If you’re planning a trip to the Yarra Valley with the kids, there are plenty of family-friendly wineries that will make it a day to remember.
At these Yarra Valley wineries, kids can get their hands dirty and enjoy the fresh fruits of the vines. Plus, some have onsite attractions like vineyard tours and hedge mazes.
Bago Maze and Winery
One of the best places to take your kids for a family winery day out is Bago Maze and Winery in New South Wales. Located near Port Macquarie, this farm is a fantastic destination for a wine tasting, meal, and adventure.
Perched up on a hill, the cellar door and pergola overlooks the stunning vineyards and enchanting maze. With two kilometres of pathways and bridges, this native Lilly Pilly hedge maze is the perfect place to explore and get lost. The maze has everything from nooks and crannies to hidden passages and musical instruments to keep the whole family entertained for hours on end.
The winery also has a restaurant serving chargrilled vegetables and dukkah-crusted squid, along with a range of local cheese platters. You can also choose from a wine and cheese pairing option to sample the best of the wines.
There are also a variety of activities on offer at the winery to keep your little ones busy including a playground and picnic areas. You can also book a wine tour or tasting experience that includes a guided walk around the estate to learn more about the winemaking process.
You can also try out their gourmet lunch, Nips and Nosh food-wine-vine experience, where you dine on five chef prepared dishes paired with 10 wine selections. The sommelier and chef will also share their thoughts on how the flavours work together.
The Yarra Valley is home to a lot of great kid friendly wineries. Many of them are family owned and cater for the smallest guests with a variety of activities and food options. From fun games to big open lawn areas, these wineries are the best places to go with your kids on a family day out in Australia!
De Bortoli Vineyards
De Bortoli Vineyards is a family owned winery located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, less than one hour from Melbourne. It is a vibrant and family friendly vineyard with breathtaking views, warm hospitality and a delicious range of wines.
The winery is home to a large cellar door that offers wine tastings and a range of food options, including wood-fired dishes. The winery also has a kids menu and playground.
Its vineyards are spread across three regions in the Yarra Valley – the Winery Vineyard at Dixons Creek, the Abbey Vineyard at Tarrawarra and the Lusatia Park Vineyard at Woori Yallock. The De Bortoli family cultivate their vineyards on these sites, which are home to some of the most iconic grape varieties in Australia.
During your visit to the De Bortoli Vineyards you can enjoy an immersive tour of the winery that will give you an insight into the history of the company, and how it has evolved over the years. You’ll also learn about our viticultural practices and winemaking techniques, before sampling our award-winning wines.
This boutique Yarra Valley vineyard offers small, handcrafted, premium wines that are made with attention to detail. The winery is run by a small team of dedicated professionals, and you can expect to receive personalised service throughout your experience.
You can sample a wide range of their wines from the a la carte menu, or choose from their selection of speciality gourmet tastings. These include the Yarra Valley Single Vineyard and the Noble One Botrytis Semillon, which are paired with a variety of indulgent cheeses.
If you’re visiting De Bortoli with younger children, you’ll be pleased to know that they have a nice play area in their beautiful garden next to the cellar door. This space is not visible when you’re inside so it’s a good spot for the kids to get some energy out before or after a tasting.
Sir Paz Estate
A stunning winery located in the Yarra Valley, Sir Paz Estate is a family-owned estate that produces an exceptional range of wines. Its wine tasting room is a beautiful venue that offers an elegant and unique experience.
Besides tasting their wines, you can also enjoy a meal at the restaurant. They have an excellent food menu that showcases the best produce from the Yarra Valley region. It includes chargrilled vegetables, dukkah-crusted squid and Yarra Valley cheese platters.
The winery has an outdoor area that is perfect for kids to run around and play. It also has a picnic area that is surrounded by vines.
This vineyard is a favorite of many families visiting the Yarra Valley because it has a playground set up against panoramic views of rolling vineyards and Mount Dandenong in the distance. The property is also very spacious with plenty of grassed areas for the children to roam around.
Sir Paz Estate has a variety of activities that the children can participate in, such as grape crushing, winery tours, and art classes. The vineyard is located in one of the Yarra Valley’s highest altitude vineyards and offers guests captivating views that enchant.
The vineyard is also a great place to host a wedding. The venue has a breathtaking view of the vineyards, gardens, and vast grounds that will make your wedding day unforgettable. Moreover, the team of the estate provides top-notch services to ensure that your wedding is a success.
Yarrawood Estate
Yarrawood Estate is located in the heart of the world renowned cool climate wine growing region of the Yarra Valley. Set on 150 acres, the mild weather allows for slow ripening, which in combination with restricted yields, leads to the production of wines of exceptional quality.
The Yarra Valley is internationally renowned for the quality of its cool climate Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir varieties. Yarrawood is committed to producing a range of high-quality single vineyard wines that reflect the unique characteristics of this renowned growing area.
Their award-winning Tall Tales Range offers a well-rounded portfolio of premium wines, with varietal purity and structure that represent the essence of this prestigious region. In addition to the Tall Tales range, Yarrawood Estate also produces a vibrant fruit-driven Yarra Valley Range and a limited edition ultra-premium Barrel Select range.
It is a multi-award winning vineyard, with a single-minded devotion to producing fine hand crafted wines that exemplify the much sought after qualities of this renowned cool climate region. Their Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Valley Chardonnay and Yarra Valley Pinot Noir have all been honoured with many accolades.
This Yarra Valley property is a beautiful place for family adventures, picnics and relaxing with sweeping views of the valley. There is a playground for children, huge open grassed areas and undercover picnic tables which make it easy to have a great day out.
With a wide variety of wine tasting experiences, including a kids menu and a play area, this family run vineyard is always a firm favourite with families. Its cellar door offers a fantastic range of wines, cheese boards and snacks, and their friendly staff are happy to help.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
If you love chocolate, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is the place to visit. You’ll find this sweet destination set amongst rolling vineyards, sweeping lawns and picturesque vistas.
The family-run chocolaterie employs chocolatiers and pastry chefs who create an extensive range of treats for you to buy and sample in the impressive showrooms. They also offer daily tasting sessions and a cafe where you can enjoy an ice cream or cake and try their Bushtucker range of chocolate bars.
Kids will love getting lost in the large display of chocolates. They can even watch their creations being made through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
This is a great stop for families to enjoy, and it’s worth booking in advance to avoid any hassle. They also have a variety of activities available, including hosted daily tasting sessions, classes and an all-day cafe.
Another great Yarra Valley winery to take the kids is Paynes Rise, which is a smaller winery that’s off the beaten track. It has a range of large outdoor spaces with panoramic views and plenty of places for kids to play.
They have regular art activities for kids and there are lots of open spaces to run around in. There is also a museum that adjoins the cellar door, restaurant and shaded outdoor dining area.
Yarra Valley is a beautiful place to explore in the summer months, so it’s well worth planning a visit during this time. It’s a great way to spend a day, and you’ll also get the chance to see some of the region’s stunning natural landmarks.
If you’re looking for a little something more in the winter, then why not swap sandy beaches for snowy mountains on this full day tour to Lake Mountain from Melbourne? This is a perfect activity for families, with around three hours to play amid the snowfields, visit the magnificent Steavenson Falls or make the most of ski lessons and toboggan runs.