Wine, cheese, chocolate, and kangaroos in one loop.

This Yarra Valley Foodies Tour is built for people who want the best bits without renting a car, with round-trip transfers starting around midday from Federation Square and a small group capped at 12. You’ll get tastings at Chandon (sparkling sample), Yarra Valley Dairy (cheese), Yering Station (cool-climate wine), and the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery (private tasting), then end at Kangaroo Ground for a Kangaroo Safari.

I love how the stops are timed so you actually taste instead of speed-walk. I also love that the guiding here has a personal feel, with drivers and guides like Aliot, Craig, Kurt, Tom, Curt, Stephen, and Steven earning repeat praise for keeping things organized and fun.

One heads-up: this is not a pure wine immersion day. If you’re chasing hours of winery time, you’ll spend less time at each cellar and lunch at Chandon is an extra cost you’ll need to plan for.

Key things to know before you go

• Small-group cap of 12: the day stays friendly and paced rather than cattle-car fast.
• Chandon lounge views, plus a tasting: you can sample sparkling, and lunch is optional (so budget extra if you want it).
• Cheese + chocolate are real tastings: not just a quick sample and a walk-by.
• Yering Station covers classic grapes: you’ll try styles like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz.
• Kangaroo safari is the ending moment: about 30 minutes at Kangaroo Ground to spot wild kangaroos.
• Mobile ticket: you’ll keep things simple once you’re on the Melbourne pickup route.

Entering The Yarra Valley from Melbourne Without Driving

Starting around 11:30am from Federation Square keeps your day flexible. You’re still in Melbourne in the morning, then you get out to the valley at the time most people want a break from city life.

The big win is that round-trip transfers handle the logistics. You’re not coordinating car parking, playlists, or designated-driver math. Your driver and guide also take care of getting you from stop to stop, which is the difference between a fun afternoon and a stressful one.

With a maximum of 12 people, the tour doesn’t feel like you’re squeezed into a big group schedule. That size matters most at tastings, where you want time to hear what you’re trying and ask a quick question.

Farm Fresh Yarra Valley Produce: Strawberries as a Fast Warm-Up

Before wineries and cheese, you’ll do a quick 15-minute stop at Farm Fresh Yarra Valley Produce Pty Ltd. The whole point here is simple: try fresh strawberries from a strawberry farm while you’re en route.

This is a smart opening move. It wakes up your appetite and sets the theme that the day isn’t only about wine. Also, it’s the kind of stop that makes great sense if you’re traveling with people who don’t drink alcohol but still want a Yarra Valley experience.

Domaine Chandon: Sparkling Wine Views and Optional Lunch

Next comes Domaine Chandon, with about one hour on site. You’ll sample sparkling wine, and you’ll have a lounge table with views over the Yarra Valley.

A practical detail: the tour includes the tasting, but lunch at Chandon is at your own expense. If you enjoy a sit-down meal with a view, plan on spending a bit extra. If you don’t, you can treat this as a tasting-and-stroll hour.

One reason Chandon works in this itinerary is the mix of pace and atmosphere. You’re not just standing at a counter. You get a setting that feels like you’re on holiday, even if you’re only there for an hour.

Yarra Valley Dairy: Cheese Tastings at a Boutique Maker

After the sparkling stop, you switch gears to something even more grab-and-go satisfying: Yarra Valley Dairy. You’ll spend about one hour here tasting a generous range of cheeses made onsite—cows and goats cheese.

This is one of the easiest ways to understand why the tour is called a Foodies Tour. Wine is only part of the story. The dairy stop is about variety and texture: soft, firm, mellow, tangy. And because it’s a boutique maker in the heart of the valley, it feels like you’re tasting something that’s local to the place you’re standing.

If you’re the kind of person who brings home food souvenirs, this is also a good moment to decide what you want to buy (if the shop is open and you’re still in the mood).

Yering Station: Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and the Classic Cool-Climate Mix

Then you’re at Yering Station for about one hour. Here the tasting focuses on classic cool-climate wine styles—listed examples include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, plus more.

This stop is valuable even if you’re not a serious wine nerd. You’re getting a quick education in what the region does well. Cool-climate grapes often taste different from what you might be used to, and the tour format makes it easy to compare without committing to a formal tour-and-flight that lasts all day.

Also, Yering Station is described as a historic home of Victoria’s first vineyard. That context adds meaning, but you still get the practical payoff: samples you can actually remember later.

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: A Private Chocolate Tasting Moment

By the time you reach the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, you’ll be in full treat mode. This stop runs about one hour and includes an exclusive private chocolate tasting, followed by free time to visit the shop and cafe.

This is where the day becomes very human. Tastings can get a little formal, but chocolate turns it into fun fast. You’ll likely have time to slow down, look around, and decide what to take home—especially if you’re traveling with people who don’t care about wine but do care about dessert.

