Melbourne: Around the Bay Food & Wine Taste Trail

The clever idea here is the cross-bay route. Instead of spending a full day in one wine district, you link the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, with Geelong, a ferry ride, coastal lookouts, and beach boxes folded into the same outing. It gives you a broad taste of the region without arranging several separate trips.

I like the winery lunch at Jack Rabbit, where the setting matters as much as the food, and I like the change of pace at St Andrews Brewery, a former horse-training site with beer poured from stable doors. Guides Gary and Matt have both led this trip, and the strongest praise centers on their friendly, relaxed way of explaining the region.

The trade-off is time. Ten hours sounds generous, but this is a busy day with several long transfers and scheduled stops. If you want slow tastings or hours at one vineyard, choose a smaller, single-region tour instead.

Key points to know before booking

• Two wine regions in one day: Compare the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas instead of settling for one.
• Jack Rabbit lunch with a view: Your main meal comes at a vineyard restaurant overlooking the vines.
• A bay crossing breaks up the road time: The ferry ride adds sea air and a Devonshire tea between food and drink stops.
• St Andrews Brewery occupies an old horse facility: Expect a beer-paddle tasting in an unusual setting.
• Arthurs Seat gives you the big picture: Murray Lookout opens wide views across the bay toward Melbourne.
• The day suits social drinkers: You need to be at least 18 with valid photo ID to consume alcohol.

Why this route works better than a standard winery day

At $155 per person, this is not simply a drive to one cellar door and back. The price covers round-trip transport from selected pickup points, a guide, wine and beer paddle tastings, winery lunch, national park fees, and the bay crossing. That package makes reasonable sense if you want to sample several parts of the region without renting a car.

The route also has a useful geographic trick. The Bellarine Peninsula sits west of Port Phillip Bay, while the Mornington Peninsula lies to the east. You see both sides in one loop rather than retracing the same road. The result is varied, but it also means you spend part of the day in the vehicle.

This is a social outing rather than a quiet private tasting. The guide keeps the schedule moving, introduces the stops, and handles the driving. Past guides Gary and Matt earned especially warm praise for being friendly, relaxed, and full of useful regional information. That matters here because a good guide helps turn a string of tastings into a connected day.

Starting with sea air at Geelong Waterfront

Pickup is available from selected locations, and you should arrive at least 10 minutes early. Look for the purple bus or a vehicle marked with the Explore Australia Tours logo. Large bags, luggage, and baby strollers are not allowed, so bring only what you need for the day.

The first stop is Geelong Waterfront. This gives you a gentle start before the wine begins. You can walk along the esplanade, breathe in the sea air, and get your bearings beside the bay. It is not a long sightseeing visit, but that is part of its value. The waterfront breaks up the pickup and road journey without demanding a big block of time.

Geelong also helps frame the rest of the day. You are not heading straight from Melbourne to a cellar door. You are moving through a coastal region whose food and drink culture is tied closely to the water, farms, vineyards, and small producers.

Scotchmans Hill and the Bellarine wine country

Scotchmans Hill Vineyard is your first wine stop. The estate sits among the Bellarine vineyards, with views around the property and a cellar door housed in an old French provincial barn-style building. The setting gives the tasting a sense of place that a city wine bar cannot match.

The first tasting is useful for comparing the Bellarine with the Mornington Peninsula later in the day. You can pay attention to how the wines differ, but the tour does not present itself as a formal wine course. It is better suited to curious drinkers who want a friendly introduction than to serious collectors seeking a long technical tasting.

The stop also sets the tone for the day. You get a taste, a view, and a short lesson in the local produce scene before moving on. I would avoid arriving hungry, though. Lunch comes later, and the schedule includes drinks before the main meal.

Jack Rabbit Vineyard makes lunch part of the scenery

Jack Rabbit Vineyard is the day’s central food stop. The Jack Rabbit Café is known for its views, and lunch takes place with the vines in sight. That setting is a major reason this tour works for people who want food and scenery together, not just a series of tastings at counters.

The winery lunch is included, which makes the $155 price easier to justify. You are not paying for transport and then discovering that the main meal costs extra. Dietary requirements should be supplied when you book, so the kitchen has notice.

The stop is also described as a place locals like to return to, which gives it a more relaxed feel than a quick roadside meal. Still, remember that the exact menu and stop order can change. The tour notes say stops may vary from time to time, so do not book expecting one precise dish or a fixed sequence.

Several people who took the day especially liked the food, winery, and brewery combination. That is the heart of the experience: lunch gives you a proper pause between tastings, while the vineyard view keeps the meal tied to the region.

Across the bay with Devonshire tea

The bay crossing is one of the most distinctive parts of the day. After the Bellarine stops, you sail across the water and have Devonshire tea while taking in the bay. This is more than a transport link. It gives your senses a break from wine and road travel.

I like this change of rhythm. A day built only around wineries can start to feel repetitive, especially for anyone in the group who is less interested in tasting notes. The ferry adds open air, water views, and a simple sweet refreshment before the Mornington Peninsula portion begins.

The crossing does, however, make the day dependent on a detailed schedule. You are not choosing the sailing time or lingering until you feel ready to move on. The point is to connect the two peninsulas efficiently, so the experience favors variety over freedom.

Beer at St Andrews Brewery in a former horse facility

St Andrews Brewery brings a different flavor to the itinerary. The craft brewery occupies a site that was once a world-class horse-training facility, and beer is poured from the stable doors. That unusual setting gives the tasting a bit more character than a standard taproom visit.

