Yarra Valley Foodies Tour with Chandon and Kangaroo Safari!

Kangaroos at sunset are an unusual finish to a Yarra Valley food and wine tour: after tastings at Chandon, Yarra Valley Dairy, Yering Station and the Chocolaterie, you head to a known wildlife spot in the golden hour. I like that this pairs familiar pleasures with a real outdoor wildlife stop, rather than making the wineries the whole day.

I also like the late 11:30am departure and the small-group format, which leaves your morning free in Melbourne and gives the guide room to keep the day friendly and unhurried. Guides such as Craig, Kurt and Elliot earn consistent praise for their local commentary and easy manner.

One thing to plan for: lunch is not included, and the menu at Chandon can be limited. Kangaroo sightings are common, but the tour information also says wildlife is never guaranteed, despite advertising a money-back guarantee, so ask the operator to clarify the guarantee’s terms before booking if that promise matters to you.

At a glance

• A late start from Federation Square: Depart at 11:30am, with a scenic drive of about an hour to the valley.
• A table with a view at Chandon: Sip a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, learn about its production and buy lunch if the available options suit you.
• Four tasting stops: Try cheese at the family-run Yarra Valley Dairy, wines at historic Yering Station, and chocolate at the Chocolaterie.
• A strawberry stop on the way: The tour makes a bonus farm stop to pick up fresh strawberries to share.
• Golden-hour wildlife search: End the afternoon looking for wild kangaroos, then return to Melbourne in the early evening.
• Small-group transport: Travel in a comfortable van. Group capacity is described as up to 11 in one part of the tour information and 12 in another, so confirm the expected size when booking.

A relaxed way to reach the Yarra Valley

At $123 per person for seven hours, this tour bundles transport from central Melbourne with several tastings and a wildlife stop. That is useful if you want to sample the region without renting a car or arranging separate winery visits. The value is not just in what you taste: your guide handles the driving and timing, and you get a broad introduction to the valley in one afternoon.

The late departure suits a city break. You can have breakfast or brunch, shop, or see a Melbourne sight in the morning before meeting behind Federation Square, near the corner of Flinders and Russell streets and the NGV rear entrance. Look for the white van marked Yarra Valley Touring.

The drive takes about an hour each way, with short van transfers between the valley stops. The route gives you a taste of the countryside, but this is a tasting-focused outing, not a day of long walks or extended time at one estate. The tour is described as a half-day experience, though seven hours door to door makes it a substantial afternoon and evening.

The small group is a real advantage on a day with several short appointments. When tastings are ready soon after arrival, you spend less of your limited time waiting around. The group size also makes it easier for a guide to learn names and keep conversation going. The stated capacity differs slightly across the tour information, however: one description says 11, another says 12. If you want the smallest possible group, check before reserving.

Chandon: sparkling wine and lunch with a view

Domaine Chandon is the first major stop. It is part of Moët et Chandon, and the visit combines a complimentary glass of sparkling wine with an introduction to the history and production of champagne. You also get time to take in the view and browse the boutique, which sells Chandon products.

The stop is scheduled for about an hour. That gives you a taste of the estate without turning the day into a long winery visit. If you enjoy sparkling wine, this is a strong start: you can settle in, hear a little about what is in your glass, and take in the setting before moving on to the valley’s other specialties.

Lunch is on your own account. You can buy from the lounge menu at Chandon, but the menu has been described as limited, so do not assume it will suit every taste or dietary need. The tour information says there may be time to purchase food at Chandon or another stop, while also warning that regional options can be limited. If you have dietary requirements or prefer more choice, bring food or check the operator’s current advice before the day.

This is also the best point to pace yourself. There are more tastings ahead, and the tour includes driving between stops. Enjoy the sparkling wine, but remember that lunch and personal purchases are not part of the $123 price.

Strawberries, cheese and a taste of local production

On the way to the valley, the van makes a bonus stop at a strawberry farm to pick up fresh strawberries for the group to share. It is a small detail, but it adds a taste of local produce before the main tasting schedule begins. One person found this stop a slow start, so if you are eager to get straight to the wineries, be ready for a short pause before the day gathers pace.

The Yarra Valley Dairy brings a different kind of tasting. This small family-owned producer makes soft cheeses onsite, and you sample a range during a visit of about an hour. It is one of the most direct ways to connect the region’s food with the people making it: rather than simply buying a cheese plate, you get to try products from a working boutique producer.

The generous sampling is a welcome counterpoint to the wine stops. It also makes the tour appealing if your group has different interests. A wine fan can focus on the tasting notes, while someone less keen on wine still has cheese, chocolate, strawberries and the wildlife stop to look forward to.

Allow for personal purchases at the dairy. The tour includes the cheese sampling, but personal expenses are extra. If you find a favorite, you can decide whether to take some home rather than feeling that shopping is part of the schedule.

Yering Station: cool-climate wines and Pinot Noir

Yering Station is described as the home of Victoria’s first vineyard. Here, you have a private wine tasting of classic cool-climate wines, with a chance to sample Pinot Noir and other regional styles. The stop lasts about an hour, enough to get an introduction without requiring you to be a serious wine student.

