Yarra Valley Foodies Tour with Chandon & Kangaroo Safari!

The best surprise here comes at the end: after an afternoon of wine, cheese, and chocolate, you head to Kangaroo Ground to see wild kangaroos. The tour often finds large groups, sometimes hundreds, close enough for good photographs without feeding or handling them. It is a food tour with a wildlife finale, not just another winery shuttle.

I like the small group, capped at 12, and the late morning start from Federation Square. I also like the mix of stops: the generous cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy and the private chocolate tasting add real value, especially if someone in your party does not drink wine.

The main thing to understand is that this is not a dedicated wine-tasting tour. Chandon is a major highlight for many people, but lunch and its sparkling-wine flights cost extra. If wine is your only reason for visiting the valley, the single included wine tasting at Yering Station may feel light.

Key points at a glance

• Wild kangaroos finish the day: Visit a private viewing spot near Kangaroo Ground, where large groups of kangaroos are often visible.
• Small groups make the difference: The tour carries no more than 12 people, allowing easier movement and more personal guide attention.
• Chandon is the scenic stop: Enjoy the winery setting and Yarra Valley views, then buy lunch or sparkling-wine tastings if you wish.
• Yarra Valley Dairy brings the food focus: Try a generous range of cow and goat cheeses made on site.
• Chocolate is more than a quick shop visit: The Chocolaterie includes a private tasting, followed by time for the cafe and store.
• The $125.52 price covers a lot: Transport, guide service, cheese, chocolate, strawberries, and Yering Station wine tastings are included, but Chandon costs extra.

A seven-hour taste of the Yarra Valley

This tour leaves Melbourne at 11:30 a.m. from the Federation Square bus and coach pickup zone on Russell Court. That timing works well if you do not want an early alarm, and the roughly seven-hour schedule gives you a full afternoon and early evening outside the city.

You stay with the same driver and guide from stop to stop, so you do not need to plan rural transport, watch the road, or decide who will remain sober enough to drive. The group size is limited to 12, which matters in the Yarra Valley. Small wineries and food producers are far more pleasant when you are not being moved around with a large coach party.

Guides named in the tour feedback include Craig, Kurt, Curt, Aliot, and Steven. Their roles go beyond driving. You can expect local commentary during the journey, with explanations about the valley and the places you visit. Craig is also the owner and lives in the area, while Kurt and Curt are repeatedly praised for keeping the day warm, organized, and personal.

The pace is one of the tour’s strengths. Each major stop lasts about an hour, long enough to taste, look around, and make a purchase without turning the day into a race. The one exception is the strawberry farm, which is a quick 15-minute stop.

Fresh strawberries before the vineyards

The first stop is Farm Fresh Yarra Valley Produce, where you make a short visit to a strawberry farm. Fresh strawberries are included, and some departures also have access to other farm produce such as cherries.

This is a modest stop rather than a full farm tour. You will not spend hours learning about cultivation, but it gives the afternoon an immediate taste of local produce before the winery visits begin. If the fruit is especially good, you can buy some to take with you, though the supplied details do not specify what products are available on every departure.

I like this opening because it breaks up the drive from Melbourne and sets the tone for the rest of the day. You begin with something simple and local, rather than waiting until the first winery for the experience to start.

Chandon: views, sparkling wine, and an extra bill

Domaine Chandon is scheduled for about an hour. Your group has a table in the lounge, with broad views over the Yarra Valley, and you can purchase lunch there. You can also order sparkling-wine tastings, but these are not included in the tour price.

This is the stop that attracts many people to the experience. Chandon has a polished setting and a strong reputation for Australian sparkling wine. The lounge arrangement also gives you a place to sit, compare options, and enjoy the view instead of standing through a rushed tasting.

You should budget extra money here. The advertised $125.52 covers the visit, but not lunch or Chandon tastings. That is not a flaw if you understand it in advance, and it gives you control over spending. You can simply enjoy the setting, order food, or choose a tasting flight.

The tradeoff is important. Some people expect a full sparkling-wine tasting to be part of the advertised price and may feel disappointed when it is not. The tour description makes Yering Station the included wine-tasting stop, while Chandon is the place for optional purchases.

If you want lunch, Chandon is the obvious point to plan for it. The schedule places it early enough in the afternoon that you are not trying to eat between cheese and chocolate tastings. Still, do not assume lunch is included.

Yarra Valley Dairy puts cheese first

At Yarra Valley Dairy, you spend about an hour sampling cow and goat cheeses made on site. This is one of the strongest food stops because the tasting is described as generous rather than symbolic. You get a proper chance to compare different styles and decide what you may want to buy.

The dairy sits in the heart of the valley, and the stop gives the tour a more direct connection to local production than a standard cellar-door visit. Wine may be the valley’s best-known product, but cheese makes the afternoon feel more varied and helps non-drinkers enjoy the day on equal terms.

I would treat this as a shopping opportunity as well as a tasting. The supplied information confirms the tasting, but does not promise particular cheeses or detail shipping options, so buy only what you can reasonably carry.

The one practical issue is appetite. If you order a large lunch at Chandon, the cheese tasting comes later and may feel more like a sample than a meal. Pace yourself. This tour rewards small bites at each stop.

Yering Station supplies the included wine tasting

Yering Station is the historic home of Victoria’s first vineyard, and the scheduled visit lasts about an hour. Here you sample cool-climate wines including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, along with additional varieties.

This is the tour’s main included wine stop. It gives you a better sense of the Yarra Valley wine style than Chandon alone, since the focus is not limited to sparkling wine. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are especially useful reference points for a cool-climate region, while Shiraz adds a different style to the tasting.

