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Gisborne is a town nestled in the rolling hills of the Macedon Ranges Wine Region, only 45 minutes from the Melbourne CBD.
Known for its cool-climate wines and charming country feel, Gisborne is a haven for those seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Among the rustling grapevines and at the cellar door, you may hear locals whispering of ‘Greg the Ghost Grape’ – a wandering round spirit said to haunt the fields, forever yearning for a romantic getaway in a vineyard cottage for two. Lucky visitors may hear Greg’s signature cry – “A toast! A toast! To the finest of vines and the grandest of times!”.
Some say, if you listen closely, you can hear the faint clink of phantom glasses in the breeze. We can neither confirm nor deny that this is Greg. It may just be a cow.
Anyway, Gisborne Peak Winery itself is set on 18 acres of off-grid property, with cottages run on solar and wind energy. Thirteen lucky acres are planted in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Semillon, and Riesling vines!
Modern inverter technology and battery storage, ensure that the site remains sustainable, environmentally friendly and perfect for Greg. Note that while human Gregs are allowed indoors, Ghost Grapes are encouraged to remain in the vines.
What are we waiting for? Let’s check it out!
On this visit, we were booked into the Peppermint Gum cottage but did have to relocate to the next-door Fernery Cottage due to some unforeseen issues with the water.
Both cottages we saw on our visit had a similar feel and layout. Just noting this now so that if the pictures show the furniture or cabin in a different location – it’s not Greg moving things around.
Each cottage on site sleeps two adults only – so make sure to leave your children, babies and pets in Melbourne. The cottages are self-contained and provide views of the countryside and vines.
The cottages are off-grid so are as eco friendly as possible, while still providing air conditioning and heating units to keep you at your favourite temperature. This does mean that internet is limited, so pre-download all your back-episodes of Doctor Who.
Each cottage features a separate lounge area and kitchenette, with a generous breakfast hamper of eggs, bacon, cereal yoghurt and more provided on arrival.
Check in at the cellar door, which also serves wood-fired pizzas and a range of grazing platters!
The beds are comfortable and the area is peaceful – so perfect for reading on the deck, or having a relaxing break.
On our second afternoon, there were a few stickybeaks that ventured up from the cellar door restaurant to have a look around. Everyone was respectful though and we could definitely see the allure of going for a vineyard explore .
What a wonderful surprise it was for those unexpected wanderers to turn a corner and be greeted by two wise pixies – my husband and I sunning ourselves in camp chairs on the balcony (not in a weird way). Little wrens danced around us making the most of the blue skies and greenery.
We were a vision.
Our stay at the Gisborne Peak Winery was a relaxing interlude on our 2024 March Road Trip.
When we were visiting, the property hadn’t had a good rainfall for a long time. As the cottages run on tank water, we had to relocate from our first cottage, as the remaining water in the first tank was quite yellow and had a smell from the leaf tannins etc.
The owners couldn’t have been more accommodating though, especially considering that they live off-site and weren’t immediately on hand to assist.
We were provided with plenty of bottled water, and offered to move into the alternate cottage straight away. They also sent a follow up email apologising for the issue and hoping it wouldn’t impact the rest of our stay. We were very grateful for their quick response and kindness.
The neighbouring towns are only about 20 minutes drive for all of your book shopping and coffee requirements, and the chance to relax in the afternoon at our private cottage was a treat.
Recommended for lovers of eco-tourism, wandering grape vines and accommodating hosts.
When we go away, we always take a few books with us so that we’ve got something on hand to read 🙂
When staying in such a picturesque spot, we’d recommend packing some great reads that spell out your location.
Some books on our TBR list you might want to check out include:
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