Chocolate, cheese, wine, then kangaroos is the setup. This small-group Yarra Valley tour is built around tasting stops (plus the wildlife finale) with round-trip transfers from Melbourne handled for you. One thing to plan for: the Chandon stop includes time at the lounge, but lunch and Chandon tastings cost extra.

I like how the pacing stays relaxed. You get a quick fruit break, then a full run of cheese and chocolate, plus wine tastings at Yering Station. A possible downside if you’re chasing lots of wine-only time: the day is clearly a food-and-fun mix, not a nonstop winery marathon.

Key things to know before you go

• Maximum 12 people keeps it more personal than big-bus Yarra Valley days
• Federation Square pickup (11:30am) makes it easy to start without hunting for transport
• Cheese and chocolate tastings are included, so you’re not paying for every stop
• Chandon is the show-view-and-sparkle stop, with extra costs for lunch and tastings
• Yering Station gives you classic cool-climate varieties in an included tasting
• Kangaroo safari is the payoff, with a dedicated 30-minute wildlife hunt

How This Yarra Valley Food and Wildlife Day Works

This tour is basically a guided, worry-free afternoon and evening in the Yarra Valley. You’re driven from Melbourne to multiple producers, with tasting time built into the schedule and a guide steering you through it all. The big win is simple: you get the Yarra Valley highlights without needing to rent a car or figure out parking at vineyards.

The day’s theme is comfort-food luxury. You’ll move from fruit tasting to sparkling wine country at Chandon, then onto cheese (cows and goats) and finally chocolate and ice cream. Then comes the nature twist: you finish with a kangaroo safari in the wild. It’s a fun contrast, and it’s also practical. After wine and tastings, switching gears to wildlife is a nice mental reset.

Because it’s small group, you should be able to hear your guide and ask quick questions as you go. In past tours, guides such as Aliot, Craig, Tom, Curt (Curtis), Kurt, Stephen, and Steven have been praised for keeping the flow easy and sharing local context. You may not have the exact same guide, but the style of the experience tends to stay consistent.

Federation Square Pickup and the 11:30am Timing

The tour starts at 11:30am at the Federation Square Bus & Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone in Russell Ct, Melbourne, and it returns you back to the same meeting point. That timing matters more than you might think.

Leaving late morning means:

• You miss the early chaos of getting out of the city.
• You arrive in the valley with enough daylight for vineyard views.
• The stops don’t feel like you’re racing the clock the whole time.

It’s listed as about 7 hours, so you’re not committing to a full day that eats your whole itinerary. Also, you’ll have a mobile ticket, which is handy if you like keeping everything on your phone and avoiding paper.

One small note: the experience is near public transport. So if you’re staying central, you can usually get there without a big scramble.

Stop 1: Farm Fresh Yarra Valley Produce Strawberries on the Way In

Your first stop is Farm Fresh Yarra Valley Produce Pty Ltd, a quick 15-minute fruit break on the way into the valley. You’ll try fresh strawberries from a strawberry farm, and it’s included.

I like this kind of early stop because it sets the tone. You’re not thrown straight into alcohol. You get a taste of what the region grows, and it’s a good warm-up for the food theme that follows.

Practical tip: treat this as a snack, not a meal. If you’re prone to getting hungry, you’ll want to keep an eye on the lunch situation later (since lunch at Chandon is at your own expense).

Domaine Chandon: Lounge Views and the Sparkling Wine Add-On

At Domaine Chandon, you’ll settle into the lounge with stunning Yarra Valley views. The stop is about 1 hour, and the entry is included. This is the moment the day becomes photo-friendly and celebratory.

Here’s the key practical detail: lunch and tastings at Chandon are listed as your own expense. The tour description also frames the sparkling wine as something you can try, but not as a guaranteed included pour.

So think of Chandon as:

• A great place for scenery and a break
• An option to spend more if you want to go deeper into their sparkling lineup
• A venue where you can buy lunch if you want a proper sit-down meal

If you’re traveling as a group with mixed preferences, Chandon can still work. Even if you don’t want to buy wine tastings, the views and atmosphere are the main draw. That said, if you want a day that’s heavy on included winery tastings, be aware that Chandon is the one stop where extras are likely.

Yarra Valley Dairy: Cheese Tasting with Cows and Goats

Next up is Yarra Valley Dairy for another 1 hour. This is one of the most “food-first” stops on the schedule, and it’s included. You’ll sample a generous range of cheeses made onsite, with both cows and goats represented.

Why this works well for most people: cheese tasting is easier to enjoy than wine tasting if you’re not trying to learn every varietal. You can taste, compare textures, and find what you like without needing a wine palate.

What to do here:

• Pace yourself. Cheese can sneak up on you faster than you expect.
• Taste a mix. Go for at least one cows’ milk and one goats’ milk option so you can feel the difference.
• If you buy anything to take home, keep it in mind later for how you’ll store it on the ride back.

Also, this stop is a helpful anchor for non-drinkers. If you’re skipping wine for the day, cheese is still the main attraction—and it’s included.

Yering Station: Cool-Climate Wine Tastings (Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz)

At Yering Station you’ll do a classic cool-climate wine tasting for about 1 hour. This stop includes alcoholic beverages wine tastings, and the varieties mentioned include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz.

