
Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 356 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary worth booking?
Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary is a 10-hour experience in Melbourne, Australia, from $249 per person. It scores 83 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 356 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 83 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (356)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $249 per person
Experience a full-day small-group tour that blends native wildlife encounters with wine tasting in Victoria’s renowned Yarra Valley. Departing from Melbourne, begin with a visit to Healesville Sanctuary, established to help protect endangered species, where you’ll spend the morning spotting koalas, kangaroos, emus, and other iconic Australian animals. In the early afternoon, head to the Yering Station Vineyard for a delicious à la carte main course lunch and wine tasting. The day concludes at the De Bortoli Vineyard, where you can relax with a selection of wine and cheese before returning to Melbourne.
What you get
About this experience
Experience a full-day small-group tour that blends native wildlife encounters with wine tasting in Victoria’s renowned Yarra Valley. Departing from Melbourne, begin with a visit to Healesville Sanctuary, established to help protect endangered species, where you’ll spend the morning spotting koalas, kangaroos, emus, and other iconic Australian animals. In the early afternoon, head to the Yering Station Vineyard for a delicious à la carte main course lunch and wine tasting. The day concludes at the De Bortoli Vineyard, where you can relax with a selection of wine and cheese before returning to Melbourne.
What's included
Included
- Entry to Healesville Sanctuary
- Bottled water
- Hotel pickup and drop-off at select Melbourne hotels
- Driver/guide
- Lunch and complimentary glass of wine
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
Not included
- Purchases of a personal nature.
- Koala Encounter (currently AUD$30 per person per animal)
What you'll see and do
Healesville Sanctuary
Home to more than 200 species of Australian native animals and set amidst natural bushland, the Healesville Sanctuary is the ideal place to observe our iconic wildlife up close. An enhancement to the visit is a Kangaroo Encounter where you have the opportunity with a keeper to feed and pat these adorable animals (if the animal allows). A Koala Encounter is also available but there's no touching or feeding involved, just an opportunity to get some amazing up close pictures. An additional fee applies for these encounters . Please advise if you wish to book this.
150 minutes here · Admission included
Yering Station
You'll enjoy a tasting of estate and reserve wines in the historic cellar door before adjourning to the modern light filled restaurant for an a la carte, main course meal, glass of wine and coffee.
120 minutes here · Admission included
De Bortoli Winery
Set on more than 450 acres of vineyard clad hills, the visit to the De Bortoli Vineyard is a terrific end to the day. The wine tasting includes their estate and premium wines together with their iconic dessert wine, Noble One. The tasting is enhanced with a pairing of selected cheeses.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Melbourne
Meeting point
Melbourne
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 45 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 11 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Vinetrekker Wine Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- Please advise of any specific dietary requirements when booking
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels are welcome providing there is someone with the passenger who can help them board and disembark
- Operates rain or shine; please dress appropriately
- Encounters with a kangaroo, koala, wombat or dingo are available at extra cost. Please enquire if interested although places are limited
- We do not accept bookings with infants
- The tour operates with a minimum of two people
Photos





What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 356 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
7 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
356 verified traveler reviews for Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great day in the beautiful countryside!
I highly recommend this experience. Paul is so very helpful, knowledgeable and kind. The Healesville Sanctuary is a beautiful nature walk full of Australian animals and he tells you the trip you should take through the paths for a relaxing walk followed by the on-time pick up to go to the wineries. Our group was 7 people total, 2 couples and 3 solo travelers. It was a fun group. Doing the small group wine tasting we learned much more about the wine than the typical tasting! Lunch was great and we all sat at a long table and for our last stop we had pairings of Australian cheeses with the wine, and that was an added bonus. The hotel pick up and drop off was smooth and easy. This was the highlight of my trip to Melbourne!
Response from the operator: Thanks 775ken...for your review and great to read how pleased you are to recommend our Yarra Valley Wildlife and Wine Daytour. It's an awesome combination of native wildlife, great wine and food and beautiful scenery. The small group format enhances the day wonderfully and offers a more personalised and engaging environment. To hear it was the highlight of your Melbourne visit puts a smile on our faces. All the best and thanks for choosing us to travel with.
