Our Story
About
Aranya Acres
Aranya — Sanskrit for wilderness and quiet secluded place. We built this venue to be exactly that.
The Founders
From Contentious Character to Aranya Acres
Aranya Acres was born from a deep love of this land. Located on the former Contentious Character site in Wamboin, NSW — both of our founders previously worked here before transforming it into something entirely new.
We wanted to create a place where people could truly escape — where the city falls away and something more honest takes its place. A restaurant, a bar, a winery, a gallery, and an events venue all woven into one living, breathing destination.
Our Founders
“Aranya”
Sanskrit for wilderness and quiet secluded place.
The name reflects everything we stand for — a place to unwind, to reconnect with nature, and to discover something unexpected in the rolling hills of Wamboin.
The Kitchen
Chef de Cuisine Praneel Singh
Chef de Cuisine Praneel Singh leads our kitchen with a philosophy rooted in the Australian landscape. His menus are built around native ingredients — lemon myrtle, dorrigo pepper, finger lime, macadamia, wattleseed — woven together with multicultural heritage influences.
Every dish is an invitation to taste this country in a new way. Seasonal, honest, and always unexpected.
Lemon Myrtle
Dorrigo Pepper
Finger Lime
Macadamia
Wattleseed
Bush Tomato
The Winery
Sapling Yard Wines
Sapling Yard Wines is an independent, award-winning winery that shares our home at Aranya Acres in a beautifully symbiotic relationship — think clownfish and sea anemone. Two separate entities, each thriving because of the other.
Founded by Carla Rodeghiero with winemaker Malcolm Burdett at the helm, Sapling Yard sources their grapes from their own vineyard in Braidwood's Charley's Forest. Their wines are crafted with care and a deep respect for the Canberra region's cool-climate terroir — and we're proud to pour them alongside our native-focused menu.
Alongside Sapling Yard, we proudly feature wines from celebrated Canberra producers — Pankhurst, Surveyor's Hill, Lark Hill, and Poachers Pantry. A true celebration of the Canberra wine region.
The Bar
Sub Zero Native Series
Our signature cocktail series is chilled to −12°C — showcasing Australian native botanicals in a way that's never been done before. Cold, complex, and completely original.
We also offer extensive non-alcoholic options, ensuring every guest experiences the full depth of our native ingredient philosophy — regardless of what's in their glass.
The Gallery
Rotating Local Art
Our on-site gallery rotates local artist exhibitions every three months. Dining at Aranya Acres is as much a cultural experience as it is a culinary one — a creative hub where food, wine, art, and nature converge.
Beauty Among the Vines
Ash's Beauty Therapy
Indulge in beauty therapy services set against the backdrop of the vineyard. Our resident beautician Ash offers haircuts, styling, colouring, massages, and more — a truly unique way to unwind in nature.
Come find us in the wilderness
Aranya Acres, Wamboin NSW 2620 — 30 minutes from Canberra CBD