8 Canberra wineries you need to visit

Melissa Mason Melissa Mason
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Canberra’s wineries are beginning to rival some of the top names in vino.

There are more wineries around Canberra than you might expect – you only need to drive around 30 to 40 minutes outside of the CBD to enjoy award-winning creations and picturesque estates to drink them on.

Canberra’s winery culture technically began in the 1840s when the first vines were planted, but didn’t take off until the 1970s, when a few CSIRO scientists saw opportunity in the region’s cool climate and soil types. Now, wineries are popping up all around the city. These are some of the best.

1. Clonakilla

When acclaimed wine critic James Halliday calls one of your creations “an icon wine, one of the best in Australia", you’re likely doing something right. Naturally, this praise means you must visit Clonakilla in Murrumbateman.

The sprawling vineyard is set amongst rolling hills just off the Barton Highway. On any given day, you’ll find guests sitting outside and enjoying the sun on the patio, sipping the cellar door’s famed shiraz viognier. A blend that has won award after award with good reason, it has a smooth, velvety mouthfeel and complex spice that will win over any oenophile.

Clonakilla winery in Canberra
Sit outside to enjoy the sun on the back patio. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 3 Crisps Lane, Murrumbateman NSW

2. Four Winds Vineyard

Head north from Canberra for about 30-minutes in the car and you’ll stumble upon Four Winds Vineyard in Murrumbateman. This beautiful cellar door is home to multiple award-winning wines, from its 2021 chardonnay to its 2018 fortified shiraz.

Pop in for a tipple on the back deck overlooking the sprawling vineyard, where you can also devour a wood-fired, made-to-order pizza. Feeling fancy? Build your own platter from a selection of gourmet deli treats to pair perfectly with a wine or two.

Four Winds Vineyard in Canberra
The winery is a 30-minute drive from Canberra’s CBD. (Image: Four Winds Vineyard)

Address: 9 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman NSW

3. Shaw Estate

Although open all year round, Shaw Estate is particularly popular in the winter. Why? You can enjoy the winery’s premium tastings in its comforting lounge area, complete with warm, crackling fireplace.

Those visiting in summer will still benefit from Shaw’s exemplary tasting space. Opt for a seat on the spacious balcony overlooking the vines to enjoy the sun. If you’re after a bite to eat, be sure to order the small sharing menu, which comes with a bottle of wine at $65 a head.

pouring wine into the glass, Shaw Vineyard
Settle in for a tasting at Shaw Estate. (Image: Stuart Miller)

Address: 34 Isabel Drive, Murrumbateman NSW

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4. Brindabella Hills

Just a 25-minute drive outside of Canberra, Brindabella Hills winery is an easy one to visit when in town. Set atop a granite ridge overlooking the stunning Murrumbidgee River, this Canberran cellar door has some of the best views of the bunch.

On the tastings list, you’ll find riesling, sauvignon blanc semillon, chardonnay, cabernet and shiraz. There is also a cafe and restaurant onsite so you can while away the afternoon in style. If you’re visiting on the weekend, don’t miss the ultimate wine tasting experience.

Brindabella Hills Winery in Canberra
Enjoy stunning views from Brindabella Hills. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Address: 156 Woodgrove Close, Wallaroo NSW

5. Helm Wines

Another historic winery in the Canberra region, Helm Wines was established in 1973 and has received a five-star rating from James Halliday, who named Helm the top winery in Canberra for nine years in a row, making it a must-visit when in town.

The winery specialises in riesling and cabernet sauvignon, both of which have won awards. Enjoy tastings in the unique cellar door space, housed in the heritage-listed 1888 Toual Schoolhouse, or go for a stroll through the picturesque vineyards.

Helm Wines in Canberra
Helm lives in a heritage-listed 1888 building. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 19 Butts Road, Murrumbateman NSW

6. Eden Road Wines

In 2017, Eden Road Wines went from a boutique Canberra winery to a region leader when award-winning French winemaker Celine Rousseau joined the team, bringing with her world-leading traditional techniques that focused on the terroir of the region.

Since then, Eden Road has gone on to become certified organic (in 2020) and developed a beautiful cellar door experience. What’s more? Your furry friend is welcome.

Eden Road Wines in Canberra
French winemaker Celine Rousseau heads up Eden Road. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 3182 Barton Highway, Murrumbateman NSW

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7. Pankhurst Wines

Pankhurst Wines began with pinot noir vines in 1986, which still produce award-winning bottles today. These days, the winery has expanded to various other wines, including chardonnay, marsanne, arneis, tempranillo and sangiovese.

The views from the cellar door are well worth a visit alone. If you need more encouragement, the winery is also known for its environmentally friendly practices, expert viticultural knowledge and, of course, jam-packed cheese platters.

enjoying food and wine on the table at Pankhurst Wines, Canberra
Indulge in exquisite flavours and spirits at Pankhurst Wines. (Image: VisitCanberra)

Address: 56 Woodgrove Close, Wallaroo NSW

8. Mount Majura Vineyard

Founded in 1988, Mount Majura Vineyard is one of the few cellar doors in Canberra’s wine region that isn’t famed for its shiraz but for tempranillo. The full-bodied grape is now grown across three different sites in the vineyard, each developing a distinct taste when bottled.

If you’re more of a white wine enthusiast, Mount Majura is also fast becoming known for its rieslings too. Sip on a wine of your choice and bask in the winery’s rustic chic design. Or opt to laze on the lawn with a Piquette Picnic, packed with cheese, chutney, chocolate and more.

a vibrant interior at Mount Majura Vineyard
Mount Majura Vineyard is rustic and quaint. (Image: Kara Rosenlund for VisitCanberra)

Address: 88 Lime Kiln Road, Majura ACT

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Melissa Mason
Melissa Mason is a freelance journalist who loves road tripping and car snacks. Previously holding Editor roles at ELLE, marie claire, Broadsheet and Pedestrian.TV, she now writes travel and lifestyle content for a wealth of Australian titles like SMH, Mamamia and Urban List, as well as copywriting for international brands. Outside of writing, she loves walks with her dog Ted, a great Sunday afternoon with friends, and op shopping. If she could be anywhere right now it would be lounging on a hammock at a tropical resort with a great romantic fantasy book.
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A gourmand’s guide to eating your way around Hamilton Island

(Credit: Nikki To)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

    Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

    Catseye Pool Club

    Catseye Pool Club
    Catseye Pool Club offers stunning beach views. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

    The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

    My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

    Sails Restaurant

    Sails Restaurant hamilton island
    Settle into casual poolside dining. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

    The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

    Bommie

    cuttlefish dish at Bommie restaurant Hamilton Island Yacht Club
    Head to the Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a taste of Bommie. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

    Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

    Pebble Beach

    qualia Resort Pebble Beach
    qualia Resort guests can dine at Pebble Beach. (Credit: Lean Timms)

    Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

    The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

    Beach Club Restaurant

    Beach Club Restaurant hamilton island
    Book in advance for Beach Club Restaurant. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

    I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

    Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

    Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

    hamilton island Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher
    Join this immersive wine experience. (Credit Eleanor Edström)

    There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

    We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

    The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

    coca chu

    table spread at CocaChu
    Get a taste of Southeast Asian flavours. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

    Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

    Marina Cafe

    hamilton island MArina Cafe
    Take in harbour views and comfort food.

    Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

    The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.

    Discover your foodie getaway now at hamiltonisland.com.au.