Want to unlock the ultimate Yarra Valley day trip experience without having to line up a designated driver? Global Ballooning Australia has teamed up with Hop It, a hop-on hop-off bus service that operates throughout the wine regions of Victoria, to present you with the ultimate day spent in one of our favourite flying locations, the Yarra Valley.
Join us as we soar at sunrise, then explore three or four of the Yarra Valley’s premium wineries on the Hop It Green Route. And if you’re having trouble choosing where to stop, read on for our selection of some of the incredible estates and experiences on offer — a Global guide to the Valley.
Ready? Let’s go!
Sunrise flight with Global Ballooning Australia
Our Global bus will pick you up from Melbourne city before daybreak and we’ll give you the ballooning experience of your dreams. Then, it’s back to Balgownie Estate after the flight, where we sit you down to a hearty, sparkling breakfast buffet. Ohhh yeah.
Following this, take a snooze in the sun on the deck, OR…
Spa Treatment with Endota
… treat yo’self and fill in time by visiting the incredible team at Endota Spa, located on‑site at Balgownie Estate.
Express facial starts from $100 for 30 mins — yes, please! Gotta book in advance here, so visit endotaspa.com.au for more details.
Wine tasting at Balgownie Estate
Once you’re all scrubbed up, rested and rejuvenated, it’s back into the cellar door to begin sampling — starting with Balgownie’s premium offerings (tastings start from 10:30 am).
You can either wait here for the first Hop It bus (11:33 am), OR…
Yarrawood Estate
… it’s just a hop, skip and a jump next‑door to Yarrawood, where you can squeeze in a tasting before the first Hop It picks you up at 11:30 am.
Mandala Wines
Charlie and his family are passionate about great wines and stories, which you’ll discover tied up in their intricate and elaborate iconography. Try reds, whites and rosés while finding out what really makes these people tick.
FIN Wines
FUN wines!
This place is grouse. New kids on the block, offering pet nats and every manner of other offbeat experimental liquids. A cosy door, coquettish outlook and plenty of personality to go around makes this spot a big recommend if you’re on the fence about where to stop next.
And, in case you needed any further persuading, this is also the home of…
CRÉ Wines
So, really, you’re getting two stops for the price of one, here. And they’re both CRÉte (sorry).
Sutherland Estate
One of the more spectacular cellar door buildings on our route, it’s like a little castle nestled in the foothills of Toolangi Forest. It’s got a huge fireplace for rainy, cosy days, big, towering ceilings for marveling at, and a wonderful deck to soak up sun on.
Steels Gate Wines
Here live Matt, Brad and Seb — a family of winemakers, great and small! The stunning cellar door and restaurant extends out over delectable vines, providing the views you pine for on office days. Come here for tastings with Brad, meals straight from the kitchen garden, and wines from vines carefully tended by Matt. Even Seb has started producing his own drops — what a cutie!
Coombe YARRA VALLEY
Iconic. Stunning grounds, and beautiful wines that turn a mirror on the garden, reflecting all of the lavenders, citrus, and other delicious sights and smells found there. Don’t miss the perfectly concocted Dame Nellie Melba Gin — top it up with tonic and enjoy a pleasant glass on the patio.
St Huberts
Come on – look at this brand new cellar door. Stop here to chat wines with our friend, Karl — he can tell you everything that’s happened since this architectural wonder opened up last year and began wowing visitors to the Valley in fine style. Definitely make your way through a tasting – the Huberts legacy is a long one, and they’ve been perfecting wines in this region since the 1800s. Make sure you visit the stunning art gallery downstairs and go for a bit of a frolic on the rolling lawns!
Yarra Valley Dairy
Sit on a stool, stuff yourself with every kind of cheese and admire the view. Need we go on?
Ok, on weekends they also invite in select winemakers from the region who don’t have their own cellar doors to showcase and sell their wine and meet the people who love to drink it (that’s you).
Yering Station
One of the original establishments from the first wave of Yarra Valley viticulture in the 1800s, everything about Yering station is dignified. Enjoy art, sculptures, gardens, wine and fine foods, and venture out on the rear platform deck for sweeping views of the valley, and the mountains that enclose our region.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
This is one of the hottest stops out here, and for good reason. Pick up kilos of Rocky Road, ice cream and anything else that could possibly be imagined from chocolate, and maybe enjoy some playtime on the hillside amongst the fruit trees while you’re at it. Why not?
BACK ON THE HOP IT BUS
It’s time to go home – but believe us, you’ll be ready! Curl up for a snooze on your way back into the city, or chat with your new bus buddies. After all, you’ve got something in common now, and – with the day you’ve just had – a plethora of new and exciting memories to share!
Have we inspired you to go ahead and book the biggest and best day trip itinerary ever?! If you haven’t yet – Hop to it!
Please visit hopit.com.au for live availability (look for Green Route – Yarra Valley) or get in touch with the Hop It team directly here. To book in your balloon flight, transfers from the city and sparkling breakfast, book online.
See you on the Bus!
