This is indeed a picnic of gastronomic proportions.
The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock brings together over 100 Victorian producers of fine food and wine amidst beautiful natural surrounds, as well as
cooking demonstrations and music for a merry, mouthwatering day.
Can you image browsing, sampling and buying cheeses, wines, smallgoods, sensational sweets, the state's best ice-cream, and specialty items for an entire day? I can. In fact, I indulge twice a year – at this picnic as well as sister event,
The Age Spring Harvest Picnic at Werribee Park, in November.
It's a bi-annual foodie ritual that has a couple of carloads of us heading to the hills for a day to celebrate the finer things in life in the fabulous fresh air.
Tantalise the tastebuds and take a look at the various exhibitors
here. Need I say more?
On top of the food, wine and great company, not that you need much more, we also enjoy exploring the fabulous location. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'd know that
Hanging Rock, under an hour from Melbourne, is the site at the centre of Joan Lindsay's book,
Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Peter Weir's subsequent film by the same name, which is now an Australian classic.
It follows the story of a party of schoolgirls who picnicked there on February 14th 1900, several of whom eerily disappeared without a trace... Not the most ideal way to spend your Valentine's Day.
I recommend
climbing the rock. It's only 2 kilometres, but uphill naturally, so allow an hour or two to also explore its sometimes-spooky caves and tunnels.
Not only will you work off all the goodies that have migrated to your hips faster than you can say, "Did you try that chocolate?", you'll also get some spectacular views and a sense of the mystery, intrigue and certain presence that emanates there.
Bring whatever you'd normally take to a picnic – rug, folding chairs, hats and sunscreen – but leave the food at home. There's plenty to be had here.
