Get a taste of the Macedon Ranges in autumn and discover all it has to offer at the shire-wide Autumn Festival, 26 March – 25 April 2022.
Here’s eleven ideas for family-friendly events and activities you can enjoy with the kids. From live music and outdoor art experiences to good ol’ country pies and stunning autumn open gardens perfect for a picnic.
1. Autumn Pie and Tart Trail
Plan a day trip around the festival’s Autumn Pie and Tart Trail, with over 20 venues across the region showcasing a special autumn-inspired pie or tart. There’s plenty of takeaway options so you can relax with your mouth-watering pastries in a nearby park and play amongst the autumn leaves.
2. Bringalbit Open Garden
Pack a picnic and head into the backcountry of Sidonia with a day trip to the beautiful Bringalbit Open Garden. A unique part of Australia’s rural history, its four hectare gardens are simply magical, with peacocks and guinea fowl roaming wild.
3. Soulfood + Soultunes
Family-friendly Hunter-Gatherer Winery are kicking back with live tunes and paella at their beautiful vineyard in Pipers Creek, a short drive from Woodend or Kyneton. There’s plenty of room for kids to run around, while you get to sample the most delicious wine and listen to great music.
4. Macedon Ranges Music Festival
For more live music in a magical setting, get tickets to the Macedon Ranges Music Festival at Hanging Rock Reserve. Squeeze in a walk up Hanging Rock Reserve’s summit beforehand.
5. Historic village scenic drive
Check out our 75-minute scenic autumn drive that takes in five historic villages from Woodend to Malmsbury. There’s plenty of places to stop along the way, including the wonderful Woodend Children’s Park and nearby Woodend Ice-Cream Co. for their autumn-inspired Apple Pie Ice Cream.
6. Autumn farmers markets
There’s a different farmers market on each weekend of the festival in Woodend, Riddells Creek, Kyneton, Lancefield and Malmsbury. Pick up some wonderful local goodies and enjoy a picnic in nearby gardens. Keep an eye out for two quirky characters known as ‘The Gardeners’ currently being made by local artists, that will be spreading notes and messages of joy and fun at various markets throughout the festival.
7. Beasties Creatures pop up by Melbourne’s Kinetic Theatre
Beasties is an installation of electronically controlled automata, combining sound, movement, and other surprises. It’s a petting zoo with a difference – expect the odd and humorous – a square cow quacking for biscuits, a squirting pig, a one eyed blue cat, dancing carrots, a giant roaming poo. Set up to be partly observational and partly interactive, find Beasties at various parks and gardens throughout the festival.
8. A day at Duneira
Spend the day at a private, historic hill station nestled in the forest on Mt Macedon. The magnificent Duneira estate, in all its autumn glory, will have food trucks and ice-cream vans, live music and local wine tastings. The kids will love this magical mountain garden.
9. Sanatorium Lake murmuring walk
An audio-guided walk reflecting the environment, birdlife and natural rhythms of Sanatorium Lake, Mt Macedon, which is on Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land. Wear headphones connected to your personal devices and enter a contemplative space while you’re led by a sublime multilayered vocal and poetic soundtrack.
10. Funkateers Street Band parties
A nine-piece New Orleans-style street band gigging outdoors in Kyneton and Riddells Creek on the same day as the local village farmers markets. A great opportunity to pick up fresh local produce and get into the Autumn Festival spirit.
11. A journey
Stick around as the sun goes down for an interactive lighting and sound experience that journeys through the Malmsbury Botanical Garden. Bring a picnic and wander this historic garden transformed by local artists. Held over multiple days throughout the festival, it’s a great excuse to book an overnight getaway!
For more information go to visitmacedonranges.com or call the Visitor Information Centre on 1800 244 711.
This is a sponsored post for Macedon Ranges Shire Council.