Private Bellarine and Geelong wine tours from Melbourne
Wine country with a coastal soul
Relaxed cellar doors, country hospitality and views across Port Phillip Bay, with wine, cider, beer and whisky all within easy reach of each other. Private Bellarine and Geelong days from Melbourne, shaped around your group rather than a set route.
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Melbourne owned and operated since 2015No booking fees or card surchargesBellarine and Geelong at a glance
A relaxed, uncrowded wine region beside Port Phillip Bay, where wine, cider, beer and whisky sit a short drive apart.
Freeway most of the way, then country roads onto the Peninsula.
Werribee, Point Cook and Wyndham are noticeably closer to the region.
More variety in a single day than a run of wine tastings alone can offer.
Friendly cellar doors, country hospitality and easy going hosts.
Coming from Melbourne's west?
From Werribee, Point Cook, Wyndham and the surrounding suburbs, parts of the Bellarine can be around an hour away. That makes it an especially easy wine region escape from Melbourne’s west. Times vary by suburb, so we confirm yours when we set the itinerary.
How would you like to do Bellarine?
Every Bellarine and Geelong day we run is private. Hand us the whole day, hand us the parts you care about, or keep the planning and let us drive.
Let us plan your day
Tell us about your group, budget and what kind of experience you want. We will help shape the day, from the venues and the route to lunch and timing.
Best for anyone who would rather not research the region themselves
Build around your favourites
Already have a few wineries or venues in mind? Give us the non-negotiables and we will build a sensible day around them.
Best for a booked lunch, a favourite cellar door, a must visit distillery
Vehicle + driver
You have planned the itinerary yourself and mainly need transport. We provide the vehicle and a professional driver and follow your day.
Best for groups who have already booked every stop
Getting there
How far is the Bellarine from Melbourne?
Close enough for an unhurried day, and noticeably closer again if you are starting from Melbourne's west.
Pickup times move with where you are staying. We confirm the exact time when the itinerary is set.
Melbourne's west: 60 km, about 1 hr each way.
Travel times are approximate and vary with traffic, your pickup address and the day itinerary.
The last stretch leaves the freeway for country roads onto the Peninsula, with farmland and glimpses of the bay between the stops.
Small-country hospitality. Big personality.
The Bellarine is not trying to put on a show. Cellar doors here are run by people who are usually on site, the pace is slower, and the surroundings have country character rather than showy formality. It is the sort of region where you end up talking to whoever is pouring.
The venue pool is smaller than the Yarra Valley or Mornington, but it has real variety. Wine, cider, beer and whisky sit close together, and the drive between them takes in farmland and water rather than freeway.
Relaxed by nature
Tastings run at conversation pace. Nobody is moving you along, and hosts are happy to talk about what they make.
More than wine
Cider, craft beer, gin and whisky are all part of the regional picture, not a consolation prize for people who do not drink wine.
Made for a social day
Venues here are used to groups celebrating something, and there is space to sit down rather than stand at a crowded bar.
A little quirky. Very Bellarine.
Three things guests tend to remember about a day down here, and none of them are about polish.
Cellar doors with character
The Bellarine does not need enormous architectural statements to be memorable. Some cellar doors here are wonderfully individual: playful architecture, sculpture-filled gardens and tasting rooms with genuine country character. It gives a group something to talk about between stops, which is half the point of a day out.
Wine country beside the bay
Vineyards on this side of the Peninsula run toward Port Phillip Bay, and the better cellar doors make the most of it. You taste with water on the horizon and Melbourne somewhere across it, which is not something the inland regions can offer.
Wine isn't the only good pour
A Bellarine day can move from a cellar door to cider, then a brewery or a whisky tasting without much driving. For social groups that variety keeps the day interesting in a way three winery tastings in a row rarely does.
What kind of Bellarine day sounds like you?
Starting points rather than fixed products. Every one of these gets shaped around your group, your date and what is actually open, so treat them as a way to tell us the kind of day you are after.
Wine & a long lunch
Cellar doors in the morning, a relaxed winery meal in the middle of the day, then another tasting or a drink somewhere afterwards. Unhurried, and the version most groups picture.
Best for Couples, friends, birthdays, smaller groups
Wine + cider + whisky
A social mix for groups that want more variety than a wine only itinerary. Wine to start, then cider, a brewery or a whisky tasting to change the pace.
Best for Hens groups, birthdays, mixed drink preferences
Food, views & the bay
Built around the coastal side of the region. Wine and food with the bay in view, plus a scenic stop or two where the timing works.
Best for Food focused groups, milestone celebrations
Your favourites, your way
You already know some venues you would like included. Send them through and we will build a workable day around them, and say honestly what fits.