The setting also provides a useful contrast. Chandon is known for sparkling wine and a grand lounge view, while Yering Station connects the afternoon to the valley’s vineyard tradition. Several guides have been praised for explaining the wine and venues in an entertaining, clear way rather than simply handing over glasses.

Still, wine enthusiasts should keep expectations in check. You taste a range here, but the tour is built around food and wildlife as much as wine. If you want several winery visits with long cellar-door tastings, a wine-only excursion would suit you better.

Chocolate and ice cream at the final food stop

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery receives about an hour. The scheduled program includes a private chocolate tasting, then free time to explore the shop and cafe.

This stop is deliberately generous. You are not limited to one sample at the counter. The private tasting gives the group a guided introduction, and the later free time lets you browse or buy treats at your own pace. The shop has been compared to a Willy Wonka-style setting, which tells you to expect a playful, highly visual stop rather than a quiet boutique.

Ice cream is also available at the venue, though the supplied details do not say that an ice cream serving is included. The confirmed inclusion is the chocolate tasting. Ask your guide or the venue staff about current choices if you want something beyond the tasting.

This is another reason the tour works for mixed groups. Teenagers and people who are not interested in wine still get a full part of the day, not a side activity while others taste.

Kangaroo Ground and the wild finale

The last stop is a 30-minute kangaroo safari at a secret spot near Kangaroo Ground. There is no admission charge, and the purpose is to see wild kangaroos in their natural setting.

This is not a zoo visit. You are looking across an open rural area for animals that live in the region, and sightings depend on conditions and location. The tour information and guest experience indicate that the spot often produces excellent sightings, with some groups seeing dozens or even hundreds.

The animals can be close, but not too close. You may photograph them from the viewing area or from the vehicle, and a telephoto lens can be useful. Do not expect to approach, touch, or feed them.

The short time works because it comes after a full afternoon. You get a clear wildlife moment without adding a long walk or another major attraction. Rain does not necessarily end the experience, though it can make photography less comfortable. Bring a light rain layer if the forecast looks uncertain.

The kangaroos are also what gives this tour its Australian character. Wine and chocolate are available in many countries. Wild kangaroos near Melbourne are a different matter.

What the price really covers

At $125.52 per person, the price is strong for a seven-hour small-group outing from Melbourne. You receive round-trip transport, a guide, strawberry samples, cheese tasting, Yering Station wine tastings, chocolate tasting, and the kangaroo stop.

The value comes from combining several short rural experiences without asking you to rent a car. A private visit to wineries, a dairy, and the Chocolaterie would require careful driving and timing. Here, the driver handles the route, and everyone can taste the included wine without worrying about the return trip.

Your extra costs are lunch and tastings at Chandon. You may also want to buy cheese, fruit, wine, chocolate, or ice cream. I would plan the base price plus a separate food and shopping budget, particularly if Chandon lunch is part of your plan.

The price is less compelling for someone seeking a serious wine education. Only Yering Station wine tastings are included, and the Chandon tasting is optional. For a broad afternoon of regional food, wine, scenery, and wildlife, the calculation works much better.

The guides shape the day

This tour relies heavily on its driver-guide. The strongest guide names connected with the experience are Craig, Kurt, Curt, Aliot, and Steven. Their praised qualities include humor, local information, attentiveness, and good pacing.

That matters because the stops themselves are not all guided in the same way. At Chandon, Yarra Valley Dairy, Yering Station, and the Chocolaterie, venue staff handle much of the tasting. Your tour guide links the pieces together, gives commentary on the road, keeps timing on track, and helps the group move smoothly.

Craig has been described as especially local in his knowledge, while Kurt and Curt are noted for remembering names and making the small group feel personal. Aliot is described as easygoing and organized, and Steven as attentive and charming. The named guides may vary by departure, so book the tour for the format and route rather than expecting a particular person.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this for a first visit to the Yarra Valley, a couple wanting a relaxed day without driving, or a family with older children and teenagers. The cheese, chocolate, and kangaroo stops give non-drinkers plenty to enjoy.

It also suits solo visitors. The small group creates a social setting without the scale of a big coach tour, and the guide handles introductions and logistics.

Photographers should bring a camera with a useful zoom lens for the kangaroos. Food shoppers should leave room in their bags for cheese, chocolate, fruit, and perhaps wine.

I would not choose it if your priority is an intensive wine program, a long vineyard walk, or an early start. The tour is a sampler of the valley, with a strong food focus and one included winery tasting, not a specialist wine course.

Practical details before you go

The meeting point is the Federation Square Bus and Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone on Russell Court, Melbourne VIC 3000. The tour begins at 11:30 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point.

A mobile ticket is accepted. The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. The maximum group size is 12.

Wear shoes suitable for short rural stops and bring space for purchases. If you plan to eat at Chandon, remember that lunch is at your own expense. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the Yarra Valley in broad, enjoyable strokes: fresh produce, sparkling wine, local cheese, cool-climate wine, chocolate, and wild kangaroos. The small group, late morning departure, included tastings, and no need to drive make it a practical choice from Melbourne.

Skip it if you want to spend most of the day tasting wine. The best match is someone who sees wine as one part of an Australian food-and-wildlife afternoon. For that audience, the kangaroos at the end are more than a bonus. They are the memorable finish that makes the $125.52 fare feel well spent.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Federation Square Bus and Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone on Russell Court, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 11:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the Federation Square meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is available for purchase at Chandon and is not included in the tour price.

Are Chandon wine tastings included?

No. Tastings at Chandon are at your own expense. The visit includes a table in the lounge with Yarra Valley views.

Which wine tastings are included?

Wine tastings at Yering Station are included. These may include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and other regional wines.

Are the cheese and chocolate tastings included?

Yes. Cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy and a chocolate tasting at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery are included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.