A secluded vineyard sanctuary where Australian native ingredients meet multicultural heritage — just 30 minutes from Canberra CBD.
Aranya — wilderness in Sanskrit — is 25 acres of vines, gums and open sky. Chef Praneel Singh’s native Australian menu, craft cocktails from the Sub Zero Native Series, and wines grown right here with Sapling Yard, all under one tin roof in the hills of Wamboin.
Our Story
Where the city falls away, something more honest takes its place.
Aranya Acres lives on the former Contentious Character site in Wamboin. We reimagined it as a place where people can truly escape — a native-focused kitchen, a craft cocktail bar, an on-site winery and a rotating gallery of local artists, all set among 25 acres of working vineyard.
In the kitchen, Chef de Cuisine Praneel Singh builds each menu around the Australian landscape — lemon myrtle, Dorrigo pepper, finger lime, macadamia, wattleseed and bush tomato — woven through with multicultural heritage. Downstairs, Sapling Yard Wines makes award-winning cool-climate wines, and the bar pours the Sub Zero Native Series at −12°C.
Opening Hours
When to Find Us
Thursday – Sunday · Lunch11am – 4pm
Thursday – Sunday · Dinner5pm – 10pm
Monday – WednesdayClosed
Trivia every Thursday · Live music at least once a week · Woodfire pizzas Thursday & Sunday nights
Find Us
In the Hills of Wamboin
810 Norton Rd, Wamboin NSW 2620
A 30-minute drive from Canberra CBD.
Maffra Cloth-Aged Cheddar · Ashed Chevron · Gabriel Coulet Roquefort · Seasonal Fruit · Jams
Best w/ Surveyor’s Hill Touriga
For the Little Ones
Popcorn ChickenGD
15
Popcorn Chicken Bites · Mash · Ketchup
Kids PastaGDVG
14
Bush Tomato Marinara · Parmesan
To Drink
The Cellar
Poured from our winemakers downstairs and neighbours across the Canberra District.
Bubbles
G 150ml · B 750ml
Sapling Yard Entrechat
Tumbarumba, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Surveyor’s Hill Shiraz Viognier
Wallaroo, NSW
G 21 / B 102
White
G 150ml · B 750ml
Sapling Yard Riesling
Lake George, NSW
G 18 / B 87
Pankhurst Arneis
Wallaroo, NSW
G 17 / B 82
Poachers Pantry Fumé Blanc
Springrange, NSW
G 18 / B 87
Pankhurst Marsanne
Wallaroo, NSW
G 17 / B 82
Poachers Pantry Chardonnay
Springrange, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Lark Hill Grüner Veltliner
Bungendore, NSW
G 24 / B 117
Rosé & Orange
G 150ml · B 750ml
Sapling Yard Rosé Sur Lie
Tumbarumba, NSW
G 18 / B 87
Sapling Yard Four Pinots
Tumbarumba, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Long Rail Gully Rosé
Murrumbateman, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Red
G 150ml · B 750ml
Sapling Yard Pinot Noir
Tumbarumba, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Lark Hill Teroldego
Bungendore, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Lark Hill Sangiovese
Bungendore, NSW
G 21 / B 102
Surveyor’s Hill Shiraz Grenache
Wallaroo, NSW
G 19 / B 92
Sapling Yard Extrovert
Hilltops, NSW
G 18 / B 87
Pankhurst Cabernet Sauvignon
Wallaroo, NSW
G 22 / B 107
Dessert
G 75ml · B 375ml
Surveyor’s Hill Touriga
Wallaroo, NSW
G 16 / B 77
Mulled Mead
Aranya Acres · G 150ml / B 750ml
G 19 / B 92
Non-Alcoholic
G 150ml · B 750ml
Altina Sparkling Brut
Mitchell, ACT
G 14 / B 67
Altina Kakadu Plum Rosé
Mitchell, ACT
G 14 / B 67
Altina Pepperberry Shiraz
Mitchell, ACT
G 14 / B 67
Altina Finger Lime Sauv Blanc
Mitchell, ACT
G 14 / B 67
Beers & Ciders
375ml
Bridge Road Lager
Beechworth, VIC
13
Kaiju! Cerveza
Dandenong South, VIC
12
Bridge Road Pale Ale
Beechworth, VIC
13
Bridge Road Blackberry Sour
Beechworth, VIC
16
Bridge Road Porter
Beechworth, VIC
15
Mayday Hills B2 Bomber Mach 16.0
Beechworth, VIC
18
Napoleone Pear Cider
Coldstream, VIC
11
Soft Drinks & Juices
Bundaberg Creaming Soda
5
Coke
5
Coke Zero
5
Lemonade
5
Solo
5
East Coast Apple
5
East Coast Cranberry
5
East Coast Grapefruit
5
East Coast Orange
5
Hot Beverages
Coffees Any Style
Cow’s Milk · Oat · Soy · Macadamia · Almond
5
Hot Chocolate
Cow’s Milk · Oat · Soy · Macadamia · Almond
4
Two-Course Chef’s Selection
Entrée + main, with all mains served alongside a shared Heirloom Garden SaladDVGS. Choose one selection per guest — or build your own combination across the four options.
