Today folks, we are back in action with our third instalment of epic wedding venue round-ups (all separated into their very own categories for your easy perusal, of couse!) In case you missed them, we’ve already blogged the Top 16 Urban Wedding Venues and the Top 12 Coastal Wedding Venues and now, you’ll find below our fave country wedding venues to consider (and hopefully book) for your big day.
As per usual, we’ve researched, read and edited countless Real Weddings for the blog and for the magazine, and consider ourselves pretty schooled on a darn good wedding venue (if we do say so ourselves), so scroll down for 28 different options, in no particular order, of course – we had so many faves, we upped the number that made the cut this time round. Whether you fancy a sweet soiree under the trees at Audley Dance Hall, a barnyard feast at Waldara, a weekend celebration at The Acres of Tooborac, or a European-inspired affair at Amarti, we have got you sorted. We have also endeavoured to cover venues across all our stunning states from Woodburn Homestead in South Australia to gorgeous Gabbinar Homestead in the sunshine state.
Oh, and if you fancy seeing some of these venues (and others) in action then pop over to our online store and nab yourself a copy of our super spesh latest Real Wedding Special here. While you’re at it, why not grab a Wedding Planner & Notebook to keep all your notes/thoughts/ideas in one tidy and super-cute spot. Happy scrolling and planning.
TOCAL HOMESTEAD
At this rustic and elegant Hunter Valley venue you can say ‘I do’ under the gigantic fig trees, in the homestead garden or more formally in the Tocal Chapel (which can seat up to 130 people). Then move the party over to the barn, with the most epic sunset views, and the legends from Sprout Catering ready to serve your guests up a delicious feast! With everything on-site, including accomodation, this special space should be added to your venue hitlist.
Location: Hunter Valley, NSW
AUDLEY DANCE HALL
Whether you’re keen on a rustic affair, or a garden soiree, you’ll want to add Audley Dance Hall to your list when location scouting. Accommodating for an intimate event of 20, up to 200, the gorgeous verandah, dance hall and its surrounds provides the perfect setting and view for you to tie the knot in the peace and quiet of the Royal National Park. Plus, the food is pretty freaking scrumptious – trust us, we’ve ventured there plenty of times to try it for ourselves! This is our pick for people wanting a country venue but not wanting to travel. Check out the real weddings we have featured on the blog, held at this stunning venue. And to find out more, get in touch with the wonderful Audley team here.
Location: Royal National Park, NSW
EMU BOTTOM HOMESTEAD
Fun fact: Emu Bottom is Victoria’s oldest homestead. The team behind it, The Epicurean Group, have absolutely nailed the brief when it comes to thoughtfully restoring the property to be uber chic while still honouring its history. Surrounded by expansive lawns (perf for a marquee wedding!), Emu Bottom sits in the Macedon Ranges, an easy half hour drive from Melbourne. For Nicole & Damien, there was no competition when choosing their venue. “We knew we wanted a unique venue with an outdoor setting, relaxed atmosphere, which also allowed dogs. We went to a few places before visiting Emu Bottom Homestead and we instantly fell in love with the place the moment we stepped into the grounds.” For more info from The Epicurean Group, reach out to them here.
Location: Sunbury, VIC
THE BOWER ESTATE
Up in the mountain ranges of the Gold Coast Hinterland, The Bower Estate sits on 120 acres of green forest. If you like the idea of a wedding overlooking mountain ridges and rolling hills, then we’ve found the venue you have been searching for! Only an hour from Coolangatta airport, the reception space is a clear marquee adorned with fairy lights and nestled snugly in the surrounding National Park. There’s plenty of great spots for photos too, with some picturesque opportunities for colourful sunset skies. Known for their signature feasting tables, you will be taken on a culinary journey with the luxe menu options. To find out more, read all about their wedding packages here.
Location: Natural Bridge, QLD
WILDWOOD
There is no better place to take some dazzling golden hour shots than swanning around the lush forest surrounds of this magical Kangaroo Valley venue. Nature takes centerstage here – there’s an incredible natural rock cathedral (perfect for ceremonies), a sunset deck (with breathtaking views) and a modern yet rustic reception space where you can celebrate with your people. These guys are serious about creating environementally-responsible weddings and offer all-inclusive packages so your dream day is completely taken care of by a rockstar bunch of vendors. Get in touch with the talented team here.
