Healesville

Day Trips

Winery tours have never been so much fun and so affordable! This full-day tour takes in some of Victoria's best wineries in the stunning region of the Yarra Valley, just an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Begin by learning the art of the swirl, sniff and slurp from your expert wine guide and then try a range of cellar door tastings. Move on to lunch at the next venue and enjoy a winery restaurant meal with a glass of wine. In the afternoon travel through the gorgeous scenery to a smaller boutique winery for some tastings and finish the day at another top winery. Return to Melbourne having had an unforgettable day out in the Yarra Valley. Detailed Itinerary 09:00–09:40 AM: Pick-up at designated stations and departure for the Yarra Valley (just under an hour’s journey in the touring coach). 11:00 AM– Greenstone is beautifully situated on a single site in the picturesque Yarra Valley, an hour's drive from Melbourne. The Winery and Cellar Door, which are nestled in to the base of the Christmas Hills, have unparalleled views of the Estate vineyard and Great Dividing ranges. It is here that winemaking operations are carried out, making Greenstone one of the most progressive wineries in the valley. 12:00 PM– Balgownie Estate: One of the Yarra Valley’s jewels, Balgownie Estate is a stylish winery featuring great views and an excellent restaurant, where you’ll enjoy lunch with a glass of the Estate’s wine. And, of course, there are more great wines to taste at the Balgownie cellar door. 01:30 PM– Yering Farm: This stop is one of the Yarra Valley’s most charming boutique wineries. Yering Farm boasts stunning views and a delightful sense of heritage. At the cellar door you’ll have the opportunity to experience traditionally-made wines and to see the antique copper wine-making equipment used by the Yarra Valley’s pioneer vignerons. 02:15 PM – Soumah of Yarra Valley: The cool climate allows this winery to specialize in styles and varieties typical to northern Italy and south eastern France. With awards for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, you’ll be sure to find something pleasing while overlooking the rolling hills of the vineyard and the majestic Warramate Hills. 03:30 PM: Depart the Yarra Valley for Melbourne. 04:30–05:00 PM: Return to drop off stations.

Experience the thrill of ascending over a changing landscape at sunrise, suspended in a basket, floating under a spectacular hot air balloon. The cold air hits your cheeks, clouds floating past, the hot flames above warm you up under the morning sky… as you take flight… up, up and float away. Join a spectacular hot air balloon experience with a bird's eye view of the picturesque Yarra Valley (located an hour’s drive from Melbourne) – Victoria’s renowned wine region. Operating 364 days of the year (weather permitting) this once-in-a-lifetime tour experience provides an entirely different perspective of the Yarra Valley, beyond the typical tourist itinerary. Take off on a beautiful hot air balloon flight over the Yarra Valley at sunrise. The Yarra Valley is home to 90 vineyards and 35 wineries, many of which hold a reputation for creating world-class wines. See it from an entirely new perspective as you breeze over the picture postcard landscape. Meet your pilot approximately one hour before sunrise (you will be advised of the exact time and location when you phone the duty pilot the night before your flight). Your pilot will give you a short briefing before being transported to the launch site where you may help with the launch or stand back and take photos of the balloon as it is inflated. Then, climb aboard and away you go gently floating over the Yarra Valley as if you were a cloud. It is truly one of the most magnificently tranquil, picturesque and dream-like experiences you can do. Afterwards, make a final landing, pack the balloon away and have a champagne breakfast (additional cost of $35pp).

Travel through the bush laden suburbs of the north-east to the world-famous Healesville Sanctuary, a little over a 1-hour drive from Melbourne. With more than 200 species of native animals on display, this is a great start to the tour. Located on 75 acres of beautiful bushland, the Sanctuary is a magical place to observe many of Australia's iconic animals. In the early afternoon, travel to the Yering Station Vineyard for lunch in a stunning Wine Bar Restaurant. With its world-class views and cuisine, there's an a la carte selection from which to select your main course meal and glass of wine. After lunch, visit the original winery (circa 1859) that features local artworks and produce as well as estate and reserve wines to taste. Finally, make your last stop of the day at the De Bortoli Vineyard at Dixons Creek. It’s a great end to the day with superbly flavored cheeses that compliment the sparkling, table and dessert wines. The journey home takes you through Steels Creek and Christmas Hills for superb Valley views and maybe, the occasional kangaroo.

Start the tour with pickup from Melbourne’s Princess Theater in a deluxe 1956 Chevrolet. Admire this impressive and historical car then hop inside and head out of the city towards the sprawling countryside. As you explore, listen to your driver’s fascinating stories about the car as well as the Yarra Valley itself. Head through the scenic Wonga Park, driving along winding back roads to reach the historic Melba Estate. Enjoy a stop for complimentary morning tea and coffee with traditional scones while soaking up the view. From there, head to one of the region’s premium wine estates for a tour and tasting session. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, drive into the charming town of Healesville and grab lunch at one of the many restaurants. After lunch, cruise through the town and get sense of rural life, then pass by the impressive TarraWarra Estate. Finally, stop at the Yarra Valley Dairy for some light refreshments before heading back to the city.

Discover the best wine and local produce that the Yarra Valley region has to offer on a guided day tour around the region. Enjoy free chocolate samples at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery and watch the chocolatiers at work. Enjoy ample time here to pick up some goodies. Then, sit back and enjoy the views as you travel through the vineyards and rolling hills of the Yarra Valley with each winery selected for its excellent cellar door experience. The cool climate region provides the perfect growing conditions for all varietals, famous for its Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Chardonnay, some of which you will get to sample throughout the day. Take some free time to explore Healesville township. Stroll by the boutique shops, artist galleries, and grab a bit to eat at one of the cafes or popular pubs. You can even pop into Alchemy Distillery for a quick tasting (own expense). End your tour with a visit to a final cellar, for tastings of red and white wines.

Get out of the big city on this day trip to the Dandenong Ranges and Victoria’s famous Yarra Valley. Enjoy a 4-mile hike through towering forests, indulge in delicious wine tastings, and visit Matilda Bay Brewery and Four Pillars Gin Distillery. Begin your day with a quick ride from Melbourne to the stunning Yarra Valley. Follow your guide through the beautiful Eastern Sherbrooke Forest's Mountain Ash trees and wetland ferns. Keep your eyes peeled for the many lyrebirds, wombats, wallabies, and echidnas that call the forest home. After getting your appetite up, head to one of the Yarra Valley's favorite wineries, Innocent Bystander, for a snack and some wine tasting. Skip over the road to visit the craft beer brewery Matilda Bay before jumping back in the van to visit the popular Payten and Jones Winery. Top the day off with a visit to Four Pillars. This small craft gin distillery has received the title of the world's leading gin producer two years in a row and produced unique and interesting gins. After you've picked out some gin to take home, head back to Melbourne with your guide.