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

The best thing about this Yarra Valley outing is its variety. In one long day, you move from strawberries and local jam to old-vine wine, chocolate, lunch, cider, and a gin flight. It is a smart choice if you want a broad taste of the region without renting a car or planning a complicated route.

I like the small group of up to 20 and the fact that the tastings are built into the price. I also like the guides’ friendly style. Shaun, Danny, Posi, and Stefan are repeatedly singled out for humor, good music, local tips, and keeping solo participants included. The main catch is that this is a sampler, not a slow wine education day. Some stops feel brisk, and lunch and optional tastings cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Six tasting stops in about 8.5 hours: Expect fruit, wine, lunch, chocolate, and gin in one busy but varied day.
• Three winery visits: Wine tastings are hosted at two estates, while St Hubert Estate is mainly the lunch stop unless you pay for another tasting.
• Gin depends on your date: Stag Lane usually operates Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Four Pillars is used Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Lunch is not included: You order and pay for your meal at Quarters restaurant at St Hubert Estate.
• The group is capped at 20: That is smaller than many coach tours, though the vehicle and exact group size can vary.
• The itinerary can change: Wineries and farm visits are subject to availability, private events, closures, and weather.

A full day from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley

This tour leaves from the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, near the Protagonist cafe stand, with a meeting time of 8:45 a.m. Departure is planned for 9 a.m. sharp. You return to ACMI at Federation Square around 5:30 p.m., sometimes earlier.

That central pickup and drop-off is useful if you are staying in Melbourne without a car. You do not have to find a winery, watch the clock for tastings, or worry about driving after several pours. The tradeoff is that hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach Southbank in the morning and make your own way onward from Federation Square.

The tour runs for roughly eight and a half hours. That sounds generous, but the program packs in six stops plus transport, lunch, and changing between venues. I would eat a proper breakfast before leaving. Lunch is scheduled around 11:45 a.m., and you may be tasting wine before then.

Strawberries and farm produce at Yarra Farm Fresh

The first proper stop is usually Yarra Farm Fresh, where you spend about 40 minutes sampling strawberries, seasonal fruit, and local jams. A complimentary punnet of strawberries is offered per booking for a limited time, subject to availability, through February 28, 2026.

This is a pleasant opening because it starts the day with food instead of alcohol. The strawberries give you a quick sense of the valley’s farm produce, and the stop works well for anyone who prefers a mixed food-and-drink outing. It is also a good pause for photos and a gentle start before the winery visits.

Do not book this expecting a farm tour with hours of agricultural detail. The stop is short and focused on sampling. The exact farm experience can change. In some versions of the day, Coldstream Dairy and a cheese tasting have replaced the strawberry visit. If cheese is important to you, check the plan for your date before booking.

Yering Station and the first wine tasting

Yering Station is usually the second stop, with about 50 minutes for wine tasting. It is described as the Yarra Valley’s oldest winery and one of its best-known estates, with a focus on cool-climate wines.

The setting gives the day a more traditional winery feel after the farm stop. You will have a hosted tasting rather than simply browsing a shop, and this is one of the tour’s main opportunities to compare Yarra Valley styles. The visit is short enough to keep the day moving, but not long enough for a full cellar-door experience, extended vineyard walk, or serious wine class.

I would treat this as an introduction, especially if you already know wine. Several comments about the tour praise the range and the ease of tasting, but some also describe the winery visits as rushed, with small pours and limited personal attention. That is the price of covering so much ground in one day.

Lunch at St Hubert Estate’s Quarters restaurant

St Hubert Estate is normally the third stop. Lunch is at Quarters, the estate’s bistro restaurant, and you have about an hour. You choose your own main course and drinks, so the meal can match your appetite and budget.

This arrangement has two clear advantages. You are not locked into a fixed menu, and you can decide if you want a full meal or something lighter. You also have time to look around the cellar door, wine shop, and Indigenous art gallery at the estate.

Remember that lunch is not part of the $93.24 tour price. The schedule places it around 11:45 a.m., which is why breakfast matters. Wine, gin, and whisky tastings at St Hubert Estate also cost extra, usually about A$15 per person.

The included program does not normally make St Hubert’s lunch stop one of the hosted wine tastings. If you want to sample its wines, plan for the added fee and a little extra spending. That distinction is important because the tour description includes several wineries, but not every winery visit includes a tasting in the base price.

Yering Farm Wines, cider, and a rustic cellar door

Yering Farm Wines is usually the fourth stop, with around 45 minutes for tasting. This smaller, rustic winery offers classic Yarra Valley wines and usually finishes with an apple cider sample.

The cider is a useful touch. It breaks up the wine sequence and gives you another local drink to compare. It also helps make the tour suitable for a group with mixed tastes, since not everyone wants six hours of wine alone.

Yering Farm can occasionally be unavailable because of private events or other closures. If a substitute winery is used, the apple cider may not be included. This is one of several reasons to see the day as a flexible tasting route rather than a fixed list of guaranteed venues.

Some people may find the two hosted winery visits less personal than a private tasting. You are there as part of a moving group, with the next stop waiting. If your main goal is to study Yarra Valley chardonnay or pinot noir in depth, a dedicated winery tour would likely suit you better.

Chocolate at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is usually the fifth stop, with about 45 minutes. A guided tasting can include up to 12 handmade chocolate creations, and ice cream is also part of the setting.

This is where the tour becomes more than a wine circuit. The chocolate stop gives you a sweet change of pace and works well for people who do not drink alcohol. It is also popular with families, since children aged four to 17 may join the tour but are not served alcoholic tastings.

