A Swan Valley afternoon can feel like two days. This tour strings together wine tastings, lunch, chocolate, and a brewery stop in one practical, guided loop from Perth.

What I like most is how the day stacks up: you get premium wine tastings over 25 wines, plus a proper gourmet lunch with a drink. You also finish with truffle chocolate tasting plus plenty of chocolate to eat, not just a sample size.

The one thing to keep in mind is timing. While the tour is listed as 7 hours, one booking reported a much shorter return, so if you have a hard schedule, build in buffer time.

Key takeaways

• 25+ wines: multiple tastings at cellar doors, not one quick pour and done
• Lunch at The Abbey: choose a main with a glass of wine, beer, or cider
• Providore and Chocolate Company: truffle tasting with lots of chocolate to eat
• Boutique brewery finish: a drink to cap the afternoon, with tea/coffee as an option
• Guildford start point: convenient launch from Perth via the Midland line area

Getting to Guildford and starting the day with the right rhythm

Your afternoon begins in Guildford, about a short ride from Perth City on the Midland line. The meeting point is the Guildford Train Station car park, by the walk-over bridge and opposite the shops. Aim to be there about 10 minutes before the bus runs through at 11.45am.

I like starting in Guildford because it gives you a little breathing room before the tastings start. Even if you do only a quick wander, the restored Guildford Hotel and the café-lined main drag help you get into the Swan Valley mindset without rushing.

One practical note: the tour runs rain or shine. So yes, plan for weather swings. A light jacket or layer is a smart move, especially once you’re outside moving between stops.

Two boutique cellar doors with 25+ wines you can actually taste

The heart of the day is a pair of boutique winery visits, both focused on tasting and learning at the cellar door. After pickup, you’ll head out to discover two unique boutique wineries where you’ll get wine tastings and explanations about what you’re tasting.

The headline here is that you’ll taste over 25 different wines. That matters for value because you’re not paying for one winery experience and calling it a day. Instead, you get enough variety to find your personal preferences, whether you gravitate toward crisp whites, richer reds, or something in between.

You’ll also get commentary that covers the Valley’s history, its wines, and the personalities behind them. That kind of context is useful because it turns tastings from random sampling into something you can remember later. It also helps you ask better questions at the next pour.

What to watch for during wine tastings

Wine tastings move faster than you think, especially with more than one winery stop. You’ll enjoy it most if you treat it like a guided tasting session, not a race to “finish everything.” Take notes if you like, and don’t be shy about asking the guide what you should try next based on what you already liked.

Lunch at The Abbey: your main choice plus a drink, not a token meal

Lunch is at The Abbey, and it’s not just included in name only. You choose a main, and lunch comes with a glass of wine, beer, or cider—all included in the tour price. Dietary requirements are catered for, which I consider a real quality-of-life feature on food-and-wine days.

In my book, this is where a lot of wine tours either shine or fall flat. When lunch is a genuine plated meal (with real choices) rather than a basic snack, you leave tasting tired instead of just hungry. The Abbey stop is built to reset the afternoon: you eat, you slow down, and you still stay in the flow of the day.

The best way to enjoy lunch on a tasting tour

Since you’re still drinking later (a brewery stop comes after), pace matters. If wine is your main interest, try the lunch pairing option offered to you, and then keep your later taste order flexible—beer, wine, or even tea/coffee if that’s what you need.

Providore and Chocolate Company: truffle tastings where the chocolate is the point

After lunch, you head to the Providore and Chocolate Company for a truffle chocolate tasting. The best part is that it’s not stingy: there’s as much chocolate as you can eat.

This is a smart contrast to the wine. Chocolate brings its own flavors—sweetness, cocoa depth, and creaminess—that change how you perceive taste. If you’re the type who thinks too hard about pairings, this stop keeps it fun and sensory rather than overly technical.

And because it’s a focused finish to the meal portion of the day, it also gives you an emotional reset. One of the underrated travel joys is shifting from one kind of indulgence to another without changing towns every ten minutes.

A small caution: pace the truffle tasting

Chocolate is easy to overdo when it’s unlimited. If you know you get strong cravings once you start, take a few tastes, find what you love, and keep room for the final drink stop later.

