The Mid-Week Pause
A mid-week food and farm escape in the Mudgee region, exclusively curated for Wandarra Homestead guests.
Three nights. Two guided days.
One private group at a time.
Designed for guests who value comfort, ease and meaningful experiences — without the weekend crowds.
Wandarra's Food and Farm Experience at a Glance
A thoughtfully curated, three-night experience designed to give you the best of the Mudgee region — without the planning, driving or weekend crowds. Here's what you can expect:
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Private use of Wandarra Homestead, a 25 acre countryside retreat
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Conveniently located just over 15 minutes from Mudgee and 15 minutes from Rylstone
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Exclusive use for a group of up to 8 Adults
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Private driver for your curated Food and Wine experience over two days
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Award-winning producers and experiences pre-arranged
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Delicious, locally sourced breakfast hamper
One simple booking that packages together luxury accommodation, transport and local Mudgee experiences.
You could piece together wineries, transport, tastings and bookings yourself. Or you could arrive, unpack — and let everything unfold seamlessly.
The Mid-Week Pause was designed for guests who are ready to enjoy Mudgee region without planning and managing their trip. Every venue is selected. Every booking confirmed. Your driver arrives at the door. There’s no navigating cellar door availability. No deciding who will drive. No rushing between stops.
Just time to taste slowly. To laugh together. To linger over lunch.
Mid-week in the Mudgee region brings a quieter rhythm — more conversation with producers, easier reservations, and space to enjoy each place properly.
You’re welcomed in — and given time to enjoy the best of Mudgee, authentically.
What Makes Wandarra's Mid-Week Pause Different?
This is not a self-drive winery weekend. This is a professionally curated experience exclusively for Wandarra guests, delivered in partnership with established regional producers.
✔ 3-night private stay at Wandarra Homestead (Tuesday–Friday)
✔ Locally sourced breakfast hamper
✔ Private driver from Mudgee Rides (2 days)
✔ Farm tour at Aril Estate
✔ Visit Mudgee Honey Haven
✔ Wine tasting + grazing board featuring High Valley Cheese at The Cellar by Gilbert
✔ Icon Range tasting at Huntington Estate
✔ Farm-To-Table lunch at The Barn by Blue Wren Farm
✔ Bean-To-Bar Group Experience at Spencer Cocoa
All bookings confirmed in advance | All timing coordinated | One simple enquiry process
Your Four-Day Itinerary
Tuesday: Arrive and
Settle In
Arrive from 3pm and step into your private 25-acre retreat. Unpack slowly. Walk the paddocks. Light the fire. Open a bottle.
Your locally sourced breakfast hamper is waiting, so your first morning is already taken care of.
No agenda. Just space to exhale.
Wednesday: Producers and Provenance
Your private driver from Mudgee Rides will collect you at 9am from Wandarra Homestead.
The day begins at Aril Estate, an award-winning olive and pomegranate producer. Walk through the olive groves and pomegranate orchard and learn about the processes first hand from the farmer before enjoying a tasting.
From there, continue to Mudgee Honey Haven where you can an taste regional honey varieties and mead and pick up some local products.
The afternoon concludes at The Cellar by Gilbert for a wine tasting accompanied by their signature grazing board featuring cheeses from High Valley Cheese Co.
You can expect conversations with producers, time to ask questions and most importantly, time to linger. You'll be dropped back at Wandarra mid-afternoon to enjoy some downtime.
Thursday: Wine, Lunch and Chocolate
Enjoy a slower morning at Wandarra before your driver returns at 11am.
First stop: Huntington Estate (est. 1969) — one of Mudgee’s oldest vineyards and experience their Icon Range tasting.
Next, lunch at The Barn at Blue Wren Farm. Enjoy a relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired farm-to-table meal where much of the produce is grown onsite.
The final stop is Spencer Cocoa, for a Bean-to-Bar Chocolate experience. Discover how cocoa beans sourced directly from farmers in Malekula, Vanuatu are transformed into award-winning chocolate.
Return to Wandarra by 4pm for a quiet evening by the firepit or in your private underground bar.
Friday: Depart
Unrushed
Wandarra’s check-out time is 11am — giving you plenty of time for a leisurely final morning.
Another coffee on the verandah, watching the morning sun stretch across the paddocks. Kangaroos grazing quietly beyond the fence line. A relaxed breakfast using the last of your local hamper.
No alarms. No rush to beat traffic. Just an easy close to the week.