The stop is commercial in feel compared with a small farm or cellar door. One comment describes it as noisy and less intimate, so I would come for the range of samples rather than a quiet craft-chocolate lesson. Still, 12 creations provide plenty to try, and the stop adds real value to a day that might otherwise feel too focused on wine.

Gin at Stag Lane or Four Pillars

The final tasting stop depends on the day you book. On Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the group usually visits Stag Lane Farm Distillery. On Tuesday and Wednesday, it may visit Four Pillars Distillery instead.

The full tasting option includes a guided gin flight served with a mixer. This is optional, so check that you select the correct booking option if gin is one of your main reasons for joining. Drinks at this point can be a highlight, especially after the wine and chocolate stops, but they also make the heat and alcohol combination worth taking seriously in summer.

Four Pillars is a particular draw for anyone interested in modern Australian gin. Stag Lane provides a different, smaller-distillery setting. The schedule means you cannot simply assume one will be available on every date.

If no one chooses the gin experience, the final stop is extended by about 15 minutes and the group leaves earlier for Melbourne. That gives non-drinkers a little more time at the venue, but it also means the day’s closing plan depends partly on the group.

What the guides add to the day

The guide can shape this experience as much as the producers do. Shaun is described as funny, warm, and good at including someone traveling alone. Danny is praised for his playlist, local recommendations, stories about Melbourne, and ability to keep the schedule moving. Posi is noted for a social, engaging manner, while Stefan is remembered for humor and clear explanations at the tasting stops.

That personality matters because the day includes a lot of road time and short visits. A quiet or overly formal guide could make the schedule feel mechanical. A good one turns the van rides into part of the outing, points out wildlife such as kangaroos and eagles when possible, and helps the group settle into a shared rhythm.

The commentary about the Yarra Valley itself can vary. One person enjoyed the guide but wanted more explanation of the area seen from the road. I would expect more practical hosting and entertainment than a detailed regional lecture.

Is the $93.24 price good value?

At $93.24 per person, the tour offers solid value if you plan to use most of its inclusions. You receive return transport from central Melbourne, wine tastings at two estates, fruit and jam samples, chocolate tasting, and the chance to add a gin flight. The small-group cap of 20 also improves the experience over a large coach carrying up to 30 people.

The price does not cover lunch. It also does not cover tastings at St Hubert Estate, and the gin flight requires the full tasting option. Add those costs before comparing it with other tours.

The biggest value is convenience. A self-drive day would require a designated driver, careful route planning, and separate bookings. Here, you can taste without handling the roads and get a broad introduction to several local producers in one day.

The weaker value appears if you only care about premium wine. The visits are short, wine pours may feel modest, and the route gives equal time to chocolate, fruit, and gin. For a first Yarra Valley visit, that variety is a strength. For serious wine collectors, it may feel too spread out.

Practical details that can affect your day

Wear comfortable shoes and be ready for stairs. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly those who cannot manage climbing stairs at some venues.

Summer can be hot and sunny. Bring water, protect yourself from the sun, and be realistic about your alcohol tolerance. The combination of warm weather and repeated tastings can catch you off guard, especially if you skip breakfast or lunch.

Children from four to 17 can join, but they will not receive alcoholic samples. Service animals are allowed, and the tour operates near public transport. The vehicle holds no more than 20 participants, though the exact number in your group is not specified.

The route is subject to favorable weather and venue availability. Extreme weather can lead to a new date or full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted.

Who should book this Yarra Valley tour?

I would choose this tour for a first visit to the region, couples who want food as well as wine, solo visitors who like social group outings, and anyone who does not want to drive after tasting. It is also a good fit for mixed groups, since chocolate, fruit, cider, and optional gin give non-wine drinkers something to enjoy.

I would hesitate if you want long tastings, a fixed list of wineries, or a quiet day built around detailed wine instruction. The itinerary can change, and the pace is designed for variety. If you prefer to spend half a day at one estate, this route will feel hurried.

FAQ

Where does the Yarra Valley tour begin?

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

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at ACMI in Federation Square, on Flinders Street, Melbourne. Arrival is usually planned for 5:30 p.m. or earlier.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. Lunch is purchased separately at Quarters restaurant at St Hubert Estate. You choose your own food and drinks.

Does the tour include gin tasting?

Gin tasting is included only when you select the full tasting experience option. The usual gin stop is Stag Lane Farm Distillery on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, or Four Pillars Distillery on Tuesday and Wednesday.

How many wineries are visited?

The route includes three winery visits. Hosted wine tastings are normally provided at two estates, while St Hubert Estate is the lunch stop unless you pay separately for a wine, gin, or whisky tasting.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children aged four to 17 may join, but alcoholic tastings are not served to them.

Is the strawberry punnet guaranteed?

A complimentary punnet is offered per booking for a limited time, until February 28, 2026, subject to availability. The farm stop itself and other venues can change.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly anyone who may have trouble climbing stairs at the venues.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted. Weather or minimum-participant cancellations may result in an alternative date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a cheerful, efficient introduction to the Yarra Valley with many tastes in one day. The strongest reasons are the central transport, small-group limit, broad mix of stops, and guides such as Danny, Shaun, Posi, and Stefan who bring humor and energy to a packed schedule.

Skip it if your ideal wine day means lingering at two or three estates and asking detailed questions over generous pours. For everyone else, $93.24 is a fair starting price, as long as you budget for lunch, check the gin option, eat breakfast, and accept that the venues may change.