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

The most appealing thing about this Yarra Valley day trip is its variety. In one long outing, you can sample wine, strawberries, chocolate, apple cider, and gin without driving or sorting out a rural route yourself. Guides such as Shaun, Danny, Posi, and Stefan keep the day social, with plenty of local commentary and humor.

I like the small group size, capped at 20 people, and the mix of polished estates and more relaxed farm stops. I also like the optional gin visit, with Stag Lane Distillery on most days and Four Pillars on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The main consideration is pace. You visit several producers in about eight and a half hours, so winery tastings can feel brief if wine is your main interest. Lunch is also not included, and the best-known stops may change by date.

Five things to know before booking

• Six tasting-focused stops: Expect fruit, wine, lunch at your own cost, chocolate, and optional gin across a full day.
• Yering Station adds heritage: This historic estate is usually the first winery and one of the valley’s best-known names.
• Gin depends on the day: Stag Lane usually operates Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Four Pillars is generally used Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Lunch is separate: You eat at Quarters restaurant at St Hubert Estate, but mains and drinks come from your own budget.
• The route can change: Cheese, wineries, and farm stops are not guaranteed in the exact order advertised, so check the plan for your date.

A full Yarra Valley day without the driving

At $93.24 per person, this is priced as an accessible way to see several Yarra Valley producers in one day. The value comes from the transport, group organization, and tasting fees at the included stops. You are paying for a broad sampler rather than a slow, wine-specialist visit.

That distinction matters. If you want long cellar-door conversations and several generous pours at each winery, I would choose a more focused wine tour. If you want to understand what the region offers beyond wine, this outing makes good sense.

The bus leaves from the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire at 9:00am. Meet by 8:45am near the Protagonist cafe stand at the front of the landmark. The return point is ACMI at Federation Square, usually by 5:30pm or earlier. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so allow time to reach Southbank in the morning.

With a maximum of 20 people, the vehicle is smaller than the large coach tours that can carry around 30. That helps the day feel more personal, although the experience still depends on the guide and the group’s pace.

Strawberries and farm produce to start the morning

Yarra Farm Fresh is usually the first substantial stop. The visit lasts about 40 minutes and gives you an early taste of the valley’s agricultural side, with strawberries, seasonal fruit, and local jams.

A complimentary punnet of strawberries is included per booking for a limited time, with the offer listed as available until February 28, 2026, subject to supply. Check that this promotion still applies when you book.

This is a pleasant start because it breaks up the drive and gives you something fresh before the wine stops begin. I would not choose this tour solely for the farm visit, but it adds useful balance. The day is not just a chain of cellar doors.

There is one point to watch. The exact farm stop may vary, and some departures have included a dairy or cheese visit instead. If cheese is a priority, contact the operator before booking. It is not safe to assume that every departure includes the same farm experience.

Yering Station brings the first serious wine stop

Yering Station is usually the second major stop, with about 50 minutes for wine tasting. Founded in the 19th century, it is the oldest winery in the Yarra Valley and one of the region’s most recognized estates.

The setting gives you a useful introduction to cool-climate Yarra Valley wine. The region is particularly associated with styles such as chardonnay and pinot noir, though the exact wines poured will depend on the cellar door and the day.

I like having a respected estate early in the schedule. It gives you a reference point before the smaller and more casual producers later on. The tradeoff is time. A 50-minute stop is enough for a hosted tasting and a look around, but not enough for a leisurely estate visit.

Several people have found the winery tastings a little rushed, with modest pours. That is a fair expectation to carry into the day. You are sampling a selection, not settling in for a private wine education session.

St Hubert Estate gives you a proper lunch pause

St Hubert Estate is usually the third stop, and this is where the tour slows down for roughly an hour. Lunch takes place at Quarters, the estate’s bistro restaurant.

You choose and pay for your own meal and drinks, so this stop works for different appetites and budgets. It is worth remembering that the tour reaches lunch around 11:45am. Eat breakfast before departure, since waiting until the restaurant stop may leave you hungry during the earlier tastings.

You also have time to look around the cellar door, wine shop, and Indigenous art gallery. That makes St Hubert more than a simple restaurant stop, though the hour can pass quickly if you want to eat, browse, and taste.

Wine, gin, and whisky tastings at St Hubert are extra, usually around $15 per person. The tour does not include a tasting here because its main included tastings are intended to focus on other producers. If you want to add one, budget for it separately.

Yering Farm adds a rustic change of pace

Yering Farm Wines usually follows lunch, with about 45 minutes for tasting. Compared with the larger-name estates, it offers a more relaxed and rustic feel.

The tasting normally includes Yarra Valley wines and an apple cider at the end. That cider is a small but welcome change after several wine samples, especially if you like trying local products beyond grapes.

Yering Farm may be unavailable for private events or other closures. If it is replaced, the apple cider may not be included. The tour company also notes that wineries can change, so you should treat the listed route as a likely plan rather than a fixed contract.

The stop is best for people who enjoy contrast. You get a different atmosphere and another view of local production. If your only goal is premium wine, you may find the time better spent at one more serious estate.

Chocolate is the crowd-pleasing stop

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is usually the fifth stop, with about 45 minutes for a guided chocolate tasting. Up to 12 handmade creations may be included.