Location: Kangaroo Valley, NSW
LILBURNDALE
Previously an old orange orchard and now the rustic wedding venue of our dreams, Lilburndale is just an hour-and-a-half out of Sydney in the Hawkesbury region, but has stunning sweeping views, which whisk you a world away from the big smoke. This 1100-acre farm has a historic sandstone homestead ‘Lilburndale House’ – the ideal backdrop for your ceremony – while the reception venue ‘The Packing Shed’ caters for up to 120 guests for a canape-style wedding and 100 for a sit-down dinner. To see how epic this venue really is (and for some serious styling inspo), take a squiz at Christina & Jeremy’s wedding, then reach out to the Lilburndale team, who will take care of every aspect of your day, here.
Location: Sackville, NSW
THE OLD DAIRY MALENY
This sprawling Queensland venue has won our hearts. Boasting sweeping views of the Sunshine Coast hinterland and surrounded by rainforest, this blank canvas venue can host cocktail or sit-down celebrations, has a luxurious cottage (The Rocking Horse) on-site, and the photo opportunities are out-of-the-world good. Shannan & Johnny’s Sunny Coast wedding shows just what a stunner this space is: “The moment I got out of the car I knew The Old Dairy Maleny was where we were going to get married,” the couple told us. “I immediately got goosebumps and fell completely in love with the breathtaking views of the hinterland. It was absolutely stunning.”
Location: Maleny, QLD
GABBINBAR HOMESTEAD
There’s a chance you’ve already heard of Gabbinbar Homestead, and with good reason. The historic estate is simply spectactular, and has elegance on tap. Something the venue always prides itself on is its versatility, which Archee and Pat can attest to. “We’d been to a wedding at Gabbinbar Homestead previously and my friend sang praises of their planning team, who made every effort to support us through a chaotic multicultural wedding,” the couple shared. “The chef made a huge effort to customise the menu for us with a ‘mecca and mandir’ live cooking station.” How delish, and what a crew! Drop the incredible Gabbinbar Homestead team a line here.
Location: Toowoomba, QLD
GOODIN COUNTRY GARDEN
Located between the mountains and the sea, Goodin Country Garden offers up gorg views by the bucketload. You can get married in the sprawling garden and retreat to the elegant on-site homestead after the celebration. Want to see more from this epic venue? Look no further than Monique & Matt’s New Zealand Wedding. “As soon as we saw the Goodin Country Garden we both knew that it was the perfect venue to accommodate us with its large lush front lawn, beautiful five-bedroom homestead and stunning views of Mount Taranaki all the way to the ocean,” the couple gushed.
Location: Taranaki, New Zealand
GOOSEWING COTTAGE
A super cute cottage that doubles as a wedding venue, Goosewing Cottage is a must-see for couples wanting to elope or celebrate with up to 20 of their fave people. This sweet-AF venue has been hitching loved-up, chilled-out couples since 2015, and were pioneers of affordable and simple yet stunning elopement packages in the NSW Hunter Valley. They make it super easy to say I do by offering packages that include everything you need (celebrant, photographer, florals… you get the drift), plus once you’ve made it offish, you can stay onsite and enjoy the perfectly picturesque surrounds. Get in touch with the team here.
Location: Hunter Valley, NSW
LEONARDS HILL ESTATE
With breathtaking views and only a short drive from Melbourne and Daylesford, all four acres of Leonards Hill Estate is picture-perfect. With a glorious country-style homestead to match the spanning property, there are endless photo opportunities, as well as indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception options and accomodation on-site for up to eight people. Bonus! HM Directory vendors, no less, you can find more details and contact them here.
Location: Leonards Hill, VIC
PIONEER COUNTRY
Surrounded by rolling hills, this 170-acre working cattle farm truly boasts the ideal modern country aesthetic… with ocean views to boot! These guys offer up the whole shebang, too – from a paddock-to-plate menu that celebrates the best of Tweed Valley produce to the nitty-gritty of planning your big day and picture-perfect table settings. We’re such big fans of this venue, it even made it onto the cover of our latest Real Wedding Special! Get in touch with the talented team here.
Location: Tweed Heads, NSW
POACHERS PANTRY
Renowned for their fresh and seasonal food offering, Poachers Pantry is an award-winning smokehouse, vineyard, farm shop and topnotch all-inclusive wedding venue. Caitlin & Matt knew what was up hosting their chic country affair at this pretty-as-a-picture locale, not far from the Canberra CBD. You’ll find this family-owned space over on our directory, where you can shoot off an enquiry direct.
