A day that tastes like a highlight reel. This Yarra Valley wine tour from Melbourne mixes classic cellar-door time with big food-energy stops: strawberries, hand-crafted chocolate, and (if you want) a gin tasting flight. I like that it keeps the day moving with a small group of 10–20, so you’re not yelling across a bus. I also like the practical design: transfers handle the logistics, and many tasting fees are already covered. One thing to consider: lunch isn’t included, and it can get hot in summer when you’re mixing time outside with alcohol.

You’ll meet at Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, then head straight for farm-fresh fruit before the wine portion gets serious. Guides like Danny, Posi, Stefan, Shauny, and Sean are known for making the day feel relaxed, with plenty of explanation and good group energy. Just keep in mind that there’s optional alcohol like gin at the distillery and additional tastings at St Hubert Estate that cost extra.

Key points worth knowing before you go

• Small group (10–20): more face time at tastings and less waiting around.
• Built-in tasting structure: wine, chocolate, strawberries, and either Stag Lane or Four Pillars gin.
• Lunch timing and cost: you get a break at St Hubert Estate, but you pay for what you eat.
• Gin is optional but changes the day: choose the full option for a gin flight; otherwise timing shifts to keep things smooth.
• Chocolate and fruit are not filler: you get guided chocolate sampling and real seasonal strawberry focus.
• Date-specific venue swaps happen: Yering Farm apple cider can be replaced on rare closure days.

Getting on the road: Arts Centre meeting point and a 9:00am departure

This tour is designed for people who want the Yarra Valley without the planning. You start at Arts Centre Melbourne Spire. The meeting spot is in front of the spire at the cafe stand called Protagonist. Plan to arrive early because the tour aims to depart at 9:00am sharp.

Why this matters: if you’re even a little late, you’ll miss the smooth start. And once you’re on the road, you’ll lose less time to logistics. You also don’t have hotel pick-up, so factor in how you’ll get yourself to the meeting point. The good news is it’s close to public transport.

The tour ends back in the city at ACMI (Federation Square / Flinders St area), usually by 5:30pm or earlier. That’s a friendly finish time if you’re still planning dinner in Melbourne.

Why the small-group size (10–20) changes the whole Yarra Valley day

A 10–20 guest group is a big deal on a full-day tasting trip. You’ll spend less time herding people and more time tasting. It also tends to make guides easier to ask questions to, from how the region’s cool climate shows up in wine to how gin tasting flights are set up.

Guides connected with this tour—like Danny, Posi, Stefan, Shauny, and Sean—are repeatedly described as fun and interactive, not stiff. That matters because tastings can feel awkward if no one explains what you’re looking for. On this kind of day, good hosting turns samples into understanding.

Practical note: the tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, especially where stairs are involved at some stops. If stairs are a problem for you, skip this one.

Stop 1 for food lovers: Yarra Farm Fresh and the strawberry factor

Most days, your first real flavor hit is Yarra Farm Fresh. This is where you get seasonal fruit focus—especially strawberries—along with local jams. You’ll have about 40 minutes here.

I love this as a warm-up. Before wine and gin take over your taste buds, you get something bright and straightforward. Strawberries also pair well with what comes next, because you’re not starting the day with heavy alcohol.

Two extra notes that are worth checking:

• There’s a complimentary punnet of strawberries per booking available for a limited time (until 28 Feb 2026, subject to availability).
• The day involves outdoor time, and it can be hot and sunny in summer. If heat + alcohol is a bad combo for you, this tour may not be the best match.

Yering Station and Yering Farm Wines: where the wine tastings actually live

Wine is the backbone of this tour, but it’s not just “show up, taste tiny pours, move on.” You stop at iconic Yarra Valley estates with hosted tastings, then you get time to reset and enjoy the place.

Yering Station Winery (about 50 minutes)

You’ll typically visit Yering Station, often described as the oldest winery in Yarra Valley and a recognizable name for the region. Plan for hosted wine tastings during this block.

What to expect: this is the kind of stop where you learn how producers think about balance—especially in cool-climate styles. Even if you don’t consider yourself a wine geek, you’ll likely find it easier to pick up differences after you’ve tasted a few samples back-to-back.

St Hubert Estate lunch + on-site browsing (about 1 hour)

Lunch takes place at St Hubert Estate, with time at Quarters for you to buy your own meal. Lunch time is around 11:45am, and since lunch isn’t included, it’s smart to eat breakfast before you join.

You also get time to explore on-site: the cellar door area, a wine shop, and an indigenous art gallery. That’s a nice break from purely tasting-focused time. It also makes the stop more than just a meal stop if you want a bit of atmosphere.

Heads up: wine, gin, and whisky tastings at St Hubert Estate cost extra (usually around A$15 per person). So budget for any “one more pour” moment after lunch.

Yering Farm Wines (about 45 minutes)

Next up is Yering Farm Wines, a more rustic, charm-forward stop. You’ll do more tastings here, and a key detail is that tastings include apple cider as a finish.

Important consideration: on rare occasions, Yering Farm Estate may be unavailable due to private events or closures. If the winery changes on your date, the apple cider may not be included. It’s not something you can control—just something to keep in mind if apple cider is a big deal for your day.

What I think is smart here: ending the wine portion with something non-wine (cider) can bring your palate back under control before chocolate and gin.

