What’s the Best Way to Explore Victoria’s Wine Regions?

Hop On Hop Off vs Public Wine Tour vs Private Tour vs Self-Drive:

Planning a day in the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula or Bellarine Peninsula usually starts with one big question:

How should we actually get around?

Do you join a public wine tour?

Book a private driver?

Hire a car and explore yourself?

Or choose a hop-on hop-off style service?

The truth is, there’s no single “best” option. Each style suits a different kind of traveller, budget, and pace of day. So here’s a clear, honest guide to help you choose the experience that fits your perfect day exploring Victoria's wine regions.

Feature	Hop-on Hop-off Service	Public Set-Itinerary Tour	Fully Private Tour	Self-Drive
Flexibility on the day	Choose stops within a timetable	Fixed schedule set by operator	Can be both flexible & pre-planned	Fully flexible
Control of itinerary	High within curated routes	Limited	Very high	Complete control
Group size	Small groups	Medium to large groups	Your own group	Your own group
Social atmosphere	Relaxed, optional interaction	Structured group setting	Private to your party	Private to your party
Planning required	Some	Minimal	Higher pre-planning	High (bookings, navigation, timing)
Pace of the day	Self-paced within timetable	Operator-led pacing	Fully customisable	Fully self-managed
Venue choice	Multiple partner venues	Pre-selected venues	Broad choice	Broad choice
Ability to enjoy tastings	No driving required	No driving required	No driving required	Driver must limit tasting
Navigation & logistics	Managed for you	Managed for you	Managed for you	Managed by you
Parking considerations	Not required	Not required	Not required	Required at each stop
Best suited to	Travellers wanting flexibility without complexity	Visitors wanting a simple guided overview	Special occasions or tailored experiences	Independent planners wanting full freedom
Overall experience style	Flexible and self-directed and some guidance	Structured and guided	Personalised and very exclusive	Independent and self-managed
Pricing
Average price	$75-$95 per person	$120-$200 per person	$500+ per vehicle	$200+ per vehicle if hiring
What's typically included	Transport; choose and pay for tastings/food on the day	Transport plus selected tastings, sometimes lunch	Dedicated vehicle, custom itinerary, tastings/food will be an additional cost	Fuel or car hire, tastings, and meals will be an additional cost

So… Which Option Is Right for You?

Each approach offers a different balance of independence, convenience, and cost.

• Self-drive prioritises total freedom and personal control.

• Public tours focus on simplicity and guided structure.

• Private tours deliver tailored, premium experiences.

• Hop-on hop-off touring blends flexibility with ease.

Every wine day looks a little different and that’s exactly how it should be. Whether you’re planning a relaxed self-drive, joining a guided tour, booking a private experience, or choosing the freedom of hop-on hop-off transport, Victoria’s wine regions reward those who take the time to explore them properly.

For travellers looking to combine independence with simplicity, Hop It’s hop-on hop-off wine routes across the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Bellarine Peninsula offer an easy way to design your own perfect day, one stop at a time.

Start planning your day out in Victoria's wine regions

Yarra Valley Hop On Hop Off Routes