At a glance
- What
- Four Christmas Day lunches in Pokolbin and a New Year’s Eve dinner with fireworks at Château Élan, all listed by Hunter Valley Wine Country
- When
- Friday 25 December 2026: lunch sittings from 12pm to 1pm depending on the venue. Thursday 31 December 2026: dinner, fireworks at 9:45pm
- Where
- Château Élan (Vintage Drive), éRemo (57 Ekerts Road), Botanica (555 Hermitage Road) and Circa 1876 (64 Halls Road), all in Pokolbin
- Cost
- New Year’s Eve dinner $115 per person. The four Christmas Day lunch listings show no price (as of 10 November 2026)
- Who it’s for
- Hunter and Newcastle locals and visitors who would rather book Christmas lunch than cook it
- What to do now
- Book direct: bookings are essential at éRemo, Botanica and Circa 1876, and the Château Élan listing links to OpenTable for Legends Restaurant
- Last checked
- Tuesday 10 November 2026, against the Hunter Valley Wine Country event listings
- Not yet confirmed
- Christmas Day lunch prices at all four venues, and whether any sittings are already full
Four Pokolbin venues have listed Christmas Day lunches on Friday 25 December 2026, and Château Élan’s Legends Restaurant has a $115 New Year’s Eve dinner with fireworks at 9:45pm on Thursday 31 December. None of the four lunch listings gives a price, so ring the venue before you plan a budget.
The details below come from Hunter Valley Wine Country event pages read on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November 2026. Times are New South Wales local time (AEDT, UTC+11).
Which Christmas Day lunches can I book?
| Venue | Address | Sittings | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Château Élan (Legends Restaurant) | Vintage Drive, Pokolbin | 12:30pm | Buffet lunch with a three-hour beverage package |
| éRemo | 57 Ekerts Road, Pokolbin | 12pm, 12:30pm or 1pm | Shared-style Italian lunch |
| Botanica | 555 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin | 12pm or 12:30pm | Shared-style, seafood-focused menu |
| Circa 1876 | 64 Halls Road, Pokolbin | 12pm, 12:30pm or 1pm | Four-course menu |
What does each lunch include?
Château Élan. The listing describes a Christmas Day buffet lunch at Legends Restaurant with a three-hour beverage package included. It starts at 12:30pm. Contact details are (02) 49982500 and reservations@chateauelan.com.au, and the venue’s what’s-on page is chateauelan.com.au/whats-on.
éRemo. The listing says the lunch begins with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, followed by antipasti and seasonal dishes made for sharing, seafood, festive favourites and a selection of desserts, all with “Italian flair”. Bookings are essential. Contact details are 02 4022 1801 and reception.guesthouse@spicersretreats.com.
Botanica. The listing describes a relaxed shared-style menu with a seafood focus, sparkling wine on arrival and a selection of desserts. Bookings are essential. Contact details are 02 6574 7229 and reception.vineyards@spicersretreats.com.
Circa 1876. The listing describes a four-course seasonal menu with sparkling wine on arrival, in what it calls heritage surrounds. Bookings are essential. Contact details are 02 4998 4999 and reservations@convent.com.au.
What is on for New Year’s Eve at Château Élan?
Legends Restaurant offers a three-course, limited-choice New Year’s Eve dinner on Thursday 31 December for $115 per person, with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival. The listing says fireworks go off on site at Château Élan at 9:45pm. The booking link goes to OpenTable, the phone number is (02)49982500, and the email address is restaurant@thevintage.com.au. The listing’s own clock line reads “10:42am pm – 12:42pm”, which is clearly a typing slip, so confirm your seating time when you book.
Is there anything for a work Christmas party?
Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort lists all-inclusive Christmas party packages from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, from $115 per person. The listing describes food, premium beverages and the resort setting. Its phone number is 02 4493 1555 and its events email is eventscypress@theoaksgroup.com.au. Hunter Valley Wine Country also lists a Château Élan end-of-year events program running from 1 November to 21 December 2026.
What else is on at Christmas in the Hunter?
For lights rather than lunch, see our guide to the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens. For a Singleton night out, see Christmas on John Street. If you would rather cook, the BBQ cooking classes guide includes a Christmas class on 5 December.
Sources
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Christmas Day Lunch at Château Élan (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Christmas Day Lunch at éRemo (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Christmas Day Lunch at Botanica (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Christmas Day Lunch at Circa 1876 (read 9 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — New Years Eve at Legends Restaurant (read 10 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Christmas at Château Élan (end-of-year events) (read 10 November 2026)
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Cypress Lakes Christmas Party Packages (read 10 November 2026)
Photos: Hunter Valley vineyards by thinkrorbot, on Wikimedia Commons. The photos show the region in general, not the restaurants (text added).
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Hunter Valley Wine Country, Château Élan, Spicers, Circa 1876 or Oaks Hotels. Dates and details can change; check with the venue before you book.