One more tip: if you have a sweet tooth, save some energy here. Earlier stops are delicious, but this is the moment when chocolate and ice cream vibes take over.

Kangaroo Ground: The 30-Minute Kangaroo Safari Finale

The day ends with a Kangaroo Safari at Kangaroo Ground for about 30 minutes. The admission for this portion is marked as ticket free, and the whole point is seeing wild kangaroos near the end of the tour.

This is a great way to close a tasting-heavy afternoon. Food and wine create the warm-up. Then the wildlife gives you that wow factor that feels very Australian.

Also, because it’s only around half an hour, you’ll want to be ready to look and listen quickly. Keep your phone handy, but don’t stare so hard you forget to enjoy the moment. If the kangaroos are active, they can be more fun than any photo setup.

Price and Value: What You Really Get for $125.52

At $125.52 per person, the value comes from bundling three things that are usually separate and expensive: transport, multiple tastings, and a wildlife activity.

Here’s the value logic that matters:

• You get round-trip transfers from Melbourne, so the day is easier than self-driving.
• Tastings are spread across sparkling wine, cheese, wine, and chocolate, which means you’re not paying for one or two stops and hoping the rest carries you.
• The tour keeps the group small (12 max), which makes the tasting time feel less rushed.

One cost to remember: lunch at Chandon is not included. If you add lunch, your final spend will be higher. But you have control over that decision—this tour isn’t pretending lunch is free when it isn’t.

If you want the simplest way to sample a lot of the region’s best in a single afternoon, this price can feel fair. If you only care about one thing—like wine—you might find better value elsewhere. But for a mixed day, the math usually works.

The Real Pacing: How the Stops Avoid That Rushed Feeling

The most common praise across guide styles is that the tour keeps a good pace. People highlight that the day feels organized, with time to enjoy each experience rather than just checking boxes.

You’ll notice it in the structure:

• Short early stop for strawberries (15 minutes)
• Hour blocks at each main tasting location
• A final wildlife session that’s short enough to stay energetic

That rhythm is perfect for a half-to-full afternoon out of the city. You get enough time to feel like you visited real places, but not so much time that you’re trapped in a bus schedule for hours on end.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Might Want Something Else)

This tour is ideal if you want a food-and-wine day with a strong chance of memorable photos and wildlife at the end.

It’s a great fit for:

• Couples and small groups who want tastings without driving
• First-timers to the Yarra Valley who want a highlight route
• People who like wine but don’t want the day to be only wineries
• Anyone who cares about cheese and chocolate as much as wine

One mismatch to watch for: if you’re expecting a full day focused mainly on wine tasting, you may feel it’s more balanced than wine-heavy. The itinerary includes wine, but it’s only part of the mix. Consider this a sampler day with a couple wine stops, not a dedicated wine marathon.

Practical Tips to Make the Day Smoother

A few simple moves make this kind of tour more enjoyable:

• Bring a light layer: conditions around rural areas can shift, and you’ll be outside at times for views and wildlife spotting.
• Plan for extra spending at Chandon if you want lunch, plus any bottles or gift items you might like after tastings.
• Eat lightly before the pickup: the day starts with strawberries, then builds into cheese, wine, and chocolate. If you arrive too full, you’ll miss the fun.
• Have your camera ready for kangaroos: you only get about 30 minutes, so be ready to capture what you see.

If you want the cleanest day, decide your priorities in advance: are you most excited for Chandon, cheese, chocolate, or wildlife? Then you can enjoy the rest without feeling like you’re trying to do everything at maximum intensity.

Should You Book This Yarra Valley Foodies Tour?

I’d book it if you want an easy, well-paced afternoon that mixes sparkling wine, cheese, classic cool-climate wines, chocolate tastings, and a real kangaroo safari. The small group size is a big reason this works, and the stopping pattern gives you enough time to enjoy each place without feeling trapped.

I’d pause if you only care about wine and you want hours of vineyard time. This tour includes wine, but it’s intentionally a broader food-and-wildlife day. Also, plan for lunch at Chandon as an extra if you choose to eat there.

If you’re visiting Melbourne and want a practical day out that feels like you saw the Yarra Valley through its tasting culture, this one makes sense.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and how long is it?

The tour starts at 11:30am from Federation Square, and it runs for about 7 hours.

What’s included in the tastings and drinks?

You’ll have wine tastings at Yering Station, plus cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy and a chocolate tasting at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Alcoholic beverages are included as part of the wine tastings.

Is lunch included at Chandon?

No. At Domaine Chandon, lunch is available for purchase, and it’s listed as at your own expense.

How many people are in the group?

This is a small-group tour with a maximum of 12 travelers.

Where is the meeting point in Melbourne?

You meet at Federation Square Bus & Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone on Russell Ct, Melbourne.

Is the kangaroo safari included?

Yes, the tour includes a kangaroo safari stop at Kangaroo Ground for about 30 minutes, and the admission for this portion is listed as ticket free.