Yarra Valley Foodies Tour with Chandon and Kangaroo Safari!

The best part of this Yarra Valley outing comes at the end: you leave the tasting rooms behind and watch wild kangaroos feeding in their natural setting as the sun drops. Before that, you get a generous run of cheese, sparkling wine, still wine, strawberries and chocolate, all without the early start of many Melbourne day trips.

I like the small van and limited group size, which make it easier for guides such as Kurt, Craig and Elliot to chat with everyone. I also like the sensible pace: roughly an hour at each major stop, with time to taste, browse and stretch your legs. The main drawback is that lunch is not included, and the menu at Chandon can be limited, so bring a snack or plan to buy food early.

At a glance

• Starts at 11:30 a.m. from Federation Square, leaving your morning free for brunch, shopping or Melbourne sights.
• Tastings cover the full Yarra Valley menu: Chandon sparkling wine, Yarra Valley Dairy cheese, Yering Station wines, strawberries and handmade chocolate.
• A small group of up to 11 people means less waiting and a more personal day.
• The sunset kangaroo stop is the grand finale, with a money-back guarantee advertised for seeing wild kangaroos, though wildlife conditions can never be fully controlled.
• The $123 price includes transport, tastings and a local guide, but not lunch or personal purchases.
• The day lasts seven hours, returning to central Melbourne in the early evening.

Why the late start works so well

Many trips into the Yarra Valley leave Melbourne early, which can make your morning feel rushed. This one departs at 11:30 a.m. from the pickup zone behind Federation Square, near the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street. You look for a white minibus marked Yarra Valley Touring, close to the NGV rear entrance.

That later departure is a real advantage if you are staying in Melbourne. You can have breakfast at a sensible hour, visit a gallery, walk along the Yarra River or simply keep the morning open. The trade-off is a later return, usually in the early evening, so this is not the right outing if you need to be back for an early dinner or show.

The drive to the valley takes about an hour. Your guide handles the driving while sharing information about the region, wine and Australian culture. Guides vary, but names appearing often include Kurt, Craig, Elliot, Tom, Steve, Stephen and Kyle. The strongest part of the guiding is the personal touch: guides remember names, explain what you are seeing and adjust the pace when the group has a particular interest.

The van seats no more than 11 participants, or up to 12 depending on the booking description. Either way, this is much more intimate than a large coach trip. You will spend a fair amount of time in the vehicle, but the small size makes the drive more sociable and avoids the long loading delays common with big groups.

Strawberries first, then Chandon views

A bonus stop at a strawberry farm adds a simple local touch to the start of the food trail. Fresh strawberries are bought for the group to share. It is not a major sightseeing stop, and one customer found it a little slow at first, but it gives you a taste of the valley before the formal tastings begin.

The first main visit is Domaine Chandon, the Australian home of the Moët et Chandon name. You receive a glass of sparkling wine and hear how the wine is produced. The setting is one of the prettiest on the day, with vineyard views from the tasting and dining area.

You also get time to visit the boutique and buy Chandon products. Lunch is available from the lounge menu, but it is not covered by the tour price. This matters because Chandon is the main planned meal opportunity, and the menu can be limited. I would bring some cash and a reusable water bottle, and consider carrying a small snack if you have dietary needs.

The stop lasts about an hour. That is enough time for a drink, a look around and lunch if the available choices suit you. It is not enough for a long, leisurely winery meal, so you should treat it as a scenic tasting stop rather than a full restaurant visit.

One useful detail is that Chandon is not only about sampling wine. You get a sense of the place, the production story and the connection between cool-climate conditions and sparkling wine. The view also gives this stop more weight than a quick tasting counter in town.

Soft cheese at a family dairy

A short drive takes you to Yarra Valley Dairy, a small family-run producer making soft cheeses on site. The tasting is generous and includes several varieties, so this is more than a token sample with one cracker.

This stop works well after Chandon because it changes the focus from sparkling wine to local produce. You can compare textures and flavors while learning how a small dairy turns regional milk into boutique cheese. The staff prepare the tasting promptly, often within minutes of the van arriving, which helps the tour keep moving without feeling hurried.

The dairy is one of the most consistently praised food stops on the route. If cheese is your main reason for booking, this is likely to be one of the day’s highlights. The limitation is simple: the tasting is built around soft cheeses, so it may not satisfy you if you want a broad survey of hard, aged or blue styles.

Still, the stop gives the tour a welcome sense of place. You are not only tasting alcohol and sweets. You are also seeing how small producers fit into the Yarra Valley food economy.

Yering Station and Victoria’s first vineyard

Yering Station provides the main still-wine tasting. It is identified as the site of Victoria’s first vineyard, and the visit gives you a chance to sample classic cool-climate wines, including Pinot Noir. Depending on the tasting selection, you may also encounter other styles such as a Shiraz and Viognier blend.

This is the stop where you can learn how the valley’s wine profile differs from the sparkling wine at Chandon. A guide such as Steve or Stephen can add useful context about grapes, regional conditions and the local wine industry. You do not need to be a wine expert to enjoy it, but a little curiosity helps.

The planned hour is a good compromise. You have enough time to taste a range of wines and listen to the explanation, yet the visit does not take over the entire afternoon. One customer would have preferred to spend longer at Chandon and skip the second wine tasting, so serious sparkling-wine fans should keep that preference in mind.

For most people, though, the two winery visits balance each other. Chandon offers sparkling wine and a strong view. Yering Station gives you a broader look at Yarra Valley wine, including the region’s cool-climate reds and whites.

