Melbourne: Around the Bay Food & Wine Taste Trail

The appeal here is the route: in one long day, you visit the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, with wine, a vineyard lunch, a bay crossing, beer, and coastal views along the way. I like that the itinerary mixes tasting stops with places to see the region, rather than making the day one long run of cellar doors.

I also like the included lunch and tastings, which make the $155 price easier to judge. One consideration: 10 hours is a lot of time in a vehicle and on a timetable, and the tour is not recommended if you have limited mobility.

Key points

• Two wine regions in one day: Visit the Bellarine Peninsula and Mornington Peninsula on a circular route.
• A vineyard lunch with a view: Stop at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, where the café serves lunch overlooking the vines.
• Wine and beer tastings are included: Taste wine at Scotchmans Hill and enjoy a beer paddle at St Andrews Brewery.
• The bay crossing adds variety: The itinerary includes a ferry ride and Devonshire tea.
• Coastal stops provide a change of pace: Take in the view from Murrays Lookout at Arthurs Seat and see the Mornington Peninsula’s bathing boxes.

A long loop linking two peninsulas

This is not a single-region winery tour. It starts in Geelong, takes you across the Bellarine Peninsula, then continues to the Mornington Peninsula before returning to your pickup point. The changing scenery is part of the value: waterfront, vines, a bay crossing, brewery grounds, a clifftop lookout, and a beach stop all have a place in the day.

That range also explains the 10-hour duration. You are covering plenty of ground, and the tour works best if you enjoy the day as a sequence of distinct stops rather than expecting a slow, extended visit at any one winery. Stop order and details can vary, so treat the listed itinerary as a guide to the experience, not a minute-by-minute promise.

Round-trip transport from selected pickup locations is included. That matters on a day with wine and beer tastings, and it saves you the work of arranging a route between two peninsulas yourself. You’ll need to be ready at your chosen pickup point at least 10 minutes before departure. Look for the purple bus or a vehicle marked with the Explore Australia Tours logo.

Geelong starts the day by the water

The first stop is Geelong’s waterfront, where you can stretch your legs along the esplanade and take in the sea air before the winery visits begin. It is a simple start, but a useful one: you get a chance to move around before settling into the day’s driving and tasting schedule.

Do not expect this to be the main event. The waterfront is an opening pause, not a long sightseeing visit, and the appeal is mostly in the fresh air and views. If you want a leisurely look around Geelong, plan extra time before or after the tour rather than counting on this stop to cover the city.

Scotchmans Hill brings the first wine tasting

On the Bellarine Peninsula, Scotchmans Hill is the first winery stop. Its cellar door is described as a French provincial barn house among the estate’s vines, with views across the property. You’ll taste wine here, making it a good first introduction to the region before lunch.

A tasting stop offers a different kind of visit from a meal at a vineyard café. You can focus on the wines and setting without having to plan a separate winery visit or drive after drinking. The tour includes wine tasting, though the information provided does not specify the number of wines, tasting duration, or whether purchases are included.

It is worth keeping expectations practical. This is one stop on a busy day, not a full afternoon at a single estate. If you have a particular interest in wine, you may want to ask your guide what is being poured and take notes on bottles you might wish to find later.

Jack Rabbit pairs lunch with Bellarine views

Next comes Jack Rabbit Vineyard, known for its views and café. Lunch here is one of the day’s central stops: the café overlooks the vines, and you can sample food from the Bellarine Peninsula without having to choose a restaurant or arrange your own transport.

Lunch is included in the tour price, which helps make the $155 fare more worthwhile. It also means you can enjoy the meal without the day turning into a series of separate bookings and payments. Dietary requirements should be shared when you book. The exact menu and meal options are not specified, so contact the operator in advance if you need to confirm what can be accommodated.

This is also a chance to slow down a little between tastings. The setting is part of the meal, and the vineyard views offer a welcome contrast to the waterfront and the road. Still, the tour continues after lunch, so this is not a long, open-ended break.

The bay crossing breaks up the road time

After the Bellarine stops, the itinerary includes a ferry crossing across the bay, with Devonshire tea as you take in the views. This is one of the day’s more distinctive elements. Instead of spending the entire trip moving between stops by road, you get time on the water and a change of pace between the two peninsulas.

The crossing also helps the route feel like a true circuit rather than a return drive along the same roads. One earlier visitor recalled the ferry as a highlight, and another mentioned that the day flowed well. Those details point to a useful strength: the outing is built around variety, not just the wine list.

The schedule can change, so confirm the current route if the ferry is especially important to you. Devonshire tea is part of the described itinerary, while the listed inclusions specifically call out the winery lunch and wine and beer tastings. Snacks and other drinks are not included.

