Get ready for a spectacular day as you take in the rolling green hills of the Yarra Valley from every angle. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, this is it. From the hot-air ballooning start to Australian native animals then lunch and wine at one of Australia’s best locations, you will get a perfect introduction to everything the Valley has to offer.
If you would like to feed and pat a kangaroo or get close to a koala, the Sanctuary offers these encounters. The extra cost is $20 per animal and each encounter last 10 minutes. Alternatively, you could book a 2 hour Australian Wildlife Experience which would include the koala and kangaroo encounters along with your own guide for an additional charge of $99. Sessions and places are limited and book up quickly so bookings are typically required in advance. Please advise us if you wish to include this as part of your Sanctuary experience.
Note: Indicative times of 4:00am to 6:30pm would apply but will be confirmed prior to the date of travel. Pick up is from your city hotel or from another agreed point. If you are staying out of the city, St Paul’s Cathedral, which is located in the city opposite Federation Square and Flinders Street Train Station would be the central meeting point.
Tour Details
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Start Time4:00am
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Finish Time6:30pm
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Meeting PlacePick-up from your city hotel. If outside the city, meeting at St Paul’s Cathedral opposite Flinders Street Station and Federation Square
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Price$665 per adult
$510 per child (6yo-12yo) -
InclusionsTransport, hot-air balloon experience with breakfast, entry to Healesville Sanctuary, a la carte lunch with a glass of wine and coffee at the stunning Yering Station Winery, wine and cheese degustation at De Bortoli Winery to finish the day, bottled water, guide and GST.
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NoteWant to do this tour privately? No problem! Contact us for options.
Tour Itinerary
An Early Start
The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s most famous hot-air ballooning destinations, so get ready to generate some incredible memories.
Your day starts very early, pre-dawn when you depart your accommodation for the Yarra Valley. We will pick you up at your city hotel and we will escort you to the designated balloon-briefing site.
Get Ready to Fly
Get hands-on and assist with the balloon launch or freely enjoy capturing the experience through photos. And then, you’re air-bound! You’ll silently drift above Yarra Glen, the vineyards and the meandering Yarra River. After flying for approximately 1 hour, you’ll descend to pack up the balloon before travelling through to Balgownie Estate Vineyard for a hearty champagne breakfast.
Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary
Our first stop is the world-famous Healesville Sanctuary, one of Australia’s most recognized and acclaimed wildlife sanctuaries.
With 30 hectares of bushland, it showcases more than 200 species of Australian wildlife in a distinctly Australian setting. Here, visitors can experience close-up encounters with some of Australia’s most unique and captivating wildlife in their natural habitat, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, birds of prey and platypus.
Yering Station Vineyard Lunch & Tasting
Yering Station’s stunning Wine Bar Restaurant is the perfect lunch venue. With its world-class views and cuisine, you’ll have a full a la carte selection from which to select your main course meal. After lunch, visit the original winery (circa 1859) that features local artworks and produce as well as estate wines to taste.
De Bortoli Vineyard Tasting & Cheese Degustation
Our final stop for the day is the family-owned De Bortoli Winery at Dixons Creek. Part of Australian wine folklore for 3 generations, the De Bortoli's represent the Italian heritage at the root of so much of Melbourne’s cuisine. Here, you will take part in a degustation of superbly flavoured cheeses that complement the sparkling, table and dessert wines on offer.
Journey Home
Our pleasant journey home winds back through the Steels Creek and the Christmas Hills as you reflect on a day full of memories and stories to last you for decades to come.