This part is valuable for two reasons:

1. You get a snapshot of what the Yarra Valley does well, beyond one grape.
2. Because it’s an included tasting, you avoid the “pay extra every time” feeling that some winery tours create.

If you want a practical way to taste like you know what you’re doing, use simple comparisons. Ask yourself:

• Which one feels lighter and crisper?
• Which one feels deeper and more structured?
• Did you like it better by itself or with the idea of pairing?

You won’t be rushed. The overall day is paced to avoid the standard big-bus pattern where you’re sprinting between stops.

Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery: Private Chocolate Tasting Then Free Time

Your final food stop is Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery for about 1 hour. You’ll enjoy an exclusive private chocolate tasting, and then you get free time to check out the shop and cafe.

This is the stop I’d call “treat yourself” time. From the way people describe it, it’s the kind of chocolate place that feels like a kid-in-a-candy-store dream, with enough variety that you can keep tasting without hitting the same flavor twice.

What to expect in the tasting:

• A guided sampling of different chocolates (private tasting)
• Time to notice differences in sweetness, cocoa character, and texture

After the tasting, you can buy what you liked. If you’re someone who brings home edible souvenirs, this is where that plan works best. Chocolate travels well compared with some other food gifts.

And if you’re traveling with someone who isn’t into wine, chocolate usually wins them over fast.

Kangaroo Ground Safari: The Wild Ending

Then you get the wildlife payoff. The tour ends with Kangaroo Ground and a Kangaroo Safari to a secret spot to see wild kangaroos. This stop is 30 minutes, and the ticket is listed as free.

This is the part that makes the whole day feel different from a standard food-and-wine circuit. People often go in for the tastings and then realize the real wow moment is watching kangaroos in the wild after everything else.

Practical tips for the safari:

• Have your phone/camera ready before you stop getting in and out.
• Move carefully when you’re told to, since you’re looking for wildlife, not just a view.
• Expect the experience to feel quick. Thirty minutes sounds short until you’re actually watching animals.

Also, it helps that you’ll likely be seeing kangaroos in their natural setting near the end of the day, so you’re arriving there after having energy from the food stops, not drained from a full-day drive.

Price and Value: What You Get for $125.52

At $125.52 per person, you’re paying for a bundled afternoon of:

• Round-trip transfers from Melbourne
• Included tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy (cheese)
• Included private chocolate tasting
• Included wine tastings at Yering Station
• A fruit stop for strawberries en route
• A kangaroo safari portion at the end

The value equation is about what you’d otherwise pay if you tried to copy this day on your own:

• Transport and driver time
• Multiple entry/tasting costs
• The hard work of planning stops and managing timing

Now the one cost consideration: Chandon lunch and Chandon tastings are at your own expense. That doesn’t kill the value, but it changes how to budget. If you plan to buy extra wine flights or a full lunch, your final total will be higher.

My advice: treat the included tastings as the baseline value, and treat Chandon as the optional spend. That mindset keeps the price fair and stops surprises.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and who might want another plan)

This tour is a great fit if:

• You want to experience the Yarra Valley without driving.
• You love cheese and chocolate as much as wine.
• You want a mix of food tastings and a real wildlife moment.
• You’re working with limited time in Melbourne.

It’s also a good choice if you don’t drink wine. Wine is included at Yering Station, but the day still has plenty of non-alcohol focus through cheese and chocolate. Some people even highlight that they loved the tour without making wine the main mission.

Who might want to adjust expectations:

• If you’re hoping for a day that’s mostly winery time with lots of included wine tastings, this is not purely a wine-only tour. Chandon can feel more optional in terms of alcohol cost because tastings there are at your expense.
• If you’re not interested in food tasting at all, you may find the itinerary heavy on sampling rather than sightseeing.

Should You Book This Yarra Valley Foodies Tour with Chandon & Kangaroo Safari?

I’d book it if you want the Yarra Valley experience that feels like a complete afternoon: fruit, views, cheese, wine, chocolate, then kangaroos. The combination is strong, and the small-group size (max 12) helps keep the day from feeling like a factory.

Before you decide, do two quick checks:

• Budget for Chandon extras. If you want lunch or a deeper sparkling wine tasting, plan for add-ons.
• Be clear about your main interest. If your top priority is wildlife plus food, you’re in the right place. If your top priority is wine quantity only, you may want a more wine-focused route.

If plans change, you’ll also be able to cancel for a full refund if you cancel far enough in advance (free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours before the experience start time).

FAQ

What tastings are included?

You get included wine tastings at Yering Station, cheese tastings at Yarra Valley Dairy, and a chocolate tasting at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. There’s also a short included strawberries stop en route.

Is lunch included at Chandon?

No. Lunch at Chandon is listed as your own expense.

What costs extra during the Chandon stop?

The tour data notes that tastings at Chandon are at your own expense, along with lunch.

How long is the tour, and when does it start?

It runs about 7 hours and starts at 11:30am from the meeting point at Federation Square in Melbourne.

How big is the group?

This experience is described as a small-group tour with a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is the kangaroo safari included?

Yes. You’ll have a dedicated 30-minute safari at Kangaroo Ground, and the ticket for this stop is listed as free.