Wine, beer, and sea views in one long day. This full-day Around the Bay route strings together the Bellarine Peninsula and Mornington Peninsula with a ferry cruise plus views that make the drive feel like a mini holiday.

I like how the day mixes proper tastings with real breaks. You start with a Bellarine-style wine stop at Scotchmans Hill (in an old French provincial barnhouse), then lunch at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, paired with a glass of wine.

My one caution: the schedule is full. Expect short stop times and bring your own snacks if you’re the type who needs extra fuel, since snacks aren’t included.

Key things I’d circle before booking

• Two peninsulas in one day across Port Phillip Bay (Bellarine + Mornington)
• Scotchmans Hill Winery tasting in a French provincial barnhouse with vineyard views
• Jack Rabbit Vineyard lunch with a glass of wine and a relaxed café stop
• Searoad Ferries cruise from Queenscliff with Devonshire tea and a strong chance of dolphin spotting
• St Andrews Beach Brewery beer paddle at a site with a horse-training past
• Iconic photo stops at Arthurs Seat (Murrays Lookout) and the Bathing Boxes

Why this Around the Bay route is a smart use of your time

If you only have a day (or a half-day’s worth of energy), this tour is built for maximum variety. You’re covering both the Bellarine Peninsula and the Mornington Peninsula, with the bay acting like the connector between the two food-and-wine worlds.

The big win is that the best moments aren’t just sitting in tasting rooms. You get a proper sea break via the Searoad ferry on Port Phillip Bay, plus lookout time where you can actually see what all this coastline is about. That makes the day feel more like a curated day out than a checklist.

Also, the group size is capped at 21 travelers, which keeps it from turning into a cattle-car situation. That matters when you’re trying to move smoothly between wineries, lunch, and viewpoints.

The Geelong Waterfront start: a calm reset before the tasting begins

You start at 8:30am, and the morning kicks off with a walk through the Geelong Waterfront. It’s a simple add-on, but I like it because it gives you fresh air before the first tasting.

The plan is around 30 minutes along the esplanade. Since admission is listed as free, there’s no fiddly cost or ticket stress here—just a chance to stretch your legs and get your bearings near the water.

If the day feels long to you (and it is—about 10 hours total), this opening stop helps. It’s also a good moment to take quick photos before the itinerary starts stacking up.

Scotchmans Hill on the Bellarine: old-world barn charm + vineyard views

Your first wine stop is Scotchmans Hill Winery on the Bellarine Peninsula. This is where the tour leans into its “sit, sip, look around” style: you get a 30-minute tasting at a French provincial barnhouse setting, surrounded by vines.

What makes this stop work well is the setting. You’re not just tasting wine in a plain room—you’re tasting with the countryside all around you. And for a lot of first-time visitors, that’s what turns a tasting into a memory.

Timing is also helpful: a half hour is long enough to do a proper tasting flight without eating your entire day. If you’re the kind of person who likes slow wandering and long conversations, you may feel a little rushed—but for most people, the pacing is exactly right.

Jack Rabbit Vineyard lunch: the spot where the day slows down

After the first tasting, the tour heads to Jack Rabbit Vineyard for lunch. This is a 1-hour stop, which is noticeably longer than the earlier winery time. That extra time is a gift. You’ll want it after morning drive time.

Lunch here is described as at the Jack Rabbit Café, and the inclusions specify a glass of wine with your meal. The whole idea is to enjoy Bellarine Peninsula food and enjoy the café atmosphere without having to “perform” through another fast tasting.

Also, this is one of those points where the tour structure gives you variety. You’re moving from wine tasting to a proper sit-down break, which helps keep the day from feeling like nonstop alcohol sampling.

If you’re a big eater, you’ll probably be glad lunch is included. If you’re a snacker, it’s still smart to plan for it since only lunch (not extra snacks) is listed as included.

Queenscliff ferry on Port Phillip Bay: Devonshire tea and dolphin watching

Next up is the Searoad Ferries cruise from Queenscliff, scheduled for 45 minutes. This is one of the most enjoyable sections because it’s built-in sightseeing, not just transport between two points.

You’ll have Devonshire tea during the cruise. The tour also explicitly encourages dolphin spotting, and the ferry route is the kind of place where you can look out without feeling like you’re trapped in a vehicle.

There’s a practical benefit here too: a ferry break breaks the pattern. After wineries and lunch, your senses need a reset. The bay air and open water views do that quickly, and it’s one of the reasons this tour feels like more than a standard “wine bus day.”

A quick tip: bring something for the breeze. Even if the morning is warm, the water-facing air can cool you down.

St Andrews Beach Brewery on the Mornington side: a beer paddle with personality

Once you’re back on land, you’ll head to St Andrews Beach Brewery. This is where the tour shifts from wine to craft beer, with a beer paddle tasting included and time set aside for the experience.

The setting matters: the brewery is described as being in a place that used to be a world-class horse training facility. That connection shows up in the vibe—more working-site and character than sterile tasting room energy. In the reviews, people specifically mention the stable-style feel, which matches the old facility history.

This stop runs about 45 minutes, and that’s a good match for a beer paddle. You get enough time to taste, talk, and watch what’s happening around the brewery area, instead of feeling like you’re being rushed through pours.

One balancing note: if your priority is strictly wine, you may see this as the “least wine-focused” moment. And that’s totally fair. The tour is clearly designed to include beer meaningfully, not as a token sip.

Arthurs Seat + Murrays Lookout: the views that justify the driving

After beer, the tour heads to Arthurs Seat, with viewpoints from Murrays Lookout. This stop is 30 minutes and is all about the panoramic view across the bay toward the city.

