What's on in Great Western this Easter

by Kirsty Baker

The Grampians region is always a hive of activity every Easter with many families making the annual pilgrimage to our region to soak up all we have to offer.  


Great Western, the wine and food village of the Grampians is always a great place to visit, but over Easter, there is, even more, to explore, indulge and enjoy. The Great Western Rodeo is hosted by the Great Western Football Netball Club every Good Friday. It’s an action-packed family day that starts from 12:00 pm on Friday and will go through until around 8:30 pm.


Ultimate Helicopters will be flying out of Seppelt Wines all weekend with joy flights over the village and Grampians. From just $70 you can have an amazing experience and see the amazing Grampians from the sky.


Great Western is well known for being a historic wine mecca, with some of the oldest established vines in Australia and home to the amazing Seppelt Underground Cellars. There are over three kilometres of hand dug drives that you can explore all Easter. Tours depart Seppelt Wines Cellar door every hour, on the hour from 11 am until 3pm.  It truly is a national treasure.


Seppelt Wines are also offering premium tastings, with wines from the Seppelt Luxury Collection and also opening 12-year-old St Peters Shiraz. There will be live music at Seppelt Wines on both Saturday and Sunday with Double Agents playing Saturday afternoon and Dave Drummond and Some Blonde Chick playing Sunday afternoon. Admission is free and there will be plenty of gourmet foods available and the Seppelt Bar will be open. To keep the kids happy on Easter Sunday at Seppelt Wines there will be a range of free kids activities including a jumping castle, face painting, plaster painting, lawn games and colouring.  Bring the kids and be entertained this Easter Sunday with their free family fun day and then finish off the day with the Great Western Cinema in the Vines Series showing of Australian family classic THE CASTLE at AT Richardson Wines from 4:30 PM - a free family event Easter Sunday. Bring your blankets, deck chairs and have a laugh at this Australian classic movie. ATR Wines will be available and a community run BBQ for dinner.
Iconic family winery Best's Great Western's cellar door will be open each day from 10 AM - 5 PM. They also have live music by Andrew Grahame on Easter Saturday from 12 - 4 PM and on Easter Sunday by Jason Hoekstra from 12.30 - 4.30PM. Bring a blanket, sit back and relax enjoying the live music in the vines over award-winning wines and lamb and chicken falafel kebabs by food vendor the Very Hungry Caterpillar each afternoon.


Grampians Estate Cellar door will also be open all Easter from 10 am until 5 pm. Grampians Estate has long been known for its cool climate peppery shiraz.  Call in and try some amazing wines.



The Great Western Hotel will be open all Easter with meals, plenty of cold beer and the largest Grampians Wine list you will find anywhere!  Saturday night at the Great Western Hotel is set to be huge with local legend Mud Madex playing live from around 7:30 pm Saturday night. Free admission and a free shuttle bus are available on Saturday night from Stawell & Ararat.


Salingers Cafe, right in the heart of Great Western is open all Easter with Breakfast available every day from 7 am. Both Saturday and Sunday night their chef is preparing an amazing Tapas Menu that will be available from 6 pm - bookings are essential to secure your table!


Steel Cutters Cottage, Great Western’s bespoke dining offering will be open from noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a relaxed Wine Bar style Menu of French and Mediterranean inspired Tasting Plates and Tasting Boards designed to share with family & friends. Booking is preferred.
There will be a free bus from Halls Gap, Ararat & Stawell on Easter Saturday and Sunday available. For more information on what Great Western has to offer this Easter and the free bus schedule  please visit www.destinationgreatwestern.com.au