Visit the Macedon Ranges

Wildlife Shows at Hanging Rock – Spring School Holidays! Take a walk on the wild side with TV personality and Zoologist Chris Humfrey and the Wild Action Zoo team, during the Spring school holidays at Hanging Rock in the Macedon Ranges. Join us on 1 & 2 October, for the ultimate wildlife experience in the most magnificent setting. Two family-friendly interactive shows will take place at 10.00AM and 12.30PM each day. Guests will come face-to-face with a HUGE array of the cool climate wildlife who call this beautiful region home! Pre-booked tickets are $30 per person, with kids under 2 free. More in FAQs below. Please note Hanging Rock parking fees still apply on the day, and guests to the Show are encouraged to make the most of their visit to Hanging Rock Reserve before and after the Show. And for your chance to win tickets, also check out our Kids Go Wild Colouring Competition. Entries open to kids up to 12 years. Entries close 4pm 21 September and must be dropped off in hardcopy to Woodend Visitor Information Centre.  Meet some incredible Macedon Ranges locals up close and personal be they furry, feathered, or scaley! Plus a few additional special animal guests! Koala Kangaroo joey Sugar gliders Short beaked echidna Wombat Southern boobook owl Grey headed flying fox Southern brown bandicoot Barn owl Gang gang cockatoo Blotched blue tongued lizard Eastern long necked turtle Lace Monitor Banjo frog Critically endangered mountain pygmy possum ........ and many more. Chris Humfrey has been a local to this region for 23 years, and his knowledge, and enthusiastic approach to conversation and education will have guests enthralled. Learn about each animal’s classification, adaptations, habitats, diet, threats and ecological niche. Chris will discuss ways in which we can all make a positive difference to protecting biodiversity. Show Duration / Photo opportunities After the 45min live interactive show, there will be even more live animal action with up to 30 min extra following the show for photo opportunities with native animals, and a chance to chat with Chris and the Wild Action team.  Before or after the show And remember, you’re at Hanging Rock, so make the most of your visit and spend the day with us – go for a hike on the Summit Walking Trail, bring a picnic and kick the footy around, go fishing, or head into the Hanging Rock Café . FAQ’S Can I buy tickets on the day? Yes you can, but they’re $35 per person when purchased on the day. Ticket sales will be via card payment only and subject to availability. Do I have to buy a ticket for my toddler?  Children 2 and under can attend free of charge. What’s the cancellation policy? Cancellations received more than 72 hours from the live shows will receive a full refund. Cancellations received within 72 hours of the live shows are not refundable. Do parents/guardians need to stay for the show or can I drop my children off? Children 12 years of age and younger must be supervised and accompanied by a paying adult for the duration of the show. What if the weather is bad? Our shows will be held in an undercover marquee, but you should still dress appropriately for the weather conditions because the marquee won’t be entirely enclosed – we’re in the Australian bush after all! What is the weather like at Hanging Rock? Weather in the Macedon Ranges can be unpredictable this time of year so we suggest you bring a warm jacket and dress appropriately for the forecast weather. Will there be seats in the marquee? The shows are interactive, so while we will have a limited number of chairs available, kids will be encouraged to sit on the ground so they can get up close and personal with the wildlife and presenters. Is there parking nearby? Yes, there is loads of onsite parking. Do the usual entry fees to Hanging Rock still apply if I have bought a ticket to the wildlife show? Yes. The usual entry fees to visit Hanging Rock Reserve still apply eg $15 per car, $40 per mini bus etc. We’d love you to make a day of your visit to see us, so before or after the wildlife show, make sure you stay a while. You will have access to the facilities in the park from 9:00am to 5:00pm – we’re talking picnic areas, barbeques, walking trails, children’s playground, our dam for fishing….the whole park is yours to enjoy and explore. Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not permitted to the wildlife show. Dogs on leash are welcome in the park before/afterwards, however please note that dogs are not permitted on the Summit Walking Trail. What amenities are available? Our toilets are wheelchair and ambulant accessible and have baby change facilities. What food and drink options are available? Visit Hanging Rock Café while you’re with us. They have a special offer for guests attending the wildlife show – receive one free kids meal with every adult meal over $20 purchased (upon presentation of your show ticket). Speak with Hanging Rock Café for more information. Dine in or take-away.   And of course we’re the perfect location for a picnic, so feel free to bring your own. Need more information? Please call 5422 0387 or 0457 605 462 if you have any further questions, we’re more than happy to help.  