Pack slowly. Take one last walk across the grounds. Leave rested, well-fed, and carrying the stories behind what you’ve tasted.
Intrigued but not quite ready?
We'd love to stay in touch. Leave your name and email and we'll keep you in the loop on availability, seasonal offers and Mudgee inspiration — delivered quietly, once in a while.
Where Luxury Meets Relaxation
Every detail has been thoughtfully designed to make your stay effortless and comfortable. From luxurious bedrooms to a fully equipped kitchen, from cozy fireplaces to outdoor spaces perfect for stargazing, Wandarra provides everything you need to relax, connect, and create lasting memories.
✔ Four bedrooms (sleeps up to 8 adults) - Two king with optional Twin setting available, one King and one Queen
✔ Two distinct living areas, one with views, the other with an open fireplace
✔ Wrap-around verandah with outdoor diring and lounging options
✔ Firepit overlooking Elephant Mountain
✔ Fully equipped kitchen
✔ 55” Smart TV + Wi-Fi
✔ Dog-friendly
And yes — your own underground speakeasy bar.
This is not shared accommodation. It is exclusive use.
Everything You Need
A simple, all-inclusive price. Here's the breakdown of what's included.
Included in Price
✔ Three nights of accommodation at Wandarra
✔ Breakfast hamper with locally souced produce
✔ Guided tour at Aril Estate with one of the farmers
✔ Wine tasting at The Cellar by Gilbert with Grazing board featuring High Valley Cheese
✔ Icon Range Tasting at Huntington Estate
✔ Bean-To-Bar private group experience at Spencer Cocoa
Paid Directly at Venues
The following are not including in the package price and will be paid directly to the venues, giving you flexibility while supporting local businesses:
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Lunch at The Barn at Blue Wren Farm
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Produce purchased at any of the venues
We will support you through the booking process, so if any amendments are required to the booking or the inclusions we can help manage that.
The Mid-Week Pause - Per Person Pricing
8 Guests
$650
per person
7 Guests
$690
per person
6 Guests
$750
per person
5 Guests
$825
per person
4 Guests
$950
per person
Payment terms:
Deposit: 25% of total group price due to confirm booking
Balance: Due 2 weeks prior to check-in
Payment Plans: Available—ask upon enquiry
Optional Add-ons:
Heat-and-serve catering: Don 't want to cook? Seasonal menu delivered ready to heat and serve, ranging from $75-$95pp
Additional Transfers: Want to head into town by don't want to drive? Additional tranfers can be added, starting from $70pp
Extend your stay: Ask about special rates to extend your stay on enquiry.
Meet our Trusted Partners
The people behind the produce, wine and chocolate you’ll experience.
Each partner in The Mid-Week Pause — A Wandarra Food & Farm Experience has been carefully selected to give you a taste of the region beyond just wine.
A number of these producers are hands-on experiences where you learn about the land, the craft and the process — while tasting and enjoying the produce yourself. We've curated a selection of the regions most established producers — leaders in their field — who collectively shape the Mudgee food and wine story.
Aril Estate
Award-Winning Olive and Pomegrante Producer
Aril Estate is an award-winning, family owned and run producer, renowned for naturally fermented table olives and cold-pressed extra virgin olive oils. The guided farm tour includes tastings of their fermented olives, oils, pomegranate syrups, molasses, and jams.
Local tip: The naturally fermented table olives have a unique flavor profile you won't find elsewhere—ask about their signature varieties.
Mudgee Honey Haven
100% Pure Australian Honey
Mudgee Honey Haven offers the widest selection of honeys in the region, featuring honey and mead tastings in a welcoming café setting. Experience the distinctive flavors of local honey varieties paired with their gourmet products.
Local tip: Their honey mead tasting is a unique experience—the combination of honey and mead tells the story of local beekeeping traditions.
The Cellar by Gilbert
Halliday Red Star Winery |
Est. 2004
The Cellar by Gilbert is the tasting room for Gilbert Family Wines, offering guided tastings of their elegant, pure, and structured wines. Your experience includes their famous grazing board featuring High Valley Cheese.
Local Tip: Want to purchase the delicious chutneys and lavosh to take back to Wandarra? Just speak to your host at the end of your tasting.
High Valley Cheese Co.
Award-Winning Artisan Cheese | Est. 2005
High Valley Cheese Co. creates hand-crafted artisan cheeses, including their famous Triple Cream Brie and Feta.
