Melbourne: Yarra Valley Wine, Choc, Farm Fresh, Gin Tour

The best thing about this Yarra Valley outing is its range. You do not spend the whole day tasting wine. Instead, you move from seasonal fruit and farm produce to two wine tastings, a long lunch stop, chocolates, and optional gin. It feels more like a broad tour of the valley than a serious wine seminar.

I like the small-group size, usually 10 to 20 people, and I like the guides’ personal touch. Danny, Posi, Sean, Stefan, Mike, and Kin have all led outings, with music, local stories, and plenty of friendly banter. The main drawback is the compact bus, which can feel tight for tall people, and the day is full enough that you should expect a steady pace.

The day at a glance

• Yering Station brings a proper winery setting: Visit one of the valley’s best-known estates and taste premium wines.
• The food stops break up the wine: Expect seasonal fruit, strawberries, local jams, 10 to 12 chocolates, and perhaps cheese or other farm produce depending on the stop.
• Gin is optional, not forced: Choose a paddle at Four Pillars on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or Stag Lane Distillery from Thursdays through Mondays.
• Lunch is flexible but not included: Quarters Restaurant at Hubert Estate gives you time to buy lunch and add a wine, whisky, or gin tasting.
• The social atmosphere matters: Guides use commentary and music to keep the bus lively, and the group size is smaller than many large coach tours.
• The price covers a lot: At $92, transport, two winery tastings, fruit samples, chocolates, and the main stops make this a strong-value day out, though lunch and gin cost extra.

Why this tour works as a Yarra Valley introduction

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a day trip, but it feels far removed from the city once vineyards and open farmland begin to replace traffic. You get about 75 minutes on the road each way, with the guide filling the drive with commentary about the area and its produce.

This is not designed for the wine expert who wants a slow, technical tasting at every estate. It is aimed at you if you want to sample several local products without arranging a car, a driver, and a complicated route.

The mix also helps if your group has different tastes. One person can enjoy wine, another can focus on chocolate, and someone else can choose the gin tasting. Children aged 2 to 17 may join at reduced prices, but they will not be served alcohol. Children under 4 are not accepted, and the tour is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or people who cannot manage stairs.

Dancing Kangaroo Tours usually keeps the group to around 10 to 20 people. That is a useful middle ground. You get the ease of a planned excursion without the feel of a huge coachload. The trade-off is that the vehicle may feel snug, especially for taller passengers. One tall passenger found it necessary to put both legs into the aisle, so consider your comfort before booking.

Meeting at the Arts Centre before 9am

You meet at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire at 8:45am, near Protagonist Cafe on St Kilda Road in Southbank. The bus aims to leave at 9am sharp, and late arrivals cannot be refunded.

This meeting point is easy to confuse with St Kilda, the suburb. It is not there. Look for the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, wait near Protagonist Cafe, and use the public toilets before departure. The drive to the valley takes about an hour, and there is no hotel pickup.

The bus is air-conditioned, and the guides take an active role from the start. Danny, Posi, Sean, Stefan, Mike, and Kin have each been praised for keeping the mood friendly while explaining the day. Posi is known for using a playlist featuring Melbourne musicians, which gives the ride a local feel rather than leaving you with a silent highway transfer.

Bring weather-appropriate clothes and an ID card. Leave large luggage behind. This is a tasting day with several walks between venues, so practical clothes and comfortable shoes make sense.

First taste at Yarra Farm Fresh

The first stop is scheduled for around 10am at Yarra Farm Fresh. You get seasonal fruit tastings, local jams, and a complimentary punnet of strawberries per booking. That last detail is easy to miss: it is one punnet per booking, not one per person, and the offer runs until February 28, 2026.

This is a smart opening stop. You start with something fresh and light before the wine begins, and it gives you a first look at the valley’s farm economy. The produce selection changes with the season, so do not expect the exact same fruit on every date.