This is the part I consider the day’s payoff. Driving in this region can be scenic, but lookouts are what make it click. You finally see how the peninsulas frame the water, and you get a clear sense of the scale.

It’s also a nice pace adjustment: no tasting instructions, no ordering, just stand, look, take photos, and reset your brain after alcohol sampling.

Bathing Boxes Mornington Peninsula: quick, iconic, and very photo-friendly

The last viewpoint-style stop is Bathing Boxes Mornington Peninsula, another 30 minutes. These colorful bathing boxes are described as the area’s summer symbol, with locals using nearby beaches.

This stop is simple: enjoy the iconic scenery, take photos, and soak up that “this is why people come here” feeling. It’s not the most structured part of the day, but that’s why it works as a closer.

If you’re planning your photos, go early in the time window so you’re not fighting the crowd at the end of the day. Light changes fast late in the afternoon, and you’ll want a few angles.

Price and value: what $157.08 includes in real terms

The listed price is $157.08 per person, and the tour runs about 10 hours. I look at value in three chunks: transport, meals, and paid experiences.

Here, the inclusions do a lot of the heavy lifting. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, and multiple alcohol inclusions: wine tasting at Scotchmans Hill, a glass of wine at Jack Rabbit, and a beer tasting/paddle at St Andrews Beach Brewery. On top of that, the ferry segment includes Devonshire tea.

So even though it’s a day trip, you’re not trying to piece together all of those costs individually. If you were to arrange a driver or tour bus plus lunch plus tastings plus a ferry, the bill tends to climb quickly.

One more practical value point: most sight stops are listed with free admission (like Geelong Waterfront, Scotchmans Hill’s stop duration, Arthurs Seat, and the Bathing Boxes). That means you’re spending your day on experiences, not hunting down tickets and splitting bills.

How long is enough time, and how it feels on the ground

Expect this to be a packed day. The itinerary mixes short stops (often around 30 minutes) with a couple longer breaks (notably the 1-hour lunch stop and the 45-minute ferry and brewery segments).

That pacing can be a plus. You get exposure to more places, and you’re not stuck in a single location for hours. It’s a good structure for food-and-wine visitors who want variety without waiting all day in one spot.

But it does mean you’ll likely leave some places wanting more time. If you’re the sort of person who loves slow winery wandering, you’ll probably wish the tastings were longer. That’s the tradeoff for seeing both peninsulas in one go.

The good news is the group size stays small at 21, and reviews highlight that guides kept the day feeling comfortable and relaxed.

Your guide can make or break the vibe

This tour is driven by its guide energy. In the feedback, guides like Gary, Margaret, Kyle, and Brooke come up for enthusiasm and for making people feel at ease.

That matters because a day like this can go either way: rushed and tense, or smooth and fun. Strong guiding also helps with timing—getting you to viewpoints when they’re at their best, and making sure the schedule actually feels like it has breathing room.

If you’re someone who likes learning the story behind what you’re tasting, this guide-led structure is a real plus.

Who this tour suits best (and who should think twice)

This is a great fit if you want:

• A single-day plan that covers both the Bellarine and Mornington wine scenes
• A mix of wine + craft beer, not a wine-only day
• Scenic stops: Port Phillip Bay ferry, Arthurs Seat viewpoints, and the Bathing Boxes
• A day that includes lunch and multiple tasting moments, so you’re not hunting food all day

You might think twice if:

• You want only wineries and would rather avoid the beer element
• You’re very snack-dependent, since snacks aren’t included
• You dislike long days with short stops (about 10 hours total)

Also, since the day requires good weather, build in the mindset that conditions can change the experience. If poor conditions disrupt the schedule, you may be offered an alternate date or refund.

Tips to make the day smoother (no overthinking required)

A few practical things will help:

• Wear layers. Coastal breezes can swing between warm and cool, especially on the ferry.
• Bring your own snacks if you know you’ll need them. Lunch is included, but extra snacks aren’t.
• Keep your phone camera ready for the ferry and lookouts. Dolphins are mentioned as something to watch for, and the viewpoint stops are time-boxed.
• If you’re sensitive to alcohol, pace your tastings. The tour includes multiple drinks, and you’ll still be driving and walking at later stops.

One more tip: if you’re booking, the tour has an average booking window of about 57 days in advance, so earlier planning is smart, especially for popular dates.

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

I’d book it if you want an easy, structured way to experience Port Phillip Bay regions in one day without logistics stress. The combination of wine tasting, lunch, a brewery beer paddle, and the Queenscliff ferry makes this tour feel like a true day out, not just a bus to three tastings.

I’d hold off or choose carefully if your ideal day is strictly wine-focused or if you really need lots of time at each stop. The schedule is efficient by design, and the beer portion is part of that plan.

If you like variety—wine, beer, sea views, and photo-worthy coastline—this is a strong pick for Melbourne visitors who want maximum taste and scenery with minimal planning.

FAQ

How long is the Around the Bay food and wine tour?

It runs for about 10 hours (approx.).

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 8:30am.

Is pickup and drop-off included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are provided from central Melbourne locations.

What’s included in the price?

Lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, wine and beer tastings (plus a glass of wine with lunch), and all fees and taxes are included.

What tastings are included during the day?

You get a wine tasting at Scotchmans Hill, a glass of wine at Jack Rabbit, and a beer tasting/beer paddle at St Andrews Beach Brewery.

Is a ferry cruise part of the tour?

Yes. You take a Searoad Ferries cruise from Queenscliff with Devonshire tea.

Are admission fees included for the stops?

For the sightseeing stops listed (like Geelong Waterfront, Scotchmans Hill, Arthurs Seat, and Bathing Boxes), admission is shown as free, and all fees and taxes are included in the tour.

What about snacks during the tour?

Snacks are not included.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 21 travelers.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.