What it is
Mount Duneed Estate is a winery and events venue at 65 Pettavel Road, Waurn Ponds, on the farmland between Torquay and Geelong. It's about 100 acres of vineyard, rolling hills and an olive grove, with a cellar door, the Barrel Hall restaurant, a Garden Bar in the warmer months and eight accommodation pods.
It's a bigger, busier operation than the small family cellar doors. It hosts a lot of weddings and runs concerts with local and international acts. For a visitor, the useful bit is that the cellar door is open every day, which isn't true of most wineries around here. If it's a Monday and you want a tasting, this is the one.
Tastings
The cellar door is open seven days for tastings and wine sales. When we checked, there were two tastings, a Regional Tasting at $15 a head and a Premium Tasting at $20. The fee comes off if you buy wine to take away.
From Monday to Wednesday there are grazing platters to go with the wine. From Thursday to Sunday the full restaurant menu is on. Groups of 15 or more pay a $10 a head deposit, so ring ahead if you're a crowd.
The Barrel Hall and the Garden Bar
The Barrel Hall
The restaurant, open for lunch from Thursday to Sunday. Head chef Daniel Duve cooks a seasonal menu with local produce: shared starters, plated mains with sides, desserts and cheese or grazing boards. It's worth booking.
Lunch deals
A feed-me menu of three small plates, two mains and three sides for $65 a head. On Thursday and Friday there's a $45 lunch with a glass of wine or beer, a main and two sides to share. Prices are from October 2026 and will change.
The Garden Bar
A casual outdoor space looking over the vines, open for lunch Thursday to Sunday in the warmer months, weather permitting. It's walk-in only, it's dog friendly, and they'll bring a water bowl if you ask.
Concerts, weddings and the pods
Mount Duneed runs concerts with local and international acts, and its function spaces hold up to 500 people. Check the estate's what's on page before you go, so you know whether you're arriving on a quiet Thursday or a concert day. If you're coming down for a wedding here, our wedding accommodation guide has some planning tips.
The estate also has eight one-bedroom pods with king beds, continental breakfast and a bottle of sparkling, if you'd like to stay among the vines.
Hours at a glance
- Cellar door: seven days
- Barrel Hall restaurant: lunch, Thursday to Sunday
- Garden Bar: lunch, Thursday to Sunday in the warmer months, weather permitting
Times and bookings are on the Mount Duneed Estate website.
Getting there and what's nearby
From north Torquay, head up the Surf Coast Highway and across towards Waurn Ponds. It's about 15 minutes. It's close enough to be a lunch out rather than a whole day, and close enough that the drive home is short. Victoria's limit is 0.05 for full licence holders and zero for learners and P-platers, so pick a driver.
It pairs well with Bellbrae Estate on the other side of Torquay for a two-winery day that never goes far from home. Or go on into Geelong afterwards for a walk on the waterfront.
Mt Duneed Estate FAQ
Where is Mt Duneed Estate?
65 Pettavel Road, Waurn Ponds, between Torquay and Geelong. About 15 minutes from north Torquay.
Is the cellar door open every day?
Yes, seven days for tastings and wine sales.
How much is a tasting?
$15 for the Regional Tasting or $20 for the Premium Tasting when we checked, taken off if you buy wine.
When is the restaurant open?
The Barrel Hall does lunch from Thursday to Sunday. Book ahead.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, to the Garden Bar, which is dog friendly and open in the warmer months.
Does it host concerts?
Yes, with local and international acts. See the estate's what's on page.
For more cellar doors, see our wineries guide, from the Bellarine to the Moorabool Valley. For beer instead, there's the breweries guide, including Blackman's in nearby Grovedale. Staying in north Torquay? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 20 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Dine — Mount Duneed Estate (official)
- Mount Duneed Estate — Mount Duneed Estate (official)
- Mt Duneed Estate — Visit Geelong and the Bellarine