This is one of the easiest stops to enjoy even if you are not passionate about wine. It also gives your palate a break from alcohol and makes the tour work well for mixed groups, including families and people who prefer food tastings to cellar doors.

The attraction is commercial and can feel busy or noisy. That is part of the experience, not a flaw to hide. You are visiting a popular chocolate producer, not a quiet artisan workshop. I would treat the stop as a generous sampling session and browsing opportunity rather than a deeply local or intimate encounter.

Chocolate and wine can also make for a sweet finish to the afternoon, but remember that the gin stop may follow. Drink water and take the warm weather seriously.

Choose your gin finale by the day

The final scheduled stop is an optional gin tasting, and the distillery depends on the weekday.

On Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the tour usually visits Stag Lane Farm Distillery. On Tuesday and Wednesday, it generally visits Four Pillars Distillery. Both stops offer a guided gin flight served with a mixer, but you need to select the full tasting experience option to include the gin flight.

Four Pillars is a particular highlight for people interested in modern Australian gin. Stag Lane offers a smaller local distillery setting. The choice is not really yours once the date is set, so check the schedule if one producer matters more to you.

The gin tasting is optional, which is practical. You can join the tour without making the day a wine-and-spirits marathon. If nobody chooses the gin experience, the final stop may be extended by 15 minutes and the group may return to Melbourne earlier.

That flexibility is useful, but summer deserves caution. The tour company warns that conditions can be hot and sunny, and heat combined with several alcoholic tastings can catch you out. Drink water, eat lunch, wear sun protection, and pace yourself.

Guides make the long day work

The guide can shape the mood of this tour more than any single winery. Shaun, Danny, Posi, and Stefan have all been praised for keeping the group involved, comfortable, and entertained.

Danny is known for a social manner, useful recommendations, local information, and a good playlist. Posi brings humor and energy, while Stefan has been especially appreciated for a relaxed style and fun commentary. Shaun is often described as friendly and engaging, with a knack for helping solo participants feel included.

You should expect guiding rather than a formal lecture. The commentary may cover Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, nearby wildlife, and the stops ahead. One weakness is that the drive-through scenery does not always receive detailed explanation, so do not book this as a dedicated regional history tour.

Still, the guides appear to put real effort into the practical side of the day. That includes checking that people are comfortable, keeping the schedule moving, and helping when something goes wrong. On a full-day group outing, those small acts matter.

What the price really includes

The advertised price is $93.24 per person. For a full day with Melbourne transfers, several producers, and included tastings at selected stops, that is a reasonable entry price for a broad Yarra Valley introduction.

Your extra costs are important:

• Lunch at Quarters is not included.
• Drinks with lunch are not included.
• St Hubert wine, gin, and whisky tastings cost extra, usually about $15.
• The full tasting option is needed for the gin flight.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The tour includes hosted tastings at two selected estates, while the wider program may visit three wineries or wine producers depending on the route. The practical value is strongest if you plan to sample a little of everything. The value is weaker if you would rather spend the whole day at two or three wineries.

The mobile ticket keeps the booking simple, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure. Changes made inside that period are not accepted. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a new date, an alternative experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this Yarra Valley outing

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want an easy day outside Melbourne without renting a car. It also suits solo visitors, couples, and mixed groups where one person likes wine, another prefers chocolate, and someone else wants gin.

Families can join with children aged 4 to 17, but children are not served alcoholic tastings. The farm, chocolate, and general sightseeing elements give younger participants something to enjoy, though the day remains centered on adult drinks.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone with mobility issues, particularly difficulty climbing stairs. The operator says some parts of the experience cannot accommodate those needs.

I would also choose another tour if you dislike a busy schedule, need a slow lunch, or want a serious wine course. The format is designed for range and convenience, not long, quiet tastings.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-organized taste of the Yarra Valley in one day. The strongest combination is the small group, the variety of stops, the optional gin finale, and guides such as Danny, Posi, Shaun, and Stefan who keep the mood friendly.

Before paying, check three things: the farm or cheese stop on your date, the winery substitutions, and which gin distillery operates that day. Set aside money for lunch, arrive after a solid breakfast, and prepare for sun and alcohol.

If you make those allowances, this is a useful sampler of the region. It gives you enough of the Yarra Valley to decide which producer deserves a slower return visit.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, at 6/2 St Kilda Road, Southbank. Meet at 8:45am near the Protagonist cafe stand, with departure planned for 9:00am.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at ACMI in Federation Square, Melbourne. The planned arrival is 5:30pm or earlier.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at Quarters restaurant at St Hubert Estate and is paid for separately. Mains and drinks are available to suit your budget and appetite.

Is gin tasting included?

Gin tasting is included only when you choose the full tasting experience option. The tour usually visits Stag Lane Distillery on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and Four Pillars on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Are children allowed?

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

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. You must make your own way to the Melbourne meeting point and leave from the ACMI drop-off point.

Can the wineries or farm stops change?

Yes. Some wineries and other venues may change, and the operator recommends confirming the itinerary for your preferred date. Yering Farm can also be replaced, in which case the apple cider tasting may not be available.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour depends on suitable weather. If extreme weather causes cancellation, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.