30 Minutes from Canberra: Wood-Fired Pizza, Hot Chocolate and a Little Weekend Escape
There are a handful of places around Canberra that our family seems to return to again and again on weekends. But every now and then, I want somewhere new — not too far away, easy with children, but just far enough to feel like we have actually gone somewhere.
That is how we ended up at Four Winds Vineyard in Murrumbateman, only around 30 minutes from Canberra.
It was during the school holidays, and even on a weekday the vineyard was lively with families and children coming in for pizza. The atmosphere immediately felt relaxed and welcoming. For the kids, watching pizzas slide in and out of the wood-fired oven was almost as exciting as eating them. For the adults, there was wine, vineyard scenery and that unmistakable feeling of slowing down for a while.
I have always loved vineyards. There is something about rows of vines, open country views and a glass of wine that makes an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special. We often think of wineries for anniversaries or celebrations, so finding one where the children could happily sit down with pizza and ice cream made the experience feel surprisingly easy.
And the pizza was genuinely good.
Our favourite was the BBQ Chicken pizza, fresh from the wood-fired oven with that slightly smoky, crisp base that is difficult to recreate anywhere else. My five-year-old enjoyed the whole experience so much that he was already talking about coming back again with his friends.
What I loved most, though, was the feeling of being away. We had barely left Canberra, yet the vineyards and country roads somehow made it feel as though we had driven much further.
After pizza and ice cream, we continued just a few minutes down the road to Murrumbateman Chocolate Co.
It is a small chocolate shop, but that is part of its charm. We chose several beautifully made chocolates and sat outside overlooking the water. They arrived on a simple stone plate, and somehow that tiny detail — handmade chocolates, a quiet lake, fresh country air — turned an ordinary afternoon snack into one of those little moments you remember.
Then came the hot chocolate.
This was not the kind made with a quick spoonful of chocolate powder. It tasted like real chocolate had been melted into the drink: rich, smooth and deeply chocolatey without being overwhelming. Sitting by the water with that cup in my hands, I remember thinking that it might genuinely be the best hot chocolate I had ever had.
There was nothing particularly complicated about the day. We drove half an hour, ate pizza, watched it being cooked, had ice cream, bought a few chocolates and sat beside a lake.
But perhaps that is exactly why I loved it.
Sometimes the best family outings are not the biggest attractions or the carefully planned day trips. They are places close enough to visit without much preparation, but different enough to make you feel refreshed when you come home.
Four Winds Vineyard and Murrumbateman Chocolate Co. feel like one of those hidden little escapes — close to Canberra, wonderfully easy with children, and just far enough away to feel like a miniature holiday.
And judging by how often my children have asked, “Can we go and have that pizza again?”, I have a feeling it will not be our last visit.
Four Winds Vineyard
Address: 9 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman NSW 2582
Tel. (02) 6227 0189
Website: fourwindsvineyard.com.au
Murrumbateman Chocolate Co
Address: 1153 Nanima Road, Murrumbateman NSW 2582
Tel. 0417 065 209
Website: murrumbatemanchocolate.com.au
