A day trip with wine and views feels like a cheat code. This one pulls you about 90 minutes outside Sydney for a full, structured tasting day across three Southern Highlands wineries.

I like that you’re not responsible for the driving plan, and each stop has tastings plus included food so the day stays smooth. One thing to consider: it’s a long 9-hour day, so it helps to go in with a relaxed pace.

A couple things I really appreciate: roundtrip hotel pickup (less stress, more drinking responsibly), and the fact that lunch at Eling Forest is built into the schedule with a glass of wine.

It’s also run by Kenny Escapes Food and Wine Experiences, and the driver-side experience gets consistently praised, with names like Roman, Val, Joe, Guy, Jane, Wally, and Russell popping up in feedback.

The only real drawback is the timing. You’ll be tasting for most of the day, so if you’re hoping for lots of free time to wander solo, this itinerary is more “guided flow” than “roam at will.”

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Care About

• Three winery stops in the Southern Highlands with tasting time planned at each.
• Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport to cut down the logistical headache.
• Lunch at Eling Forest Winery with a glass of wine, plus upgrade options to 2 or 3 courses.
• Small-group or private format depending on what you book, with only your group participating.
• Drivers and hosts matter here, and feedback repeatedly highlights people like Roman and Russell.
• Mobile tickets and included admission mean fewer things to manage on the day.

Why the Southern Highlands Works Better Than a Distant Day Trip

If you’ve ever tried to squeeze a wine day out of Sydney, you’ve probably noticed the problem: time evaporates in traffic and detours. This trip fixes that with a straightforward plan—head to the Southern Highlands, a short drive away, so you spend your energy on tastings instead of the road.

The Southern Highlands also has a classic wine-country feel without feeling like a theme park. Expect a slower rhythm, countryside vibes, and wineries that actually make time for visitors. The tour is designed to keep you moving, but not rushed. You’re given enough time at each stop to talk to staff, taste thoughtfully, and enjoy lunch without the day feeling like a checklist.

And yes, the day is built around wine, but it’s not just about pouring and leaving. The stops are chosen for the experience at the cellar door—hospitality, tasting structure, and the kind of atmosphere that makes a group day feel special.

Price and Value: What $271.84 Buys You (and What It Doesn’t)

At $271.84 per person for roughly 9 hours, this isn’t a cheap casual activity. The value comes from packing several “pay separately” items into one price.

What you get as part of the tour:

• Tastings at three wineries
• Snacks and lunch
• A lunch glass of wine included at Eling Forest
• Roundtrip transportation from your hotel
• Admission tickets included for the stops

The tour also emphasizes no surprise fees, which matters on day tours. You’ll still want to plan your own spending habits (like souvenirs), but you shouldn’t hit random add-ons that force you to rethink your budget mid-day.

What it doesn’t give you:

• Unlimited free time at each cellar door
• A flexible route you can customize on the fly (the schedule is the schedule)

So, I’d treat the price like paying for convenience plus a guided tasting day. If you want to DIY, you could—depending on your transport and tasting preferences. But if you’d rather show up, taste, eat, and let someone else handle the logistics, this is priced like a service that covers that work.

The Real Hero: Hotel Pickup and Driver-Run Confidence

The best part of any wine day from Sydney is the part you don’t have to think about. This tour offers pickup and uses a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. That means you can focus on the day, not the parking spot and not the route.

The driver experience is clearly part of the product. In the feedback, people highlight a friendly, professional, knowledgeable approach—plus the simple things that make a group day feel easy: patient handling, smooth timing, and a good sense of humor when it counts.

Names that show up in the praise include Roman, Val, Joe, Guy, Jane, Wally, and Russell. The point for you isn’t which person is on your date; it’s that the company is repeatedly trusted to deliver a calm, competent day, even when the group is celebrating something like a hens party or a birthday.

Practical tip: if you’re the type who likes to start slow, use the first winery stop to get your bearings. Don’t try to “win” the day with the first pour. Let the schedule set the pace.

Stop 1: Tertini Wines (Plus the Centennial Vineyard Option)

Your first tasting stop is Tertini Wines, with about 1 hour on-site. The tone here is friendly and informative, which is exactly what you want early in the day. A good first stop can set you up—help you understand what you’re tasting, and get you asking questions instead of just collecting tastes.

This tour also notes that you may visit Centennial Vineyard or another Southern Highlands winery option. That means your exact first stop could vary, but the intent stays the same: a planned tasting experience in the Southern Highlands with enough time to enjoy it.

What to expect from a first cellar-door stop on a day like this:

• A structured tasting window (not just a walk-in and hope)
• Time to chat with staff about what’s being poured
• A chance to settle into the day before lunch

Possible drawback to consider: since the first stop can be one of a couple options, you should be okay with light variation. If you only care about one specific winery name, double-check with the operator when booking.

Stop 2: Eling Forest Winery Lunch With Wine (and Upgrade Choices)

Then you roll into Eling Forest Winery for about 1 hour 30 minutes, and this is where the tour gives you the best “hangout value” because lunch is included.

