A full day of Yarra Valley flavors, minus the driving.

This small-group tour mixes wine tastings, farm-fresh produce, guided chocolate, and an optional gin tasting flight—all with smooth transfers from Melbourne. I like that it keeps things easy on logistics, and I also like the mix of producers so your day isn’t just wineries in a row. One thing to plan for: the day can feel warm and the pace is busy, so it’s not the best pick if you hate heat plus alcohol.

You’ll meet the group at Arts Centre Melbourne Spire (look for the Protagonist café stand) and head out at 9:00am sharp. The guides called out in feedback—Shauny, Danny, Posi, Stefan, Sean, and Pozzy—are consistently described as fun, engaging, and great at getting everyone comfortable. The trade-off is that a schedule this packed means each stop gets limited time, and the wineries in particular can feel a bit tight if you want to linger.

Key Points Before You Go

• Small group size (10 to 20) keeps the day from feeling like a bus tour.
• All tasting fees are included, so you’re not constantly hunting for extra costs.
• Chocolate tasting is guided and can include up to 12 creations.
• Gin is optional, and the distillery depends on the day you tour.
• Lunch at St Hubert Estate is your choice and your wallet, with optional paid tastings.
• Venues can swap on some dates, so keep expectations flexible.

A Small-Group Yarra Day From Melbourne Spire

This is a full-day, 8 hours 30 minutes style of trip (with times varying slightly by the day and by whether you take gin). You start at 8:45am at Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, then the group departs at 9:00am sharp. The best way to find it is to search for the Protagonist café stand in front of the landmark.

The big practical win is the transfer. You don’t need to rent a car, navigate rural roads, or worry about parking. You also get a calmer pace than you’d get in larger groups, since the tour caps at 20 travelers and many trips land closer to 10 to 20.

It ends back in Melbourne at ACMI (Federation Square) by about 5:30pm. If you’re planning dinner after, give yourself a little buffer. This tour tries to run on time, but country-to-city travel has its own rhythm.

Strawberry-Forward Morning at Yarra Farm Fresh

Most mornings begin with Yarra Farm Fresh, and the focus is seasonal fruit—especially strawberries. You get around 40 minutes here, with time to enjoy fresh strawberries and seasonal fruits plus local jams. If you’re a fruit-first person, this stop is a nice change from jumping straight into wine.

There’s also a limited-time extra: a complimentary punnet of strawberries may be included per booking, while the offer lasts (until 28 February 2026, subject to availability). Even if you miss that special, the fruit stop still works as a warm-up: it’s refreshing, it’s food you can actually taste without alcohol interference, and it sets the tone for the day.

One small consideration: this can be a morning you’ll feel in your body later. In summer, the heat can be real, and the tour explicitly warns that hot weather plus alcohol isn’t a great combo. If heat knocks you out, plan accordingly—water, shade when you can, and take it slow.

Yering Station + Yering Farm Wines: Two Different Feels

Wine is the backbone of the day, and you’ll typically visit multiple estates rather than just one long cellar door session.

Yering Station Winery

Yering Station is usually your first winery stop after the fruit farm. It’s described as Victoria’s oldest winery and one of the Yarra Valley’s iconic estates, which is exactly why this stop matters even if you’re not a serious collector. You’re not just tasting wine; you’re getting a sense of how this region built its reputation over time.

You’ll have about 50 minutes here for tastings. That’s enough time to sample flights, chat with staff, and decide what you actually want to buy—without turning it into a half-day mission.

Yering Farm Wines

Then comes Yering Farm Wines, a more rustic-feeling option with classic Yarra Valley wines and something extra: apple cider. On most days you’ll get a tasting experience that includes that cider, which helps break up the wine-heavy middle of the schedule.

You usually get 45 minutes at this stop. The key detail: if Yering Farm Wines is unavailable due to private events or closures, a substitute winery may be visited—and in that case the apple cider portion may not be included. So if cider is part of your plan, confirm close to your travel date.

Also, a few people note the day can feel a little rushed at the winery stages. If you’re the type who likes slow sipping and long questions, look at this tour as sampling and selection, not a deep single-estate experience.

St Hubert Estate Lunch at Quarters: Eat What You Like

After the second winery, you head to St Hubert Estate. Here’s where it gets more flexible—and a little more complicated in a good way.

Lunch is at Quarters (St Hubert Estate), and it’s not included. You’ll have about 1 hour for lunch plus time to explore the cellar door, wine shop, and an indigenous art gallery. The lunch portion is your call: pick a meal that matches your appetite and budget.

You should also plan around the timing. Lunch is around 11:45am, so it’s smart to eat breakfast before you meet the tour.

Optional tastings after lunch

This is another place where the tour gives you options. At St Hubert Estate, whisky, gin, or additional wine tastings may cost extra (often around A$15 per person, depending on what’s offered that day). If you take the base tastings earlier in the day and you’re feeling satisfied, you can keep St Hubert more about food and browsing.

If you’re doing the full tasting experience, consider this a chance to top up or focus on what you specifically want to learn more about. If you’re not doing optional extras, this stop still works well as a break from the tasting schedule.

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: Guided and Hands-On

Chocolate is not an afterthought on this tour. It’s a proper stop.

At Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, you get a guided tasting of their hand-crafted chocolates, with the experience described as including up to 12 creations. Expect structured sampling rather than wandering and hoping you like everything.

This stop is one of the easiest wins for mixed groups. If one person is wine-keen but another wants something sweet and low-pressure, chocolate does that job beautifully.

