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

The best thing about this Yarra Valley day is its variety. In roughly eight and a half hours, you move from strawberries and local jams to cool-climate wine, handmade chocolate, cider, and gin, all without driving. Guides such as Shaun, Danny, Posi, and Stefan are known for keeping the ride social and easygoing.

I like the small maximum group of 20 and the simple Melbourne pickup point. I also like the mix of famous names such as Yering Station and Four Pillars with smaller producers. The main catch is that lunch costs extra, and the exact stops can change by day, season, or private event.

Key points

• Six tasting-style stops: Expect fruit, wine, chocolate, and optional gin across the Yarra Valley.
• Small-group transport: The tour carries no more than 20 people, with pickup near the Arts Centre and drop-off at ACMI.
• Two winery tastings included: Yering Station and Yering Farm are commonly part of the day, with an apple cider sample at Yering Farm when available.
• Gin depends on your booking: Stag Lane usually operates Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Four Pillars is generally used Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Lunch is not included: You can buy a meal at Quarters restaurant at St Hubert Estate around 11:45am.
• Plan for a full day: The group aims to return to central Melbourne by 5:30pm.

Why this tour works for a first Yarra Valley visit

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a day trip, but spread out enough that seeing several producers by public transport would be awkward. This tour solves the main problem: you can taste wine and gin without worrying about roads, parking, or assigning a sober driver.

At the listed price of $93.24 per person, the value comes from the transport, several hosted tastings, and the number of stops packed into one day. You also get a guide who handles the timing and explains what you are sampling. Lunch and some optional tastings cost extra, so the final spend will be higher than the advertised fare.

I would choose this tour if you want a broad introduction rather than an in-depth visit to one vineyard. It is a tasting sampler with a cheerful group atmosphere, not a slow private wine consultation.

Meeting in Melbourne and settling into the day

You meet at 8:45am in front of the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, near the Protagonist cafe stand at 6/2 St Kilda Road in Southbank. Departure is planned for 9am, so arrive early rather than trying to find the meeting point at the last moment.

The return point is ACMI at Federation Square. The tour aims to arrive by 5:30pm or earlier, giving you a central Melbourne finish. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to and from the meeting points.

The vehicle carries no more than 20 people, although the actual group can be smaller. That matters on a day with several tastings. A smaller group generally means less time getting people back on the bus and more chance to speak with the guide.

The guides help shape the mood. Shaun, also called Shauny, has been praised for his humor and friendly approach. Danny is known for a good playlist, local pointers, and keeping the schedule moving. Posi, sometimes written as Pozzy, brings plenty of energy, while Stefan has been singled out for making the day fun and informative.

Guide quality can vary by date, but the repeated strength of this experience is its relaxed social tone. If you are traveling alone, the format makes it easy to join in without having to arrange every part of the day yourself.

Strawberries first at Yarra Farm Fresh

The first main stop is usually Yarra Farm Fresh, reached after leaving Melbourne in the morning. You get fresh strawberries, seasonal fruit, and local jams, with a complimentary punnet of strawberries offered per booking for a limited time until February 28, 2026, subject to availability.

This is a pleasant opening because it eases you into the day before the wine pours begin. The fruit gives you something fresh to eat, which is useful since lunch does not arrive until about 11:45am.

Some schedules have instead featured a dairy or cheese stop, and this has caused confusion for people expecting the same lineup shown in older tour details. If cheese matters to you, confirm the planned first stop before booking. The current route usually emphasizes strawberries, but venues can change.

The farm stop is not a major attraction in itself. You will likely spend about 40 minutes there. Still, it gives the day a local-produce angle and breaks up the winery visits.

Yering Station, the historic first winery

Yering Station is usually the second stop, with about 50 minutes set aside for wine tasting. It is the oldest winery in the Yarra Valley and one of the area’s best-known estates.

This is where you begin to taste the region in a more focused way. The Yarra Valley is associated with cool-climate wines, and Yering Station provides a polished introduction to that style. The visit is structured, so you should expect a hosted tasting rather than a long, private wander through the property.

The time is enough to sample several wines, but not enough for a leisurely estate visit. Some people find the winery portions rushed, particularly when they want to discuss individual bottles at length. If wine is your main reason for coming, keep that limitation in mind.

For most people, though, Yering Station is a useful anchor. It gives the day a well-known regional name before the tour moves on to smaller and more casual stops.

Lunch at St Hubert Estate and the Quarters restaurant

St Hubert Estate is usually the third stop, with roughly an hour for lunch. You eat at Quarters, the estate’s bistro restaurant, where you can purchase a main course and drinks to suit your appetite and budget.

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You should eat breakfast before departure and plan to pay separately for your meal. The early lunch time is worth noting, especially if you normally eat around noon or later.

There is more to do here than simply sit down for food. You have time to explore the cellar door, wine shop, and Indigenous art gallery. The estate also offers wine, gin, and whisky tastings for an additional fee, usually about A$15 per person.

I would not automatically pay for another tasting here. The day already includes wine sampling, and the tour’s stated approach is to keep its main tasting stops focused on selected producers. If you want to compare St Hubert’s bottles or try whisky, this is your chance, but treat it as an optional extra.

Yering Farm Wines and the apple cider bonus

Yering Farm Wines is usually the fourth stop, with about 45 minutes for tasting. The setting is described as rustic, and the lineup includes classic Yarra Valley wines followed by apple cider.