Lunch at Eling Forest comes as one course with a glass of wine. If you want more, there are options to upgrade to 2 or 3 courses. That upgrade option is a big deal if you’re going as part of a celebration or you genuinely want a sit-down meal, not a quick bite.

The venue also gets attention for its views. Even if you’re not the type who cares about scenery, views can change the feel of lunch—suddenly the day feels less like a commute with tastings and more like a proper outing.

How to use this stop to your advantage:

• Eat like it’s part of the plan, not an afterthought. Lunch is your buffer for the later tasting.
• If you upgrade, do it because you want a more relaxed meal, not because you feel pressured to “get your money’s worth.”

Small caution: because lunch includes wine, pace yourself with what you’re tasting afterward. The schedule keeps going, so you’ll get more from the afternoon if you stay comfortable.

Stop 3: Bendooley Estate Book Barn for Post-Lunch Tastings

After lunch, the day finishes at Bendooley Estate Book Barn for about 1 hour. This is one of the more requested cellar-door experiences in the region, and the setting—often described through the Book Barn concept—is part of the appeal.

This final stop is your “finish strong” tasting window. By now you’ll have a sense of your preferences from the earlier pours. If you liked more fruit-forward styles, you can ask targeted questions. If you’re more into dry reds or crisp whites, use the time to steer the tasting conversation.

What makes the third stop work well:

• Enough time to enjoy without feeling like you’re rushing
• A chance to compare what you liked earlier with what’s different here
• A final set of tastings that feels like closure, not an endurance test

The main drawback at the end of a wine day is fatigue. You’ve been traveling and tasting for hours. It helps to treat the third stop as a thoughtful session, not a final sampling sprint.

Group Vibes vs Private Comfort: How Your Booking Choice Changes the Feel

The tour offers two flavors:

• Small group experiences
• A private tour option where only your group participates

That difference matters more than you might think. In a small group, you’ll likely share the day with a mix of people—sometimes that’s fun, sometimes it’s distracting. In a private setting, you get a calmer rhythm and more control over how the day unfolds.

If you’re celebrating something (hens parties come up in feedback), private comfort can make a big difference because it reduces friction. You can take photos, coordinate cheers, and keep the mood consistent.

If you’re traveling solo or as a couple and you want the social element without chaos, a small-group format is often a sweet spot. You still get that guided structure and winery timing, but you’re not locked into a big bus feel.

Pacing and Tasting Tips So You Enjoy Every Stop

This tour is built for tasting, but you can make it better with a few simple habits.

• Start with curiosity, not speed. Your first pours should guide your second and third decisions.
• Drink water between tastings when possible. Even simple hydration keeps you sharper for lunch and the final stop.
• Eat before your busiest tasting window. Lunch at Eling Forest is your anchor.
• If you’re sensitive to alcohol, talk to staff during tastings. Many cellar doors are happy to help you pace what you’re drinking.

Also, plan your day after the tour. You’ll be back in Sydney later in the day, and the point of a wine trip is to feel good afterward—not to spend the evening recovering.

Weather and Scheduling Reality: What to Expect If Conditions Change

This experience depends on good weather. If weather turns poor, the tour can be canceled with an alternative date or a full refund offered. That’s a key practical detail, because wine-country days can be affected by rain, wind, or unsafe conditions.

The tour also runs based on a minimum number of travelers. If the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

I like having those guardrails. It means you’re not stuck with a vague “maybe” plan.

Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This Southern Highlands day escape fits well if you want:

• A guided wine day with transportation handled
• Tastings at three wineries
• Lunch included with an option to upgrade courses
• A relaxed, structured schedule that doesn’t require planning skills

It’s also a solid choice for group celebrations. The feedback includes hens-day planning and big birthday groups, which signals the company knows how to run the day without losing the fun.

Who might reconsider:

• You want lots of independent wandering time at each winery
• You’re on a tight schedule and can’t handle a long day
• You strongly prefer one exact winery name at the start (because the first stop can vary with options)

Should You Book This Southern Highlands Wine Escape?

If you want a one-day plan that trades stress for structure, I think this is worth serious consideration. You’re getting transportation, tastings, and a real lunch anchor—so you’re not juggling reservations while trying to enjoy yourself.

Book it if:

• You’d rather spend time tasting and eating than planning logistics
• You like the idea of three cellar-door stops with enough time to ask questions
• You’re okay with the first stop having an option like Centennial versus another winery

Think twice if:

• You hate long days
• You want completely independent pacing with no fixed schedule
• You’re only interested in one specific winery stop and nothing else

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the Southern Highlands day wine tasting tour from Sydney?

The tour runs for about 9 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The meeting/start time is 9:00 am.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, roundtrip transportation from your hotel is included.

How many wineries do I visit?

You visit three wineries in the Southern Highlands during the day.

What’s included with lunch?

Lunch at Eling Forest Winery includes one course and a glass of wine. There’s an option to upgrade to 2 or 3 courses.

Are wine tastings and admission tickets included?

Yes. Each stop includes a wine tasting experience and admission ticket(s) are included.

Do I get a mobile ticket?

Yes, the tour uses a mobile ticket.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund.

Is this tour dependent on weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

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