One practical heads-up: chocolate stops can get loud and feel more commercial than a quiet cellar door. If you prefer calm browsing and slower conversation, you might find this part a bit busier. Still, the guided format usually makes it feel worth the time.

Gin Flight at Stag Lane or Four Pillars (Depends on the Day)

The gin portion is optional—but if you choose the full tasting experience, it’s built into the day.

Here’s how it typically works:

• On Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the gin distillery stop is Stag Lane Farm Distillery.
• On Tuesday and Wednesday, the gin distillery stop is Four Pillars Distillery.

Both are visited for a guided gin flight with a mixer. The day-to-day variation is useful because it means you’re more likely to get a distillery that matches your travel date without changing the rest of the plan.

What if you skip gin?

If you don’t choose the gin distillery experience, the tour adjusts. The final stop is extended by an extra 15 minutes, and the group may depart earlier to keep the return trip smooth. In other words, skipping gin isn’t supposed to leave you short on time.

A small note for taste nerds: mixers matter. The gin flight format is meant to show how gin behaves with a mixer, so it’s not just shots poured into cups.

How the Whole Day Feels: Timing, Heat, and Pace

This is a “many producers in one day” style tour. You’re looking at a full schedule with short to medium time blocks—mostly in the 40–50 minute range per stop, with a longer lunch window at St Hubert.

That means it’s great for first-timers or people who want a sampling platter of the region. But if your ideal day is one estate, one wine flight, and a slow walk around the property, this tour may feel like a sprint.

It also helps to think about heat. The tour warns that summers can be hot and sunny, and that alcohol and heat don’t mix well. If you’re visiting in hot months, bring water, wear sunscreen, and don’t treat the tastings like a race to finish every pour.

Price and Value: Where Your Money Actually Goes

At $93.24 per person, the price can look like a steal or like a gamble, depending on what you compare it to.

Here’s the value math that matters:

• Transfers are included between Melbourne and the Yarra Valley.
• Tasting fees are included for the stops where tastings are part of the experience.
• You get a mix of food and alcohol-related tasting moments: fruit, wine, chocolate, and optional gin.

Then there are the optional extras and the avoidable costs:

• Lunch is not included at St Hubert Estate.
• Additional whisky/gin/wine tastings at St Hubert Estate can cost extra (often around A$15 per person).
• Gin is included only if you upgrade to the full tasting experience. Otherwise, the gin distillery stop is optional.

I like how this lets you control your spend mid-day. If you’re keeping costs tight, you can do the included tastings and keep lunch simple. If you want more alcohol variety, upgrade or pay for additional St Hubert tastings.

One last reality check: venue availability can change. Yering Farm’s cider can drop out if a substitute winery is used. Tours also sometimes swap other stops on certain days. That doesn’t usually ruin the day—it just means you should be flexible and not marry yourself to one specific glass.

And yes, the social proof is strong: it holds a 5-star rating with 1,566 reviews and a 100% recommendation figure. When a tour is consistently that high, it usually means the logistics are smooth, the group size is right, and the tasting flow works.

Who This Yarra Valley Tour Fits Best

This is a strong match for:

• First-time Yarra Valley visitors who want multiple producers without planning the whole day
• People who enjoy food as much as alcohol (fruit + chocolate are real stops here)
• Solo travelers who like guided narration and a social day, especially since guides like Danny, Posi, Shauny, Stefan, Sean, and Pozzy are frequently praised for keeping energy up
• Couples or small groups who want a structured tasting schedule but don’t want a massive crowd

It’s not ideal if:

• You hate hot weather or you want long unhurried time at one estate
• You need mobility-friendly access. The tour states it’s not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly due to climbing stairs at some experiences.

For kids: children aged 4 to 17 are welcome, but they won’t be served alcoholic tastings.

Should You Book This Tour?

If you want an easy, guided day that strings together wine, chocolate, fruit, and optional gin with included tastings and included transfers, I think this is a smart booking.

Skip it if your top goal is deep time at one winery, or if you’re visiting during peak heat and alcohol-heavy days aren’t your thing. Also, if you know you need step-free access, don’t risk it—this tour isn’t designed for that.

FAQ

Is lunch included on the tour?

No. Lunch at St Hubert Estate (Quarters restaurant) is not included, and you’ll buy what you choose. Lunch timing is about 11:45am, so eat breakfast before you start.

Is gin tasting included?

Gin tasting is included only if you upgrade to the full tasting experience option. If you do not choose the gin distillery experience, the tour adjusts the timing of the final stop.

Which gin distillery do we visit?

On Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday it’s typically Stag Lane Farm Distillery. On Tuesday and Wednesday it’s typically Four Pillars Distillery. The gin tasting is a guided flight served with a mixer.

What’s included in the $93.24 ticket price?

The tour includes convenient transfers from Melbourne and tasting fees for the included tasting experiences. You also get the small group format (10 to 20 guests) and tastings at multiple producers, plus guided chocolate tasting with up to 12 creations.

What happens if the tour is cancelled due to weather or not enough travelers?

If extreme weather forces cancellation, you’ll be offered an alternative date or a full refund. If the tour is cancelled because the minimum number of travelers isn’t met, you’ll also be offered a different experience or a full refund.

Can children join, and is it accessible for people with mobility issues?

Children ages 4 to 17 can join, but they will not be served alcoholic tastings. The tour states it’s not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly because some experiences can involve climbing stairs.