If you are putting together a day in the Yarra Valley from Melbourne, make it a full one and be about it: pick your two principal stops, have lunch sorted and know how the party will get back before any wine has been tasted. There is no need to rush through a winery crawl when a little forethought makes for a more leisurely regional outing.
The drive from the CBD is 60 to 90 minutes in either direction as a rule of thumb, though that can vary with the weather, where you are headed and the state of traffic. Put together an itinerary that sees you at some cellar doors and for lunch, perhaps a foray into Healesville or to put in some local produce. For planning help, see Yarra Valley seasonal vineyard tips. I am Tristan Farrow; my time in tourism and hospitality operations has taught me that a good day out is not about cramming in every possibility but having the latitude for a wrong turn, a recalcitrant parking machine and a coffee later than planned.
Yarra Valley Day Trip Overview
For those wanting to break from the pace of Melbourne with some country roads, wildlife, food and wine, the Yarra Valley is ideal. It is a good fit for a couple or a small group, or anyone in want of a guided tour without the need to put up for the night.
Then there is the matter of distance. On paper the region is nigh on, yet the attractions and restaurants are dispersed between Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Healesville and the way to Warburton. Make of it a road trip rather than a quick hop around the suburbs.
What to do in a day
You should be able to fit in a couple of wineries, a lunch reservation and an activity or two. Three cellar doors are fine if they are in proximity and the tastings brief, but once you are at four or five you will find yourself looking at the clock more than you are enjoying the venue.
The mistake many make is to approach the Yarra Valley as one would a shopping centre. With its winding roads and limited public transport, it is a wide expanse of a wine region. Resist the urge to zigzag after every online tip and stick to a cluster.
From Melbourne to the Valley
How you travel will set the tone for the day. Driving is flexible; a guided tour spares you the navigation and the designated driver debate. Public transport is an option for the patient planner.
Before you head off, see what the Bureau of Meteorology has to say on Victorian conditions, in case of bushfire risk, summer heat or heavy rain.
Self-Driving
Opting to self-drive is the most accommodating way to go. Head out of the CBD on the Eastern Freeway for Ringwood and on to Coldstream, Yarra Glen or Healesville. Factor in 60 to 90 minutes each way, more so in the peak hours or at weekends.
It is best to have someone on hand as a designated driver. Do not think a long stop or some coffee will make drinking alcohol safe. Should you intend to sample some wine, put in place a sober driver or book a transfer.
Guided Tours
For a visitor based in Melbourne a guided wine tour is the path of least resistance. Operators will have you from certain parts of the CBD and handle the driving from one winery to the next, if not the lunch or tasting fees.
Find out what you are paying for. Verify the winery selection, the size of the group, when you are being returned and the terms for cancellation. An inexpensive tour can add up once you put in the cost of lunch, transfers to a hotel beyond the pickup point and so on.
Taxis and Public Transport
One can put in a train ride to Lilydale and then make use of a taxi or rideshare, but without a car of your own it is awkward to cover a number of vineyards. Weekends see infrequent services and rural roads are not always kind to mobile signals.
Public transport is adequate for a slower visit to an accessible attraction in Healesville, not so much for a winery circuit. Do not count on a car materialising at a cellar door when it is closing; book your last leg of the journey ahead of time.
An Itinerary for the Day
The following is a realistic way to spend a day in the Yarra Valley. We have put this sample together to combine a few of the better known stops in the Healesville, Yarra Glen and Coldstream vicinity so you are not in the car all day.
Adjust the timing to your accommodation and reservations as you see fit, but the order of things is as it should be. There is no merit in showing up at a cellar door with your shoe untied and out of breath; the wine regions are better served by an unhurried beginning.
Morning Wine And Countryside
- 8.00 am: Make your way from the Melbourne CBD or where you are staying. Have a phone charger, some water and a light jacket to hand.
- 9.15 am: You should be at Coldstream or Yarra Glen for the first of your cellar-door appointments. Put aside 60 to 90 minutes to put your shoes on, have a taste of the wine and take in the place.
- 11.00 am: On to a sparkling-wine producer or another winery in the vicinity. Do not be tempted to put in a third venue before it is time for lunch.
- 12.45 pm: Sit down for a lunch of local produce that has been booked in advance. Give yourself 90 minutes at least, do not make a meal of it between tastings.
- 2.30 pm: Some coffee and regional shopping in Healesville township or a trip to the Sanctuary.
