Melbourne: Yarra Valley Food, Wine, Chocolate & Gin Tour

The best part of this Yarra Valley food and wine tour is its range. In one day, you move from fresh strawberries and local preserves to three wineries, a winery lunch, optional gin, and 12 artisan chocolates. It gives you a broad taste of the region without needing to arrange a car.

I like the generous wine tastings and the included bottle for each full-paying adult. I also like the guides, especially Rick, Bernie, and Mel, who add local history, jokes, wildlife spotting, and practical help to the drive. The main drawback is that lunch costs extra, and the small bus can feel tired or tight when everyone has bought wine and food.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven or more wines across three estates: Tastings at St Huberts, Tokar Estate, and Rochford give you a useful spread of Yarra Valley styles.
• A bottle to take home: Each full-paying adult receives one complimentary bottle of wine.
• More than a winery run: Fresh fruit, cheese, gin, chocolate, historic towns, and possible kangaroo sightings fill out the day.
• Lunch is not included: You can order from the restaurant menu, budget about $25 to $45, or upgrade to a gourmet lunch with wine for $50.
• A guide-led day: Rick, Bernie, and Mel are praised for their humor, regional stories, safe driving, and attention to the group.
• A full eight hours: The tour leaves Melbourne at 8:30 AM and returns around 4:45 PM, making it a substantial day outside the city.

Why this Yarra Valley day works well from Melbourne

The Yarra Valley is close enough to visit from Melbourne, but far enough to feel like a proper country outing. The drive takes about an hour each way, so you get changing views, historic towns, farmland, and a break from the city without losing a full second day.

This tour is built for people who want a little of everything. It is not only for serious wine buyers. You can taste fruit, jam, chutney, cheese, chocolate, and gin alongside the wines. That makes the day easier to enjoy if one person in your group is more interested in food than wine.

The schedule is busy but sensible. Most stops last between 25 and 45 minutes, while lunch and free time at Rochford give you about 75 minutes. You will not have hours to wander each estate, but you will see several different places and get a useful first look at the region.

The meeting point is opposite the Forum Theatre, in front of the Federation Square entrance. Look for the Rick’s Wine Tours bus. City construction has affected pickup locations before, so I would check the precise meeting instructions shortly before departure and arrive early.

Yarra Farm Fresh starts the day with local fruit

The first tasting stop is Yarra Farm Fresh, reached at about 9:30 AM. This is a pleasant change from beginning with wine. You start with fresh local fruit and may taste products such as strawberries, peaches, jam, chutney, and tomato spread.

The fruit stop gives you an immediate sense of the valley as a farming region, not just a wine destination. Several people especially enjoyed the large strawberries and the fresh produce. It is also a smart palate opener before the wine tastings begin.

You have about 25 minutes here, so expect a guided sampling rather than a long farm visit. If you find something you like, this is one of the places where buying a small local food item makes sense. Space on the bus can be limited, however, particularly after wine and chocolate purchases.

St Huberts combines wine, art, and a bottle to take home

St Huberts Cellar Door is the first major winery stop, scheduled for about 45 minutes. You receive a guided tasting of four premium wines with cellar-door staff. The setting also gives you more to do than simply stand at a tasting counter.

You can stroll the grounds, visit the Indigenous Art Gallery, or sample additional wines at the Notes Wine Store. That mix helps St Huberts feel more like a destination than a quick pour-and-go stop.

The complimentary bottle is provided here, giving the tour a real value boost. Each full-paying adult receives one bottle to take home. If you are flying onward, remember that a bottle is useful only if you can pack or transport it safely.

St Huberts is often the highlight for people who enjoy attractive surroundings and a more polished tasting room. The 45-minute visit is still fairly short, so do not expect a long art visit or a detailed vineyard walk. The benefit is variety within a compact stop.

Tokar Estate offers a smaller winery contrast

At Tokar Estate, you taste three handcrafted wines in about 30 minutes. After the larger feel of St Huberts, this stop provides a boutique contrast and shows another side of Yarra Valley wine production.

The tasting is focused and brief. You will have enough time to hear about the wines and sample them, but not much time for an extended visit. That is typical of this tour: the goal is comparison. You taste at more than one estate instead of spending the whole day at a single property.

I like this pairing of stops because three wines at Tokar follow four wines at St Huberts without making the day too technical. You can compare the estates while the details are still fresh. If you want lengthy cellar-door conversations or a slow vineyard lunch, this itinerary may feel rushed.

Rochford Wines is the main pause for lunch and gin

Rochford Wines is the central stop of the day. The schedule includes a guided wine tasting, followed by lunch and free time. There is also another 30-minute wine-tasting entry listed in the schedule, so expect Rochford to be a substantial part of the afternoon.

Lunch is the key cost to plan for. It is not included in the $91 tour price. You can choose the restaurant menu, with a suggested budget of $25 to $45 per person, or upgrade on the day to a gourmet lunch with a glass of wine for $50 per person. No BYO lunch is allowed.

The meal has been praised for being generous and enjoyable, with choices suitable for different tastes. The supplied information places lunch at Rochford, though dining arrangements and restaurant names may vary, so confirm the current option with your guide.