From intimate winemaker dinners to live music in the vines — there’s always something happening in the wilderness.
Every Week
The Weekly Rituals
Every Thursday · 7pm
Trivia Thursdays
Eight categories, bragging rights, woodfired pizzas and mulled mead. Gather your sharpest friends.
Free Entry · $100 First Prize · $50 Second
Thursday & Sunday Nights
Woodfire Pizzas
The Emily, The Praneel, The Jovi and The Ash — 36-hour fermented sourdough, fired two nights a week.
Thu & Sun Nights · See the Menu
At Least Once a Week · 7–9pm
Live Music Nights
Local sounds, native flavours, vineyard vibes. Cocktails and dinner from Chef Praneel’s menu while the band plays — dates on the calendar below.
Free Entry · Bookings Recommended
Plan Your Visit
Events Calendar
August 2026
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Special Event Weekly Event Closed (Mon–Wed)
Click a day to see what’s happening. Open Thursday to Sunday — and the odd special evening midweek.
Coming Up
Special Events
Aug
8
Saturday
Aranya Acres Degustation
Five courses, a glass with every plate. An Indian-Australian menu from Chef Praneel Singh, paired with Canberra District wines. Vegetarian and vegan journeys available.
A Saturday night of eclectic yet effortlessly classy jazz — traditional standards woven with clever modern twists. Simon Halabi on piano, Jeremy on double bass and Mark on drums, paired with the signature menu and a cocktail or glass of wine. Dress to impress.
A four-course degustation built around Four Pillars’ cult-favourite Bloody Shiraz Gin — the Yarra Valley pour steeped in shiraz grapes until it turns a deep, magical purple. Each course arrives with its own Bloody Shiraz cocktail, from a blood-orange spritz through a spiced plum sour and flamed-orange negroni to a velvet nightcap. Tea-smoked duck, twice-cooked pork belly, slow-braised beef cheek — with a full vegetarian journey at every course. Seats are limited.
6:30pm · $185 per person · 4 Courses + 4 Cocktails
Local artist Cassie Carter guides you through your own vineyard-sunset masterpiece on canvas, with a glass of bubbles on arrival and a grazing charcuterie board. Both sessions have now sold out — subscribe to the mailing list to be first to hear when new dates are released.
Be first to hear about winemaker dinners and new sessions — the last Paint & Drink sold out in record time.
Private Events
One Venue, Any Occasion
Corporate lunches, long lunches, milestone celebrations, product launches and festivals — the dining room seats up to 80, and the full estate hosts up to 300 across the vineyard. Packages from $88 per person with set or à la carte menus and wine, cocktail and non-alcoholic beverage packages.
Enquiries answered within 24 hours.
The Gallery
Rotating Local Art
A new local artist takes over the walls every three months. Wander through with a glass in hand — no booking required, open whenever we are.
An independent, award-winning winery in the cellar downstairs — cool-climate wines with energy, texture and personality.