Chocolate time at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: the guided sweet break

Then you hit Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery for a guided tasting. You’ll typically get up to 12 hand-crafted chocolate creations. That’s not a token stop.

Why chocolate matters on this tour: it resets your palate in a way that water alone can’t. Also, guided tastings usually help you understand what makes the chocolate different—bean style, cocoa intensity, fillings, and texture.

One practical point: chocolate tastings can make you feel full faster than you expect. If you’re also planning gin or extra tastings after lunch, you might want to keep your water bottle handy and pace yourself.

Gin tasting flight options: Stag Lane or Four Pillars (and how to choose)

This is where the tour lets you dial in your day. You have a gin distillery tasting option as part of the tour, either Stag Lane Farm Distillery or Four Pillars Distillery, depending on the day.

• Stag Lane is visited on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
• Four Pillars is visited on Tuesday & Wednesday

Both involve a guided gin flight tasting with a mixer and run about 45 minutes. If you go for the full tasting experience option, you’ll do the gin flight.

Choosing tip: if you love gin, take the full option so you don’t feel like you missed a major portion of the day. If you’re on the fence, remember that if no one chooses the gin distillery experience, the tour adjusts timing—adding about 15 minutes to the final stop and departing earlier for a smoother return.

Also, some guides are especially good at talking through the mixer choices. If you like classic tonic styles, you’ll probably feel at home here.

Transfers, timing, and the one thing you should eat before alcohol

This tour is built for convenience. You get transfers between Melbourne and Yarra Valley with a full-day schedule that runs roughly 8 hours 30 minutes total. You’re not driving, and you’re not trying to connect wineries on a timeline.

The trade-off is that it’s a tasting schedule, not a free-roam day. Each stop has a set window. If you want long, slow vineyard wandering with zero structure, this probably won’t fit.

A timing reality check:

• Lunch begins around 11:45am
• You should eat breakfast before the tour
• You’ll be tasting on most stops through the afternoon

If you’re sensitive to alcohol or heat, plan for slower pacing:

• Drink water whenever you can
• Take your time at chocolate tastings (they’re a great palate reset)
• Consider skipping any optional extras if you’re already full

Price and value: why $93.24 can make sense in the Yarra Valley

At $93.24 per person, the value depends on what you’d otherwise pay if you booked everything separately.

Here’s why this price can work:

• It includes transportation from Melbourne and back.
• It includes tasting access with all tasting fees already covered for the key stops (the tour emphasizes this for ease).
• You’re not just doing one winery. You’re doing multiple food and drink producers in one day: strawberries, chocolate, wine tastings at key estates, and optional gin.

What costs extra:

• Lunch is not included.
• Optional tasting add-ons at St Hubert Estate (wine/gin/whisky) cost extra, usually around A$15 per person.

My advice: treat this as a packaged sampling day. If your goal is to “try a lot, learn a bit, and go home happy,” the pricing is set up for you. If your goal is to pay the least possible and only buy a single glass, you may feel the structure pushes you toward spending on the spot.

Best fit: who should book this Yarra Valley wine tour

This tour makes the most sense if you:

• Want a structured day trip without driving
• Enjoy pairing wine + chocolate + fruit
• Like gin enough to consider the optional gin flight tasting
• Prefer a small group over large buses

It can be a frustrating choice if you:

• Have mobility limits where stairs are involved
• Hate hot weather and tend to feel rough when tasting alcohol outside
• Want lots of time at one estate to go deep on a single winery

Should you book Dancing Kangaroo Tours for wine, chocolate, strawberries, and gin?

If you’re planning a first visit to the Yarra Valley and want maximum taste variety in one day, I’d book it. The schedule is built around real producer stops—strawberries, guided chocolate, wine tastings at recognizable estates, and optional gin at a distillery. The small group keeps the day from feeling chaotic.

Before you go, decide two things:

1. Are you in for the gin flight? If yes, pick the full option. If no, be ready for the schedule to adjust.
2. Will you budget for lunch at Quarters and any optional tastings at St Hubert Estate? If not, plan to keep those extra pours to a minimum.

If you want a low-stress, high-flavor Yarra Valley day with less logistics work, this tour is a solid fit.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $93.24 per person.

How long is the tour?

It runs about 8 hours 30 minutes.

Where do I meet the group in Melbourne?

You meet at Arts Centre Melbourne Spire, at the cafe stand called Protagonist, with meeting time at 8:45am and departure aimed for 9:00am sharp.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at ACMI (Federation Square / Flinders St area) in Melbourne. The return is typically by 5:30pm or earlier.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at St Hubert Estate (at Quarters) is not included, and you buy what you want. Lunch time is around 11:45am, so it’s best to eat breakfast first.

Are wine and chocolate tastings included in the price?

The tour is described as having all tasting fees included for the main experiences, and the chocolate tasting is included as a guided session. Optional tastings at St Hubert Estate cost extra.

Is the gin tasting included?

Gin is optional. If you choose the full tasting experience, you get a gin tasting flight with a mixer at the distillery stop. If you don’t choose it, the schedule adjusts.

Which distilleries are visited?

Depending on the day, you’ll visit either Stag Lane Farm Distillery (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) or Four Pillars Distillery (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, children aged 4 to 17 can join. They will not be served alcoholic tastings.

What happens if weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to extreme weather, you’ll be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

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