Hot Air Ballon Ride and Four Wine Tastings: A Perfect Australia Travel Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed)
Feb 15th 2011 at 6:01PM

We at Luxist are wary of writing about every travel package that comes our way, but once in awhile, we come across an experience so absolutely exquisite that we're ready to book it ourselves -- and that's when we share it with you. This package is specific to Melbourne, Australia travel, but it's a single day worth flying down under for. How could one day be so utterly alluring it could justify a 15+ hour flight from Los Angeles? Well, it starts with a morning hot air balloon ride over the marvelous city of Melbourne, Australia and the lush Yarra Valley, then continues on to visits to four wineries, at each of which you'll enjoy a tasting. If you can recall a better day than that in recent history, count yourself lucky!

Here's how it goes: on the designated day, Global Ballooning will pick you up at your Melbourne hotel, dim and early, and take you for an exhilarating sunrise balloon ride over the skyline of Melbourne and into the Yarra Valley. Not only is the Georgian and Colonial architecture of Melbourne an enchanting sight from above, but Melbourne is actually one of the only cities in the world where ordinances will permit you to fly overhead in a balloon. The Yarra Valley is the perfect contrast, and you'll be able to look down on some of the wineries you'll be visiting later in the day.

After the balloon ride, you'll land and be transported to a luxury hotel in Melbourne, where you'll enjoy a lovely, well-earned breakfast. Then, Australian Wine Tour Co., the company who puts the package together, will pick you up and take you to your first winery of the day, arriving around 11 am (how cheeky). Unlike many wine tours I've been on myself, Australian Wine Tour Co. pays a fee to each winery it visits. This ensures two things; firstly that you won't be pressured to make any purchases, and secondly that you'll get excellent service and a really good tasting. Wineries want that fee from Australian Wine Tour Co. and they compete to get the business. What that means for you is a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere -- a far cry from some of the European tours which leave you feeling like you're a faceless tourist with no value beyond your pocketbook.

The day includes a charming vineyard-side lunch and plenty of breathtaking scenery, and you'll be back in Melbourne in time for an evening in with room service -- or a night on the town.

If that sounds too exhausting, you certainly don't have to visit four wineries. The day can be tailored to your needs and desires, with prices (from $420 AUD per adult) to match. Ready to go to Melbourne? Me, too. Visit Australian Wine Tour Co. for more information.

Tags: australia, hot air balloon, melbourne, travel, vineyard tour, wine, wine tasting, wine tasting package, wine tasting tour, wineries, winery tour, Yarra Valley