Yarra Valley Weather: Month by Month for Wine Tours

The weather changes a day in the vineyards more than you expect. It sets how hot the afternoon tastings get, whether the rail trail is fun and when the grapes come in. Planning winery tour Yarra Valley? Match the month to the day you want.

What the weather does to a tour day

Much of your tour day happens outdoors. You walk between the coach and each cellar door, eat on terraces and ride or walk the redwoods and the rail trail. Summer afternoons are hot: January days average 28.2 °C at Coldstream. Winter mornings are cold, with June and July nights at 3.9 °C.

The season also sets what you see in the vines. Grapes are picked from mid-February to the end of April. One operator warns that summer can be hot, with flies in regional Australia, and suggests insect repellent. The averages below are the Bureau of Meteorology's for Coldstream, 1994 to 2026.

Coldstream averages 754.8 mm of rain a year, on 101.5 days.

Yarra Valley month by month

Yarra Valley weather in January

The hottest month: days average 28.2 °C and nights 12.1 °C. Rain averages 52.6 mm. One operator warns of heat and flies in summer. Pack a hat and repellent, and take water on a bike or redwoods day. Chandon opens at 11am all summer.

Yarra Valley weather in February

Still hot, at 27.7 °C, and the driest month for rain days: 4.3 on average. Rain totals 46.5 mm. Picking begins in mid-February, with whites and sparkling base first. Book an early start to taste before the afternoon heat, and carry water.

Yarra Valley weather in March

Days fall to 25.4 °C and nights to 10.0 °C. Rain stays low at 48.3 mm. Vintage is in full swing, and Pinot Noir comes in after the whites. Cellar doors keep their usual hours, so a full day works well.

Yarra Valley weather in April

Days drop to 20.7 °C and rain rises to 65.6 mm. Picking ends with the later reds, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, by the end of the month. Nights fall to 7.2 °C. Pack a jacket for the drive home, and a hat for the afternoon.

Yarra Valley weather in May

Highs reach 16.7 °C and lows 5.5 °C. Rain totals 66.1 mm. Vintage is over. Sit indoors at the cellar doors, and bring a warm layer for the walk between the bus and each tasting room. Nights are cold on the late drive back.

Yarra Valley weather in June

Winter begins: 14.0 °C by day and 3.9 °C at night. Rain averages 67.3 mm. Healesville Sanctuary still opens every day from 9am. A day of indoor tastings, chocolate and gin suits the cold better than the rail trail or a long walk.

Yarra Valley weather in July

The coldest month, at 13.5 °C by day and 3.9 °C at night. Rain totals 62.7 mm. Mornings are cold when you wait for an 8:45 or 9:00 start. Wear a coat, and plan the redwoods walk for the middle of the day.

Yarra Valley weather in August

The wettest month for rain days, 12.1 on average, with 69.8 mm. Days reach 14.9 °C. A bike day or a forest walk is the likeliest to get wet. Choose a day of cellar doors and indoor tastings, and pack a waterproof.

Yarra Valley weather in September

Spring starts at 17.4 °C by day and 5.6 °C at night. Rain holds at 66.7 mm. Mornings stay cold. A half-day tour, back by mid-afternoon, avoids the chill of the evening drive. Pack a warm layer for the wait on the kerb.

Yarra Valley weather in October

The wettest month by total, 75.3 mm. Days reach 19.8 °C and nights 6.8 °C. Showers come and go. Keep a rain layer for the rail trail, and check the forecast before a bike day. Cellar doors stay dry whatever falls outside.

Yarra Valley weather in November

Rain stays high at 75.0 mm, but days warm to 22.7 °C. Nights reach 9.0 °C. The evening light lasts longer, which suits the Chandon tour's sunset kangaroo stop. Pack for both sun and a shower, and carry sunscreen for the afternoon.

Yarra Valley weather in December

Summer returns: 25.3 °C by day, 10.0 °C at night and 58.9 mm of rain. Chandon closes on 25 and 26 December, and the Chocolaterie on Christmas Day. Check your stops if you travel over Christmas, and book early for December dates.

The seasons, and which one you want

Summer, December to February: the hottest months, 25 to 28 °C by day. February has the fewest rain days. You will want an early start and a day with lunch in the shade.

Autumn, March to May: vintage runs until the end of April, and days cool from 25 °C to 17 °C. March is the easy month for a full day of cellar doors.

Winter, June to August: 13.5 to 14.9 °C by day, and the most rain days in August. You will be happiest with indoor tastings, chocolate and gin. Wear a coat on the kerb.

Spring, September to November: days warm from 17 °C to 23 °C, but October and November are the wettest months by total. Carry a rain layer wherever you go.

What the vines look like in each season is on the Yarra Valley gallery.

Best time of day

Most cellar doors open at 10am, and Chandon at 11am, so you have no reason to arrive early. Most tours leave Melbourne between 8:00 and 9:30. In summer, that morning start keeps the outdoor stops in the cooler hours.

Balloons fly at sunrise, when the air is calmest. The Chandon and kangaroo tour leaves at 11:30 and ends with kangaroo viewing at sunset, which its listing ties to golden hour. If you want Healesville Sanctuary, go early: its habitats close at 4:30pm. More outdoor options are on Yarra Valley activities.

Frequently asked questions about the weather