The Winemakers
Carla & Malcolm
Sapling Yard was founded by Carla Rodeghiero in 2008 at Charleys Forest, near Braidwood. Malcolm Burdett joined in 2019, and together they’ve now taken over the cellar beneath Aranya Acres.
Carla’s background as a microbiologist brings a thoughtful, observant approach to winemaking, while Malcolm brings deep practical experience and an instinct for wines with energy, texture and personality.
Grapes come from the boutique Charleys Forest vineyard, alongside carefully selected fruit from Canberra, Tumbarumba and other cool-climate sites.
Cellar Door
Tastings, Coming Shortly
The cellar door is on its way, with tastings and winemaker dinners to follow. Until then, the full Sapling Yard range pours upstairs with dinner — alongside our neighbours from across the Canberra District.
Say your vows among the rows, then move to a reception under the tin roof as the sun drops behind the hills. Three customisable packages cover ceremony and reception, with our team coordinating trusted vendor partners so the day simply flows.
Every menu is custom-designed with Chef Praneel — native Australian flavours shaped around your day — and beverages run across three tiers, from Sapling Yard wines grown right here to the Sub Zero Native Series at the bar.
When the last song plays, stay the night: two small homes on the property sleep the wedding party.
70
Seated Guests
300
Outdoor & Festival Style
$88
Packages From, Per Person
2
On-Site Homes to Stay
The Food & Drinks
Custom, Native, Yours
Sit-down feasts, shared banquets or grazing under the gums — every wedding menu is designed with the chef around the season and your story. Three beverage tiers cover local wine, craft cocktails and thoughtful non-alcoholic pours.
The People
We’ve Got You
Coordination, styling partners, celebrants, florists and photographers we trust — built around a team that hosts weddings here every season. Enquire with your date and we’ll reply within 24 hours.
Whether you’re planning an end-of-year celebration for the team, a milestone birthday, a product launch or a formal corporate dinner, our events team will tailor a package to suit your guests, your style and your budget. Dishes move from a wood-fired oven turning out house-fermented sourdough and damper to signature plates built around lemon myrtle, wattleseed and saltbush — while the bar pours native-botanical cocktails and an extensive list of local and estate wines.
20–90
Guests in the Restaurant
150
With the Lawn & Vineyard
30 min
From Central Canberra
Free
On-Site Parking & Standard AV
Our Spaces
The Restaurant & the Vines
The Restaurant
Our light-filled dining room and bar in one connected space, looking directly over the vines. Seated banquets, set-menu dinners and standing cocktail functions all work beautifully here — and the bar sits within the room rather than apart from it. Seated 20–90 · Semi-private or exclusive.
The Lawn & Vineyard
Open-air arrival drinks, ceremonies and receptions among the vines and rose gardens — spectacular in warm weather, and the way we host our largest events. Up to 150 in total, including the restaurant.
Please note our overall capacity is 150 guests, which includes the 90 hosted inside the restaurant — the lawn and vineyard extend the event rather than adding a separate room.
Dedicated event staff · full use of the restaurant bar
Best for 20–90 guests
Pairs from Vineyard Standard +$49pp
from $118pp with beverages
Most Popular
Silver
Harvest
Shared Feast · Seated
$89 per guest · food
Three canapés on arrival with a welcome drink
Wood-fired breads, native butters & dips
Shared feasting banquet — two native mains, wood-fired sides & salads to the table
Shared dessert course · tea & coffee
Full table service up to three hours · printed menus & table styling
Best for 30–90 guests
Pairs from Vineyard Premium +$65pp
from $154pp with beverages
Gold
The Aranya Experience
Chef’s Experience · The Full Destination
$125 per guest · food
Signature native cocktail (or mocktail) on arrival
Five premium canapés during arrival drinks
Chef’s degustation-style banquet or 3-course plated menu
Dessert, petit fours, tea & coffee · chef’s table visit
Premium styling · dedicated event manager · priority choice of space
Best for 20–90 guests
Pairs from Native & Reserve +$89pp
from $214pp with beverages
All prices in AUD and include GST. Menus change with the seasons — every package is fully customisable, and a build-your-own plated set menu (four entrées, four mains, any split) is available on enquiry.
