Just 35 minutes from Melbourne, Marnong Estate is the perfect day trip for wine lovers

by Kara Agostinho

Sep 24, 2025

You’d be forgiven for not picturing rolling hills and lush vineyards when thinking of what lies just outside a bustling city centre. But award-winning winery Marnong Estate is asking you to do just that.

You don’t have to be a wine enthusiast to enjoy a weekend away at Marnong Estate. This premier wine and lifestyle destination offers a wide variety of experiences to visitors – from wine tastings and refined degustations, to boutique accommodation and family-friendly activities.

Its biggest selling point is its close proximity to Melbourne’s CBD. Drive 35 minutes northwest of the CBD and you’ll find yourself taking in the picturesque backdrop of the iconic Macedon Ranges. If you’ve been looking for a destination for your next weekend away, here’s everything you need to know about planning your stay.

The wines

Speaking to Marnong Estate’s Director of Wine, Alex Beckett, it’s clear that his mission goes beyond creating quality wine, it’s about letting the soil and vineyard tell its own story. The Sunbury region’s cooler climate lends itself to lighter reds – think Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Shiraz and Sangiovese.

If a trip to the Cellar Door is on your to-do list and you’re not sure where to start, here’s a guide to Marnong’s three-tier premium wine range:

Estate Range (from $25): Wines that are fresh, fragrant and accessible.
Single Vineyard Range (from $35): More complex wines with refined flavours and characteristics.
Reserve Range (from $65): The best barrels from each season, crafted only in exceptional years. The first batch of this range will be released in April 2026, so watch this space.

You can rest assured that no matter what you pick to sip, it will be of the highest quality, as Alex promises, “Every wine is made with the intention to be a reserve wine”.

Favourites from my visit included the NV Estate Prosecco Rosé and the 2025 Estate Pinot Grigio (coming in September 2025). Can you tell I like to keep it light and fresh?

What’s an indulgent dining experience without fresh oysters?

The food

You’re going to need some food to soak up all that wine, and that’s where Marnong’s variety of dining options come into play. If a casual, family-friendly vibe is what you’re after, head to Cucina 3064 for a relaxed Italian eatery offering everything from Sicilian scrambled eggs for breakfast to hand-rolled gnocchi for dinner. For a more private, indulgent experience, guests can dine at La Vètta and choose from their à la carte menu or Chef’s Journey degustation experience (you must try their wagyu flank). If alfresco is more your flavour, grab your picnic blanket and enjoy the sweeping views from the property with a fresh cut pizza from Caffé Vista.

Take in the view of the property's vineyards from your private cabin. — Take in the view of the property’s vineyards from your private cabin.

The accommodation

What sets Marnong Estate apart is their on-site accommodation offerings, making a day of drinking and eating even sweeter. There are currently two options for accommodation. Looking out to the scenic Macedon Ranges sit 10 luxurious cabins, offering 20 comfortable, modern rooms, ranging between studio apartments or one-bedroom suites. This option is perfect for a romantic getaway, girls trip or solo weekend. Guests seeking an additional level of exclusivity can choose the beautifully restored 1840’s homestead, which boasts four elegant suites all with private ensuites. This option is perfect for weddings, as their signature bridal suite offers the largest room and lush bath tub. Plans for a hotel are also on the horizon at Marnong Estate, making this winery one to watch in the coming years.

Family friendly fun for everyone’s inner child at the petting zoo experience.

The petting zoo (yes, you read that right)

I may not be a wine connoisseur, but I am an expert on cute animals, and Marnong Estate has these in droves. An array of family-friendly experiences are on offer to get up close and personal with the property’s menagerie of camels (Humpty, Dumpty, Berc and Carmel), goats, peacocks, bunnies and birds, just to name a few.

Marnong’s Viticulturalist Shannon Fullerton remarked (while handing me slices of bread for the camels) that every time he sees the free range cows and sheep he thinks, “it doesn’t really feel like I’m living in Melbourne”.

Booking details

Cabin rates: Studio rooms start from $279/night, 1 bedroom from $324/night
Homestead rates: Starting at the entire homestead from $2700/night, rooms inside the homestead from $520/night.

For more information or to book, visit marnongestate.com.au