That cider is a small but worthwhile detail. It gives your palate a break from wine and adds something distinct to the day. The tasting is also a good fit for people in the group who enjoy fruit-based drinks but are less interested in another flight of wine.

Yering Farm may not be available on every date. Private events and closures can lead to a substitute winery, and the cider sample may disappear with the change. Confirming the schedule is sensible if this stop is important to you.

The winery visits are designed to give you a taste of the region, not a full education in winemaking. You will sample several products, hear some background, and move on. That balance works well for a mixed group, but serious wine buyers may want a separate cellar-door visit with more time.

Chocolate and ice cream at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is usually the fifth stop. The visit includes a guided tasting of up to 12 handmade chocolate creations and lasts about 45 minutes.

This is one of the day’s most reliable palate changes. After fruit and wine, chocolate feels playful and substantial. It also gives non-wine drinkers a stop they can enjoy fully, rather than simply waiting while others taste.

The factory can feel commercial and noisy, especially compared with a small winery. That is part of the tradeoff. You get a broad selection and a lively retail setting, but not the quiet country feel of a boutique cellar door.

You may have time to look around and buy additional chocolate or ice cream, though the included experience centers on the guided tasting. This stop is particularly helpful for mixed groups and families, since children aged 4 to 17 may join the tour but are not served alcohol.

Finishing with gin at Stag Lane or Four Pillars

The final tasting stop depends on the day and the option you choose. From Monday through Sunday except Tuesday and Wednesday, the tour usually visits Stag Lane Farm Distillery. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Four Pillars Distillery is generally used instead.

The full tasting option includes a guided gin flight served with a mixer. This is not automatic for every booking, so check that you have selected the full tasting experience if gin is a priority.

Four Pillars is a major draw for many people. The visit gives you a chance to see a well-known Australian gin producer and finish with a tasting that feels different from the earlier wine stops. Stag Lane offers the same general style of closing activity in a different setting.

The distillery visit lasts about 45 minutes. It can be a highlight, but it also adds another alcoholic tasting near the end of a long day. Summer can be hot and sunny, and the combination of heat and alcohol is not comfortable for everyone. Drink water, eat properly at lunch, and be honest about your limits.

If nobody in the group selects the gin experience, the final stop may be extended by about 15 minutes, with an earlier departure back to Melbourne. That keeps the return smooth rather than leaving empty time in the schedule.

How much tasting is really included

The tour includes hosted tastings at two selected wineries, fresh fruit and jams, chocolate samples, and the gin paddle if you choose the full tasting option. The itinerary also describes three winery visits, with the lunch stop offering further tastings at an extra charge.

This distinction matters. The advertised price is not an all-you-can-taste ticket, and it does not cover lunch. You should budget for food at Quarters and optional wine, gin, or whisky at St Hubert Estate.

The value is still strong if you want variety. Booking separate transport, tasting appointments, and a distillery visit would take more planning and could cost more once transfers are added. The tour also lets you taste without driving.

For a wine specialist, the value is less clear because the winery visits are brief and the selections may not match your taste. Several people found the wines at the two included wineries less impressive than expected, while the optional tasting at St Hubert Estate offered a stronger fit for some palates.

Who should book this Yarra Valley day

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want to sample many parts of the region in one day. It suits couples, solo visitors, small groups, and families with older children who can manage a full schedule.

It is also a good pick if you care about more than wine. The strawberries, chocolate, cider, and gin make the day more varied than a traditional vineyard route. The easygoing guides and music help create a social outing rather than a formal wine class.

You may want a different tour if you prefer long cellar-door visits, quiet scenery, or detailed discussion of each wine. The schedule moves at a steady pace, and some stops can feel short. It is also not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly those who have difficulty climbing stairs.

The activity is subject to favorable weather. In extreme weather, the operator offers another date or a full refund. Children aged 4 to 17 can join, but they will not receive alcoholic tastings.

My call on the experience

Book this tour if you want a practical, cheerful introduction to the Yarra Valley with several kinds of tasting in one day. The small group, central transport, broad route, and strong guide personalities give it real appeal.

Before paying, confirm three things: the exact winery lineup, the first farm or cheese stop, and whether gin is included in your selected option. Bring money for lunch, eat breakfast, wear comfortable shoes, and carry water.

I would not choose it for a serious wine study day. I would choose it for a relaxed taste of the region, especially if chocolate, fruit, cider, and gin sound as appealing as wine.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, 6/2 St Kilda Road, Southbank. Meet near the Protagonist cafe stand at 8:45am for a planned 9am departure.

Where does the tour finish?

The planned drop-off point is ACMI at Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne. Arrival is usually targeted for 5:30pm or earlier.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours and 30 minutes, including transport and stops.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is purchased separately at Quarters restaurant at St Hubert Estate. The lunch break is usually around 11:45am.

Is gin tasting included?

Gin is included only when you choose the full tasting experience option. The distillery stop and producer depend on the day of the week.

Which gin distillery does the tour visit?

Stag Lane Farm Distillery is usually visited on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Four Pillars Distillery is generally visited on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Are children allowed on the tour?

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

Are hotel pickups and drop-offs provided?

No. You must make your own way to the Arts Centre meeting point and from ACMI after the tour.

Can the winery stops change?

Yes. Wineries may change because of private events or other closures. Confirm the itinerary for your preferred date if a particular venue matters to you.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded. Weather or minimum-participation cancellations may result in an alternative date or a full refund.