The farm stop also shows why this is broader than a standard winery tour. Some outings have included discussion of local dairy and cheeses, and the guide may point out other regional foods during the day. If your priority is wine alone, this stop may feel like a detour. If you enjoy tasting your way through a region, it adds useful variety.

Yering Station and the first serious wine tasting

Around 10:45am, the bus reaches Yering Station, one of the Yarra Valley’s best-known estates. The setting is a major part of the appeal. You get vineyard views, a polished cellar-door experience, and a chance to taste wines in a proper estate rather than simply sampling bottles in a shop.

Wine tastings are included here. The exact pours depend on the day, but the itinerary allows roughly 50 minutes. That gives you enough time to sample several wines and ask questions, though it is not an extended private tasting.

The first winery can set the tone for the day. Some people enjoy the broad selection and formal setting. Others may find the service brisk, particularly when the room is busy. Keep your expectations practical: this is a group tasting, not a one-on-one appointment with the winemaker.

The guides help by giving context on the road and keeping the schedule moving. Danny and Sean, in particular, have been praised for explaining the region clearly and answering questions. That matters because the day includes several different venues, and a little background makes the tastings more meaningful.

Lunch at Hubert Estate and Quarters Restaurant

The group then moves to Hubert Estate for lunch, with the main meal at Quarters Restaurant. You have about 75 minutes for this part of the day, although the published schedule separates the estate and restaurant into two itinerary entries.

Lunch is at your own expense. You can buy a meal at Quarters, and you have time to explore the estate. Wine, whisky, and gin tasting flights may also be available for an additional charge.

I like this arrangement better than a fixed group meal. You can spend more if you want a full lunch and a cellar-door tasting, or keep costs down if you prefer something simple. The drawback is that the $92 headline price does not cover food, so budget for lunch and any drinks you add.

Do not treat Hubert Estate as one of the included wine tastings. Additional tasting here costs extra. The included wine component comes at two other winery estates, while this stop gives you choice and breathing room.

The timing is also useful. A seated meal gives you a break from repeated samples and lets the group reset before the afternoon stops. Several guides have been praised for making sure people were comfortable and not left wondering what happens next.

Yering Farm for wine, cider, and valley views

After lunch, the route continues to Yering Farm. Here you can taste wine and apple cider while looking across the vineyards. The stop gives the day another angle, since cider adds a different style of tasting and makes the visit easier for people who are not keen on drinking wine all afternoon.

The schedule allows about 50 minutes. That is long enough to sample the range, enjoy the view, and browse without turning the stop into a drawn-out wait.

The winery quality can vary from one day to the next because tastings depend on the venue and the staff working there. One group may get a warm, detailed explanation, while another may encounter a more businesslike presentation. Your guide can keep the day on track, but the personality of each cellar-door host is outside the tour operator’s control.

On rare occasions, a listed winery may be unavailable because of a private wedding or another event. The operator may substitute another venue, so contact them before booking if a particular winery is essential to your plans.

Ten to twelve chocolates at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

At about 2:15pm, the sweet course begins at the Yarra Valley Chocolate Factory. The guided tasting includes roughly 10 to 12 chocolates, making this one of the most generous tasting stops on the route.

You should expect a large, popular venue rather than a tiny artisan workshop. That scale gives you plenty to sample and a broad range of chocolate styles, but it can also make the visit feel less intimate. The tasting itself is relatively quick, so do not plan on spending the whole afternoon here.

The shop is a good place to buy gifts or something for the ride home, but it is also easy to overdo the purchases after so many samples. The chocolate stop works best as a change of pace after the wineries, and it gives non-wine drinkers a real highlight rather than a consolation stop.

One practical tip: pace yourself. The day begins with fruit and continues through wine, lunch, cider, chocolate, and possibly gin. It is a lot of food and drink, even when the portions are tasting size.

Optional gin at Four Pillars or Stag Lane

The final tasting stop is optional and depends on the day of the week. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the full experience visits Four Pillars Gin Distillery. From Thursdays through Mondays, it visits Stag Lane Gin Distillery, a boutique family-operated producer.

