6 Best Yarra Valley Winery Tours From Melbourne

If you’re looking for the best wine tours to the Yarra Valley from Melbourne, you’re in the right place.

We’ve made Melbourne our new home over the last five years and have been lucky enough to live here whilst also still having the excitement of feeling like tourists.

Healesville and the Yarra Valley are some of our favourite places in the state, and we’ve visited there on a number of occasions – on family trips, weekend breaks and Mrs Sabbatical Guide making the most of the wineries with her girls.

The Yarra Valley is one of the best wine regions in Australia, and being only an hour from the city makes it perfect for a tour from Melbourne.

In this post, we’re going to round-up some of the best tours you can book today to go and experience it for yourself. There are some crackers on this list (yes, all those five-star ratings really are accurate) so you’re spoilt for choice here.

1. The Ultimate Yarra Valley Food and Wine Tour

⭐ 5 out of 5

We’re going to come out swinging here, with this incredible tour which has received nearly 300 reviews – all at 5 stars!

This is a full-day gourmet wine and food tour, which visits three of the best wineries in the Yarra Valley including a tour course gourmet lunch and a cheese and wine pairing session at De Bortoli Estate.

What made this tour stand out though was the fantastic guides, who consistently go above and beyond to meet the needs of their guests – with there even being an example of a driver taking some of the dusty back roads for a group who had come to shore from a cruise ship could see kangaroos in the wild!

Further Yarra Valley Winery Tours Info:

-> Full day tour
-> Pickup from hotel in Melbourne CBD
-> Small group tour, capped at 6 people
-> Lunch, entry to wineries, wine tasting all included in price

???? Book your Ultimate Yarra Valley Wine Tour now!

2. Hop on Hop Off Bus

⭐ 5 out of 5

This is a flexible ‘choose your own adventure’ way to explore the wineries of the Yarra Valley without having to drive.

Picking up from the Hyatt in Melbourne CBD, Hop It Tours offer two routes through the Yarra Valley, each offering a mix of stops to choose. You can visit a maximum of four per day, with a timetable on the website showing you when pick ups and drops off are from each location.

The Green Route offers a more boutique route, visiting some of the smaller sellers and also stopping off at the delicious Yarra Valley Chocolatarie (get yourself some brownies, you won’t regret it!

The Red Route has the option to stop at some of the more famous wineries such as Innocent Bystander, Oakridge Wines or (Mrs SG’s personal favourite) Domaine Chandon – where they a sparkling orange bitters mix which reminds us both of Aperol Spritz.

Further Info:

-> Full day tour
-> Pickup from Grand Hyatt in Melbourne CBD
-> No tastings or wineries including, you will need to pay for these (but the cost of the hop on hop off bus is much cheaper than other options on this list)
-> Coolbox provided on the bus to store dairy or meat purchases you make on the day

???? Book the Green Route

???? Book the Red Route

3. Yarra Valley Wine, Brewery & Food Tour

⭐ 5 out of 5

This is another great option for a Yarra Valley wine tour, but this one adds in a couple of extras – a trip to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and a stop off a Coldstream Brewery home of one of my favourite craft brews, their apple crumble cider.

This tour visits three wineries Helen & Joey Estate, Soumah and Yering Station, the last of which being the oldest winery in Victoria with the first vines being planted in 1838.

Further Info:

-> Full day tour
-> Pickup from St Paul’s Cathedral, opposite Flinders Street Station
-> All cellar door wine tastings included
-> Two course lunch (antipasto then mains) with a glass of wine included
-> Tasting paddle of beer or cider at brewery included

???? Book your Yarra Valley Wine & Brewery Tour now!

4. Yarra Valley Wildlife and Wine Tour

⭐ 5 out of 5

It was hard for me to write about the Yarra Valley without including one of the most special places in the area, Healesville Sanctuary. Packed full of native wildlife, in a beautiful woodland setting, it’s a great way to see some of Australia’s unique fauna so close to Melbourne.

This is the longest Yarra Valley wine tour on the list at around 10 hours, but packs loads into the time.

Operated by Vinetrekker Tours you visit the Sanctuary first, before going to two of the area’s best wineries, Yering Station and De Bortoli. You’ll have lunch at Yering Station and a snack at De Bortoli where they’ll let you taste the best cheese that pair with the wines.

For something not purely wine focused, I’d highly recommend this tour, as Healesville Sanctuary is wonderful.