Location: Canberra, ACT
THE ACRES OF TOOBORAC
Whether you’re going grand or opting for an intimate soiree, The Acres Of Tooborac has you covered – and if delish scenery is at the top of your agenda, all the grammable goodness on offer here is sure to delight. Being just one hour from Melbourne and 15 minutes from the Macedon wine region, The Acres is the ideal country venue – flexible, versatile and gorgeous. The owners can be as involved with helping plan your dream day as you like and all packages include two nights accommodation for up 10 people in the beautifully-restored on-site cottages, venue hire, free flowers and styling items. LOVE. Learn more and get in touch with property owners Jacob and Brad here.
Location: Tooborac, VIC
THE BURROW
Nestled in the Wombat State Forest, not far from Daylesford, this thoughtfully-built events space, which can seats up to 170, has cathedral ceilings and exposed hardwood trusses – it’s a rustic barn-style building with modern touches which allows couples to make the venue completely their own. Surrounded by forest, there are also photo ops aplenty! Take a look here at Tylah & Dylan’s wedding if you fancy this venue for yourself, and then jump on over to our directory to make contact.
Location: Denver, VIC
THE RIDGE ESTATE
The ultimate blank canvas venue for your wedfest on the Central Coast. Bring your dream vision to life on this expansive estate, with the help of the venue coordinator and the gorg collection of furniture and decor at your disposal. There’s also a homestead that sleeps 10 and offers up the perfect place to get-ready for your best-day-ever and wind down once it’s done. Of course, these guys are on the HM directory – check them out, then shoot off an enquiry here.
Location: Peats Ridge, NSW
THE EPICUREAN RED HILL
If you haven’t worked it out yet, we love a venue with a bit of history behind it, and The Epicurean Red Hill is no different. The iconic Cool Store has been standing since 1921, and it is indeed very cool, in every sense of the word. The Loft, filled with natural light and overlooking the hinterland, is an ideal spot for romantic indoor nuptials, while the masterfully designed Shed, encompassing Carrara marble and open fireplaces, allows up to 225 peeps to enjoy a seated dinner at your reception. Speaking of dinner, the team only use regional produce to ensure the freshest and most divine culinary experience. Sold? Get in touch with The Epicurean Group here.
Location: Red Hill South, VIC
THE ROBERTSON HOTEL
We just love the rustic charm of this grand old dame of a hotel. With 14 acres of gardens, a beautiful ballroom and accomodation to house up to 100 guests, this Southern Highlands venue hosts some seriously impressive weddings. There are plenty of romantic backdrops to explore both indoor and out, plus the food is delish and the service mighty fine… what more could you want?! Start the planning process here.
Location: Robertson, NSW
MALI BRAE FARM
Mali Brae Farm is truly a unique place to get hitched. Originally a dairy farm that fell into disrepair, the property was rescued by the Dark family who have lovingly restored every element of the property, including the mesmerising rustic ruins that you can see above, which now serve as a ceremony spot. HM couple Amelia and Josh knew that Mali Brae Farm was ‘the one’ as soon as they saw it. “The owners and their team were so kind and welcoming, and the venue itself was just absolutely stunning,” they told us. “It had the exact vibe that we didn’t even know we wanted!” Get in touch with the aforementioned super lovely owners, Shelley and Greg, and their team here.
Location: Moss Vale, NSW
THE VALLEY ESTATE
Timeless, elegant, luxe are just a coupla words which come to mind when we think of this epic country venue in the Currumbin Valley. With three spaces, The Manor, The Glasshouse, The Chapel, all satisfying a different part of your day, you can craft a celebration that’s truly unique to you. Georgia & Matt had the good sense to host their nups here, and we’re gd obsessed – we loved their day so much we printed it in issue 37. Check it out here and then head over to their directory listing for more.
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
THE REFECTORY
“The perfect mix of old world charm and contemporary style” is this Victorian venue’s catch-cry and we couldn’t agree more. It’s a European-inspired estate that goes big on sophistication and is as versatile as they come – there are 10 ceremony sites throughout the gardens, while the reception space is big enough to have up to 300 of your fave people along for the ride. If your wedding day vibe is classic and romantic, you’d do well to add this spot to your hitlist.
Location: Werribee Park, VIC
MEWBURN PARK HOMESTEAD
If you’re feeling a bit of a historical backdrop to your day then you’ll do well to pop on over to Mewburn Park to take a squiz. This super spacious property has a homestead and stables dating back to the 1850s and is as charming as it gets. The property also boasts a 25 x 10m clear-view marquee which can cater for 190 peeps, and comes with all the extras, such as a beautifully polished concrete floor, fans, heaters, 1000 fairy lights, dimmable festoon lights and an outdoor deck. Jess & Luke’s wedding showcased the serious beauty of Mewburn Park – check it out for all the inpso and then if you’re vibing this venue like we are, hit ’em up here.
