Overview
Recommended duration: One day
Total distance: 144 kilometres (return to Melbourne)
Driving time: Approximately three hours return to Melbourne
Sample Australia's best pinot noir and sparkling wines in a world-renowned wine-growing region in the Yarra Valley, less than an hour from Melbourne.
Head up high for a bird's-eye view
Start your day at dawn floating over forests, farms, and vines in a hot air balloon before landing for a breakfast of sparkling wine and local produce at a winery. If heights don't tempt you, tour the beauty of the area from your car.
Wine appreciation
There are over 70 wineries in the region, many of which offer wine tastings and cellar door sales.
If you are lucky enough to be served by the winemaker you might also get a free wine appreciation lesson.
Stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants at the major wineries, some of which feature well known names in the kitchen, or enjoy a cheese platter in a relaxed atmosphere at one of the smaller wineries.
Gourmet delights
This region is teeming with top-quality fruit, vegetables, cured meats, cheeses and more. Discover the bounty for yourself, stopping at farm gates, roadside stalls and gourmet outlets to collect ingredients for a picnic lunch.
Native animals up close and personal
Complete your tour by getting close to Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, home to more than 200 species of native birds and animals.
Hang out with kangaroos, wallabies, platypus, lyrebirds and even the Tasmanian devil.
