Around the Bay Food and Wine Taste Trail

Port Phillip Bay is the star of this full-day outing. You cross it by road and ferry, linking the Bellarine Peninsula with the Mornington Peninsula while fitting in wine, lunch, beer, coastal views, and the bright little bathing boxes. It is an efficient way to see two areas that are awkward to combine on your own.

I like the mix of food and scenery, especially lunch at Jack Rabbit Vineyard and the ferry ride from Queenscliff. I also like the small maximum group of 21, which keeps the day more personal than a large coach tour. The drawback is the pace: ten hours covers a lot of ground, so you get a taste of each place rather than a long, leisurely visit at any one winery.

Key points at a glance

• Two sides of Port Phillip Bay: See the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas in one carefully packed day.
• Wine, lunch, beer, and ferry travel: The price includes tastings, lunch, a glass of wine, beer samples, and the bay crossing.
• A converted horse facility: St Andrews Beach Brewery occupies a former world-class training complex.
• Big views from Arthurs Seat: Murrays Lookout gives you a wide view across the bay toward Melbourne.
• Guides set the tone: Gary, Margaret, Brooke, and Kyle are among the guides praised for their friendly, relaxed approach.
• Useful for first-time visitors: Pickup from central Melbourne locations removes the need to drive after tastings.

A full day built around Port Phillip Bay

This is not simply a winery tour with a few scenic stops added on. The route makes a broad loop around Port Phillip Bay, beginning in Melbourne and taking you first toward Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. Later, you cross by ferry and continue around Mornington.

That format is the main reason to choose it. The two peninsulas have separate identities, and visiting both in one day gives you a useful first look at the region. You will not become an expert in either wine district in ten hours, but you will get a strong sense of the coastline, food, vineyards, beaches, and small producers.

The tour begins at about 8:30 am and lasts roughly ten hours. An air-conditioned vehicle handles the road sections, while the ferry provides a welcome change of pace. With a maximum of 21 people, the outing should feel more manageable than a large sightseeing bus, though the exact atmosphere depends on the group and guide.

Geelong Waterfront starts the day gently

The first stop is Geelong Waterfront, where you have about 30 minutes to walk along the esplanade and get some fresh sea air. This is a sensible opening stop. You are not rushed straight into a tasting, and the waterfront gives you an immediate sense of the bay that shapes the whole day.

There is no admission charge here. Think of it as a short orientation walk rather than a major attraction. You will have enough time to stretch your legs, look across the water, and settle into the rhythm of the outing.

The stop also matters because the rest of the day involves plenty of sitting in the vehicle. If you prefer tours with constant activity, this pause may seem modest. I see it as useful, particularly after an early pickup.

Scotchmans Hill brings the first wine tasting

On the Bellarine Peninsula, Scotchmans Hill provides the first proper tasting. The winery occupies an old French provincial-style barnhouse among the vines, with views across the estate. The setting gives the visit a sense of place before you even taste anything.

The wine tasting is included, and the stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough for an introduction to the estate and its wines, but not enough for a slow cellar-door session. You should treat it as a focused tasting rather than a chance to browse every bottle or spend time wandering the property.

This is one point where the tour format shapes your expectations. You get to sample local wine without worrying about driving, but the short stop means the guide and tasting staff must keep things moving. Wine enthusiasts looking for detailed vineyard time may want a dedicated winery tour instead. For a first visit to the region, the compact format works well.

Jack Rabbit Vineyard combines lunch and views

Jack Rabbit Vineyard is the most substantial food stop. Its café is known for broad views and gives you about an hour for lunch. The tour includes lunch and a glass of wine, so this is more than a quick sandwich break between tastings.

The setting is a major part of the appeal. A vineyard restaurant with bay views makes the meal feel connected to the region rather than added as an afterthought. The food is seasonal, according to the tour description, but the exact dishes can vary. You should not expect a fixed menu to be guaranteed.

The one-hour stop is practical, though not generous if you want a long meal, a separate wine purchase, and plenty of time for photographs. Still, it is the right length for a full-day route. The lunch break gives you a chance to sit down properly before the ferry and the Mornington Peninsula portion of the day.

If food matters as much to you as wine, this stop is one of the strongest reasons to book. It gives the tour a proper meal and a sense of occasion, rather than relying only on tasting-room snacks.

Queenscliff ferry adds a welcome change of pace

From Queenscliff, you board Searoad Ferries for a roughly 45-minute trip across the bay. A Devonshire tea is included, and you can watch the coastline from the water. Keep your eyes open for dolphins, as sightings have happened, but they are never something the operator can promise.

The ferry is more than transport. It breaks up the road time and lets you see Port Phillip Bay from a different angle. After the morning’s food and wine stops, the open-air views and steady movement make this one of the most pleasant parts of the day.

Weather matters here. On a clear day, the crossing can be bright and refreshing. On a cold or wet day, it may feel less comfortable, even though the tour requires suitable weather overall. Bring a light layer rather than assuming the day will feel warm just because you are visiting in summer.

The ferry also makes the route memorable. A road-only trip around the bay would take longer and feel less distinctive. This crossing is the link that turns the outing into a true around-the-bay journey.

St Andrews Beach Brewery changes the menu

The next tasting shifts from grapes to grain. St Andrews Beach Brewery sits on the Mornington Peninsula in a former horse-training facility. You get a beer paddle tasting and a chance to see the setting where the brewing takes place.