via Tripadvisor
One of the greatest experience ever
Such an amazing experience touring Healesville Sanctuary and the Yarra Valley vineyards. From the moment Paul picked us up, he made my wife and me feel incredibly welcome and comfortable. He shared so much knowledge with us about the animals, the history of Healesville, the vineyards, and Australia in general. What really stood out to us was how caring and compassionate Paul was throughout the day. Because of an issue at the airport, my wife’s medication was still in transit, and she was in need of it. While we were trying to figure out what to do, Paul was more than willing to take us to a chemist as a last resort if we needed to find a solution. Thankfully, the airport eventually contacted us and let us know they had her medication, so we didn’t need to go. Still, the fact that Paul was willing to go out of his way to help us during a stressful situation meant so much to both of us. By the end of the tour, it honestly felt less like we had spent the day with a tour guide and more like we had been shown around Australia by a caring uncle. His kindness and genuine concern made the experience that much more special. Thank you, Paul, for your kindness, knowledge, and for taking such great care of us. We’ll always remember the experience and how welcomed you made us feel during our time in Australia.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your generous review estuardoa86, we're touched by your kind words. It's a priveledge for us to host international visitors o we want them to have the best experience possible. We'll go the extra mile when required and show our guests what good Australian hospitality is all about. Thanks for choosing us to travel with and we're thrilled you got one of the best experiences ever.
via Tripadvisor
Wine and Wildlife
We had a wonderful day exploring the Yarra Valley with Vinetrekker. Our guide, Paul, was fantastic and allowed the day to flow at a relaxed, comfortable pace. The small-group format was perfect and made the experience feel personal. We loved our visit to Healesville Sanctuary, followed by a fantastic lunch and wine experience at Yering Station. The many thoughtful little extras throughout the tour made the day especially memorable. This trip was part of a family reunion, and we really appreciated that the tour offered something enjoyable for every age in our group. It was a lovely way to spend time together while experiencing some of the best the Yarra Valley has to offer. Highly recommended!
Response from the operator: Thank you Dawn for taking the time to review your recent tour to the Yarra Valley. We're delighted to hear that the family had a terrific day and loved everything we provided. Importantly, the tour was relaxed and not rushed and allowed you to fully appreciate the Yarra Valley. It was a joy to have you travel with us.
via Tripadvisor
Exquisite wine and animal experience.
Shane was an amazing tour guide. Friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this tour.
Response from the operator: Thanks for your review Sonia and great to read that your tour with Shane was such a success. He takes first class care of his guests and gives them a memorable experience. All the best and thanks for choosing us to travel with.
via Viator
An Excellent Tour from Start to Finish
The tour was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. Our guide was extremely friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable. He gave us detailed explanations throughout the tour, which made everything very easy to understand. He also took great care of us, even preparing umbrellas when needed, and smoothly guided us to places such as the restrooms. The timing of his guidance was excellent. We were able to see many precious animals while they were active, and he knew exactly when to move on and where to go. Thanks to his experience, we could explore the zoo efficiently without feeling rushed. The lunch was also a highlight. We had a lovely meal at a beautiful restaurant, and the wine was explained to us in an interesting and easy-to-understand way. When we purchased some wine, our guide carefully stored the bottles for us so that they would not break during the tour, and handed them back to us at the end of the day. This was a very thoughtful touch and showed how much attention he paid to our comfort and belongings. It was also great meeting the other participants, who were very friendly and with whom we had some wonderful conversations. Beyond the zoo, our guide showed us wild kangaroos and some beautiful scenery, making the experience even more memorable. He continued to provide interesting commentary throughout the long drive, and despite what must have been a tiring day, he remained cheerful and welcoming from beginning to end. Overall, this was an excellent tour. The combination of knowledgeable guidance, thoughtful hospitality, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and a friendly atmosphere made it a truly memorable experience. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area.
Response from the operator: Thank you S_O for your detailed review and great to hear you had the most wonderful tour with us recently. Our guides are terrific and will go the extra distance to enhance the guest experience. Whether that's looking for some wild kangaroos, storing the wine purchases or taking the most scenic route possible, they're committed to giving their guests a great day out. Thanks for choosing to travel with us, we greatly appreciate your support.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $249 to $370
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 125
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Vinetrekker Wine Tours, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 82.7.
See everything Vinetrekker Wine Tours runsWhy this scores 83
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Melbourne.
How much does Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary cost?
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Prices start at $249 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Melbourne usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary take?
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Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Melbourne is not rushed.
Is Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 83 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 356 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Melbourne, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary?
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Around 125 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Melbourne can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Melbourne and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Melbourne within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Melbourne?
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On Outty we rank every Melbourne experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include From Melbourne: Yarra Valley Wine, Gin, Cider & Chocolate tour, Melbourne: Epic Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch - Gin/Beer Upgrade, Yarra Valley Wine Tour from Melbourne - Choc, Gin & Good Times. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Melbourne?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary?
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Included: Entry to Healesville Sanctuary; Bottled water; Hotel pickup and drop-off at select Melbourne hotels; Driver/guide; and Lunch and complimentary glass of wine. Not included: Purchases of a personal nature; and Koala Encounter (currently AUD$30 per person per animal). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 24 listed pickup locations in and around Melbourne. Be ready about 45 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels are welcome providing there is someone with; and We do not accept bookings with infants. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Melbourne. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Yarra Valley Wildlife & Wine Day Tour with Healesville Sanctuary?
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Across 356 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
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