The 12 best family-friendly wineries around Australia

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Family holidays don’t have to be all about the kids. Set your sights on wineries where the kids are welcome so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

You’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to choose between family time and wine time on your next holiday. Here is a round-up of the best wineries and cellar doors to keep the little ones entertained while you’re otherwise occupied.

1. Green Olive, Red Hill, Vic

Address: 1180 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge, Vic

Green Olive serves some of the best views in the Mornington Peninsula.

This cool-climate vineyard serves some of the best afternoon views on the Mornington Peninsula. Come for the all-day tapas menu and stay for the sparkling, pinot grigio, chardonnay, rose, pinot noir and shiraz. A hops paddock has recently been planted, so expect to see locally brewed beer added to the Green Olive repertoire in the near future.

Shopping is also on the agenda here, with olives, oils, chutneys, relishes, jams, sauces and natural body products available, all made from produce harvested at the farm. You can also partake in a cooking class, food and wine experience, picnic or sustainable farm tour.

Parents will love: the tasting paddle with four wines, including a side of olives.
Kids will love: the expansive veggie patch and adjoining farm complete with a Shetland pony, chickens, sheep and resident ducks. There’s also an in-ground, Olympic-sized trampoline you’ll probably have to pry them off.

2. Montalto Wines, Vic

Address: 33 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South, Vic

Montalto Wines
Meander the Montalto Wines sculpture trail.

Although Montalto ’s cool-climate wines are no less than exceptional, those who make the journey are rewarded with more than a drink. This is a true wine-lover’s playground, where you can (and should) dine at the much-lauded restaurant, which has been awarded 21 Good Food Chef’s Hats since opening in 2002. You should also make time to stroll the onsite olive grove and sculpture garden and take a behind-the-scenes winery tour.

Parents will love: the private picnic experience. There are 10 secluded spots on the property that you can reserve for two to eight people, with beautifully set tables and a menu starring local produce.
Kids will love: the one-kilometre sculpture trail that cuts through grassy lawns, vines and wetlands. There are more than 30 permanent sculptures that are featured along the self-guided walk.

3. Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyard, Grampians, Vic

Address: 80 Vine Rd, Bayindeen, Vic

Heritage Estate Wines, Granite Belt
The Mount Langi Ghiran vineyard is truly unique.

The Mount Langi Ghiran vineyard is truly unique in that it has vines planted across 70 hectares of land and is one of the most isolated vineyards in Australia. The raw elements of climate, soil and vine combine to create the ‘Old Block,’ which produces one of the most distinctive and distinguished wines in the country, the Langi shiraz.

A selection of local cheese and charcuterie produce is available to enjoy with a glass of your favourite wine, or allow the vineyard to curate a matched flight to your taste.

Parents will love: the $10 self-catered picnic experience. Spend the day enjoying a picnic feast (BYO or purchased onsite), magnificent views and sensational wine amongst the vines. Select your favourite wine by the glass or purchase a bottle to enjoy together.
Kids will love: The hectares of vines to explore on foot or the expansive property via bicycle.

4. Kimbolton Wines, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA

Address: 29 Burleigh St, Langhorne Creek, SA

Kimbolton Wines tasting platter
Kimbolton Wines tasting platter.

Kimbolton Wines is located just under an hour’s drive from Adelaide, and its idyllic surroundings and top-notch drops affirm its claim to being one of the best family-friendly wineries in the region. The architecturally designed cellar door is made from re-purposed shopping containers, modern ply and recycled timber and is nestled snuggly among gum trees.

Visit to enjoy a carefully curated selection of seasonal wine and cheese flights, showcasing four local artisan cheeses, meticulously paired to suit four of the Kimbolton wines.

Parents will love: the rooftop deck with views across Langhorne Creek’s vineyards.
Kids will love: tasting their way through a cheese and cordial flight, served in pint-sized plates with a set of colouring pencils and activity sheet.

5. Woodstock Wines, McLaren Vale. SA

Address: 215 Douglas Gully Rd, McLaren Flat, SA

Woodstock Wines
Meet the locals at Woodstock Wines.

You know you’ve hit the parent jackpot when a winery comes, complete with an onsite wildlife sanctuary. Woodstock Wines are as sturdy as the stocks they were named after; the team here have been committed to bottling the essence of their regional home since 1973.

Parents will love: the Woodstock Tasting Room, which breaks down the barriers of your traditional cellar door experience. Built for banter and wine tasting, wrapped in history, but both modern and comfortable.
Kids will love:
spotting the long-nosed potoroos, brush-tailed bettongs, red-necked wallabies, swamp wallabies, Tamar wallabies, emus and the kangaroos – and bottle-feeding the ‘roos on weekends. They might even catch a glimpse of rehabilitated koalas that are released onsite by conservationists.

6. Z WINE, Barossa Valley, SA

Address: 109-111 Murray St, Tanunda, SA

Z Wines, Barossa Valley
Kids will love tucking into their own tasting plank.

Z WINE is seriously dedicated to making some of Barossa Valley’s best wine. The owners, Janelle and Kristen Zerk, are fifth-generation Barossans and the only sister duo in the Barossa Valley who produce, own and operate their business. Their ancestors were one of the pioneering families of Barossa Valley back in 1846 and are also the inspiration behind the name – the Z is for Zerk.

