Yarra Valley Foodies Tour with Chandon & Kangaroo Safari!

Wine country comes with a wildlife encore. This seven-hour Yarra Valley outing mixes sparkling wine, farmhouse cheese, regional wines, chocolate, and wild kangaroos without asking you to rent a car or plan the route. I especially like the small group of no more than 12, and I like the late-morning departure, which gives you a little more breathing room than an early start.

The strongest parts are the generous cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy and the final kangaroo stop, where you might see dozens or even hundreds of animals. The main caution is simple: this is not a dedicated wine tour. Chandon tastings and lunch cost extra, and the day gives equal billing to food and wildlife.

Key points to know before booking

• Chandon brings the best views: You can enjoy the winery’s hilltop setting and buy sparkling wine or lunch, but those purchases are not included.
• Cheese is a major feature: Yarra Valley Dairy offers a generous tasting of locally made cow and goat cheeses.
• Yering Station adds classic wines: The tasting includes cool-climate varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz.
• The chocolate stop is more than a quick sample: You get a private tasting, then free time at the shop and cafe.
• Kangaroos finish the day: A 30-minute visit to a local viewing spot can produce some of the tour’s most memorable photographs.
• Small groups improve the pace: With a maximum of 12 people, the outing feels more personal and avoids the feel of a large coach excursion.

Why this Yarra Valley tour works so well

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a day trip, yet it feels far removed from the city. Vineyards, farms, dairies, and food producers fill the route, and this tour gives you a broad sample in one afternoon.

I like the mix because it does not depend on one interest. You can enjoy the wine stops, but you do not need to be a serious wine drinker. The cheese and chocolate tastings give non-drinkers plenty to look forward to, while the kangaroo stop adds an unmistakably Australian finish.

At $125.52 per person, the price is reasonable for a seven-hour outing with return transport, several tastings, and a guide handling the driving. You still need to budget for lunch and any tasting or purchases at Chandon. That extra cost matters, especially if you expect a full sparkling-wine experience rather than a scenic winery visit.

The tour begins at 11:30 am at the Federation Square Bus and Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone on Russell Court. It returns to the same meeting point. The midday start is useful if you are staying in Melbourne and do not want to begin your day before breakfast, though it also means the schedule is packed into the afternoon and early evening.

Fresh strawberries before the wineries

The first stop is a quick 15-minute visit to Farm Fresh Yarra Valley Produce. You stop for fresh strawberries from a local farm, with admission included.

This is a small opening stop, not a full farm visit. Think of it as a chance to taste the region before the wine begins. Some tours rush straight from Melbourne to a cellar door. Here, the fruit gives you an early reminder that the valley’s food culture is not only about vineyards.

You might find that the farm stop is too brief if you want time to browse or buy produce. Still, it helps break up the drive and gives the group a pleasant first taste of the area.

Chandon: scenery, sparkling wine, and an extra bill

Domaine Chandon is one of the tour’s headline stops. The group has a table prepared in the lounge, with broad views across the Yarra Valley. The setting is a key part of the appeal, and several guides, including Aliot and Craig, have made this visit a highlight for their groups.

Chandon is best understood as a polished winery stop with a strong scenic component. You can purchase sparkling-wine flights, wine, and lunch from the lounge, but these are at your own expense. The tour information describes the visit as included, but the food and Chandon tastings are not included in the price, so check the exact options and costs when you arrive.

I like having lunch here because it makes good use of the setting. You can sit down, take in the view, and enjoy something substantial before the later tastings. The drawback is that an added meal and tasting can push the total cost above the advertised rate.

If your main goal is Australian sparkling wine, Chandon may be the stop you value most. If you want a long technical tasting led by a wine specialist, you may find Yering Station more aligned with that aim. One particularly useful feature is that the small group can stop here, while larger coach tours may not include the same visit.

Yarra Valley Dairy and the serious cheese break

At Yarra Valley Dairy, you get a generous tasting of cheeses made on site from cow’s and goat’s milk. This is one of the most praised parts of the day, and it gives the tour real food value rather than turning it into a sequence of drinks.

The tasting is a good fit for anyone who enjoys trying several styles side by side. You can take your time, ask questions, and decide if you want to buy something for later. The dairy setting also adds a more local feel than a standard city tasting room.

I would plan to arrive hungry but not starving. The cheese is a substantial snack, yet it is not a replacement for lunch. Since the day includes chocolate and wine after this stop, a light meal at Chandon or before departure makes sense.

The dairy is also important for families and non-drinkers. You can still take part fully, and the food stops prevent the afternoon from feeling built around alcohol alone.

Yering Station and the region’s classic wines

Yering Station provides the main included wine tasting. It is the historic home of Victoria’s first vineyard, and the tasting focuses on cool-climate wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, along with additional varieties.

This stop gives the tour a useful contrast with Chandon. Chandon is closely linked with sparkling wine and views. Yering Station offers a broader look at the region’s still wines and gives you a clearer sense of the Yarra Valley’s wine identity.

The tasting lasts about an hour, which is long enough to enjoy the wines without making the afternoon feel like a lecture. Guides such as Kurt, Steven, Craig, and Aliot are praised for explaining the area during the drive and at the stops. Their local commentary adds context that you would miss if you simply hired a car and visited cellar doors on your own.