A Taste of the Season
Sample Menus
Canapés
Spiced fried crocodile — pickled watermelon salsa
Kangaroo tartare tartlet — pepperberry, bush tomato
Wattleseed & chocolate crémeux — Davidson-plum gel
Lemon-myrtle posset — macadamia crumble
Native fruits & local cheeses — quandong paste, lavosh
(v) vegetarian · (vg) vegan available · Menus rotate seasonally and are a sample only. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy needs are fully catered with final numbers.
Native & ReserveSignature native cocktail on arrival, reserve wines, full beer & cider range, soft drinks
$79pp
$89pp
Prefer a bar tab or consumption bar? We can run either against a pre-agreed limit. All beverage service is subject to responsible service of alcohol; spirits and additional cocktails can be added to any package.
Make It Unmistakably Aranya
Enhancements & Add-Ons
Live jazz duo or trio
Acoustic music to set the mood, drawing on our live-jazz program.
Native cocktail masterclass
A hands-on session with our bar team building native-botanical drinks.
Estate wine matching
A curated wine paired to each course, introduced by the team.
Winemaker’s welcome
A short introduction from a local winemaker over arrival drinks.
Dessert or grazing station
A styled roaming station to extend the grazing or finish the night.
Vineyard arrival drinks
Welcome your guests on the lawn among the vines before moving inside.
Cooking demonstration
A wood-fired demo from the kitchen as live entertainment.
Styling, florals & signage
Native florals, custom menus, place cards and welcome signage.
AV & presentation
Microphone, screen and sound for speeches, awards or presentations.
Transfers & accommodation
We can help coordinate coach transfers from Canberra and nearby stays.
Any enhancement can be added to a package — pricing confirmed on enquiry.
Venue Hire
Minimum Spend, Not Hire Fees
Rather than a fixed hire fee, most of our events run on a minimum spend — a total food-and-beverage commitment for your booking. Reach it with your chosen packages and there’s no separate hire charge.
Space / event type
Guests
Indicative minimum spend
Semi-private restaurantIntimate dinners
20–45
From $2,500 off-peak / $4,000 peak
Semi-private restaurantLarger groups
45–70
From $5,000 off-peak / $8,000 peak
Exclusive use of the restaurant
70–90
From $10,000 off-peak / $15,000 peak
Restaurant with the lawn & vineyard
Up to 150
Quoted on enquiry
Minimum spends vary by date and season — peak Christmas dates and Saturdays sit at the higher end. Smaller semi-private bookings (from around 20–30 guests) can often run with no minimum spend at all. Complimentary parking, a dedicated event contact and standard AV come with every function.
The Fine Print
Booking Terms
Confirmation, deposit & payment
A booking is confirmed on receipt of a signed agreement and a 25% deposit of the estimated total (or the venue-hire component). Dates are held tentatively for up to seven days. The balance is payable seven days before the event, unless prior credit terms are agreed for corporate accounts.
Final numbers & dietaries
Confirmed guest numbers and menu selections are due fourteen days before the event; catering is charged on the confirmed number or the number attending, whichever is greater. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy needs are catered confidently when advised with final numbers.
Cancellation
Cancellations more than 30 days out forfeit the deposit; within 30 days, 50% of the estimated total applies; within 7 days, the full estimated total applies.
Service & pricing
All alcohol is served under our licence and RSA obligations, and we reserve the right to refuse service. Prices are current for the stated season, include GST and are confirmed in your event agreement. Public-holiday surcharges may apply.
Let’s Plan Something Memorable
Tell Us the Occasion
Share your date, your numbers and the occasion, and our events team will tailor a proposal to suit — from a twenty-person dinner to one hundred and fifty among the vines.
Our August degustations are booking fast — join us at the long table.
Saturday 8 August · 6:30pm
Aranya Acres Degustation
An Indian-Australian Journey
Five courses. A glass with every plate.
Chef Praneel Singh’s signature degustation — native Australian produce woven with Indian heritage, each course paired with a Canberra District wine. Full vegetarian and vegan journeys available.
