Amazing Yarra Valley Wine Tour + Chocolate, Farm Fresh, Gin

The Yarra Valley makes a generous day out: wineries, a chocolate maker, a fruit farm and, with the full tasting option, a gin distillery, all linked by a round-trip ride from Melbourne. You can sample the region without arranging a car or choosing a designated driver.

I like the mix of food and drink stops, which gives the day more variety than a winery crawl, and the small group size of 10 to 20, which can make boarding and tastings feel less like a convoy. Guides such as Shaun, Danny, Posi and Stefan have helped keep the day social with humor, local pointers and, in Danny’s case, a good playlist.

One thing to weigh: this is a sampler, not a slow visit to a single estate. Lunch costs extra, the gin flight is an upgrade, and the day’s stops can change, so check the schedule for your date if one particular producer matters to you.

• Two hosted winery tastings give you a taste of Yarra Valley wines without arranging transport.
• Fruit and chocolate breaks add strawberries, seasonal produce, jams and up to 12 chocolate creations to the day.
• Gin is optional and depends on the full tasting option; the distillery changes by day of the week.
• Lunch is at St Hubert Estate, with time at Quarters, but food and any extra tastings are on your own tab.
• The Melbourne pickup and drop-off are central, at Arts Centre Melbourne in the morning and Federation Square in the afternoon.

A full tasting day, without the driving

Yarra Valley sits beyond Melbourne, where cool-climate wines, orchards and food producers make a tempting day trip. This tour bundles several stops into one outing, with a driver-guide handling the connections while you focus on tasting and looking around.

The advertised price is $93.24 per person. That covers the transport and scheduled tastings, making it useful if you want a broad introduction without paying separately at each included stop. The gin flight is available only with the full tasting option, while lunch and any extra tastings at St Hubert Estate cost more.

Plan on about eight and a half hours away from central Melbourne. Meet at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire at 8:45 am, near the Protagonist cafe stand, for a planned 9 am departure. The return point is ACMI at Federation Square, with arrival usually by 5:30 pm.

The group is capped at 20, and the tour describes its usual group size as 10 to 20. That is smaller than a coach tour carrying up to 30, and it helps the day feel more personal. Still, you are moving on a shared schedule, so this is not the best choice if you like to linger over every glass or browse each shop at length.

Fruit first at Yarra Farm Fresh

The usual first stop is Yarra Farm Fresh, where you can sample strawberries and other seasonal fruit, plus local jams. It is a gentle start before the wine tastings, and a reminder that the valley’s appeal is not limited to the cellar door.

A complimentary punnet of strawberries per booking is offered for a limited time, through February 28, 2026, subject to availability. Do not count on it outside that offer period. The farm stop is also seasonal in character, so the selection may vary.

Some dates or venue changes may bring a cheese farm or dairy stop instead. The schedule is not fixed, and a change can matter if you are especially keen on a particular tasting. One useful detail: the listed Yering Farm Wines visit includes apple cider, but that sample is not included if the winery is replaced.

Yering Station and the first wine tasting

Yering Station is described as the Yarra Valley’s oldest winery and one of its best-known estates. Its cool-climate wines make it a fitting introduction to the region, and you have about 50 minutes for the visit and hosted tasting.

The tour includes tastings at two selected wineries, though it may visit three exceptional wineries over the day. The distinction matters: the lunch stop at St Hubert Estate has a cellar door, but wine, gin or whisky tastings there are optional and typically cost around A$15 per person. They are not part of the included hosted tastings.

Pours at winery stops are designed as samples, not full glasses. If you hope to compare a wide range of wines in depth, the pace and tasting format may feel brief. For a first look at Yarra Valley styles, though, two hosted tastings offer a convenient starting point.

Lunch and a breather at St Hubert Estate

Around 11:45 am, the group stops at St Hubert Estate for roughly an hour. Lunch is at Quarters, the estate’s bistro, where you can buy a main and drink to suit your appetite and budget. Eat breakfast before you go, since lunch is not included and the stop comes before the afternoon tastings.

This is more than a meal break. You have time to explore the cellar door, wine shop and Indigenous art gallery, or simply sit down and reset. The optional wine, gin and whisky tastings here cost extra, so decide whether you want to add them before the later stops.

An hour is a practical pause, not a leisurely restaurant afternoon. If you want a full meal and time to browse, keep an eye on the clock. The tour has several more stops to fit in, and the group needs to move together.

Yering Farm Wines and a taste of cider

Yering Farm Wines is a rustic winery stop, usually scheduled for about 45 minutes. Alongside wine samples, you may taste apple cider, an appealing change of pace if you have already been sampling several reds or whites.