The boutique brewery finish: beer, wine, and a calmer landing

The last stop is a boutique brewery, where you’ll receive a glass of beer or wine. There’s also a tea/coffee option if you’d rather finish without alcohol.

This matters because it’s not just a final pour—it’s a landing. After tastings and lunch, you want the end of the day to feel like closure. A brewery stop works well because it’s different enough from wineries that it doesn’t feel repetitive, but familiar enough that most people enjoy it.

From a practical standpoint, it also sets you up to head back to Perth with less chaos. You get one final taste, then the tour wraps.

Then you’ll be dropped back around Beaufort St Tourist Bus Stop or somewhere along the way in Perth City, depending on your needs.

Price and logistics: does $91 feel like value?

At $91 per person for a 7-hour afternoon, this tour has the right ingredients for value: over 25 wine tastings, lunch with a drink, a chocolate tasting with lots of chocolate, and a final drink at a brewery.

Here’s how I think about it. Wine tours often charge for transportation and a couple of tastings, but the food is usually where people feel shorted. This one includes a sit-down lunch experience with a main choice at The Abbey. Then it adds chocolate that’s more than a bite or two, plus a final drink. When you total the “paid extras” you’d normally buy individually—wine tasting fees, lunch with alcohol, dessert—you start to see why the price can work.

One important consideration: timing consistency

The tour is listed as 7 hours, but one past booking reported being brought back after about 4 hours. I’d treat that as a heads-up rather than a prediction. Still, if you’re connecting to dinner reservations or a specific evening plan, give yourself a buffer.

Also, one booking noted the bus might be shared with another 7-hour tour. If you dislike bus crowding or prefer more space, this is worth factoring in.

Who this tour suits best

This Swan Valley afternoon is a great match if you want a guided day that hits several highlights without you needing to plan routes or choose wineries yourself.

You’ll probably enjoy it if you:

• like tasting lots of different wines in one day (over 25 is a big promise)
• want a real lunch with choice, not a quick snack
• enjoy sweet finishes, especially truffle chocolate
• don’t want to worry about driving or timing between stops

It may not be your best fit if you’re extremely time-sensitive. With multiple stops and tastings, delays or schedule compression can happen, and the tour length has been reported differently by at least one booking.

Practical tips for a smooth Swan Valley afternoon

A few small moves can make this day much more pleasant:

• Dress for rain or shine. The tour runs in bad weather too, so bring a layer you can handle.
• Go easy on the first pours. You have more than one winery and then lunch. Your future tastings will feel better if you don’t max out early.
• Plan to stay in “taste mode.” You’ll enjoy the variety more if you slow down and choose based on what you like, not just what you think you should try.
• Treat chocolate like a tasting, not a sprint. It’s unlimited, but comfort matters later when you’re heading to the brewery stop.
• If you care about the guide vibe, be open. The tour is guided by an English-speaking host, and in past experiences the guide and host have been praised for humor and being personable, including knowing names. That kind of energy can genuinely make tastings more fun.

Should you book Out & About Wine Tours in Swan Valley?

I’d book this if you want an easy Perth-to-Swan-Valley afternoon with a strong mix of tastings and included food. The combo of 25+ wines, lunch at The Abbey with a drink, truffle chocolate with plenty to eat, and a boutique brewery finish is a lot to pack into one outing—especially at $91.

Don’t book it if your schedule is tight and inflexible. The one reported short return time is the biggest reason to hesitate. If you’re the type who needs to be exact down to the hour, build in a buffer.

If you’re ready to relax, taste, and eat your way through Swan Valley’s wine and sweet side, this tour is built for that mood.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the tour?

You meet at Guildford Train Station car park, by the walk over bridge and opposite the shops.

What time should I arrive?

The bus drives through at 11.45am, so be there about 10 minutes early.

How long is the tour?

The duration is 7 hours.

Is lunch included, and what do I get?

Yes. Lunch is included and you choose a main menu. It also comes with a glass of wine, beer, or cider.

How many wines are tasted?

The tour includes premium wine tasting over 25 wines.

What happens at the chocolate stop?

You go to the Providore and Chocolate Company for a truffle chocolate tasting, with as much chocolate as you can eat.

Is the tour rain or shine?

Yes, it runs rain or shine.

Do they offer free cancellation or pay later?

There is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and there’s a reserve now & pay later option.

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