The tasting room is adjacent to The Cellar by Gilbert, so you can stop in to purchase some cheeses to take home before you leave.
Fun Fact: The factory is powered by renewable energy.
Huntington Estate
Historic Mudgee Winery |
Est. 1969
Huntington Estate is one of the oldest and most celebrated vineyards in Mudgee. Enjoy their Icon Range tasting in a relaxed cellar door setting. The wines are estate grown, made and bottled and they won Best Granache at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Local tip: Say hi to Clare, the customer service manager is a friend of Wandarra and will provide authentic country hospitality!
The Barn at Blue Wren Farm
Farm-to-Table Dining
The Barn offers a relaxed dining experience focused on simple, seasonal, delicious food. Much of the produce is grown right on the property, and the wine list has been carefully curated to complement the menu.
Sit back and relax in this beatiful setting and enjoy farm-to-table at its finest.
Local Tip: The seasonal menu changes regularly, so ask what's fresh today.
Spencer Cocoa, Chocolate Factory
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Experience | Est. 2013
Locally made single source origin chocolate makers Luke and Thea Spencer, source cocoa directly from farmers in Malekula, Vanuatu. Gold medal winner for dark chocolate, they are committed to ethical, direct trade relationships.
Fun Fact: Luke visits the farmers personally to ensure quality and sustainability—this direct relationship is rare in the chocolate world.
Mudgee Rides
Professional Private Driver Service
Ric and his team at Mudgee Rides are an established local transport operator providing safe, reliable private transfers throughout the Mudgee region. Their professional drivers know the backroads, the producers and the pace of the region — ensuring your two guided days will unfold seamlessly.
Local tip: Ric has been working with regional producers for years — feel free to ask for his favourite hidden gems along the way.
Why Guests Love This Experience
Everything Organised in Advance
No planning stress. Your itinerary is curated, bookings are confirmed, and timing is coordinated—just arrive and enjoy.
Professional Local Driver
Safe, reliable, and knowledgeable. Your driver from Mudgee Rides knows the region intimately and handles all transport between venues.
Trusted Regional Producers
Award-winning, established businesses. Every venue has been personally selected for quality, authenticity, and the unique experiences they offer.
Unhurried Mid-Week Pace
Fewer crowds, more time to enjoy. Mid-week travel means quieter venues, more intimate experiences, and a slower, more meaningful pace.
Authentic Experiences
Meet the makers, hear the stories, taste the produce. From olive farmers to chocolate makers, connect with the people behind Mudgee's finest producers.
Door-to-Door Transport
Stress-free transitions. Your driver picks you up and drops you off at each venue—no navigating, no worrying about parking or directions.
Ready to experience the
Mid-Week Pause?
Limited to one private group at a time. Complete the enquiry form and we'll contact you directly to help you book in your ideal dates, manage any special requirements, and finalise your booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's included in the package price?
The package includes 3 nights accommodation at Wandarra Homestead, a locally sourced breakfast hamper, private driver for Wednesday and Thursday, and entry to four curated experiences: Aril Estate farm tour, wine tasting at The Cellar by Gilbert with High Valley Cheese grazing board, Icon Range tasting at Huntington Estate, and Meet the Maker experience at Spencer Cocoa. Meals at venues and any purchases of products are paid directly to providers.
How many people can stay at Wandarra Homestead?
The package accommodates up to 8 adults in 4 beautifully appointed bedrooms - two king rooms that can be set as twin on request, a third king room and one queen room. There are three full bathrooms, two ensuite and one shared. The homestead features two large living areas, a private underground bar, expansive outdoor spaces, and a firepit with views of Elephant Mountain.
What if I want to extend my stay?
You can add additional nights for the special rate of $495 per night. This allows you to explore more of the Mudgee region or simply extend your relaxation time at Wandarra.
Can I arrange additional transport for dining in Mudgee?
Yes, absolutely! We can organize an additional transfer with Mudgee Rides to drop you at the restaurant or pub of your choice and bring you home for $80 per person.
What's the payment schedule?
A 25% deposit is required upon booking to secure your dates. The remaining balance is due 2 weeks prior to check-in. Payment plans are available—speak with us during the booking process.
How far is Wandarra from Mudgee?
Wandarra Homestead is perfectly positioned just over 15 minutes from Mudgee and 15 minutes from Rylstone, giving you easy access to the region's finest producers while maintaining peace and privacy on 25 acres of private land.