Here you join a beer-paddle tasting. A paddle usually lets you compare several small pours rather than committing to one full beer, which is helpful after the earlier wine tasting. You can focus on the different styles and decide what suits you without turning the afternoon into one large drink.

This is also where the tour feels most connected to local daily life. The description places you among locals, and the stop is designed as a working brewery rather than a polished wine estate. You may be able to watch brewers crafting and pouring the beers directly from the facility, although the precise activity can depend on the day.

The alcohol rules are clear. You must be at least 18 and show valid photo ID to drink. Snacks and drinks beyond the included tastings are not covered, so carrying a little spending money is sensible, though large bags are not permitted.

Arthurs Seat and the view from Murray Lookout

After the brewery, the route climbs to Arthurs Seat. At Murray Lookout, you get panoramic views across Port Phillip Bay toward the city. This is the stop that turns the day from a food-and-drink outing into a proper regional tour.

The view helps you understand the shape of the trip. From high ground, the bay is no longer an abstract name on a map. You can see why the route feels large and why the two peninsulas offer different coastal settings. It is also a welcome pause after the brewery and another chance to take photographs.

The lookout is reached as part of a touring schedule, not as a hike. Even so, the operator does not recommend this experience for people with limited mobility, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. If walking, boarding transport, or moving around viewpoints is difficult for you, ask before booking rather than assuming the stop will be easy.

Mornington Peninsula bathing boxes

The final sightseeing stop is the Peninsula Bathing Boxes. These brightly painted beach boxes are a familiar symbol of the Mornington Peninsula and a cheerful finish after the vineyards and brewery.

They are not a major museum visit or a long coastal walk. Their appeal is visual and local. The boxes show how a simple seaside structure can become part of an area’s identity, and their colors make for easy photographs. You get a quick hit of beach culture before returning to your original pickup point.

This is a good final stop because it brings the trip back to the shore. The morning began at Geelong Waterfront, and the day ends with another view of the coast, now on the other side of the bay.

The practical value of the $155 fare

The fare is strongest for you if you would otherwise need to hire a car, plan two wine regions, pay for tastings, arrange a ferry connection, and find a suitable lunch. The included meal, wine and beer tastings, national park fees, guide, and transport remove much of that work.

It is less attractive if you do not drink alcohol or prefer to set your own pace. The tour is built around wine and beer, even though the scenery, ferry, lunch, and beach boxes add variety. You also pay for a full 10-hour day, so it takes a large share of your Melbourne schedule.

A full day is necessary for this particular route, but it can feel packed. You will not have the same lingering time you might get on a small winery visit focused on one estate. The benefit is range: by evening, you have sampled two wine areas, a brewery, a waterfront, a lookout, and a beach landmark.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this tour for first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to the bay region and do not want to drive after tasting alcohol. It also works well for couples, friends, and mixed groups, since the day includes more than cellar doors.

Food-focused visitors get a proper winery lunch, while beer drinkers get their own dedicated stop. People who like changing scenery will appreciate the circle route and ferry. The guides also add real value, especially if you enjoy hearing regional background while someone else handles the roads.

I would hesitate if you want a slow, serious wine study. I would also hesitate if you have limited mobility, need to carry a stroller, or plan to bring luggage. Children aged 0 to 15 can join only with an adult, and child fares apply, but the alcohol-centered format may not be the best fit for every family.

At least two people are required for the tour to operate. Pickup is included only from selected locations, so check your available pickup point before you commit. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility while your plans are still taking shape.

Should you book the Around the Bay Food and Wine Taste Trail?

Book it if you want maximum regional variety in one day. The strongest reasons are the cross-bay route, the included winery lunch, the ferry and Devonshire tea, and the unusual brewery setting. Guides such as Gary and Matt have made the day feel friendly and easy to follow, which is important on a long itinerary.

Skip it if your ideal wine day means staying at one or two estates for hours. This is a moving tour with a full schedule, and some of your time will be spent in transit. For most visitors who want food, wine, beer, sea views, and a clear sense of the area without renting a car, $155 is a fair price for the amount packed into 10 hours.

FAQ

How long is the Around the Bay Food and Wine Taste Trail?

The tour lasts 10 hours. Starting times vary, so you should check availability when booking.

What is the price?

The price is $155 per person.

What does the tour include?

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

Is the ferry ride included?

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

Which wine regions does the tour visit?

The tour visits the Bellarine Peninsula and the Mornington Peninsula.

Where does the wine tasting take place?

The first wine tasting takes place at Scotchmans Hill Vineyard on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Where is lunch served?

Lunch is served at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, with views overlooking the vines.

Where does the beer tasting take place?

The beer-paddle tasting takes place at St Andrews Brewery on the Mornington Peninsula.

Can children join the tour?

Children aged 0 to 15 can join with an adult, and child fares apply. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

What should I know about alcohol and identification?

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

Is the tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

No. The experience is not recommended for people with limited mobility or mobility impairments.

Can I bring luggage or a stroller?

No. Luggage, large bags, and baby strollers are not allowed.

Can I request a child seat?

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

What happens if I have dietary requirements?

You should provide your dietary requirements when booking.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure. Your guide will meet you outside the selected pickup location, beside the purple bus or a vehicle marked with the Explore Australia Tours logo.