This is the tour’s most focused wine lesson after Chandon. The contrast between sparkling wine at the first winery and still wines at Yering Station helps you understand that the valley is not a one-note wine region. Guides often add context on local geography, wine and the industry during the drive, which gives the tasting a little more meaning than a list of pours.

If you already know what you like, ask about the wines that interest you. One useful recommendation from the day’s tasting was Yering Station’s Shiraz and Viognier blend. That is a specific style to look out for, not a promise that it will appear in every tasting lineup.

Wine tasting is included, but bottles and other purchases are extra. And if wine is your main reason for booking, keep in mind that this is a sampler rather than a dedicated winery tour: you visit two wineries, but the day gives equal space to cheese, chocolate and wildlife.

Chocolate at the Chocolaterie

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is the sweet stop, with a private tasting and an explanation of couverture chocolate production. You sample a range of flavors, including products made with ingredients sourced from the site’s own gardens. There is also free time to explore a shop with more than 200 chocolate, truffle and ice cream products made onsite.

The tasting is included, but further treats are your own purchase. With a full day of food already underway, it is worth keeping room for a sample or two. If you have a sweet tooth, this stop can be a highlight; if you are mainly here for wine and countryside, it may feel less distinctive than the dairy or the final wildlife outing. The tour’s mix is its strength, but not every stop will matter equally to every person.

You have about an hour here, which provides time to taste and browse rather than rush in and out. The stop is also a useful break before the final drive into the lower valley. For families, the chocolate and ice cream options offer a change of pace from wine tastings, though alcohol service is restricted to people aged 18 and over.

Kangaroos in the golden hour

The final stop is the one that makes this more than a food-and-wine loop. As the afternoon light softens, the van heads into the lower Yarra Valley, where kangaroos tend to shelter during the day. The guide looks for a suitable place to stop, and you walk as close as you can to photograph wild kangaroos in their natural habitat.

The timing matters. Golden hour offers softer light for photographs and is the time the tour is designed to give you the best chance of seeing animals. Several people have described seeing large numbers, and one particularly memorable sight was a joey in its mother’s pouch. But wildlife remains unpredictable. The tour’s own practical information says sightings are never guaranteed, even though another part advertises an exclusive money-back guarantee. Get the operator to explain exactly what qualifies for a refund before relying on that claim.

The kangaroo stop also gives you a chance to stretch your legs after several hours in the van and at tasting tables. That physical change of pace is welcome. It turns the last hour into something active and outdoors, rather than another indoor visit, and gives the day a distinctly Australian ending.

Afterward, the van returns to Federation Square, with arrival in the early evening. Exact timing may vary with the route and stops, so avoid scheduling a tight dinner reservation immediately after the return.

Guides, pace and practical details

Guide quality is a recurring strength of this outing. Craig, Kurt, Elliot, Tom and Steve are among the guides named by people on the tour. Their approach is often described as warm, informative and organized, with local facts and anecdotes along the drive. Several have been praised for keeping the pace relaxed and making a small group feel welcoming.

That personal touch matters here because the day is a chain of short stops. A guide who keeps everyone informed and coordinates arrivals helps each tasting feel unhurried. The stop schedule is also a balancing act: you get a good range in seven hours, but you cannot linger all afternoon at Chandon or Yering Station.

Wear clothes that suit an afternoon outdoors, and bring a camera and reusable water bottle. The tour information also recommends carrying cash and a passport or ID card. You must be at least 18 to buy or drink alcohol in licensed venues in Australia. Children aged three and older are welcome, but children under two and wheelchair users are listed as unsuitable for this experience.

The tour is English-language, with comfortable minivan transport. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and the booking option allows you to reserve now and pay later. Check current availability and group size before booking.

Is this Yarra Valley tour right for you?

Book it if you want a varied introduction to the region without driving yourself, especially if your group likes a mix of wine, cheese, chocolate and fresh produce. The late start is handy if you want a free Melbourne morning, and the kangaroo search gives the day a memorable finish beyond the tasting rooms.

It is less suitable if your priority is an in-depth winery visit, a long lunch, or guaranteed wildlife. Lunch is extra, food choices may be limited, and the kangaroo guarantee needs clarification because the tour information also says sightings are not assured. For a relaxed sampler with several distinct stops and a real chance of seeing wild kangaroos, the $123 price offers good value.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

Meet behind Federation Square, near the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street, by the NGV rear entrance. Look for a white bus marked Yarra Valley Touring.

What time does the tour depart?

The tour departs at 11:30am and lasts about seven hours, returning to Federation Square in the early evening.

Is lunch included?

No. You have time to buy lunch at Chandon, but food is not included and the menu may be limited. Dietary options in regional areas can also be limited.

Are the tastings included in the price?

Yes. The tour includes cheese sampling at Yarra Valley Dairy, a premium wine tasting, and chocolate tastings at the Chocolaterie. A complimentary glass of sparkling wine is also offered at Chandon. Personal purchases are extra.

Are kangaroo sightings guaranteed?

The tour information says sightings are common and that the guide visits a known location during golden hour, but it also says wildlife is never guaranteed. It separately advertises a money-back guarantee, so confirm the terms with the operator before booking.

Can children join the tour?

Children aged three and older are welcome. Children under two are listed as unsuitable, and you must be at least 18 to buy or drink alcohol in a licensed venue.