This stop adds a contrast to the more established Yering Station estate. The tour’s mix can help you get a feel for different producers without organizing separate visits. But the winery can occasionally be unavailable because of private events or closure, and a replacement stop may not include the cider.

The day is best approached as a sampler. You can ask questions and enjoy the setting, but you should not expect a long, private tasting or a deep technical session at every winery.

Chocolate at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

The chocolaterie brings a sweet break into the afternoon, with a guided tasting of up to 12 handcrafted chocolates and a 45-minute visit. There is also ice cream on site, giving you another treat to consider, though the itinerary’s included tasting is chocolate.

This stop is one of the tour’s strongest choices for mixed groups. You do not need to be a wine enthusiast to enjoy it, and it breaks up the succession of cellar doors. The trade-off is that the venue can feel busy and commercial compared with a small farm or winery. If you prefer intimate producer visits, it may be less to your taste.

Optional gin, with the distillery set by weekday

The final tasting stop is a gin distillery, if someone in the group has chosen the full tasting option. On Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the usual venue is Stag Lane Farm Distillery. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the tour usually goes to Four Pillars. Each option includes a guided gin flight served with a mixer.

Gin is an upgrade, not part of the standard tasting package, so check that you have selected the full tasting experience if this is a priority. The distillery visit lasts about 45 minutes. If nobody chooses the gin experience, the tour extends its final stop by 15 minutes and heads back to Melbourne earlier.

Four Pillars has been a highlight for some people, while other stops can be the personal favorite. The weekday split is worth noting if you have your heart set on one distillery. Even then, venues can change, so confirm the plan for your chosen date.

The guide can make the ride part of the day

The stops are the main attraction, but the driver-guide has a real hand in the mood of the trip. Guides who have led the tour include Shaun or Shauny, Danny, Posi or Pozzy, and Stefan. They have been described as funny, welcoming and good at keeping the group comfortable.

Danny has been praised for his music and local recommendations; Posi for his humor and upbeat hosting; and Stefan for his entertaining style. Some guides also point out wildlife such as kangaroos and eagles along the way. These details can turn the transfers into more than time spent getting from one tasting to the next.

The tour is not primarily a guided history lesson about the valley. If detailed commentary about every town and vineyard is your priority, you may find the narration lighter than expected. The strength is the relaxed, sociable format and the practical help of having someone else drive.

What to know before you book

This is an alcohol-focused day in an outdoor region, so summer heat and sun are worth taking seriously. The operator advises against booking if you cannot tolerate heat alongside alcohol. Bring what you need for sunny conditions, and pace yourself at tastings rather than treating each sample as a challenge.

The tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly those who have difficulty climbing stairs. Children aged 4 to 17 can join, but they will not be served alcoholic tastings. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

The venues may change, and the trip depends on suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If extreme weather cancels the tour, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure; cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted.

Is this the right Yarra Valley day trip for you?

Book this if you want an easy, varied introduction to the Yarra Valley and value having transport, several tastings and a lively guide arranged in one package. It suits couples, solo visitors and small groups who want wine but also appreciate fruit, chocolate and the option of gin.

Choose another kind of outing if you want a slow, wine-centered day at a few carefully selected estates, or if you need a flexible lunch schedule. The best way to get value here is to arrive hungry for variety, have breakfast, check which gin venue is planned, and treat the stops as a broad taste of the region rather than a deep study of any one producer.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about eight hours and 30 minutes. It usually leaves Melbourne at 9 am and returns to Federation Square by 5:30 pm.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, 6/2 St Kilda Road, Southbank. The meeting time is 8:45 am, near the Protagonist cafe stand.

Where does the tour end?

The return drop-off is at ACMI in Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne. The tour usually arrives by 5:30 pm at the latest.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense at Quarters, the bistro at St Hubert Estate. The lunch stop is around 11:45 am, so eat breakfast before the tour.

Is the gin tasting included?

The gin flight is included only if you choose the full tasting experience option. It is served with a mixer, and the distillery depends on the day of the week.

Which gin distillery does the tour visit?

The usual Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday stop is Stag Lane Farm Distillery. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the usual stop is Four Pillars. Venues can change.

How many people are on the tour?

The maximum group size is 20. The tour generally has between 10 and 20 people.

Can children join?

Yes. Children aged 4 to 17 are welcome, but they are not served alcoholic tastings.

Are extra tastings available at St Hubert Estate?

Yes. Wine, gin and whisky tastings may be available after lunch, usually for an additional A$15 per person.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires favorable weather. If it is canceled due to extreme weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.