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These winery experiences around Australia take you beyond the standard pour

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
Oenophiles and novices alike will relish these top-tier wine experiences that go beyond the standard pour.

From the Mediterranean-climate McLaren Vale to the robust Hunter Valley, Australia’s trailblazing wine regions are renowned for producing some of the world’s best drops. A simple cellar door tasting can help you choose your next bottle to take home, but truly understanding the region’s unique terroir and viticultural mastery means engaging all of the senses.

Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia goes beyond the ordinary to offer the best activities to deepen your palate at the country’s most celebrated wineries. Whether it’s an art and wine lunch or horse riding among the vineyards, these experiences make for an unforgettable day out.

Culinary

A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon paired with a beautifully plated gourmet meal at a winery restaurant.
Sip your way through Australia’s best winery experiences.

Epicureans are spoilt for choice with these fantastic gastronomic journeys. Explore Leeuwin Estate’s fine wine, food and commitment to the arts on their Seasonal Experience: Art, Wine & Farm to Fork tour.

Sample a line-up of cool-climate wines with The Art of Fine Wine and Gastronomy at Ten Minutes by Tractor on the Mornington Peninsula, before meandering through the rolling Gabrielle vineyard and feasting on a five-course tasting menu with matching wines.

Outdoors

Visitors riding horses through the vineyards at Jacob's Creek, enjoying a scenic wine country experience.
Ride through the vines at Jacob’s Creek.

Nature enthusiasts can seamlessly pair their love for the outdoors with their love for wine in the Barossa Valley. Lace up your walking shoes and join the Cape to Vine Day Trip – a guided walking tour through the Margaret River region that ends with a private tour, then a food and wine pairing at the area’s founding wine estate, Vasse Felix.

If your preferred mode of transport is on a trusted steed, the Vineyard Horse Ride and Tasting experience takes animal lovers on a 60-minute guided horse ride through the picturesque vineyards of Jacob’s Creek, followed by a tasting of their cellar door wines.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Blending

Guests blending their own wines during an interactive winemaking experience.
Unleash your inner winemaker.

Curious learners can step into the role of winemaker with a hands-on masterclass. The Master Blenders: Blend your own Muscat class in Rutherglen is perfect for sweet-toothed guests, expertly guided by a Stanton & Killeen host to craft their own personalised 500ml Muscat blend. Or a bubbly affair awaits in Launceston with The Art of Sparkling masterclass hosted by Josef Chromy Wines to create a personalised bottle of sparkling. The experience also includes a tasting of the estate’s table wines and a two-course lunch with wine pairings.

Overnight

A cosy luxury stay at Ampersand Estates.
Pair luxury stays with exceptional wines.

An overnight wine experience allows you to savour every last drop. Live la dolce vita in the King Valley with the Pizzini Overnight Wine and Food Escape, a tutored wine tasting uncovering the delights of Italian food and wine pairings, followed by a four-course dinner with matching wines before bedding down at the charming Mountain View Hotel. For an ultra-luxe wine escape, make a beeline for Pemberton, where The Ampersand Estates Experience – A Marriage of Luxury & Nature offers discerning travellers a stay in a self-contained estate residence, with a private wine tasting and five-course degustation cooked by a chef exclusively for your group over an open-flame.

Culture

Aerial view of Pt. Leo Estate overlooking rolling vineyards and the coastline on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
Experience the perfect pairing of art and wine.

The art of hospitality can be taken to new levels on a cultural and culinary wine journey. The Discover Pt. Leo Estate Lunch, Art & Wine Experience indulges with a 3-course meal showcasing Mornington Peninsula’s produce paired with Victorian wines, plus a walk through the state-of-the-art sculptural park backdropped by the 50-acre vineyard and ocean. The Love on Mount Pleasant guided discovery invites wine enthusiasts to admire the cellar door spaces adorned with works from renowned artists, including Garry Shead, Archibald Prize winner and nephew of Mount Pleasant’s founder, Maurice O’Shea. Sip through a tasting of eight elegant wines paired with local and international cheeses.

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Meet the makers

Visitors touring a vineyard alongside winemakers, learning about grape growing and the winemaking process.
Learn from the experts.

Who better to learn about wine from than the makers themselves? Join winemaker and vigneron Tom Ward on a private Immerse with Swinging Bridge tour of the Orange wine region. An informative morning is spent discovering the cool-climate vineyards used to create Swinging Bridge’s award-winning wines, before heading to the winery’s Hill Park Vineyard for a five-course degustation. And discover Queensland’s emerging wine scene with the Behind the Scenes Winery Tour and Premium Tasting, which takes visitors on a tour of Sirromet’s winery facility and a private tutored wine tasting of drops rarely available for sampling.

Helicopter experiences

A helicopter flying above sprawling vineyards.
Take your wine experience to new heights.

See things from a new perspective with an immersive, ultimate luxury wine adventure. Take to the skies on the Helicopter Tour & Blending Bench adventure, which includes a 30-minute scenic flight over McLaren Vale’s spectacular landscape before playing winemaker inside the d’Arenberg Cube to create your own blend from their unique bounty and exploring the building’s art-filled Alternate Realities Museum. Go behind the scenes of a working winery with the Helicopter Winery Tour and 4 course Lunch. Get picked up from your accommodation by a private chauffeur, then take to the skies via helicopter to Printhie Wines.

Heritage

Guests sampling wines beside oak barrels during a guided cellar tasting.
Explore the past, one glass at a time.

