Wine, Food and a Spring Weekend in the Macedon Ranges 14–15 November 2026
Spring is a beautiful time to be in the Macedon Ranges, and Budburst is a pretty good reason to come and stay a while.
For one weekend each November, wineries across the region open their cellar doors for tastings, food, music and a chance to meet the people behind the wine.
In 2026, Budburst celebrates its 35th anniversary, with more than 26 winemakers across 15 venues taking part on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November.
Less than an hour from Melbourne, it’s an easy escape for a day out or a weekend away.
See the 2026 Budburst Wine Festival listing on Visit Macedon Ranges.
Budburst is the Macedon Ranges’ annual celebration of cool-climate wine. It’s not one big festival site – instead, wineries across the region open their doors and create their own Budburst experience.
That might mean a tasting with the winemaker, lunch overlooking the vines, live music, local art or a chance to try a wine you won’t usually find on the shelf.
With each venue doing things a little differently, you can put together a day that suits you.
It’s also a good opportunity to discover what makes Macedon Ranges wine distinctive. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gamay and sparkling wines are among the varieties produced across the region.
The Budburst Wine Festival runs on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026, from 10am to 5pm each day.
For the latest festival information, participating wineries and what’s happening across the weekend, check the Budburst Wine Festival listing on Visit Macedon Ranges.
More than 26 winemakers across 15 Budburst venues are opening their doors in 2026. There’s a mix of established names and smaller producers, giving you plenty of choice across the wine region.
The participating wineries and individual venue programs are listed on the official Budburst website.
It’s worth checking before you head out, as some venues have limited capacity or additional experiences that need to be booked.
Festival Passes start from $39, with weekend passes from $55.
Tickets include a keepsake Macedon Ranges wine tasting glass, festival passport and wine tastings at participating wineries. Designated drivers and children under 18 can attend the festival for free.
Some wineries also offer additional food experiences, masterclasses and special events, which may require separate bookings.
For current ticket availability and conditions, visit the official Budburst Wine Festival website.
If you’d rather not nominate a designated driver, Budburst buses make it easy to move between participating wineries.
The popular hop-on, hop-off service connects groups of wineries around the Macedon Ranges, allowing you to leave the car behind and enjoy the day. Saturday operates as a hop-on, hop-off service, while Sunday follows set itineraries.
Bus tickets are an additional cost to your festival pass.
The 2026 Budburst bus routes and ticket details are available on the official festival website.
If you’re driving, there will also be suggested self-drive itineraries.
Take your time, choose a few venues and remember that you’re here to enjoy the day, not tick every cellar door off a list.
Yes. Woodend is on the V/Line network from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, making the Macedon Ranges an option for a wine weekend without the car.
Woodend is also a handy place to base yourself, with cafés, bakeries, pubs, restaurants, shops and accommodation close to the wineries and Hanging Rock.
Explore Woodend and see what makes it such a popular base for a Macedon Ranges getaway.
Pick a few wineries that appeal to you, leave time between stops, and give yourself a chance to settle in.
Coming by bus? Choose a route and let someone else do the driving.
Coming by car? Nominate a designated driver and build your own trail.
Travelling with friends? A private tour can be a good option.
And if you’re staying overnight, even better. You can spread your wine tasting across the weekend and leave plenty of time for everything else the region has to offer.
Food is a big part of the Budburst weekend, with participating wineries putting together their own menus and offerings.
Check the individual venue details when planning your day, particularly if there’s a particular lunch or food experience you have your eye on.
You can also make the most of the region’s broader foodie options. Explore food and drink in the Macedon Ranges and you’ll find everything from country bakeries and pubs to restaurants, cellar doors and local produce.
Budburst is a great excuse to turn a day trip into a proper Macedon Ranges getaway.
Stay overnight and you can take your time at the wineries, settle in for dinner, then spend the next day exploring a village, walking in the forest, visiting a garden or simply enjoying a long lunch.
The region has plenty of options, from cosy country cottages and guesthouses to boutique accommodation and country retreats.
Find somewhere to stay in the Macedon Ranges.
Woodend is particularly handy if you’re travelling by train or using the Budburst buses. It’s also surrounded by wineries and close to Hanging Rock.
Lancefield is another good base, particularly if you’re exploring wineries around the Lancefield side of the region. Find out more about Lancefield and its surrounding wineries, country pubs and accommodation.
Macedon and Mount Macedon offer a quieter country escape, with gardens, forests and places to stay among the mountain landscape. Explore Mount Macedon for ideas.
Kyneton is a good choice if food is part of your weekend plans. Historic Piper Street is lined with restaurants, cafés, wine bars, galleries and shops. Discover Kyneton and make a weekend of it.
There’s a lot happening around Budburst, which is another good reason to stay overnight.
The Mountain Festival runs in Macedon from 13–15 November 2026, bringing writers, artists, environmentalists, thinkers and curious minds together for conversations, workshops, storytelling and experiences inspired by landscape, nature and place.
That makes it particularly easy to combine a day of wine with something a little different.
You can also check the What’s On calendar for other events, exhibitions, food experiences and things to do across the region.
With the Mountain Festival and Budburst falling on the same weekend, it’s an easy opportunity to mix wine and food with art, ideas and the great outdoors.
Budburst is a chance to slow down for a while.
Taste something new. Chat with a winemaker. Sit in the sun with a long lunch. Wander through a country village. Pick up something delicious for the trip home.
Then, when you’ve had enough of the cellar doors, there are forests to explore, gardens to wander, galleries and shops to browse, and plenty of places to settle in for dinner.
The Macedon Ranges is less than an hour from Melbourne, but it feels a world away.
Come for Budburst. Stay for the weekend.
Plan your Budburst Wine Festival weekend and find somewhere to stay.
Budburst runs on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026, from 10am to 5pm each day.
Budburst is held across participating wineries and cellar doors throughout the Macedon Ranges rather than at one central festival site.
More than 26 winemakers across 15 Budburst venues are taking part in 2026.
Yes. Budburst operates dedicated bus services connecting participating wineries, including hop-on, hop-off services.
Yes. Woodend is on the V/Line network from Southern Cross, making it one of the easiest bases for a car-free Macedon Ranges weekend.
Yes. Designated drivers and children under 18 can attend Budburst for free.
Absolutely. You don’t need to know your Pinot from your Pinot Gris. The weekend is as much about meeting local producers, enjoying food and exploring the region as it is about tasting wine.
If you can, yes. Staying overnight means you don’t have to rush between wineries and gives you time to enjoy the villages, food, walks and other events happening across the Macedon Ranges.
There’s plenty beyond the cellar doors, including country villages, food and drink, gardens, forests, walking trails, galleries and seasonal events. Mountain Festival is also taking place from 13–15 November 2026.
For the latest tickets, participating wineries, transport and program information, visit the official Budburst Wine Festival website.
For places to stay, things to do, and other events, check out Visit Macedon Ranges.
