Amazing Yarra Valley Wine, Choc, Farm Fresh, Gin Tour from Melbourne

This Yarra Valley day trip brings together wine, strawberries, chocolate and, if you choose the right package, gin. The mix is the point: you get more than a winery crawl, with a farm stop and a proper hour for lunch at St Hubert Estate.

I like the variety of tastings, which makes this a good first taste of the region, and the easy ride from central Melbourne, with a guide to keep the day moving. Guides named Sean, Danny, Posi and Stefan have led the tour on different dates, so the person at the wheel may vary.

One thing to weigh: Yering Station is not guaranteed. Wineries can change, and some departures have visited another estate instead. Lunch and some optional drinks are extra, so the final cost can run above the advertised fare.

• Three winery stops are planned, with wine tastings at two; Yering Station is a regular highlight but may be replaced.
• Yarra Farm Fresh brings seasonal fruit, local jams and, when conditions allow, a complimentary punnet of strawberries.
• The Chocolaterie serves a generous tasting, usually around 10 bites, with up to 12 included.
• Gin is the package choice to watch: the lower-priced option excludes its paddle, which can cost up to AUD 20 on the day.
• Lunch is at Quarters by Hubert Estate, where you pay for your own meal and any extra wine, gin or whisky.
• The day starts early and runs about eight hours, with a city-centre pickup and return near Federation Square.

A tasting tour with more than wine

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The Yarra Valley sits within easy reach of Melbourne, making it a practical day trip if you want countryside views without arranging a car or choosing a designated driver. This tour strings together several food and drink stops, then brings you back to the city in the late afternoon.

That variety keeps the day from feeling like a sequence of tasting rooms. You might start with strawberries and fruit, move on to wine, pause for lunch, then finish with chocolates and perhaps gin. It’s a good fit if your group includes people who like wine and others who would rather sample sweets or local produce.

The trade-off is that this isn’t a slow, single-estate visit. You’ll have limited time at each stop, and the exact route can shift with venue availability, weather and traffic. Think of it as a sampler of the region, not a deep visit to one winery.

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Strawberries first at Yarra Farm Fresh

The bus generally reaches Yarra Farm Fresh around 10am, after leaving Melbourne at 9. The half-hour stop gives you a first taste of the valley’s produce, with seasonal fruit and local jams on offer. Strawberries are the draw when they’re in season, and a complimentary punnet is provided on most days, subject to conditions.

This is a pleasant opener because it breaks up the drive before the wine tastings begin. It also gives you something to nibble on, which is useful on a day that includes several alcoholic tastings. Do have breakfast first, though: the fruit stop is not a meal.

The farm experience is brief rather than a long agricultural tour. If you’re expecting a detailed look at how the farm works, the half-hour stop may feel short. Its value is in the fresh produce, a little fresh air and an easy start to the day.

Yering Station, with a venue caveat

The next stop is usually Yering Station, one of the region’s best-known wineries. You can expect a guided tasting of five signature wines during roughly 45 minutes. For someone new to Yarra Valley wine, this is a useful way to compare styles without having to drive between estates or buy a full glass at each one.

The important qualification is that Yering Station is not locked in. Wineries may change, and some tours have substituted another property. If visiting Yering Station is a deciding factor for you, contact the operator before booking and again nearer your date. Even then, be prepared for a change.

A winery stop is not just a tasting count. The valley scenery is part of the appeal, and you’ll have a little time to take in the grounds and enjoy the setting. But the schedule is brisk, so don’t expect a long wander or a private tasting.

Lunch at Quarters by Hubert Estate

Around midday, the group stops at Quarters by Hubert Estate for about an hour. Lunch is not included, so bring a payment card and choose a meal that suits your appetite and budget. A good breakfast matters here: the first farm stop is light, and lunch comes after the initial wine tasting.

This break is also a chance to slow down and decide whether you want to spend extra on another drink. Additional wine, gin or whisky tastings may be available at the estate, usually for about AUD 15 per person. They are optional, not part of the basic package.

An hour is enough for a meal and a breather, but it’s not a long restaurant stop. If you prefer a leisurely lunch, the pace may feel tight. For most people, it’s a sensible pause between tastings and helps keep the afternoon from becoming one long run of venues.

Yering Farm and a second winery tasting

After lunch, the route usually continues to Yering Farm Winery. This is one of the two estates where wine tastings are included, and the tasting commonly includes apple cider as well. If Yering Farm is closed for a private event, the operator may take the group to another winery, and the cider may not be available.

The stop gives you a contrast with the earlier estate and another chance to sample local wine. Some people particularly enjoy the family-owned feel of Yering Farm, though the exact atmosphere and venue can vary with the day’s route. As at Yering Station, you have a fixed window rather than time for a long visit.

Across the two wineries, the standard tour includes tastings at two estates, with three wineries listed as part of the day’s broader plan. The third winery is not necessarily another full tasting stop. Check the specific day’s arrangement if you’re counting on a particular estate or tasting.

Chocolate at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

The Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is a sweet change of pace after the wineries. The tasting usually includes around 10 chocolate bites, with up to 12 handcrafted samples included. You’ll have about 45 minutes, enough to try a range and browse the shop, but not an open-ended chocolate feast.