After eating, you have free time to explore and can add a gin tasting for $25 per person. This is optional, not part of the base fare. If you are interested in spirits, it adds another local product to the day. If you are already pacing yourself through wine, fruit, and chocolate, skipping the gin may be the sensible choice.

Rochford works well as the day’s longer break because you can stop tasting for a while and eat properly. Still, keep your spending in mind. Once you add lunch, wine purchases, and gin, the final cost can be much higher than the advertised tour fare.

The chocolaterie finishes with 12 different tastes

The final tasting stop is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, reached around 2:30 PM. You receive a guided tasting of 12 artisan chocolates, followed by time to shop.

This is a strong finish for a food-focused day. The tasting gives you plenty of variety, and the shop lets you choose gifts or treats to take home. You have about 25 minutes for the tasting and another 30 minutes for shopping.

One practical point: the tasting may take place in the main shop, which can be noisy. If you have trouble hearing, stay close to the person leading the explanation. The chocolate stop is enjoyable, but it may feel less personal than a quiet guided session.

The timing also matters. By midafternoon you have already visited several wineries, so the chocolate stop gives the group a different flavor and a lighter final activity before the drive back.

The guide can make or break the long driving sections

The guide is a major part of this experience. Rick, Bernie, and Mel have each led this route, and the strongest praise focuses on their humor, clear explanations, regional knowledge, and care with the group.

Rick is especially associated with stories about Melbourne and the Yarra Valley, along with impromptu wildlife spotting. The route may include kangaroos and other Australian wildlife, and guides sometimes point them out from the road or make a short detour when conditions allow. These sightings are possible, not guaranteed.

Bernie has been praised for safe driving and a good sense of humor. Mel is noted for clear explanations and for taking group photos. Those small touches matter on a full-day bus trip, especially when you are meeting people from different countries and traveling as a mixed group.

The transport is comfortable enough for the long ride, but do not expect a new luxury coach. One bus was described as tired, and another concern was limited room for purchases. Wear comfortable clothes, keep bags compact, and avoid planning to carry large cases onboard.

What the $91 price really includes

At $91 per person, the base price is strong for a full day with transport from central Melbourne. You receive visits to three wineries, wine tastings at each, the fruit stop, guided chocolate tasting, the chocolaterie visit, a host and driver, and one bottle of wine per full-paying adult.

The included tastings are the important part. Paying separately for transport, several cellar-door tastings, and a bottle could quickly approach the tour cost, particularly for a first visit to the Yarra Valley.

But the headline price is not the full day’s budget. Add $25 to $45 for lunch, or $50 for the gourmet lunch and wine. Add another $25 if you want the gin tasting. You may also want to buy fruit, chocolate, cheese, preserves, or more wine.

I would think of $91 as the entry cost for the organized day, not the final spend. Even with lunch, it can offer good value if you plan to taste at three wineries and would otherwise need to hire a car or arrange a private driver.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a simple way to see the Yarra Valley from Melbourne and prefer variety over a slow, specialist wine day. It suits couples, solo visitors, friends, and food-focused groups. The social setup also works well if you are traveling alone, since the shared tastings and bus ride make conversation easy.

It is particularly good for first-time visitors to the region. You get a broad introduction to local produce, wine estates, spirits, chocolate, rural scenery, and regional stories in one outing.

It is less suitable if you want complete freedom at each winery, a private guide, a long lunch, or a quiet luxury vehicle. Children under 14 are not permitted, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. It runs rain or shine and requires at least four people to operate.

The 8:30 AM departure and 4:45 PM return also make this a full day. That is useful if you have limited time in Melbourne, but it leaves little room for another major activity that evening.

Final verdict: a generous first taste of the valley

I would book this tour if I had one free day in Melbourne and wanted wine without the hassle of driving. The combination of three wineries, a take-home bottle, fruit, chocolate, and optional gin gives you more range than a standard cellar-door outing.

The main thing to budget for is lunch, and I would keep your shopping modest because bus storage may be limited. If you accept the compact schedule and the ordinary rather than luxurious transport, the tour offers a friendly, good-value introduction to one of Victoria’s best-known food and wine regions.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

Meet opposite the Forum Theatre, in front of the Federation Square entrance. Look for the Rick’s Wine Tours bus.

What time does the tour depart and return?

The bus arrives at the meeting point at 8:15 AM and departs Melbourne CBD at 8:30 AM. Return to the Ian Potter Centre area is scheduled for about 4:45 PM.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including the drive between Melbourne and the Yarra Valley.

How many wineries are included?

The tour visits three wineries: St Huberts Estate, Tokar Estate, and Rochford Wines Yarra Valley. Wine tastings at all three are included.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. You can order from the restaurant menu, with a suggested budget of $25 to $45 per person, or upgrade to a gourmet lunch with a glass of wine for $50 per person.

Can I bring my own lunch?

No BYO lunch is allowed.

Is gin tasting included?

No. Optional gin tasting at Rochford Wines costs $25 per person.

Do I receive wine to take home?

Yes. Each full-paying adult receives one complimentary bottle of wine.

Are children allowed on the tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under 14.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour operates rain or shine. It requires at least four people to run, and cancellation up to 24 hours before departure is available for a full refund.