From Passion to Business: Why We Started Hop It and What We’ve Learned Along the Way

When we moved to Australia in 2013, we were both fresh-faced tourists exploring the beautiful wine regions of Australia. Little did we know that these winding roads and stunning cellar doors would one day become the backdrop of a business we are incredibly proud of today.

As founders of Hop It, we’ve come a long way since those early days. But like any good journey, the road has been full of twists, turns, and the occasional unexpected detour. And today, we want to share the story of how Hop It came to life and what we’ve learnt along the way.

A little bit about us:

Favourite drink: Fot-Li Vermut at Payten & Jones

Jon aka Captain Hop

This gently Welshman really is the heart and soul of Hop It, always thinking about ways to make your experience even better. Always ensuring everything runs without a hitch. With his hospitality know-how and a huge passion for customer service, he’s all about making you feel like a VIP, whether it's crafting the perfect day out or making sure your journey is top-notch.

Sara aka The Efficiency Expert

Sara is the brains behind the operation, keeping everything running smoothly & in line with her German efficiency. With a background in the corporate world, she focuses on the strategic side of the business, ensuring all the moving parts come together seamlessly. When she’s not driving the big picture, she’s making sure every detail of your Hop It experience is spot on, so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Who doesn't love cherries?

The Spark: Why We Started Hop It

As passionate wine lovers and hospitality veterans, we always noticed a gap in the market when it came to exploring the Yarra Valley and other iconic wine regions. While we loved the idea of hopping between wineries, the options for transport were limited and often expensive. Many visitors were restricted to rigid schedules, which meant they couldn’t truly explore at their own pace.

That’s when the idea for Hop It was born: a hop-on, hop-off bus service that gave guests the freedom to explore at their own pace without breaking the bank. From the beginning, we wanted to offer a flexible and affordable way for people to experience some of the best food, wine, and scenic views Victoria has to offer.

The Road to Success: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Starting a business is no easy feat, and we certainly didn’t have all the answers in the beginning. Here are just a few of the key lessons we’ve picked up along the way:

1. Be Flexible, but Stay Focused: We quickly learnt that things don’t always go as planned, whether it’s weather disruptions, operational hiccups, or customer expectations. The key for us to overcome these challenges was flexibility. We made sure our service could adapt to the unexpected while always staying focused on our core mission: Giving people the freedom to explore the regions they love.

   
   

2. Partnerships Are Everything: From the very start, we forged strong relationships with wineries, local producers, and tourism partners. These partnerships not only helped us grow but also made the experience richer for all of our hoppers. It’s a two-way street & by supporting local businesses we all succeed together.

   
   

3. Guest Feedback is Gold: One thing we’ve always been passionate about is listening to our guests. They are our greatest asset, and we’ve always relied on their feedback to refine our service. Whether it’s tweaking bus schedules, adding new stops, or creating new offerings like our "Design My Day" service, customer feedback has been the compass guiding us toward continuous improvement.

   
   

4. Growth Comes with Growing Pains: As our business expanded, so did the challenges. From managing multiple routes and a growing team to maintaining a strong brand identity, it hasn’t always been easy. But every challenge has been a learning opportunity. Now, we’re more prepared to handle anything that comes our way.

What’s Next: Continuing to Evolve

As we look toward the future, we are excited about the opportunities to continue growing and evolving Hop It. We’re always exploring ways to improve the guest experience, whether that’s through new technology (yes, we're getting an app & it'll launch in the next 4 weeks), added value in our itineraries or expanding our routes to bring you even more breathtaking destinations (we've just welcomed 3 new venues to our Yarra Valley RED route).

But one thing will always remain the same: our dedication to making your experience personal, flexible, and memorable.

Hop On & Explore With Us