Best for Repeat visitors, locals, groups with a wish list
A good Bellarine day needs the right pace
Group size genuinely changes what a good day looks like down here. This is how we plan it, and why the number of stops usually goes down as the group gets bigger.
11 guests or fewer
Smaller groups have the widest choice of cellar doors here, so the day can lean heavily on wineries if that is what you want.
- The widest choice of boutique cellar doors
- Room for a fourth stop when the venues sit close together
- Easiest size to build around a specific lunch booking
Typical day · Up to 4 stops
12 to 30 guests
At this size we generally create more breathing room, and a strong day often mixes drink types rather than stacking winery tastings.
- Wineries plus cider, brewery, whisky or distillery
- Venues chosen because they can seat the whole group
- Usually a better social day than a fourth tasting
Typical day · Up to 3 stops
31+ guests
For coach sized groups we prioritise places that can genuinely handle the group comfortably, with space to sit, eat and be served properly.
- Venues with real capacity for a coach group
- A longer lunch instead of a rushed extra stop
- We do not pad the itinerary to make it look longer
Typical day · Usually 2 carefully selected venues
Fewer stops can create a better experience. We do not rush a large group around purely so the itinerary looks longer.
Places we love building Bellarine days around
Examples rather than a fixed list. The right mix depends on your group size, your date and what you want out of the day.
Wineries and estates
From well-known estates with restaurants and views to smaller, friendlier tasting rooms run by the people who make the wine.
Jack RabbitLeura ParkOakdeneNicol’s PaddockScotchmans HillBellarine EstateBanks RoadMt DuneedTerindahBennetts on BellarineCurlewisProvenance Wines
Beer, cider and spirits
Where a Bellarine day gets more social. Useful for mixed drink preferences and for groups too large for the smallest cellar doors.
Flying Brick CiderAnther DistilleryBellarine Distillery / The WhiskeryWhite RabbitFarmDog BrewingFurphyLittle Creatures
These are venues we regularly consider, not guaranteed itinerary inclusions or partnerships. Availability, group policies and trading hours vary, and we confirm the day with you before it runs.
Good wine deserves a relaxed lunch
Lunch is usually the relaxed middle of a Bellarine day rather than a quick stop between tastings. Winery restaurants, local produce and seafood from the bay give plenty to choose from.
Depending on the group we might suggest a winery lunch with views, shared plates, a longer premium sit-down, or a venue where everyone orders from the menu. We will put a recommendation in front of you and adjust from there.
Winery lunch with viewsShared platesSeafood and local produceLonger premium sit-downOrder from the menu
What might a full Bellarine day look like?
This is the shape of a day, not a fixed itinerary. We do not name the venues here because availability, group size and your preferences decide them.
Smaller groups may be able to fit a fourth stop into the day.
Planning your day? Read my guide: How to plan the best Bellarine Peninsula wine tour
Pickup from Melbourne
We collect your group from a home, hotel or accommodation address. Western suburbs pickups often run a little later, since the drive is shorter.
First cellar door
A relaxed tasting at a venue chosen for the size and style of your group, with time to talk to whoever is pouring.
Wine tasting and a relaxed lunch
Usually the longest part of the day, and deliberately so. Lunch is matched to the group, from casual to a proper sit down.
Wine, cider, brewery or whisky
The stop where a lot of Bellarine days find their personality. Another cellar door, or something completely different.
Begin the journey home
Back at a comfortable hour, with the return drive allowed for properly rather than squeezed in after one stop too many.
Where wine country meets the bay
Vineyards running down toward the water is not something most Victorian wine regions can offer, and the light out here in the late afternoon is part of what people remember. Our standard day generally begins the drive home around 3:00 to 3:30pm, so this is regional character rather than an itinerary promise.
There's more here than cellar doors
Wine, cider, beer and spirits are the heart of what we do down here. If you want something else woven in, ask and we will tell you honestly whether it fits the day.
Local food and produce
Regional produce, makers, seafood and food experiences can sometimes be worked into a custom day.
Not part of every itinerary. Tell us if it matters to you and we will build the day so it fits.
Portarlington and the bay
Groups after more coastal atmosphere may be able to include bay side areas, depending on route and timing.
Beer, cider and spirits
An alternative to simply adding another winery, and particularly suited to relaxed social groups.
Go off-script
If you have something different in mind we are open to shaping a custom day around food, the coast or other regional ideas.
When is the best time to visit the Bellarine?
There is no bad season on the Bellarine, only different days. What changes is the weather off the bay and how busy the cellar doors feel.
Autumn
Vintage on the Peninsula, settled weather and quieter cellar doors once the summer crowds have gone.
