How to Get to the Yarra Valley from Melbourne: Car, Train and Tour Pickups
The valley starts about an hour east of Melbourne, and getting there is easy. Getting between cellar doors once you have tasted is the hard part. Comparing each Yarra Valley tour from Melbourne? Decide who drives before anything else.
An hour from Melbourne by road
Wine Yarra Valley puts the valley an hour's drive from the heart of Melbourne. Zoos Victoria gives the route to Healesville: the Eastern Freeway out of the city, then east along the Maroondah Highway through Ringwood and Lilydale.
The Maroondah Highway is the valley's spine. Chandon and Rochford sit on it at Coldstream, and it runs on through Healesville to Black Spur Drive. Where each town sits is on the Yarra Valley map.
The Lilydale line to the valley's edge
Metro Trains' Lilydale line runs from Flinders Street through Richmond, Box Hill, Ringwood and Mooroolbark to Lilydale. Lilydale is the gateway town, and the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail starts there.
A train gets you to the edge of the valley, not to a cellar door. From Lilydale station you need a bus, a tour pickup or a taxi. Check journey times on PTV's journey planner before you travel.
Bus 685 from Lilydale to Healesville
Zoos Victoria's directions for Healesville Sanctuary are to take the Lilydale line, then bus 685 from Lilydale station to the sanctuary. Timetables change, so check PTV for the current times.
A bus day works for one place, such as the sanctuary or Healesville's main street. It does not work for three wineries in an afternoon, because cellar doors are spread out along side roads.
Where each tour meets in Melbourne
Most days leave from a kerb in the centre of Melbourne. Find yours in the table, and note that a 9:00 start leaves on the minute.
| Tour | Where you meet | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wine, gin, whisky and chocolate day from Flinders Street | The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Flinders Street | Arrive 8:35, leaves 9:00 |
| Wine, cider, gin and chocolate day from Spring Street | Bus stop opposite the Hotel Windsor, 74 Spring Street | Arrive 8:45, leaves 9:00 |
| Fruit, wine, chocolate and gin day from the Arts Centre | Arts Centre Melbourne Spire | 8:45 |
| Two-course lunch day with a gin or beer option | Arts Centre Melbourne Spire | On your booking |
| Half day, 45 minutes at each of three wineries | Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, or Lilydale | Morning or afternoon |
| Small-group half day, an hour at each of three wineries | Arts Centre Melbourne, or 2 William Street East, Lilydale | Morning or afternoon |
| Warburton redwoods, then a winery or the sanctuary | Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road | On your booking |
| Four-winery day with lunch, from the Immigration Museum | Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street | 9:30 |
| Four-winery day with lunch at Balgownie Estate, CBD pickup | Central meeting points, including The Savoy Hotel, Little Collins Street | From 9:15 |
| Fruit, wine and chocolate day from Federation Square | Federation Square, opposite the Forum Theatre | On your booking |
| Chandon, chocolate and kangaroos at dusk, 11:30 start | Behind Federation Square, corner of Flinders and Russell Streets | 11:30 |
| Gin, wine, cheese and chocolate day with hotel pickup | Six CBD hotels | 8:00–9:00 |
Found a meeting point near your hotel?
Compare the days that start there, with price, lunch and time in the valley.
Tours that start in the valley
Lilydale by option: both half-day tours board at Lilydale as well as at Arts Centre Melbourne. The small-group version names 2 William Street East.
Woori Yallock station: the bike tour meets in the car park at 10:00. It also picks you up free at Lilydale railway station.
Your accommodation: the private day collects you at 9:30 from where you stay in Melbourne or in the valley.
Valley pickup for a fee: the bike tour collects from accommodation in the valley for A$30 a person.
Arriving on time for a 9:00 start
The Flinders Street day asks you to arrive by 8:35, and the Spring Street day by 8:45. Both leave at 9:00 and do not wait. The Spring Street stop is above Parliament Station, so a train into the city lands you on the kerb.
The Immigration Museum departure is at 9:30, and the Chandon tour at 11:30. If you are staying outside the CBD, those later starts give you time to get in.
Driving yourself when every stop pours
A car gives you freedom, but every winery pours, and so do the distillery and the cider stops. Settle the driving before you set off.
- Choose a sober driver. The driver skips the tastings, not just the last one.
- Carry photo ID. The legal drinking age in Victoria is 18, and staff check anyone who looks under 25.
- Do not buy for under-18s. Passing alcohol to a minor is illegal, with fines over A$25,000.
- Check parking at the redwoods. The Cement Creek car parks fill by about 10am on busy days.
Opening hours at the stops are on visiting the Yarra Valley.
Getting-there questions
How far is the Yarra Valley from Melbourne?
Is there a train to the Yarra Valley?
Which Yarra Valley tours pick up from hotels?
Can I join a tour at Lilydale?
Next: see the estates on Yarra Valley wineries, check the season on Yarra Valley weather, or compare every fare on Yarra Valley Tours.