That said, the tour still moves at a set pace. You will sample the selected wines rather than design a private tasting around your personal preferences. If you are seeking a serious, cellar-door-by-cellar-door wine study, a dedicated wine itinerary would serve you better.

For most people, though, one included winery tasting is a sensible balance. You get a genuine regional introduction without spending the entire day at tables and tasting counters.

Chocolate and ice cream at the final food stop

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery supplies the sweet course. The tour includes an exclusive private chocolate tasting, followed by free time in the shop and cafe.

This is not just a quick chocolate sample handed out beside the bus. You have time to browse, look at the large selection, and order ice cream or cafe items if you wish. The stop lasts about an hour, so you can enjoy it at a relaxed pace.

The chocolaterie works especially well for families and anyone who does not drink wine. The setting has a playful, almost storybook quality, and the tasting gives the afternoon an easygoing change of mood after the wineries.

The practical issue is self-control. After strawberries, cheese, wine, and chocolate, you may be carrying more food than you expected. If you want to take treats home, leave room in your bag and remember that additional purchases are not part of the tour price.

Kangaroo Ground gives the day its Australian finish

The final stop is a 30-minute kangaroo safari at a private or less-publicized viewing spot in Kangaroo Ground. The aim is to see wild kangaroos rather than animals in a zoo enclosure.

This is where the tour becomes more than a food and wine outing. Guides take you to a local place where kangaroos gather, and sightings can be plentiful. Some groups have seen hundreds, while others have spotted large numbers close to the vehicle. You may be able to photograph them from a distance, and sometimes you can see them more closely from the car.

Keep your expectations sensible. Wildlife is never fully guaranteed, and the stop is short. The available information and strong feedback suggest that sightings are common, but the animals are wild and the conditions can vary. You should also follow the guide’s instructions and keep a respectful distance.

The timing is excellent. After several tasting stops, the kangaroos give you something active and distinctly local to look forward to. Many people consider this the most memorable part of the day, particularly photographers and families.

Rain does not necessarily ruin the outing. One group still enjoyed the food, tastings, and wildlife despite rain near the end. Bring weather-appropriate clothing, since the final stop takes place outdoors.

Guides make the small-group format count

The guide can shape this tour as much as the venues. Names that appear across the experience include Kurt or Curt, Craig, Steven, and Aliot. Their strengths are consistent: local information, friendly conversation, good organization, and attention to the group.

Craig is the owner and lives in the area, which can add a useful local perspective. Kurt is praised for remembering names and keeping the group involved. Steven is described as attentive and entertaining, while Aliot is noted for being easygoing and organized.

You should not assume you will receive a particular guide on your date. The important point is the guide-to-group ratio. With a maximum of 12 people, the driver can greet people by name, keep the schedule moving, and answer questions without managing a full coach.

The small vehicle also lets the tour include Chandon, a stop that may not work well for larger groups. That is a real value advantage, not just a marketing detail.

Timing, transport, and what to budget

The tour lasts about seven hours and begins at 11:30 am from Federation Square. Round-trip transport is included, and the tour finishes back at the same meeting point.

That transport is a major part of the value. The Yarra Valley is spread across several separate venues, so driving yourself would mean choosing a designated driver and navigating after tastings. Here, you can enjoy the wine and let the guide manage the route.

Admission for the listed stops is included, along with wine tastings at Yering Station, cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy, and chocolate tasting at the chocolaterie. Lunch and tastings at Chandon are not included. Extra food, drinks, and products purchased at the farms, wineries, or shops are also your responsibility.

Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Confirmation is normally provided at booking, though bookings made within four hours of departure are confirmed as soon as possible, subject to availability.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this afternoon?

I would recommend this tour if you want a broad taste of the Yarra Valley in one outing. It suits couples, solo visitors, families with older children, and small groups who want food, wine, scenery, and wildlife without hiring a car.

It is also a smart choice if not everyone in your party drinks. The dairy and chocolaterie are not filler stops. They are central parts of the day, and the kangaroo viewing gives everyone something to enjoy.

You should think twice if your only goal is wine. The tour includes a proper tasting at Yering Station, but Chandon tastings cost extra, and the afternoon is deliberately divided among several types of food and drink. Wine enthusiasts wanting extended cellar-door time may prefer a more focused trip.

The tour is also not ideal if you want long, unstructured time at each venue. The schedule is well paced, but six stops in seven hours requires movement. That is the tradeoff for seeing so much in one day.

Should you book the Yarra Valley Foodies Tour?

Book it if you want variety, easy transport, and a small group, especially if kangaroos are high on your Australia wish list. The combination of cheese, wine, chocolate, Chandon views, and wild animals offers strong value at $125.52, provided you allow extra money for lunch and Chandon.

Skip it only if you want a serious wine-only program or a slow day at one or two wineries. For everyone else, this is a well-balanced way to leave Melbourne, taste the valley, and finish with a distinctly Australian wildlife sighting.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Federation Square Bus and Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone on Russell Court, Melbourne VIC 3000.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 11:30 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

Where does the tour finish?

It ends back at the same Federation Square meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense, including lunch purchased at Chandon.

Are Chandon wine tastings included?

No. Chandon tastings are available at an additional cost. The visit itself is part of the tour.

Which tastings are included?

The tour includes wine tastings at Yering Station, cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy, and chocolate tasting at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 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.