Winter
Fireplaces, cosy tasting rooms and long lunches. A wild day on the bay makes a warm cellar door feel even better.
Spring
Green vines, new releases and longer days. Coastal weather changes quickly, so bring a layer.
Summer
Long days, outdoor tastings and the bay at its best. Summer weekends get busy, so we book ahead.
Planning a Bellarine or Geelong wine tour
The questions we are asked most often about private Bellarine and Geelong days.
How far is the Bellarine Peninsula from Melbourne?
Around 95 km from the CBD, which is roughly an hour and twenty by road depending on your pickup point and the traffic. Most of it is freeway, and the last stretch is country road once you are past Geelong.
Is Bellarine particularly convenient from Melbourne's western suburbs?
Yes, and it is one of the reasons we recommend it. From Werribee, Point Cook, Wyndham and the surrounding suburbs, parts of the Bellarine can be around an hour away, which makes it an easier wine region day than heading across town. Times do vary by suburb, so we confirm yours when we plan the day.
How many venues can we visit in one day?
For groups of 11 or fewer, up to four stops is usually possible. Between 12 and 30 guests we normally plan three, and for 31 or more we usually settle on two venues that can host the group comfortably. Fewer stops with room to sit almost always makes a better day than a rushed list.
Can we choose our own wineries?
Absolutely. Send us the places you already have in mind and we will build the rest of the day around them, or tell us the occasion and leave the shortlist to us. Most groups land somewhere in between with one or two must visits.
Can we combine wineries with cider, breweries or whisky?
This is one of the things the region does best. Wine, cider, craft beer, gin and whisky all sit close enough together to appear in the same day, and for a lot of social groups that mix beats several wine tastings in a row.
Can you organise lunch for us?
Yes. We will usually suggest a strong value option first, then adjust to suit the group. A casual pub or brewery lunch, a shared meal at a winery, a scenic restaurant or something longer and more elaborate are all possible, and we book it as part of the itinerary.
Can you cater for birthdays, hens groups and corporate groups?
Yes. Celebrations, hens days, friendship groups and work teams all suit the relaxed, social pace here. Tell us the occasion when you enquire and we will shape the venues and timing around it.
Can you accommodate larger groups?
Yes, up to coach sized groups. Above around 30 guests we prioritise venues that can genuinely host the group comfortably, which usually means two carefully selected stops rather than a longer list. Tell us the number early, because it decides the vehicle and the venue shortlist together.
Can you pick us up from our home or accommodation?
Yes. We can collect from homes, hotels or accommodation addresses across Melbourne. We can often accommodate multiple pickup points depending on their locations and the timing of the day, and we factor any additional travel into the itinerary and quote.
Can we book just a vehicle and driver?
Yes. If you have already booked your venues and lunch, we supply the vehicle and a professional driver and follow your itinerary for the day. That is our charter and driver hire service, priced on the shape of the day rather than per person.
Can we include food, coastal or other regional experiences?
Often, depending on timing and availability. Regional produce, food stops and bay side areas such as Portarlington can sometimes be worked into a custom day. If you have something different in mind, ask and we will tell you honestly whether it fits.
Explore our Victorian wine regions
Four regions, four quite different days. We run private tours across all of them.
Bellarine & Geelong
Relaxed cellar doors, bay views, cider, breweries and whisky.
≈ 1 hr 20 from Melbourne · 95 km
You are reading this one
Yarra Valley
Daily and private tours, wineries, chocolate and gin. The closest classic wine tour day.
≈ 1 hr from Melbourne · 55 km
Mornington Peninsula
Boutique cellar doors, Pinot Noir, long lunches, hot springs and coastline.
≈ 1½ hrs from Melbourne · 80 km
Macedon Ranges
Boutique wineries, mountain air and an intimate country feel, an hour from town.
≈ 1 hr from Melbourne · 70 km
Your own day on the Bellarine
Relaxed cellar doors, farmland and the bay, planned around your group.
Door to door pickup
Plan your Bellarine day
Tell us who is coming, roughly when, and what you would like the day to include. Selina or Kim will come back to you with a suggested shape for the day and a quote for your group, most often the same day.
or WhatsApp +61 452 560 488
Ready to shape your Bellarine day?
Tell us about your group, what you like drinking and the kind of day you have in mind. We’ll help put the pieces together.
Let us plan it
Tell us the group, the occasion and roughly what you want to spend. We will come back with a shape for the day.
Build around my ideas
You already have a winery, a lunch or a distillery in mind. We will build around it.
I already have an itinerary
Everything is booked and you need the vehicle and the driver.
Prefer to talk it through? Call us or send the enquiry and we will come back with a suggested shape for the day.
Quoted for your group