History buffs and seasoned oenophiles will delight in discovering the liquid lore of an iconic Australian winery. Savour a 100-year-old tawny with Seppeltsfield’s Centennial Cellar Experience in the Barossa Valley and go on a tour of the Seppelt family homestead, built in 1851 and the underground blending cellar. And it would be remiss not to explore Australia’s most iconic winery, Penfolds in Magill Estate in South Australia, where The Penfolds Heritage Tour & Taste includes a walking tour through the original working winery, lush vineyard and underground drives and a cellar door tasting of their exceptional The Penfolds Collection and covetable Cellar Reserve range.

Start planning an unforgettable wine journey at ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and Hotel Addict. She's responsible for the foundational content on AustralianTraveller.com, helping to manage and grow the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
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The best new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
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    A new wave of retreats, hotels, glamping sites and more is encouraging visitors to savour their time spent along the Great Ocean Road.

    Long holding a place as one of Australia’s most rewarding drives, cliffs, curves and shifting coastal light continue to draw travellers to Victoria’s coastline year after year. What has evolved more quietly is the range of new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road to add new dimensions to the drive.

    Rather than competing for attention, these stays are shaped by their settings. They sit beside rivers, among vines, on the edge of lakes and close to town centres where local life unfolds at an unhurried pace. Together, they point to a way of travelling the Great Ocean Road that values time spent in place, as much as distance covered.

    1. The Monty, Anglesea

    Nina Cantina at the monty great ocean road
    Pop into Nina Cantina for tacos and views.

    Anglesea has always appealed to travellers drawn to a quieter stretch of coast, where surf culture, bushland and river scenery blend into one. The Monty complements that character with a recent rebrand and refresh with traditional beach road trip nostalgia in mind. Mid-century retro decor means rooms are contemporary and funky, without being over-styled.

    A highlight of the stay is Nina Cantina, the on-site Mexican restaurant overlooking the Anglesea River. Opening in 2026, it will undoubtedly become a popular gathering point, bringing together locals, day trippers and overnight guests. Watch the river flow while tucking into plates of tacos, before enjoying a digestion swim in The Monty’s pool.

    Mornings in Anglesea often begin quietly. Kangaroos are a familiar sight on the nearby golf course, and walking tracks wind through heathland that reflects the natural landscape of the Surf Coast. From here, the road south feels like a continuation rather than a departure, easing travellers into the next stretch of the journey.

    2. Basalt Retreats, Port Fairy

    Basalt Retreat Private Villa interior
    Discover this new adults-only retreat.

    Near Port Fairy, Basalt Retreats is an adults-only delight set among a 24-year-old vineyard at Basalt Wines. The accommodation is a mixture of luxury and linens (and ultra comfy beds), allowing the long stretches of grapes to take centre stage. As the sun sets, Basalt Retreats settles into stillness. With minimal light pollution, the night sky becomes part of the experience, and star-searchers will delight in the uninterrupted views of our vast universe.

    Poombeeyt Koontapool lookout
    See Poombeeyt Koontapool from the lookout.

    Staying along the Great Ocean Road western region gives you en route access to coastal landmarks. A visit to Poombeeyt Koontapool at Loch Ard Gorge is a must for those fascinated by natural blowholes, with enough walking trails to tucker out the most seasoned hiker.

    The Poorpa Yanyeen Meereeng Trail between Timboon and Port Campbell reveals how wetlands, farmland and coastline connect across the region, best appreciated on foot or by bike.

    3. Lake Colac Holiday Park, Colac

    Lake Colac Holiday Park along the Great Ocean Road
    Book into a cabin at Lake Colac Holiday Park.

    Lake Colac Holiday Park introduces new cabin accommodation set along the edge of a broad volcanic lake. The cabins are modern and light-filled, designed to make the most of the water views and open skies.

    Lake Colac plays an important role in local life, hosting community events and everyday rituals alike. Staying here offers insight into the agricultural heart of the Great Ocean Road region, where the pace is shaped by seasons rather than sightseeing schedules.

    Brae Restaurant great ocean road victoria
    Have a delicious lunch, then join a farm tour at Brae Restaurant. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Colac’s central location places visitors within reach of standout regional experiences. Otways Distillery’s Birregurra cellar door reflects the surrounding forest in its approach to spirits. While Brae Restaurant’s guided farm and kitchen garden tours offer a closer look at the land that underpins its acclaimed dining. Together, they highlight the strong connection between produce, place and people.

    4. Glamping tents, Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve

    Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve Glamping
    Take a breather in Apollo Bay with brand new glamping tents.

    Back on the coast, Apollo Bay has always been known to be a natural place to take a breather, sitting roughly at the Great Ocean Road’s midway point. The brand-spanking new glamping tents at the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve offer comfortable accommodation that remains closely connected to the outdoors. With ensuite bathrooms and thoughtfully designed interiors, the cabin-tent hybrids offer enough privacy and luxuries to make the trip feel more luxurious than your standard camping affair.

    Set near the river and within walking distance of the town centre, the location allows guests to move easily between beach walks, forest drives and relaxed meals.

    A session at The Corner Sauna fits naturally into a stay here. The wood-fired sauna has become part of Apollo Bay’s way of life, offering warmth and restoration after time spent in the elements (also known as a frolic at the beach).

    Apollo Bay Fishermens Co-op
    Enjoy fresh seafood at Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op.

    Apollo Bay has enough to entertain and dazzle travellers more than your average town. Graze on fresh seafood at local cafes – like Graze or Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op – before venturing to nearby waterfalls. Spend hours kayaking among real-life seals, try your hand at surf lessons taught by understanding and patient guides, or simply spend your days reading a book while the surf crashes in front of you.

    Together, these new accommodation openings highlight the Great Ocean Road’s continued evolution. With more places that invite travellers to slow down and stay a little longer, the journey becomes less about rushing between landmarks and more about engaging with the unique towns along the way.

    Start planning your next trip along the Great Ocean Road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.