The full-tasting option includes a gin paddle with a mixer. If you choose the standard option, the gin paddle is not included. Check your booking carefully so you know which version you have purchased.

This is one of the most popular parts of the day for people who enjoy spirits. The tasting gives you something different from the wine and adds a lively finish. Four Pillars offers a larger, established distillery setting, while Stag Lane provides a smaller family-run atmosphere.

If nobody in the group chooses the gin experience, the operator extends the final stop by 15 minutes and leaves the valley earlier. That means you will not be left sitting around while others taste, but it also means the afternoon finish changes according to the group.

The return to Melbourne

The bus leaves the valley at about 4:15pm and aims to return to the CBD around 5:30pm, with drop-off near ACMI at Federation Square. That timing works well if you have evening plans, though traffic can affect any road journey back into Melbourne.

The return ride is part of the social side of the tour. The music, guide commentary, and small group can make the trip home feel easy rather than simply functional. If you are tired after a full day of samples, you can also use the ride to rest.

Transport receives particularly strong marks, with 91 percent of ratings giving it a perfect score. Still, do not confuse a modern air-conditioned bus with a spacious coach. The vehicle is comfortable enough for most people, but the legroom may be the deciding factor for tall passengers.

What the $92 price really includes

At $92 per person, this is good value if you want variety. Your fare covers central pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, the farm stop, fruit tastings, two included winery tastings, the chocolate tasting, and the planned distillery visit. The strawberry punnet is an extra treat when the current offer applies.

The price is less attractive if you want an elaborate lunch, premium wine purchases, and the gin paddle. Those costs sit outside the base fare. Add lunch, and then add the optional gin tasting if spirits are important to you.

Still, arranging the same day independently would mean hiring a car or booking a driver, planning the route, and making separate appointments. The tour removes that work and keeps one person sober for the drive. For a full 8.5-hour day with multiple venues, the price is fair.

Who should book this day out

I would choose this tour if you want a relaxed social day, broad tasting options, and a first look at the Yarra Valley without committing to a specialist wine itinerary. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and families with older children.

It is also a good choice for a mixed group. One person can focus on wine, another on strawberries and chocolate, and another can add gin. The guides make an effort to include everyone, and the music helps the bus ride feel less formal.

I would choose another option if you want long, quiet tastings at a small number of wineries, a large amount of personal space, or a fully included lunch. The schedule is well paced but busy, and the compact bus is not ideal for everyone.

Practical details before you book

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. The tour runs in English.

The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility issues, especially anyone unable to climb stairs. Children under 4 cannot join, and pregnant women are advised not to book because the day centers on alcohol tastings.

Bring identification, even if you are not planning to drink. Alcohol will not be served to anyone under 18. Also remember that a specific winery can occasionally change, and the gin venue depends on the weekday.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the best mix of wine, fruit, chocolate, cider, and gin in one organized day. The strongest parts are the friendly guides, the small group, the broad route, and the amount included for $92.

Skip it if you need generous legroom, a slow wine-focused program, or an all-inclusive price. For most first-time visitors to the Yarra Valley, though, this is an easy and sociable way to see the region, taste widely, and return to Melbourne without worrying about the drive.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

Meet at 8:45am in front of the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, near Protagonist Cafe at 6/2 St Kilda Road, Southbank. The bus aims to leave at 9am.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour returns to the CBD at about 5:30pm, with drop-off near ACMI at Federation Square.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at Quarters Restaurant at Hubert Estate is available for purchase. Wine, whisky, and gin tasting flights there also cost extra.

Which gin distillery will I visit?

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the tour visits Four Pillars Gin Distillery. From Thursdays through Mondays, it visits Stag Lane Distillery.

Is gin tasting included in the price?

A gin paddle with a mixer is included only when you select the Full-Tasting Experience option. It is not included in the standard option.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children aged 2 to 17 may join at reduced prices, but alcohol will not be served to them. Children under 4 are not accepted.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility issues, especially those unable to climb stairs.