Local Way Tours · Arts Centre Melbourne
Local Way Tours swaps the wildlife park for Phillip Island Winery: a tasting and a long lunch, free time in Cowes, a glass of sparkling at The Nobbies, then the parade. Pick it if you'd rather spend the afternoon at a table than at a zoo.
The day starts with a barista coffee outside the Protagonist Cafe at Arts Centre Melbourne (not at Hamer Hall, the listing warns). From there a coach with Wi-Fi and charging ports, capped at 15 guests with a window seat each, heads to San Remo for a 30-minute stop by the water before crossing to the island.
Lunch is the centre of the day. At Phillip Island Winery on Berrys Beach Road, Ventnor, you get a tasting with a grazing platter, then a wood-fired lunch with shared sides; guests report pizza. After that you choose 1.5 hours of free time in Cowes or the Koala Conservation Reserve for an extra $15 a head, paid on the day. A photo stop at Flynns Beach follows, then 45 minutes at The Nobbies with a glass of sparkling, and the parade with a General Viewing ticket.
This costs $170, and the extras explain most of the gap over a plain coach tour. It's 11 hours, back after dark like the others. Drinks beyond those listed are extra, and the koala option replaces Cowes rather than adding to it. The listing marks it not suitable for wheelchair users, although a badge on the same page says the opposite; ask the operator before you book if it matters.
Meet outside the Protagonist Cafe at Arts Centre Melbourne, coffee included.
A break and photos in the fishing village by the bridge.
Tasting, grazing platter and a wood-fired lunch.
Free time in town, or the Koala Conservation Reserve for an extra $15 paid on the day.
A quick beach photo stop, then the clifftop boardwalks with a glass of sparkling.
General Viewing at sunset, then the drive back to the Arts Centre.
★★★★★loved our guide Yuri he was so helpful all day nothing was a problem for him also he order us the best pizzas for lunch
★★★★★This tour was one of the top highlights of our trip to Australia.
★★★★★Mike was an all round great tour guide with the insight and humour of a native Melburnian.
★★★★★We had the best time of our trip. Mike, our guide for day, is amazingly good with schedule and people.
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A barista coffee, a San Remo stop, a winery tasting with a grazing platter and wood-fired lunch, Cowes free time, sparkling at The Nobbies and a General Viewing ticket for the parade.
Yes, if you pay $15 extra on the day for the Koala Conservation Reserve, in place of free time in Cowes.
Outside the Protagonist Cafe at Arts Centre Melbourne, on St Kilda Road. There's no hotel pickup.
Yes, the visitor centre has a restaurant and a café, though lunch at the winery is usually enough. Our rules guide covers food, clothing and photos.
Ready to book
A winery lunch, sparkling at The Nobbies and the parade, in a group of 15 at most.
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