St Andrews Brewery trades stable doors for beer paddles

On the Mornington Peninsula, St Andrews Brewery brings beer into a day that could otherwise lean heavily on wine. The brewery occupies a former horse-training facility, and you can take part in a beer-paddle tasting while seeing the brewers working and pouring beer from the stable doors.

That change of setting and drink gives the itinerary useful balance. You are not simply moving from one winery to another, and the brewery stop makes the tour a better fit for mixed groups where not everyone is keen on wine. The beer paddle is included, though the number of beers and tasting sizes are not specified.

If you are joining for the brewery, remember that alcohol is only available to people aged 18 or older who can show valid photo ID. The tour is not an all-you-can-drink session. It is a tasting stop, and you still have the coastal sights to come.

Arthurs Seat and the bathing boxes close the route

At Arthurs Seat, the tour stops at Murrays Lookout for panoramic views across the bay toward the city. This is the day’s clearest scenic viewpoint, and a good reason to step away from the cellar doors and take in the scale of the route you have travelled.

The final coastal stop is the Mornington Peninsula’s bathing boxes, colorful beach structures that have become a local symbol of summer. They offer a different sort of sightseeing from the vineyard estates: a quick look at a familiar piece of the peninsula’s seaside character, and a chance for photos before heading back.

These are outdoor stops, so the experience depends in part on conditions on the day. The tour information does not promise a particular amount of time at either stop. If the views and beach boxes are your main interest, remember that they share the day with several food and drink visits.

What $155 covers, and who gets the best value

At $155 per person, the price includes round-trip transport from selected pickup points, a winery lunch, wine and beer paddle tastings, national park fees, and a guide. That is a reasonable bundle for a 10-hour outing that crosses two peninsulas and includes several different stops. You avoid arranging a designated driver, coordinating a ferry crossing, and paying separately for the main meal and tastings.

The value is strongest if you want a broad introduction to the region in one day. You get a taste of the Bellarine’s wine and food, a Mornington brewery, and a few coastal views. It is less suited to someone who wants long visits at wineries, detailed wine education, or plenty of unscheduled time. The itinerary has several moving parts, and stops may vary.

The guide can make a big difference on a day like this. Gary, Matt, and Kyle are among the guides who have led the tour. Accounts of the outing describe guides who were friendly, relaxed, and informative, with the guide’s local knowledge adding context to the food and wine stops. That personal touch matters when much of the experience happens between destinations, as well as at them.

This tour suits adults who want a varied day out and are happy to share the schedule with a group. It can also work for families, since child fares apply from ages 0 to 15 when accompanied by an adult, but the day is built around food, alcohol tastings, transport, and outdoor stops. It is not recommended for people with limited mobility.

A few practical details before you book

Tell the operator about dietary requirements when booking. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and baby strollers are not permitted. Infant seats or booster seats can be requested at least 72 hours before departure, or you can bring your own.

At least two people are required for the tour to operate. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and anyone drinking alcohol must be at least 18 and show valid photo ID. The tour is in English, and pickup is available from selected locations.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. Check the current start time when you book, since availability varies.

Should you book this peninsula loop?

I’d choose this tour if you want to sample the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas without planning your own transport, and if you value variety more than time spent at one winery. The included lunch, tastings, ferry crossing, brewery, and coastal stops make for a full day with several different kinds of scenery and food.

Look elsewhere if you want a dedicated wine tour with a slow pace, have limited mobility, or prefer to choose each stop yourself. But if a long, well-filled day with wine, beer, lunch, and bay views sounds right, this is a practical way to get a taste of both sides of the bay.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 10 hours. Check availability when booking for current starting times.

What is included in the price?

The price includes round-trip transport from selected pickup locations, a winery lunch, wine and beer paddle tastings, national park fees, and a guide.

Are snacks and other drinks included?

No. Snacks and other drinks are not included. Devonshire tea is part of the described bay-crossing itinerary.

Where does the tour go?

The route includes Geelong’s waterfront, Scotchmans Hill and Jack Rabbit Vineyard on the Bellarine Peninsula, a bay crossing, St Andrews Brewery, Arthurs Seat, and the Mornington Peninsula bathing boxes. Stops may vary.

Is the ferry crossing part of the experience?

Yes. The itinerary includes a bay crossing with Devonshire tea.

Do I need photo ID to take part in the tastings?

You must be at least 18 years old and show valid photo ID to consume alcohol.

Can children join the tour?

Child fares apply to travelers aged 0 to 15, and they must be accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

Can I request a child seat?

Yes. Infant seats or booster seats can be provided if requested at least 72 hours before departure. You may also bring your own.

Is the tour suitable for someone with limited mobility?

No. The tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility.

What should I know about pickup?

Pickup is included from selected locations. Arrive at least 10 minutes early and look for a purple bus or a vehicle marked with the Explore Australia Tours logo.