Location: Gippsland, VIC
WALDARA FARM
An 800-acre working farm, this venue in the NSW Blue Mountains region has to be seen to be believed. The gorgeous rustic space truly is a canvas for your special day. All the essentials are there, from scenic photo ops to roaring fireplaces. There are even two onsite accommodation options that can sleep up to 20 guests. Check out the gorg wedding of Prue & Luke, who had this to say, “Both our immediate families were able to stay for a full three days in the beautiful homesteads on the property which made it so relaxed for us all. We had our guests over the following day for a recovery party and it was so great for every to enjoy the property and surrounds for a second day.” Sound like heaven? Hit up the venue right here.
Location: Edith, NSW
THE WOODS FARM
If you like the beach as much as a barn, cottage and farmhouse, this is the venue for you. Coastal in location (just minutes from the shores of St Georges Basin), but country in look and feel, The Woods Farm is one heck of a spot to get married. There’s glamping and cottages and animals and more, not to mention unique set-ups for ceremony and reception you simply have to see. For a tonne of inspo, check out Charlotte & Shane’s wedding.
Location: Jervis Bay, NSW
THREE BLUE DUCKS
There is no way we could do this post without including one of our all-time favourite venues, Three Blue Ducks. They have five locations around NSW and VIC, but it’s the Bellingen space we’re focussing on in this ol’ round-up (though the Byron and inner-city locales are also bloody good). Located in the beautiful regional town of Bellingen on the north coast, this space provides a range of lush, garden-style locations, both indoor and outdoor, and their focus on good food (hello fresher than fresh produce!) leaves everyone with a good taste in their mouth – pun intended! Check out their directory listing with us here.
Location: Belligen, NSW
WOODBURN HOMESTEAD
Listen up SA brides and grooms, this breathtaking property, complete with gum-lined driveway, is exclusively yours for your special day – it’s a country venue with a serious side of chic and we are big fans. You can go as fancy as you feel here and it won’t look out of place, or play up to its natural charm (hello open-air chapel of our dreams), it’s all up to you. Check out Katie & Matt’s wedding, who had this to say about the stunning spot: “We had three pre-requisites for our wedding venue – old stone buildings, doggo friendly and a place where we could transition from ceremony to reception with just a few steps. It was the perfect place for my boho dream to come to life and it literally ticked all of our boxes.” Get in touch with this Hello May recommended vendor via their directory listing here.
Location: Langhorne Creek, SA
AMARTI
A country-style venue with a chic, European-inspired edge like no other, Amarti will transport you from Gippsland to Tuscany – if you love food, wine and perfectly manicured grounds, this is the locale for you. Built in 1917, inspired by the architecture of a French chateau, Amarti, at the heritage-listed Cowwarr Butter Factory, serves up sophiscated vibes by the bucketload – get hitched in the French prairie gardens, feast on authentic Italian cuisine and dance under the fairylight-wrapped peppercorn tree. Heaven! Translated from Italian, Amarti means ‘To love you’, and there’s so much to love about this aboslute gem in regional Victoria. Get in touch with the lovely owners and start the planning process here.
Location: Gippsland, VIC
WOOLBROOK HOMESTEAD
Another epic country homestead-style venue for a wedding or elopement, Woolbrook Homestead was originally built in 1857 and is the heartbeat of this picturesque property. Just over an hour from Melbourne and only 30 minutes from Geelong, this beautiful old family-run and owned working farm offers up the dreamiest outdoor wedding opportunities, with the added bonus of on-site accomodation for up to 10 guests in the original bluestone homestead, as well as glamping and recovery party options.
Location: Teesdale, VIC
CREDITS Photos (from top) KLD Photography, Gui Jorge, Callan Robison Photography, Mel Badsey, Wilde Visual, KLD Photography, Jayde Creative Co, Luke Middlemiss, Stories By Ash, Emily Hugo, Cavanagh Photography, Inkd Fotogrfa, Shane Shepherd, Milton Gan, Lee David Pena, The Berhardts, Georgia Verrells, Susannah Johnson, Lavan Photography, Zinette Hopper, Translucent Photography, Shane Shepherd, Theodore & Co, Ashleigh Haase, Hannah Blackmore, Ona Janzen, Maple and June, Stories By Ash, Jessica Mary Photography, Petite Visuals, Dream Cave