- 4.30 pm: Start back. In winter or on a weekend there will be darkness and traffic to contend with.
- 6.00-7.00 pm: Back in Melbourne, subject to where you set off from and the state of the roads.
A Day’s Best Priority
For a single day one should concentrate on a winery cluster, a good lunch and something that has nothing to do with wine. Coldstream is well suited to a day of wine, Healesville for a more town-like end to things with food shops and wildlife. A couple might opt for two cellar doors, a cheese tasting and a long meal; families will likely want a leisurely lunch and the Sanctuary in lieu of multiple tastings. Those without a car are best to book a guided tour or make of one well-situated destination the hub of the day.
Top Wineries And Cellar Doors
The chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wine of the Yarra Valley are of the cool-climate variety. But each place has its own character, so let your own inclinations guide you instead of going after some all-encompassing list.
You will find more in the way of facilities, a restaurant and formal tastings at the larger estates. The smaller cellar doors tend to be more personal if you can put up with their stricter booking rules and what may be a paucity of tables or short hours.
How To Pick Your Venue
Find a winery to suit the group. An informative tasting with good explanations will appeal to a newcomer. For the connoisseur of food, seek out a menu to match the local produce and a serious lunch. If the occasion calls for it, you will want private bookings or outdoor seating.
Do not take it for granted that a tasting fee will be waved on purchase of wine, even though some venues will do this. And be on time, otherwise you may be left with less time to taste or lose the booking altogether. Some are casual affairs, others are seated and timed.
At The Cellar Door
Expect a small pour, not a full glass, though they will add up. Have a drink of water and eat first. Should you wish to spit, say so; the staff will not be handing out medals for seeing every drop down.
Dress sensibly. A flimsy top and high heels may do in Melbourne but are no use beside a vineyard in the wind when there is gravel and polished concrete to be had and the room is cold.
Lunch In The Valley
This is often the main event of a visit to the Yarra Valley, so get your reservations in before you depart Melbourne. On weekends and during seasonal events the popular restaurants go fast.
With the menu revolving around the region’s wine, meat, fruit and vegetables, plan to spend $45-$90 a head for a decent lunch and a drink. Take it as a rough figure for your budget.
Making Lunch Work
An hour and a half or two is a good allowance. It is enough for the wine service, conversation and the inevitable talk of whether putting another bottle in the boot is tantamount to “supporting local producers” (in a manner of speaking, check your luggage space).
Put any allergies or mobility issues on the record when you book. Enquire as to the kitchen’s ability to accommodate dietary needs and if the outdoor tables are at the mercy of the weather. With rural venues there are not many other options close by if plans change.
Beyond The Wine
Not everyone in a mixed party will want to be talking tannins over lunch. The Yarra Valley has rail journeys, gardens, galleries and walks as well as the cellar doors.
Pick one additional attraction and leave it at that. The distances are not great but you need a window to park and get in and out.
Healesville Wildlife And Sanctuary
Families and others in search of Australian wildlife will find the Healesville Sanctuary a good place to be. To do it justice, put aside a few hours for your visit; in warm weather one can spend longer on foot from one exhibit to another.
Make sure you have sun protection and water with you and look up accessibility information prior to coming. The sort of outdoor walking that is part of a day at any wildlife park means uneven ground and conditions that can change without notice. And a mozzie will make its presence known despite what the brochure may say about an otherwise perfect day.
Puffing Billy And The Ranges
One might add Puffing Billy Railway and the Dandenong Ranges to a Yarra Valley outing, though they are likely to demand more time and a different route than you would think. Do not make a railway trip an afterthought once you have been to a couple of wineries, consider it the day’s main event.
Then there is Warburton for a change of pace: a longer drive with some bush to take in and stops in the township. It is the kind of road trip and walking that appeals to some over a more focused cellar-door run. Verify track and opening details before you head off.
Yarra Valley Seasons Explained
What you get out of a day in the Yarra Valley will dictate when you go. Summer is hot and can be crowded but is fine for an al fresco lunch; spring has its flowers and new growth; winter is cool and the venues are not as busy; autumn is all about the harvest and the colour in the vineyards.
Keep in mind that the season has a bearing on your attire, how long the drive takes, booking pressure and post-lunch plans, to say nothing of the state of the roads or what the vineyard looks like.