Chocolate, ice cream and a busy final tasting

At the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, the mood shifts again. You sample chocolate made with couverture chocolate and can try a broad range of flavors. Ingredients from the property’s gardens are part of the production story, and the shop sells more than 200 chocolate, truffle and ice cream products made on site.

You get about an hour here, including tasting and free time to browse. This is especially useful if you want edible gifts, but be careful with your spending. After wine, cheese, strawberries and lunch, the shop offers plenty of temptation.

The chocolate stop is the most commercial-feeling part of the day. One customer found it average, while many families and people with a sweet tooth enjoyed the range. I would rate it as a pleasant bonus rather than the central reason to book the tour.

Children can enjoy the chocolate and ice cream side even if they do not take part in the wine tastings. Children aged three and above are welcome, but anyone under 18 cannot buy or drink alcohol at licensed venues in Australia. The tour is not suitable for children under two.

Sunset kangaroos in the lower Yarra Valley

The final stop is what gives this tour its identity. As daylight fades, the van heads into the lower Yarra Valley, where kangaroos tend to shelter during the hotter part of the day. Your guide chooses a known viewing area and walks with the group to find them.

This is not a wildlife park. The animals are wild, and you may need to wait quietly and walk a little to get a clear view. That makes the sighting more memorable, but it also means you should bring a camera, wear comfortable shoes and follow the guide’s instructions about distance.

The timing is smart. Golden hour provides better light for photographs, and kangaroos are more active as the day cools. The guides also understand that this is the moment many people are waiting for. Kurt, Craig and other guides have made the kangaroo stop a priority when conditions are hot or the first viewing area is not ideal.

Sightings are common, and the tour advertises an exclusive money-back guarantee that you will see wild kangaroos. The practical wording is still worth noting: wildlife can move, hide or be affected by weather. The provided information also says sightings cannot be guaranteed in nature, even though the stop is planned at a known location during the best light.

When the conditions cooperate, you may see large numbers of kangaroos, including adults with young. A baby kangaroo seen inside its mother’s pouch was a particularly memorable moment for one participant. For many people, this hour becomes the most distinctive part of the entire day because the animals are not being displayed for you. You are simply sharing their evening setting.

What $123 buys you

At $123 per person, the tour is priced as a full half-day outing rather than a single winery transfer. Your fare covers the minivan, guide, Chandon sparkling wine, cheese tasting, Yering Station wine tasting, chocolate samples and the kangaroo search.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise book separate transport to several valley businesses. Driving yourself would mean giving up wine tasting, while arranging individual visits would take more planning and could cost more once transport is added. The group size also matters: you are paying for a guided route with a maximum of roughly 11 or 12 people, not just a seat on a coach.

Lunch and personal purchases are extra. You may also want to budget for chocolate, wine, cheese or Chandon products to take home. Dietary choices can be limited in regional areas, so the sensible plan is to ask about the lounge menu early and carry a snack if needed.

The tour is particularly good value for people who want variety. A dedicated wine trip might give you more time at each cellar door, while a farm or food tour might offer deeper tastings. This route gives you a little of each, plus wildlife and scenery, in seven hours.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this tour if you want one easy day outside Melbourne with several flavors and a clear finale. It suits couples, solo visitors, families with older children and small groups of friends. Solo participants can fit in easily because the small van encourages conversation without the scale of a big coach.

It is also a good match for people who do not want to give up a Melbourne morning. The later start leaves time for city plans, then takes you into open country for the afternoon.

You should look elsewhere if your main goal is serious wine study. The schedule gives you about an hour at each major venue, and the tasting range is broad rather than highly specialized. You may also find the chocolate stop too shop-focused, or the Chandon lunch choices too narrow.

Mobility is another consideration. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, and there are vehicle transfers plus walking at the kangaroo stop. Bring a passport or ID for alcohol service, a camera, cash and a refillable water bottle.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Melbourne schedule is still changing.

Should you book the Yarra Valley Foodies Tour?

I would book it if you want the broadest mix of Yarra Valley pleasures in one day: sparkling wine, still wine, cheese, strawberries, chocolate and wild kangaroos. The itinerary is well balanced, the late start is practical, and the small van lets guides such as Kurt and Craig make the day feel personal.

I would skip it only if you want a long, quiet winery lunch, a specialist wine tour or a full day at one estate. For everyone else, $123 is a fair price for seven hours of transport, tastings, guiding and a strong chance of seeing kangaroos at sunset. Pack a snack, keep some money aside for purchases and save room for the final wildlife stop.

FAQ

What time does the tour depart from Melbourne?

The tour departs at 11:30 a.m. from the Federation Square Bus and Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet behind Federation Square near the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street, close to the NGV rear entrance. Look for the white bus with Yarra Valley Touring written on the side.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts seven hours and returns to the Federation Square meeting point in the early evening.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You have time to buy food at Domaine Chandon, though the available menu may be limited. Dietary choices can also be limited in regional areas.

What tastings are included?

The tour includes sparkling wine at Chandon, cheese at Yarra Valley Dairy, wine at Yering Station, strawberries at a farm stop and chocolate tastings at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.

Will I definitely see kangaroos?

The tour visits a known kangaroo area around sunset, when sightings are common. The activity information also notes that wildlife cannot be fully controlled, so sightings depend on natural conditions.

Can children join the tour?

Children aged three and above are welcome. Children under two are not suitable for this activity, and anyone under 18 cannot buy or drink alcohol at licensed venues in Australia.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.