 

Budburst is back for another fabulous weekend in the Macedon Ranges. Taking place Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November 2025, this is your once-a-year opportunity to go beyond the cellar door, sip rare wines you won’t find anywhere else, and meet the passionate people who craft some of Australia’s most exciting cool-climate wines. At Budburst, you don’t just taste wine…You wander. You wonder. You get a little lost and you discover something rare & unforgettable. Over two festival days, more than 20 winemakers across 15+ Budburst venues will open their doors, to offer wine tastings, varied food and entertainment offerings, while sharing their stories. From established icons to hidden gems, Budburst is all about connection - between the makers, the wines, and you. Just under an hour from Melbourne, but a world away from ordinary, Budburst is a must for wine enthusiasts, culture seekers, and weekend wanderers Victoria-wide and beyond. Embrace the opportunity to lose yourself in the wine, the produce, and the magic of Macedon Ranges.  Festival hours run from 10am to 5pm each day, with tastings, curated food menus, and the chance to chat directly with the winemakers at every stop. TICKETS Festival Passes start from $39 and weekend passes only $52! On sale from 1st August (early bird until 31st August). Tickets include:

• A keepsake Plumm crystal Macedon Ranges wine glass
• A festival passport with all the details you need to make the most of your weekend
• Wine tastings across participating wineries

Designated drivers and children under 18 are invited to join the festival for free. TRANSPORT OPTIONS Leave the driving to someone else and jump on one of the hop-on/hop-off Budburst bus routes. On Saturday Budburst buses will take ticket holders directly to cellar doors around the Macedon Ranges, allowing you to visit up to 5 Budburst venues, with 6+ wineries on each loop. Tickets are $105 for a combined Saturday bus ticket and weekend festival pass. Alternatively, a number of local wine tour companies have bespoke options for you to choose from. More information available on the Budburst website. If you prefer to plan your own adventure, a number of suggested self-drive itineraries will be available on the festival website. Come for the wine. Stay for the stories. Budburst 2025—where cool wines and warm hearts await. More details to come via the event website. Additional details will be released soon. Festival and bus tickets are on sale from early August. ABOUT MACEDON RANGES WINE The Macedon Ranges wine region is less than an hour by car or train from Melbourne’s CBD. Popular wines include refined Chardonnays and award-winning Pinot Noirs as well as elegant sparkling varietals. Many wineries are boutique and family-owned, creating signature wines using traditional techniques. As a result, the region is appreciated for cool-climate wines that are limited in quantity and exceptionally high in quality.

Come down and visit some of the finest producers in the state at the Macedon Village Farmers' Market, held below the majestic Mount Macedon on the welcoming grounds of Macedon Primary School. The market will be an extension of the Woodend Community Farmers' Market and you can look forward to shopping with many of the same stallholders, who will be bringing their high quality produce to the Macedon and surrounding communities, 4 times per year on the 5th Saturday. You can expect the same focus on sustainability, authenticity and community as the Woodend Farmers' Market. The Macedon Primary School are involving the school community in this event and will use any funds raised to further their landcare project.

2026 Lost Trades Fair at Hanging Rock, Macedon Ranges The rock stars of traditional and heritage trades will gather to share their skills, trades, talent, stories, culture, knowledge, and celebrate the finest levels of human craftsmanship at the Lost Trades Fair at Hanging Rock. Get set for a weekend inspired by nature and human talent.  Find inspiration, skills, talent, and craftsmanship in the heart of the Macedon Ranges. Meet more than 150 career artisans practising their trades at world-class level. Demonstrations, skills sharing, staged presentations, artisan insights, and opportunities to have a go at many of the trades. Explore the mystical Hanging Rock, bring a picnic, explore the rock, and take a hike to the summit. Discover the secrets of trades and cultures. Meet international artisans. Watch blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carvers, and weavers. Bookbinders, bootmakers, tailors and toolmakers; from woodworking to wicker weaving; the list of trades covers mediums and materials as varied as stone, metal, glass, wood, leather, clay, cane, fibre, cloth, paper, pigments, minerals, soaps, oils and waxes. Lost Trades will inspire visitors of all ages, and the ticket price includes entry to Hanging Rock, so there is time to climb the rock, explore, watch live demonstrations, have a go at many of the trade,s or just bring a picnic, relax and take in all that the weekend offers. The Lost Trades Fair is set to deliver an unmatched experience to thousands of visitors from across Australia and around the world in what is a magical location. The fair will showcase more than 150 artisans from across Australia and international guest artisans who will travel to Victoria exclusively for Lost Trades. Knowledge not shared, is knowledge lost - see you there!