This stop is useful for people who enjoy variety. The day does not assume that everyone wants wine from morning to late afternoon. Beer gives the tasting schedule a different flavor and helps the tour appeal to mixed groups.

Not everyone will love this part. If your main goal is an in-depth wine day, the 45-minute brewery stop may feel like time taken from another vineyard. That is a fair criticism, and the tour operator presents the choice as a balance of drinks rather than a wine-only itinerary.

I think the balance works for most groups. One person can focus on wine, another can enjoy beer, and everyone still gets the shared scenery and food. If you strongly prefer wineries, check the route before booking so this stop does not surprise you.

Arthurs Seat delivers the day’s big view

After the brewery, the vehicle climbs toward Arthurs Seat and Murrays Lookout. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and gives you a panoramic view across Port Phillip Bay toward Melbourne.

This is the day’s clearest visual payoff. You have spent hours moving around the bay, and the lookout lets you understand its scale. The view also helps connect the two peninsulas you have visited, turning the route from a series of separate stops into one geographical story.

The stop is short, so use your time well. Go straight to the viewpoint, take in the view, and allow time to return to the vehicle. You should not expect a long walk or an extensive visit to Arthurs Seat. It is a lookout stop, not a hiking excursion.

Mornington’s bathing boxes finish the sightseeing

The final featured stop is at the Mornington Peninsula bathing boxes. These small, colorful beach structures have become a symbol of the area and make a cheerful final photo stop.

You get about 30 minutes here. The boxes themselves are the attraction, along with the beach setting and the bright rows of paint. This is a simple stop, but it gives the day a lighter finish after the winery, ferry, brewery, and lookout.

The boxes are best understood as a quick cultural and scenic stop rather than a place for a long beach visit. There is no indication that swimming time is included, so do not plan the day around a dip. You will have time to look, photograph, and enjoy the coast before returning to Melbourne.

What the $157.08 price really covers

At $157.08 per person, the cost is reasonable for a ten-hour outing that includes transport, lunch, wine, beer, the ferry, Devonshire tea, and the listed admissions and taxes. You are paying for the route as much as for the individual tastings.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to hire a car or arrange a private driver. Driving between Melbourne, Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenscliff, and Mornington would involve planning, parking, navigation, and a designated driver. Here, you can taste wine and beer without handling the road afterward.

The price is less compelling if you want a deep visit at one or two wineries. A focused cellar-door tour may give you more tasting time, more producer conversation, and a slower lunch. This outing is designed for range and convenience.

Snacks beyond the included lunch and Devonshire tea are not provided. If you tend to get hungry between stops, bring something small for the vehicle. That is especially sensible because the morning begins early and lunch comes after the first winery stop.

The guide can shape the whole day

The named guides associated with recent departures include Gary, Margaret, Brooke, and Kyle. The strongest qualities attached to them are friendliness, enthusiasm, useful information, and an ability to keep people comfortable through a long day.

That matters on a route this busy. A ten-hour schedule can feel tiring if the commentary is flat or the transitions are clumsy. A relaxed guide helps the day feel like a shared outing rather than a series of deadlines.

You should still allow for variation. Guides change, groups differ, and road conditions can affect the timing. The tour provides a solid framework, but the person leading your departure will shape how much local context you receive and how smoothly the stops fit together.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor to Melbourne who wants to see beyond the city without renting a car. It suits couples, friends, and mixed groups where some people prefer wine and others would rather sample beer.

It is also a good choice for anyone who wants a broad introduction to the region. You see waterfront scenery, vineyards, a restaurant, a ferry, a brewery, a lookout, and a beach attraction in one day.

You may want something else if you prefer slow travel. The schedule does not leave much room for unscheduled wandering, long tastings, or extended beach time. Serious wine collectors may find the two winery visits too brief, while people seeking a relaxed lunch may wish for more than one hour at Jack Rabbit Vineyard.

The group limit of 21 is a useful middle ground. It is small enough to avoid the feel of a huge coach excursion, but large enough that this is still a shared tour rather than a private trip.

Booking details worth knowing

Pickup and drop-off are provided from central Melbourne locations, and the start time is 8:30 am. The activity is near public transportation, and most people can take part.

The tour is generally booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 57 days. If your dates are fixed, booking early makes sense, particularly during busy travel periods.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The experience depends on good weather and a minimum number of participants, so if the operator cancels, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Around the Bay Food and Wine Taste Trail?

Book it if you want maximum variety in one day: two peninsulas, two wine stops, a vineyard lunch, a brewery, a ferry, a lookout, and bathing boxes. The combination of food, drinks, and scenery is the real value.

Skip it if your ideal day means lingering at one winery or spending hours on the beach. This is a well-packed regional sampler, not a slow private food tour.

For most first-time visitors without a car, I think the route makes a strong case for itself. You get the big picture of Port Phillip Bay, a proper lunch, enough tastings to keep the day interesting, and a guide to manage the logistics. Just arrive ready for a long day and bring a small snack for the gaps between stops.

FAQ

How long does the Around the Bay Food and Wine Taste Trail last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours, beginning at about 8:30 am.

What is included in the price?

The price includes lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, wine tasting at Scotchmans Hill, a glass of wine at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, beer tasting at St Andrews Beach Brewery, the ferry cruise, Devonshire tea, and all listed fees and taxes.

Is pickup available from Melbourne?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are provided from central locations in Melbourne.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 21 travelers.

Is the ferry ride included?

Yes. The Searoad Ferries crossing from Queenscliff is included and lasts about 45 minutes. Devonshire tea is also provided during the crossing.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.