haggis and Scotch pies, and a soundtrack of live pipe bands, and it's easy to see why this has become a fixture on the Hunter Valley events calendar.
If you missed this year's Games, don't worry — there's still every reason to plan a visit to Saltire Estate. The cellar door remains open year-round and continues to hold its reputation as a five-star winery experience, well worth the drive from Sydney whether or not the Highland Games are on. Guests can enjoy guided tastings, a relaxed glass on the lawn, and a genuine taste of the Scottish story woven into this corner of the Hunter Valley.
Whether you're chasing the spectacle of competition or simply after a beautiful day of wine tasting in one of NSW's premier wine regions, Saltire Estate delivers an experience that goes well beyond a single event on the calendar. Keep an eye out for next year's dates — and in the meantime, the cellar door is calling.
