Some of Victoria's best experiences are within a couple of hours of the city: world-class wineries in the Yarra Valley, beaches and hot springs on the Mornington Peninsula, and the dramatic coastline of the Great Ocean Road. The problem is always the same. Somebody has to drive, and on a winery day, somebody has to stay sober. A private chauffeur solves that and turns a long drive into part of the day out.
Why take a day trip with a private chauffeur?
- Everyone gets to enjoy the day, including the person who would otherwise be the designated driver.
- Your own schedule. Unlike a group coach tour, you choose where to stop, how long to stay and when to head home.
- Local knowledge. A chauffeur who knows the roads knows where the traffic builds and which way back avoids the worst of it.
- Door to door. Collected from home or your hotel and returned there at the end, with no parking to find and no navigation to worry about.
- Comfort on longer drives. A premium SUV or people mover makes a two or three hour drive feel easy.
The Yarra Valley
About an hour east of the CBD, the Yarra Valley is Melbourne's best-known wine region, famous for cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir, sparkling wine, and restaurants with views across the vines.
A sample Yarra Valley day
- 9:30am: Pickup from your home or hotel in Melbourne.
- 10:45am: First cellar door tasting.
- 12:00pm: A second winery, or a chocolate or cheese stop.
- 1:00pm: Long lunch at a winery restaurant.
- 3:30pm: A final tasting or a stroll through Healesville.
- 5:00pm: Relaxed drive back to Melbourne.
Three wineries plus lunch is a comfortable pace. Trying to fit in five usually means rushing all of them. Popular winery restaurants book out on weekends, so reserve lunch before the day.
The Mornington Peninsula
South of the city, roughly an hour to an hour and a half's drive depending on where you are heading, the Mornington Peninsula combines wineries and restaurants with beaches, bay views and the popular hot springs near Rye.
A sample Mornington Peninsula day
- 9:00am: Pickup in Melbourne.
- 10:30am: A morning soak at the hot springs, booked in advance.
- 1:00pm: Lunch at a Red Hill winery.
- 3:00pm: Cellar doors around Red Hill and Main Ridge.
- 4:30pm: A walk along the beach at Sorrento or Mornington, then home.
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's great coastal drives, and it is a long day. The road itself begins near Torquay, around an hour and a half from Melbourne, and the Twelve Apostles are much further along the coast. Allow roughly three and a half to four hours each way via the coast, or take the faster inland route back.
A sample Great Ocean Road day
- 7:00am: Early pickup in Melbourne.
- 8:30am: Coffee in Torquay, then along the coast past Bells Beach.
- 10:30am: Lorne, for a walk or a short waterfall detour.
- 12:30pm: Lunch in Apollo Bay.
- 2:30pm: The Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and the lookouts.
- 4:00pm: Faster inland drive back to Melbourne.
It is a big day in the car, which is exactly why having a chauffeur helps. Nobody arrives home exhausted from ten hours of driving.
Which vehicle for a day trip?
For two people, a luxury sedan is ideal. For four, a premium SUV gives everyone room to relax and space for any bottles bought along the way. Groups of up to seven fit comfortably in a people mover, and larger groups of up to eleven, such as birthday parties, hens' and bucks' days or corporate outings, travel together in a luxury van. See all four options in our fleet.
Tips for planning the perfect day trip
- Book lunch first. Winery restaurants are often the hardest reservation of the day.
- Check cellar door hours. Some open only on weekends or close early in winter.
- Do not over-schedule. Three stops plus lunch is plenty for a relaxed day.
- Plan the finish time. Hourly bookings mean it is worth deciding in advance when you want to be home.
- Bring layers. Victorian weather changes quickly, especially on the coast.
- Visiting from overseas? Combine the day trip with your airport transfer and hotel pickups so everything is handled by one company.
Not just for tourists
Private day trips are popular with Melburnians too, for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, client entertainment and team days out. Many couples also visit Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula venues while planning their wedding. If that is you, our wedding car hire tips are worth a read.
The best time of year for each trip
Every season has something to offer. Autumn, from March to May, is harvest time in the Yarra Valley, when the vines turn gold and the cellar doors are at their busiest. Summer is the peak season on the Mornington Peninsula, with long days at the beach and outdoor dining, although weekends are crowded. The Great Ocean Road is spectacular in any season, but the longer daylight hours of spring and summer make the full trip to the Twelve Apostles and back far more comfortable. Winter is quieter everywhere. It is a good time for a long lunch by an open fire in the Yarra Valley, and the hot springs are at their best on a cold day.
Let someone else drive
A day in the Yarra Valley, on the Mornington Peninsula or along the Great Ocean Road should be about the food, the wine and the views, not the traffic, the parking or who is driving home. With a private chauffeur, the whole group gets to enjoy it. Send us your plans and we will confirm a fixed price for the day.
Frequently asked questions
Plan your chauffeur-driven day trip
Tell us where you would like to go and how many are travelling. We will suggest a route and confirm a fixed price.
