Yarra Valley: Foodies Tour, Chandon & Kangaroo Safari

Summary

Yarra Valley flavors, wild kangaroos and sparkling sips

You’ll taste your way through Yarra Valley’s best cheeses and wines (plus chocolate), sip sparkling at Chandon with vineyard views, and end your day spotting wild kangaroos in their element. With city pickup included and a local guide who keeps things real, this tour feels more like a day out with friends than anything formal.

What’s the experience like?

“If you spot the big male first, you get bragging rights,” our guide Sam grinned as we pulled into this patch of bushland outside Melbourne. I’d barely finished my coffee from the city pickup when we were already winding through the Yarra Valley, windows down, cool air mixing with that grassy smell you only get in Victoria after rain. Our small group was quiet at first — maybe still waking up — but Sam had us laughing by the time we reached the strawberry farm. I tried one straight from the punnet; it was warm from the sun and honestly sweeter than I expected.

The next bit was Domaine Chandon. Sparkling wine with a view that makes you want to linger (and yeah, I did). There’s something about sitting there with bubbles in hand, looking out over those endless green vines — it’s easy to lose track of time. Lunch is on your own here; I grabbed something light because I knew cheese was coming next. At Yarra Valley Dairy, we sampled soft goat cheese that practically melted on my tongue. The lady behind the counter told me her favorite is the ashed chèvre — she winked and said it’s best with Pinot Noir. Noted.

I didn’t expect to care much about wine tasting at Yering Station but ended up chatting with a local couple who explained why Shiraz tastes different here than back home in Europe. The place felt old in a good way — high ceilings, worn wood underfoot, people swirling glasses like they actually know what they’re doing (I just nodded along). By the time we hit the Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, everyone was a bit giddy. The chocolate tasting was fun — some flavors surprised me (wattleseed?!) and I may have pocketed an extra sample for later.

The last part: kangaroo safari. We bumped along a dirt track while Sam pointed out wallabies (“not the same as roos!”) and sure enough, there they were — wild kangaroos lounging under gum trees like they owned the place. It felt oddly peaceful standing there in the late afternoon light, watching them twitch their ears. Someone whispered and everyone went quiet for a second; even now I can remember that hush before laughter started up again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Yarra Valley tasting and Kangaroo safari

• Stop at strawberry farm
• Sample sparkling wine at Chandon
• Taste cheese at Yarra Valley Dairy
• Wine tasting at Yering Station Winery
• Chocolate tasting at Chocolaterie
• Join wild Kangaroo safari

Top questions

What time does the Yarra Valley foodies tour depart from Melbourne?

The tour departs Melbourne at 11:30am each day.

Is lunch included on this Yarra Valley tour?

Lunch is not included but you can purchase it at Domaine Chandon during the stop there.

Are cheese tastings included in the price?

Yes, cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy are included in your tour price.

Will we see wild kangaroos on this tour?

The tour includes a kangaroo safari with a money-back guarantee to see wild kangaroos.

How many people are on each tour group?

This is a small group tour with a maximum of 12 guests per group.

Does this Yarra Valley day trip include city pickup?

Yes, city pickup and return are included in your booking.

Are there chocolate tastings on this tour?

Yes, you’ll have an exclusive private chocolate tasting at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.

What wineries do we visit during this day trip?

You’ll visit Domaine Chandon for sparkling wine and Yering Station for classic cool climate wines.

What’s included

Your day includes city pickup and return transport from Melbourne, guided visits to top spots like Domaine Chandon for sparkling wine (with time to buy lunch), generous cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy, classic wine tastings at Yering Station winery, private chocolate sampling at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, plus an afternoon wild kangaroo safari before heading back in the early evening.