Sydney foodies should be familiar with Orange as a popular weekend destination—but did you know the beautiful, wine-producing region is also home to Australia’s longest-running regional food festival?
Orange FOOD Week—actually, it’s a whole 10 days—will run between Friday 28 March and Sunday 6 April in 2025, with almost 50 events including dinners and lunches with well-known chefs, interactive vineyard sessions, masterclasses and workshops, and family-friendly fun. Basically, it’s our idea of a perfect weekend away, and the perfect reason to plan a trip to the beautiful Central Tablelands region.
“The theme for 2025, ‘Elevate Your Plate’, emphasises the importance of locally sourced produce and sustainable farming, highlighting the relationship between the region’s fertile soils, passionate producers, and acclaimed chefs,” said FOOD Week president Charlotte Gundry.
If you’re keen to know more about what’s on for Orange FOOD Week read on for our picks, or check out the full calendar of events.
One-Off Experiences
One of the signature events of Orange FOOD Week, the Sampson Street Lunch takes over the beautiful street for a loooong lunch under the trees—and it’s typically quite a stylish affair. Tickets are $290pp and include your three-course lunch plated up by some of the region’s top chefs, with paired wines plus canapes and drinks on arrival.
Image credit: Orange Food Week | Facebook
Out among the vines, emerging favourite winery ChaLou is hosting Work with the Winemaker on Friday 4 April, offering a chance for oenophiles to shadow winemakers Nadja and Steve and get a glimpse of vineyard life. Tickets are $170 and include a tour, grape picking, punching down, various tastings, and a vintage lunch with a glass of wine, of course.
Destination Dining
Well-known local wineries will offer special menus and events, like a four-course, hyper-local menu by chef Simon Furley at Rowlee ($95, with a glass of wine on arrival) available Thursdays–Sundays during FOOD Week, while Philip Shaw Wines will host Josie Chapman from The Old Convent for a journey into the Flavours of France ($220) on Saturday 29 March.
At Orange’s luxury accommodation Basalt, popular Orange chef Michael Manners will present a progressive four-course lunch on Sunday 6 April weaving through the cherry orchard and ending with dessert at its highest point, 1100 metres above sea level ($180).
Hillside will host an orchard tour and long table lunch among the apple trees on Sunday 30 March ($140), and Swinging Bridge is celebrating 30 years on Sunday 30 March with Bubbles and Brunch, offering a sophisticated menu of oysters, crab sandwiches, caviar and more alongside their popular sparkling (from $50).
Local Flavour
As well as wine, Orange is known for its apple production—making it the perfect spot to join a traditional apple pie-making workshop at Hillside Harvest Orchard, including picking the fruits right off the trees while learning about apple cultivation (Friday 28 March, $85).
Image credit: Orange FOOD Week | Facebook
The popular Night Market on Friday 28 March ($10 entry) is a chance to wander through almost 50 stalls meeting local producers and stocking up on goodies to take home while enjoying live music and drinks, while the free Producers Market and Brunch on Sunday 6 April closes out FOOD Week with a laid-back brunch prepared by local chefs.
Out among the vines, you can take in the scenery by visiting Printhie Wines on Wednesdays–Sundays during FOOD Week for a Printhie Picnic, including a guided tasting, picnic hamper and your choice of a bottle of wine to enjoy on the estate ($90).
Hot tip: If you don’t know where to start with planning or booking your Orange FOOD Week (or want the headache of working out who’ll be your designated driver), hop on the Food Train: a three-day package with return train travel to Orange, two nights accommodation, and shuttles between your wineries and events from $1590pp.
Main image credit: Orange FOOD Week | Supplied