Autumn And Winter
You will see why autumn is in vogue: colourful vineyards and days made for a protracted lunch. Plan on some traffic and book in advance for weekends. There is also the matter of restricted access or forklifts about where the vineyards are in full working order during the harvest.
Winter sees cooler, wetter conditions. A waterproof jacket and grippy shoes are called for and daylight is at a premium. While the cellar door is a good bet for a quiet time, the rain coming in sideways is no friend to the outdoor attractions.
Spring And Summer
The weather is apt to be changeable in spring and the vineyards greener. Have a jacket in the car and look for mud if it has rained. Summer lends itself to longer afternoons and dining outside, yet the heat is uncomfortable for walking and raises fire-risk in the bush.
Do not put children, pets or a case of wine in a car left to bake on a hot day, nor forget a chocolate bar in a sealed vehicle that will turn into an oven. Heed local warnings and start the day early with some water.
Costs, Bookings And Safety
Expect to put down between $120 and $250 for an adult on a self-drive day, not counting where you are staying. Fuel, a couple of tastings, an attraction, coffee and lunch should be covered. A guided tour runs to more but you do not have to appoint a driver and transport is taken care of.
There is variation in the fees by package and venue so check them at the time of booking. Set aside some for parking, a bottle or two, snacks and the odd delay. On a tight budget, a free stop in town or the countryside, a picnic and a single paid tasting will do.
Quick Planning Checklist
- Put in your bookings for lunch and winery tastings, a must on public holidays and the weekend.
- Opt for a designated driver or put in a booking for a guided tour.
- Before you go, look into the opening times and any tasting fees as well as what the cancellation and accessibility policies are.
- Make sure to have on hand a phone charger, water, something for the rain and sun, and shoes you can be comfortable in.
- Abide by the rules of the road, see that your bottles are put away and under no circumstances drink and drive.
The more you are exposed to fatigue, alcohol, overconfident timing and the vagaries of the weather, the greater the practical risk. One has to factor in narrow, winding roads and the odd spot with poor reception. Should the driver become tired or otherwise compromised, put an end to it and make other safe arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting there from Melbourne
Take the Eastern Freeway out of the CBD and head for Coldstream, Yarra Glen or Healesville. You will be looking at 60 to 90 minutes one way in the Valley, though add to that on a busy weekend or in peak traffic. A guided tour is the way to go if wine tasting is on the agenda.
Is it worth making the trip?
For those with an affinity for a good country drive, food, wildlife or wine, certainly. The region has more to offer than just cellar doors. Not so much for the traveller who would rather not be out of doors all day or put up with bookings and driving.
How many wineries can you do?
Sensibly you will target two in a day; three is feasible if they are in close proximity and you do not linger over the tastings. Any more and the day gets rushed and you run the risk of tired or unsafe driving.
When is the season to visit?
Autumn draws people in for the harvest and the colour of the vineyards, spring and summer are fine for dining al fresco and winter is quieter, conducive to a leisurely tasting. Then again, it comes down to how you like to handle the heat and crowds and whether you want to book ahead.
No car?
You can, provided you are heading for Healesville or some such main draw where public transport is straightforward. To get around several of the Yarra Valley wineries, however, engage a private transfer, pre-book a driver or join a tour. Do not count on rideshare between the rural cellar doors.
The cost of a wine tour
That will depend on the operator and what is included with the group. On top of the fare you should put aside for lunch, entry to attractions, pickup surcharges and tasting fees. Review the inclusions first and you will have a better idea of the total in dollars.
Attire
Neat casuals for the restaurants but nothing that will not hold up on grass or gravel. Enclosed shoes are a must along with layers and sun protection. Put on a jacket even in summer, the tasting rooms have a tendency to be cool.
Other things to do
There is the Puffing Billy Railway and Healesville Sanctuary, or you might explore Yarra Glen and Healesville, pick up some local produce, make for Warburton or walk in the Dandenong Ranges. Pick one and the day will be all the more pleasant.
Making the most of it
To have a good day in the Yarra Valley from Melbourne you need to decide on your travel, where the group will eat and which two wineries to put in the diary. With those booked, be prepared for traffic and the weather and the occasional detour that will make for a good story later.
My advice: do not try to conquer every cellar door. Have a proper lunch and a couple of fine tastings and one stop you will remember, and it will be better than a crammed schedule. Drink your water and take it easy on the roads.
