New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
North Island
South Island

What to expect: Autopia Tours Yarra Valley Wine Tour

Is there anything better than a wine tour? Especially when it's through Melbourne's stunning Yarra Valley region and complete with local produce tastings, a gourmet lunch and even a game of bocce!

Last Friday the Backpacker Deals team were lucky enough to embark on Autopia's Yarra Valley Wine Tour. We tried strawberry liquors and preserves at Gateway Estate, sipped beer and cider at Napoleone Brewery and Cider House, enjoyed tastings at Killara Estate Winery and Hanrahan Winery and indulged at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice-Creamery.

Here's exactly what we got up to and what you can expect on this incredible Yarra Vally Wine Tour.

Views Yarra Valley
The day started bright and early at 7.45am, with a pickup from outside St Pauls Cathedral on Flinders Street. The bus makes several stops around the city so you can choose the most convenient meeting point.

Once on board, we collected the last of the passengers before beginning the journey into the Yarra Valley.

Our tour guide for the day was Simon, who told us he'd been working with Autopia for about 16 years! He definitely knew his stuff. As we drove, he told us a bit more about the day's activities and what we should expect. It was a rainy, grey day and we were all secretly hoping the sun would appear to show off the stunning Yarra Valley scenery.

gateway estate
How could we not?!

Our first stop was at Gateway Estate, a greenhouse with a cute cafe/store attached. We met the owner who took us through to the greenhouse where he told us all about the estate's history. There were capsicum plants and strawberries growing, the latter available for 'U-pick'.

gateway estate tour
Did you know capsicums grew like this?

The highlight here was hearing all about the eco-friendly methods used on the farm, or so we thought until we wandered back inside! One huge table was set up with tasting platters of different relishes, jams, cheeses and treats from the area. We enjoyed trying the local produce and sipping Gateway Estate's housemade strawberry liquors.

There was also the chance to purchase goodies from the Gateway store which you could pop in the fridge on board the bus.

Gateway tasting
Yuuuuum.

Next, we stopped in at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice-Creamery for even more treats. There was free samples of milk, white and dark chocolate to enjoy here, and we also indulged in a luxurious hot chocolate at the on-site cafe. It was delicious, but we felt EXTREMELY full afterwards.

Yarra valley chocolate
Freebies!

After dragging ourselves away from the chocolate goodness, we made our third stop at Napoleone Brewery and Cider House. Situated in a quaint brick building, with stunning vines and huge windows opening onto grassy scenery, this was a beautiful place to relax and learn about the beer and cider making process.

cider and beer tour
Cheers!

We were treated to samples of apple and pear cider and various beers as we learnt about hops and the brewing process.

Later, we took a wander around the grounds and soaked up the gorgeous autumn colours.

autumn tour
The best season to visit in!

Our next stop was Killara Estate Winery, for the first official tasting of the day! This was a gorgeous, open winery with incredible views and a warm, inviting fire inside.

We made the most of the scenery, snapping plenty of pics before we wandered inside to enjoy some wine.
Our hosts told us about the Italian heritage of Killara and the different winemaking procedures used and e got to taste some of the delicious Prosecco, white and red wines.

Then, it was time for lunch. We'd gorged ourselves on treats all day, but of course, we still had room for the mouth-watering Italian lunch that awaited us. Sitting at a table overlooking the vineyards, we enjoyed gnocchi, pizza and grazing plates brimming with fresh produce.

Killara lunch
Lunch at Killara.

Once we'd filled our bellies, we ventured outside again for a wander around the vineyards and a game of bocce. There was a bottle of wine up for grabs for the winner, so things got competitive!

Later, after some kangaroo spotting and a final game of bocce, it was time for our final stop of the day at Hanrahan Winery. This was a family-owned, boutique winery that had a really special, intimate feel. We enjoyed sampling Shiraz and Pinot Noir as our hosts told us about the history of the winery.

There was a spectacular walk up to the top of the hill behind the vineyards and a comfortable area complete with beanbags for a more sunny day! There was also a trampoline, and most importantly, a cute staffy-cross called Otis, who was the resident winery dog.

Relaxed and tranquil, this was the perfect place to end our incredible day of wine, food and scenery.

Views Yarra Valley
View galore.

We were sad to clamber back into the bus and make our way back to Melbourne, but after a huge day of wine, food and fun, we were ready for some rest! We all managed to fall fast asleep on the way back, before arriving in Melbourne around 5pm.

Overall, this was an unforgettable day that we all thought offered incredible value. We couldn't believe the amount of wine, produce and other treats we got to try. And of course, the various hosts and our guide were fantastic.

If you're interested in checking out this tour for yourself, head here for $10 off!

AUTHOR PROFILE
Ruby Syme

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Free things to do in Melbourne

How much do you know about Melbourne? Did you know that it is consistently voted as the worlds most livable city? Or perhaps that it is the only city to have FIVE international standard sporting venues? (Hisense Arena, Docklands Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Olympic Park in Melbourne Park. There's also Albert Park Racecourse, which hosts the […]

My First Skydive In Australia

There are some moments in life you'll always remember. I think it's fair to say I've had a few of them since I started my backpacking adventure with my cousin, Jack. I've seen the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the 12 Apostles and experienced some fantastic heart-racing activities such as rap jumping. However, I can safely say […]

The Melbourne Star

The Melbourne Star stands proudly overlooking a newly built area in Docklands, Melbourne, located a stone’s throw away from the Yarra River. It boasts a traditional Ferris Wheel design with an impressive modern look and feel, from both a distant perspective and close by. It is made out of solid steel at 120m high and […]

City Sightseeing Hop on Hop off bus - Melbourne

I guess it’s easy to say that Melbourne has it all. It isn’t the capital of Australia, but it certainly has all the qualities and attributes to qualify as a capital city. It boasts a busy and buzzing Central Business District, full of shops, restaurants, cafes, offices, you name it. The surrounding areas are home […]

Bubble Soccer

Bubble Soccer. Or, Bubble Football seems more accurate, as I am from England! Either way, I guess the name gives a huge clue about what this activity involves. Giant inflatable bubbles, being worn by two teams of people during a very interesting game of soccer/football! I had seen a few hilarious videos on YouTube of […]

The Wildlife and Steam Train Tour

Spectacular creations of Mother Nature are all over the world, and there really is nothing better than witnessing them with your own eyes. Whether it be a glorious rainforest, beautifully picturesque lakes, or the many species of animal, reptile and insect which inhibit the land and ocean, it is always a special experience to come […]

Social Media

Accepted Payments

Members of

chevron-down