Yarra Valley: Wine Tasting & Healesville Sanctuary Private Tour

Three Wineries, Kangaroos & Cheese in One Day from Melbourne

You start with coffee at a chocolate café, then move through three Yarra Valley wineries with tastings and a complimentary bottle to take home. Cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy, wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary (or fruit-picking at Rayner's Orchard), and private transport throughout means you skip the logistics and just show up. The whole day is built around food and wine, not sightseeing.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Enjoy coffee at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
• Taste artisan cheeses at Yarra Valley Dairy
• Visit Yering Station for wine tasting
• Explore St Huberts Winery and cellar door
• Relax with wine tasting and lunch at vineyard
• Meet wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary
• Join guided tractor tour and fruit picking

The Experience

So you're standing at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie with a hot chocolate in hand, and the day hasn't even started yet — that's how this tour opens. The private transport picks you up from Melbourne, and your guide drives you straight into Victoria's wine country, where the first stop is coffee or hot chocolate at the chocolaterie before you even think about tasting wine. It sets a different pace than the usual rush-through itinerary. From there, the day moves between three wineries: Yering Station (Victoria's first vineyard, established 1838), St Huberts, and a third winery with panoramic vineyard views where you can taste Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and dessert wines. Each stop includes tastings, and you get a complimentary bottle of wine to take home.

The cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy sits in the middle of the day — hand-crafted cheeses, including their signature Persian Fetta, paired with local wines if you want. It's the kind of detail that makes the difference between a wine tour and a food experience. Healesville Sanctuary is optional but included, so you can see kangaroos, koalas, and platypuses from a safe distance without paying extra. If wildlife isn't your thing, there's a swap option for Rayner's Orchard, where you can pick fresh fruit straight from the trees on a guided tractor tour, feed farm animals, and crack macadamias. The whole day runs with a licensed tour operator, family-friendly guide, and private transport — no shared minibus, no set group size.

Timing matters here: the wineries are open daily, and the restaurant at Yering Station runs 10am–5pm, so lunch happens when you're ready rather than on a fixed schedule. If you want gin instead of wine at any of the tastings, you can swap that too. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and the guide has a Working with Children Check, so families with young kids or elderly travelers fit without fuss. You're not rushed through each stop — the pace is set by your group, not a clock.

What’s included

• Freshly prepared coffee or hot chocolate at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie.
• wine tastings at St Huberts and two other Yarra Valley wineries.
• one complimentary bottle of wine per guest to take home.
• cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy with locally sourced artisan cheeses.
• entry to Healesville Sanctuary to see kangaroos, koalas, and platypuses (or swap for Rayner's Orchard with fruit-picking and farm animal interaction).
• private licensed transport throughout the day with a family-friendly guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by bustourscharters

Is this one for you?Best for wine and food lovers who want to skip the driving and planning — the private transport and included tastings at three wineries plus cheese means you just show up and move between stops without navigating or timing yourself.

Top questions

How long is the tour?

The itinerary covers a full day with multiple stops across Yarra Valley, starting with coffee and ending after wine tastings and either Healesville Sanctuary or Rayner's Orchard. Exact duration depends on your group's pace at each winery and attraction.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not listed as included, but the tour stops at wineries with on-site restaurants (Yering Station and St Huberts both serve à la carte meals daily), so you can order and pay separately. The cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy is included.

Can I choose which wineries to visit?

The tour includes tastings at St Huberts and two other Yarra Valley wineries. You can swap wine tastings for gin tastings if you prefer, and Healesville Sanctuary can be swapped for Rayner's Orchard.

What's included in the price?

Coffee or hot chocolate at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie; wine tastings at three wineries; one complimentary bottle of wine per guest; cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy; entry to either Healesville Sanctuary or Rayner's Orchard; and private transport with a licensed guide.

Is it suitable for families with young children?

Yes. The tour is family-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and infants can sit on an adult's lap or use specialized infant seats. The guide has a Working with Children Check.

Can I do this tour if I don't drink alcohol?

Wine tastings are part of the itinerary, but you can request gin tastings instead. The tour also includes coffee, chocolate, cheese, and fruit-picking options, so there's plenty to do beyond wine.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point?

Private transport is included in the tour, so pickup and drop-off from your Melbourne location are covered.

What if I'm not interested in Healesville Sanctuary?

You can swap Healesville Sanctuary for Rayner's Orchard, where you pick fresh fruit from the trees on a guided tractor tour and feed farm animals.