Their cellar door and wine bar on the main street of Tanunda is popular with locals and visitors alike, offering regional produce and live music to accompany the selection of distinct wines.

Parents will love: the urban setting and convenience of plonking yourself at a winery right in the centre of town.
Kids will love:
tucking into their own tasting plank featuring local produce (smoked fritz and fairy bread on Apex Bakery bread) served with juice, milk and water.

7. Aravina Estate, Margaret River, WA

Address: 61 Thornton Rd, Yallingup, WA

Aravina Estate plays host to the WA surf museum
Aravina Estate plays host to the WA surf museum.

The picturesque grounds of Aravina Estate set the scene for a feast of the senses. The winery plays host to the cellar door and restaurant, a homewares and produce shop, plus a surfing gallery.

Relax and let one of the experienced staff guide you through the award-winning range of wines. Choose from a structured tasting or a five-course degustation lunch.

Parents will love: the covered outdoor dining terrace. It offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy the expansive vineyards set among natural bushland.
Kids will love:
the WA Surf Gallery . This is the first and only official collection of surfing memorabilia in Western Australia, ideally located in one of the nation’s most iconic surfing spots.

8. Glenarty Road, Margaret River, WA

Address: 70 Glenarty Rd, Karridale, WA

Glenarty Road
Glenarty Road encapsulates the Margaret River energy.

Glenarty Road has been in the family for five generations. The little patch of land has been through quite the evolution over the years, from native bushland to a sheep farm, then a vineyard with a farm shop and a cellar door.

This place embodies the very essence of Margaret River hospitality, welcoming a plethora of different age groups who need multiple vibes fulfilled. Tables here are set under the shade of the surrounding trees with working vegetable patches in sight – providing the ingredients for the meal set on the plate before you.

Parents will love: the Sunday lunch at Glenarty Road’s is considered a local favourite.
Kids will love: the junior farm feast – a three-course meal made to inspire the next generation of farmers. Kids will indulge in a farm-to-table feast that reflects wholesome and honest flavours.

9. Scarborough Wine Co., Hunter Valley, NSW

Address: 179 Gillards Rd, Pokolbin, NSW

Scarborough Wine Co. wines
Come sample each of the Scarborough Wine Co. wines

Scarborough Wine Co. is a family-owned heavy-hitter loved for its range of exceptional wines and effusive hospitality. Here, winemaking is a way of life; the family turned out their first vintage in 1987 from the garage, where the cellar door still stands today.

Come sample each of the Scarborough Wine Co. wines – including semillon, verdelho, vermentino, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz – under the guidance of the very knowledgeable cellar door staff.

Parents will love: the complimentary cheese plate with your wine tasting.
Kids will love: the dedicated kids’ zone, equipped with hoola hoops, skipping ropes, Jenga and more.

10. Heifer Station Wines, Orange, NSW

Address: 1034 The Escort Way, Orange, NSW

Heifer Station, Orange
Make friends at Heifer Station

In a wine region where altitude is everything, Heifer Station enjoys a nice balance of elevation and sunshine, the perfect conditions for producing cool climate wines starring chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot gris, merlot and shiraz.

Heifer Station Wines  runs its cellar door out of an old woolshed. It’s a proud family business and one that plays a big role in the local community.

Parents will love: A Day on the Green, which is held on the property. 
Kids will love:
the onsite petting zoo and farm that’s home to a small herd of alpacas, highland cattle, goats and Tilly the mini Shetland pony.

11. Bago Maze and Winery, Port Macquarie, NSW

Address: Milligans Rd, Wauchope, NSW

Bago maze and winery
Follow up your wine adventure with a visit into the Bago Maze

Nestled in a picturesque valley, surrounded by towering eucalyptus trees, rolling countryside and acres of vines, Bago Maze and Winery is an ideal spot to sit and take in the Port Macquarie scenery.

Enjoy a wine tasting and then relax with a glass of wine or coffee, or indulge in a cheese/meat platter offering local produce from around the region. Follow it up with an adventure into the Bago Maze.

Parents will love: the selection of chocolates from Baba Lila, manufactured onsite at Bago Maze and winery.
Kids will love:
the two kilometres of pathways and bridges within one of the world’s largest hedge mazes.

12. Holm Oak Vineyards, Tamar Valley, Tas

Address: 11 W Bay Rd, Rowella, Tas

Holm Oak Vineyards, Tamar Valley
Pinot the pig enjoying his apples

Holm Oak Vineyards has a real point of difference from other wineries in the Tamar Valley. This small boutique winery located just outside of Launceston is known for producing arneis – a wine made from an Italian white grape that is native to the Piedmont Region. Holm Oak is the only winery in the state to grow this vine, so be sure to sample a glass… or two.

Parents will love: the seclusion. From the moment you pull into the driveway, you’ll feel like you have discovered your own secret winery.
Kids will love:
Pinot Junior the Pig. Kids can grab a bag of apples and feed him while they’re there.

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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Hanging Rock Summit Walk
Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout
Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Mount Alexander Traverse
Take in the serenity.

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes
Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

La Gerche Forest Walk
Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Sailors Falls Loop
See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

Mount Franklin Summit Walk
Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.