Food, music and adventure are some of my favourite things in life.
The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock, held on Sunday the 27th of February, combines my greatest passions in a food-filled, music-enhanced rock climb (optional) that leaves my spirit soaring.
'Climbing' the great
mamelon is probably too strong a word. It can conjure images of scaling precarious precipes and swinging from ropes. While there are some precarious ledges, you won't find yourself on the edge of any if you keep to the designated track. The 'upward walk' is classified as 'easy to moderate', so anyone in reasonable health, and kids, can explore
Hanging Rock, its nooks and crannies, extraordinary rock formations, and stunning vistas.
It's the spectacular site of the famed Picnic at Hanging Rock book (and subsequent film) in which a group of school girls mysteriously disappeared on Valentine's Day in 1900. While it's based in fiction, the story has taken on a spooky sense of reality over the years, which is helped along by the mysterious formations of the rock and the echoing sounds that hauntingly reverberate in parts.
Anyhow, back to the biggest and best picnic you will ever attend (unless you also attend sister event,
The Age Spring Harvest Picnic at Werribee Park on the last Sunday each November).
Meander from food to wine to boutique beer stall, sample a little here, buy a little there, maybe some to enjoy while relaxing on the lawns, and maybe some to take home to draw out the delectable experience for as long as possible.
This celebration of Victorian food and wine attracts more than 100
producers - so do bring an appetite (and runners or walking or climbing boots if you're exploring the rock, and cash, as there are no card facilities).
You can also catch a cooking demo and groove to some very groovy beats with some of our biggest culinary and musical movers and shakers, respectively that is. I'm not sure how Stefano de Pieri would go belting out a tune on the stage (though I reckon the jolly chap would entertain no matter what), or whether Combo la Revelacion can shake the pans as well as they do their hips. See the line-up
here.
Here's a handy
flyer with more important info. However, you do it, just do it.
