Yarra Valley: Wildlife Sanctuary & Wine Day Trip with Lunch

Summary

Koalas kangaroos wine and cheese in Victoria’s Yarra Valley

You’ll watch kangaroos hop through bushland at Healesville Sanctuary before sharing lunch and local wine in a sunlit Yarra Valley vineyard. Later, swirl glasses and sample cheeses at De Bortoli Winery as rolling hills drift by outside. If you want a day trip from Melbourne with real wildlife moments and easygoing tastings (plus hotel pickup), this is your pace.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely left Melbourne when the city noise faded and the bushland started to take over—gum trees flickering past the window, that eucalyptus smell sneaking in every time someone opened the van door. Our guide, Mark, had this easy way of telling stories about the Yarra Valley (and some truly bad jokes about emus). At Healesville Sanctuary, it was quieter than I expected, just birds calling overhead and the occasional kangaroo thump. I tried to get a selfie with a koala but mostly got blurry leaves. Still worth it. The keepers were happy to chat—one showed us how wombats dig their burrows, which is honestly wilder than it sounds.

Lunch at Yering Station was one of those meals where you don’t rush—big windows looking out onto rows of vines, a glass of something crisp in hand (I picked their Chardonnay, no regrets). I’m not usually big on wine tasting but here it felt less intimidating; the staff actually explained what we were drinking without any of that snobby vibe. There was this moment when everyone at our table just went quiet for a second, tasting cheese and sipping wine—maybe it was just hunger or maybe that’s what people mean by “savoring,” who knows.

By the time we reached De Bortoli Winery, I’d kind of lost track of how many tastings we’d done (in a good way). The dessert wine—Noble One—was sweet enough to make you pause. Cheese pairings came out on wooden boards; I still think about that blue cheese sometimes. The drive back to Melbourne felt slower somehow, everyone sunk into their seats watching vineyard hills roll by. It wasn’t flashy or dramatic, but there’s something about ending a day like that—full, content, smelling faintly of gum leaves and Merlot—that sticks with you longer than you expect.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Wildlife and wine tasting tour

• Visit Healesville Sanctuary wildlife
• Optional kangaroo and koala encounters
• Wine tasting and lunch at Yering Station
• Cheese and wine tasting at De Bortoli

Top questions

How long is the Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour?

The tour lasts a full day with morning pickup from select Melbourne hotels and returns in the evening.

Is lunch included on this Yarra Valley day trip?

Yes, an à la carte main course lunch with wine is included at Yering Station Vineyard.

Can I see koalas and kangaroos up close?

You’ll see both at Healesville Sanctuary; optional encounters are available for an extra fee.

Are wine tastings part of this tour?

Yes, tastings are included at both Yering Station and De Bortoli wineries.

Does the tour include hotel pickup in Melbourne?

Pickup and drop-off are provided at select Melbourne hotels; check availability when booking.

Is this small group or private?

This is a small-group tour for a more relaxed experience.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Children can join if accompanied by an adult; minimum drinking age is 18 for wine tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from select Melbourne locations, entry fees for Healesville Sanctuary to meet native animals like koalas and kangaroos, bottled water throughout the journey, live commentary from your guide, an à la carte lunch with a complimentary glass of local wine at Yering Station Vineyard, plus cheese and estate wine tasting at De Bortoli before returning to Melbourne in comfort.