Further Info:

-> Full day tour
-> Pickup from select Melbourne hotels
-> All cellar door wine tastings included
-> Lunch and cheese tasting included
-> Entry price to Healesville Sanctuary included

???? Book your Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Tour now!

5. Wine, Gin & Beer Tour

⭐ 5 out of 5

The tour companies of Melbourne have managed to find every different variant of a wine tour to the Yarra Valley and here’s another.

Four Pillars Gin is famous in these parts, being stocked in nearly all the pubs around Melbourne, and their home is in Healesville. On this tour you get to visit their distillery for a paddle of four tasters, alongside winery stops at Helen & Joey Estate, Yering Station and Boat O’Craigo.

And if you hadn’t done enough mixing of boozes by this point, you’ll stop at Coldstream Brewery on the way back, truly a tour for everyone!

The reviews of this tour are glowing, with one person writing:

“Easily the best tour I’ve ever been on
Sean was super funny and very informative
We were running ahead of schedule and Sean was kind enough to even take us to the chocolate factory without any extra charge
Highly highly recommend”

Further Info:

-> 8 hour tour
-> Pickup from St Paul’s Cathedral opposite Flinders Street Station
-> Includes admission to all estates
-> Tasting paddle at gin sitillery and wine tasting at wineries included
-> Gourmet pizza lunch included
-> Grazing board brunch included and a glass of craft beer at the brewery

???? Book your Yarra Valley Gin, Wine & Beer tour now!

6. Yarra Valley Food & Wine Tour in a ’56 Chevrolet

⭐ 5 out of 5

And now for something completely different…

…ok, not completely, but you do get to cruise the Victorian countryside in a vintage car, so that’s pretty cool!

Pickup from outside Melbourne’s historic (and gorgeous) Princess Theatre, feels like an appropriate way to start a memorable day.

This tour takes a more scenic route than most before stopping off at the Melba Estate for complementary tea and scones before heading off to the wine region.

From here, much of the tour is customisable, you choose which wineries you want to visit and how much time you want to spend cruising through the hills of the Yarra Valley.

There is a scheduled stop off at the Yarra Valley Dairy for some refreshments before heading back into Melbourne (which was orignnally called Naarm).

Further Info:

-> 4.5 hour tour
-> Pickup from outside Princess Theatre in Melbourne
-> Morning tea and coffee not included
-> Food and drinks and tasting fees not included

???? Book your Yarra Valley Vintage Car Tour Now!

FAQs

What is the Yarra Valley?

The Yarra Valley is a region in Victoria, Australia, known for its scenic beauty and thriving wine industry, there are over 80 wineries here. It is located approximately one hour east of Melbourne.

What types of wines are produced in Yarra Valley?

A variety of wines are produced in Yarra Valley, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Sauvignon Blanc.

How do I get to Yarra Valley?

The easiest way to get to the Yarra Valley is by hiring a car. You can also take a train from Melbourne to Lilydale and then take a bus or taxi to the wineries. To visit the wineries directly from Melbourne, we suggest taking a tour, as this way you don’t have to worry about having a drink!

When is the best time to visit Yarra Valley?

The best time to visit Yarra Valley is during the spring (September to November) or autumn (March to May) when the weather is mild and the vineyards are at their most beautiful. We love it in autumn for the beautiful colours.

Do I need to book a wine tour in advance?

Yes, it is recommended that you book a wine tour in advance to ensure availability. Many wineries require appointments for tastings and tours, especially since Covid.

How long does a typical wine tour last?

A typical wine tour in Yarra Valley lasts four to six hours, depending on the number of wineries visited and the length of time spent at each winery.

What should I wear on a wine tour?

It is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes and clothing, as you will be walking and standing (and possible staggering) for extended periods of time. Sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen are also recommended, never underestimate the Australian sun, even on an overcast day.

Are there food options available during wine tours?

Many wineries in Yarra Valley offer food options, such as cheese platters or light lunches, to accompany the wine tastings. Most tours will state these in their route guide, but if you are travelling privately look for details on the winery’s website.

Can I purchase wine during the wine tour?

Yes, most wineries in Yarra Valley offer wine for purchase during tasting sessions and many tour companies will also offer cool boxes to store wine and produce in for the journey home.

Are there other good wineries in Victoria?

Yes, the Mornington Peninsula also has some fantastic wineries and is about the same distance from Melbourne as the Yarra Valley. Check out some of the best Mornington Peninsula Tours here.