This stop earns its place because it gives non-wine drinkers something to look forward to, and it offers a palate change for everyone else. The samples are part of the ticket, while any extra purchases are yours to pay for. Bring water when you get off the bus: after wine and sweet samples, it’s welcome.

If nobody in the group has selected the gin option, the itinerary may give you about 15 extra minutes at the Chocolaterie instead and return to Melbourne earlier. That makes the day a little shorter, but also means you should not assume a distillery visit is included in every departure.

Gin depends on your package and day

When the group has booked the gin option, the final tasting stop is usually Stag Lane Distillery or Four Pillars. Stag Lane is scheduled Monday and Thursday through Sunday; Four Pillars is scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday. The distillery visit is self-guided and lasts about 45 minutes.

The package names matter. The All Tastings Except Gin option includes the wine, produce and chocolate tastings, but not the gin paddle. If the group visits a distillery, you can usually buy a paddle on the day for up to AUD 20. The All Tastings Included package includes the gin tasting, and costs more.

If gin is important to you, choose the package that includes it rather than relying on an on-the-day purchase. The distillery stop itself depends on other people in the group selecting the gin option. Without anyone opting in, the bus skips it and spends longer at the Chocolaterie.

What the price buys, and what it doesn’t

The value lies in having transport, a driver-guide and several tastings bundled into one day. You can try wine at two estates, sample farm produce and chocolates, and add gin, without arranging separate bookings or navigating country roads after drinking. For a first visit to the Yarra Valley, that convenience can be worth more than a longer stay at one winery.

Prices vary by package and date. The listed starting prices are US$69.65 for All Tastings Except Gin and US$90.75 for All Tastings Included, while the tour is also advertised from US$80.45. Treat these as starting figures, compare the available option for your date and check the checkout total before booking.

Budget separately for lunch, personal purchases and any extra tastings at Hubert Estate. If you choose the gin-excluded option and buy a paddle on the day, allow up to AUD 20 more. That can still be good value, but the tour is not an all-inclusive day out.

The ride, the guide and the day’s rhythm

The pickup is at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, 6/2 St Kilda Road in Southbank. Be there by 8:45am, near Protagonist café; the bus leaves at 9am. The return is usually in front of ACMI at Federation Square between 5:15pm and 5:45pm, often around 5:30pm, though traffic and weather can shift the timing.

The guide is an important part of a day with several short stops. Guides named Sean, Danny, Posi and Stefan have led the route on different dates. The tour’s informal style can include clear stop instructions, local pointers and music on the bus. Don’t expect a formal lecture, but you can expect a guide to help the group stay on schedule and make the drive more sociable.

The schedule is fairly full, yet the stops are generally long enough for their purpose: a tasting, a meal or a browse. You’ll spend a fair amount of time getting on and off the bus, so pack light and keep your water bottle handy. The bus is your transport between venues, not a place to store a feast: outside food and drinks are not allowed, though light snacks are welcome.

Who will enjoy this day, and what to bring

This tour suits couples, friends, solo visitors and families with children aged four or older. It works particularly well for first-time visitors who want a broad sample of the valley in one day. Children aged four to 17 need their own seat and must be accompanied by a paying adult; alcohol tastings are for adults aged 18 and over.

Bring a valid ID if you plan to drink, along with sunglasses, sunscreen and a water bottle. Summer days can be hot and sunny, and there may be flies around the farm stops. The advice to pace yourself is practical: several tastings across the day can add up, especially if you also order drinks at lunch.

The activity is not wheelchair-accessible. Some venues have stairs or uneven ground, so contact the operator before booking if anyone in your party uses a walking aid or finds stairs difficult. The tour can accommodate several dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance or allergies, but tell the operator in advance.

Should you book this Yarra Valley tour?

Book it if you want an easy, sociable introduction to the Yarra Valley, with wine, produce, chocolate and an optional gin stop all in one day. The range of tastings and the central Melbourne transport make it a strong choice when you have limited time and want to sample several sides of the region.

Think twice if your main goal is a guaranteed visit to Yering Station, a long lunch, or an unhurried day at one estate. Venue changes are possible, and some costs sit outside the ticket price. If the mix of stops matters more than any single winery, this is a practical and good-value way to spend a day outside Melbourne.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

Meet at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, 6/2 St Kilda Road in Southbank, near Protagonist café. Arrive by 8:45am for the 9am departure.

Where does the tour return?

The usual return point is in front of ACMI at Federation Square. Arrival is generally between 5:15pm and 5:45pm, often around 5:30pm, depending on traffic and weather.

Are wine tastings included?

Yes. The tour includes wine tastings at two wineries. Yering Station is a regular stop, but winery venues can change.

Is the gin tasting included?

Only with the All Tastings Included package. The All Tastings Except Gin package does not include the gin paddle, which may be bought at the distillery for up to AUD 20 if the group visits one.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch at Quarters by Hubert Estate is at your own expense. Extra wine, gin or whisky tastings there also cost extra.

Which gin distillery does the tour visit?

The schedule is Stag Lane on Monday and Thursday through Sunday, and Four Pillars on Tuesday and Wednesday. The distillery visit takes place when someone in the group has selected the gin option.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children aged four to 17 are welcome, need their own seat and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Alcohol tastings are for people aged 18 and older.

Can I count on visiting Yering Station?

No. Yering Station is a regular stop, but wineries can change. Contact the operator to check the plan for your date, while keeping in mind that changes may still occur.