Frequently Asked Questions

Booking & Payment

1. How do I book a tour or transfer?

Book directly through our website. Select your tour (Express, Classic, or Premium) or transfer type, choose your date, and complete your booking online.

2. Do I need to pay a deposit?

For wine tours booked more than 14 days out, a 50% deposit secures your booking, with the balance due 14 days before your tour. Booking within 14 days of travel requires full payment upfront. Wedding, dinner, and airport transfers are different, these require full payment at the time of booking regardless of how far out you book.

Wine Tours: Express, Classic & Premium

3. How long do the tours run?

Express runs 5 hours with 3 winery stops, starting anytime from 9:30am with a hard finish at 5:30pm. Classic runs 7 hours. Premium runs 8 hours and includes a complimentary return dinner transfer that evening, between 5:30pm and 10pm.

4. Can I add extra wineries to my Express tour?

Yes, additional stops are $90 each, and each one extends your tour by an hour, subject to the 5:30pm finish time and pre-approval.

5. Do I need to book the wineries and restaurants myself?

Yes. We provide private transport only, you handle winery, tasting, and restaurant bookings directly.

6. Does the Premium tour include a dinner transfer?

Yes, one complimentary return dinner transfer to a single restaurant, within a 5:30pm to 10pm window that same evening. It must be requested at booking or at least 48 hours ahead, and it's forfeited if unused, it doesn't carry over to another date.

Wedding Transfers

7. Do you offer wedding transfers?

Yes. Our Hunter Valley Wedding Transfer covers guest pickups and drop-offs, venue-to-venue transfers, and return trips after the celebration, within a service window of 1pm to midnight.

8. How is wedding transfer pricing worked out?

Pricing is based on total travel distance: $150 for up to 20km return, $180 for 20 to 30km, $210 for 30 to 40km, and a custom quote for anything beyond that.

Dinner Transfers

9. Can I book a dinner transfer without a full wine tour?

Yes, our standalone Hunter Valley Dinner Transfer is available separately from Premium tours, covering a private return trip between your accommodation and a restaurant, within a 5:30pm to 10pm window.

10. How much does the standalone dinner transfer cost?

It's priced the same way as the wedding transfer: $150 for up to 20km return, $180 up to 30km, $210 up to 40km, with a custom quote above that.

Airport Transfers

11. Do you offer airport transfers?

Yes, to and from Newcastle and Sydney airports, covering Cessnock, Singleton, Kurri Kurri, Nulkaba, Pokolbin, Lovedale, Broke, Mount View, Bellbird, Millfield, Wollombi, and Branxton.

12. How much does an airport transfer cost?

Newcastle Airport transfers are $200, covering up to 75km. Sydney Airport transfers are $450, covering up to 200km. Distance beyond that is charged at $50 per 15km.

Pickup, Drop-off & Group Size

13. Is pickup and drop-off free?

Yes, if you're staying in Pokolbin, Lovedale, Cessnock, North Rothbury, Branxton, or anywhere within 15km of Hunter Valley Gardens.

14. What if I'm staying outside the free pickup zone?

A flat surcharge applies based on distance, starting at $60 for up to 25km outside the free zone, scaling up to $320 for 55 to 65km. Beyond 65km requires a custom quote.

15. Can we make multiple stops, or add extra pickup/drop-off locations?

Each booking, whether a wine tour, wedding transfer, or dinner transfer, includes one pickup and one drop-off location only. Additional stops or locations need pre-approval in writing and may incur extra charges.

16. What vehicles do you use, and what's the maximum group size?

We operate 6-seater and 11-seater vehicles. Group size is limited to the vehicle booked, no exceptions on passenger numbers.

17. What happens if we run over time?

Overtime is charged at $70 per hour for 6-seater vehicles and $100 per hour for 11-seater vehicles, calculated per hour or part thereof, and payable before final drop-off.

On the Day: Conduct & Safety

18. Is alcohol allowed in the vehicle?

No. Alcohol consumption inside the vehicle is prohibited under NSW law, along with smoking and vaping.

19. Can we bring children? Do you provide child seats?

Children are welcome, but you'll need to bring your own approved child restraint or booster seat in line with NSW road rules. We don't supply child seats.

20. What if we're running late for pickup?

A 20-minute grace period applies from your scheduled pickup time. If we can't reach you and there's no request to wait longer, the booking may be treated as a no-show, with the full cancellation fee applying.

21. Is there a cleaning or damage fee?

A minimum $200 cleaning fee applies for spills, mess, or sickness. Any vehicle damage is charged in full to the responsible passenger.

Cancellations & Weather

22. What's your cancellation policy?

Cancel more than 14 days before your tour and you'll receive a full refund minus a $50 admin fee. Cancel within 14 days and 50% of the cost is forfeited. Cancel within 36 hours or don't show up, and the full amount is forfeited. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to info@looptours.com.au.

23. What happens if there's bad weather on the day?

If we can't operate due to severe weather or events outside our control, standard cancellation terms apply, and we're not liable for related costs like accommodation or flights.

Other

24. Are photos or videos taken during the tour?

We may take photos or video for marketing purposes. If you'd prefer not to be included, let us know in writing before your tour.

25. Do you run seasonal discounts?

We run promotional pricing at different times of year, keep an eye on our socials or ask our team when booking for current offers.