Wine country, on Sydney time. In about 9 hours, this Southern Highlands day escape packs in three winery stops with roundtrip pickup and tastings, without the headache of planning. The best part is the short ride out of the city, so you spend most of the day tasting instead of stuck in traffic.

I also like the way the tour feeds you. At Eling Forest Winery, lunch is included with a glass of wine, and you can upgrade to extra courses if you want a longer sit-down. That matters because a full day of tastings can get tiring fast—food keeps it fun instead of just thirsty.

One possible drawback: it’s a set schedule with about an hour or so per venue, so you’re not going to linger for hours at one cellar door. If you want a slow, custom wine day where you control every stop, you may prefer a fully flexible private outing.

Key things to know before you go

• Short trip out of Sydney: the wineries are about 90 minutes from the city, keeping the day efficient.
• Three tastings, one smooth plan: you’ll visit three Southern Highlands wineries with tasting experiences included.
• Lunch at Eling Forest: a one-course meal plus a glass of wine comes with the tour, with optional upgrades.
• Driver-led comfort: air-conditioned transport plus pickup is built in, and drivers (Roman, Joe, Guy, Wally, Russell, Val, Jane) get strong praise.
• Small group or private option: you can choose shared comfort or keep it just your own group.
• Mobile ticket and group discounts: easy start, and pricing can work better for groups.

Why this Southern Highlands day escape works (90 minutes matters)

The Southern Highlands is close enough to Sydney to make a day trip feel realistic. When a tour starts at 9:00am and finishes the same day, you’re really betting on efficiency. Here, the plan is built around that: the ride out is about 90 minutes, and then you’re on winery time.

That pacing is what makes this tour feel like a win. You’re not just “doing something wine-related,” you’re getting repeated doses of tastings, scenery, and breaks across the day. With only three wineries, you avoid the classic issue of cramming in too many stops and feeling rushed through each one.

I also like the promise of a low-friction day: pickup is offered, transport is air-conditioned, and tastings and meals are included. For most people, that’s the difference between enjoying wine country and constantly doing mental math on what’s extra.

The value behind the $271.84 per person price

At $271.84 per person for a full day, it’s not the cheapest way to drink wine. But you’re paying for a bundle: transportation, admission ticketed tastings, plus snacks and lunch across three venues. When you compare that to the cost of driving yourself (and then paying for taxis or rides home), the price starts to make sense fast.

The tour also flags no surprise fees for the inclusions, which matters on day tours. You don’t want a great schedule spoiled by add-ons that show up after you’ve already committed. Here, tastings and the lunch experience are part of the package.

And there’s another value angle: the operator handles the flow. When you’re drinking and moving between wineries, the schedule is half the experience. A well-run driver and a realistic timeline can make a big difference in how calm the day feels.

Meet your driver and why it changes the whole day

On wine tours, the driver is the quiet star. You’re relying on them for timing, smooth transitions, and keeping the day feeling easy. Past experiences with Kenny Escapes Food and Wine Experiences highlight names like Roman, Joe, Guy, Wally, Russell, Val, and Jane, and the common thread is friendliness plus professionalism.

You’ll also notice a pattern in the feedback: people call out drivers who are not only safe, but also genuinely enjoyable—someone who can steer a group through the day without turning it into chaos. That’s not just “nice.” It directly affects how much you enjoy the tastings instead of worrying about bus timing, where to stand, or whether you’re missing the next pickup cue.

If you’re booking for a special group day—hens, birthdays, family get-togethers—that personality matters even more. You want the day to feel like an organized party, not a logistics exercise.

The 9:00am start: how the schedule keeps you tasting, not waiting

The tour starts at 9:00am and runs about 9 hours total. Each winery stop is timed so you get meaningful tasting time without losing the whole day to sitting around.

The day is built as three chunks:

• a morning tasting stop at Tertini (about 1 hour),
• a longer lunch-and-tasting block at Eling Forest (about 1 hour 30 minutes),
• and a final cellar door visit at Bendooley Estate after lunch (about 1 hour).

That layout is smart for two reasons. First, you get your biggest meal after you’ve had a couple of tastes already, which can prevent the “too much alcohol, not enough food” problem. Second, the final stop gives you time to keep enjoying without dragging toward the end of the day.

If you’re someone who hates rushing, you’ll still want to be ready to move with the group. This isn’t a DIY route where you can hop between wineries whenever you feel like it.

Stop 1: Tertini Wines (and the Southern Highlands swap option)

Tertini Wines is listed as the first winery stop, and you can expect a standard tasting experience with about 1 hour on site. The tour description also points to a friendly, informative vibe, which is what you want when you’re tasting—especially if you don’t already know your way around different styles.

There’s one extra wrinkle worth noting: the tour materials mention you may visit Centennial Vineyard or another Southern Highlands winery depending on the day. That flexibility can be helpful if your preferred venue is sold out or if the operator adjusts the route.

What I’d take from this as a buyer: don’t plan your day around seeing one exact label on a sign. The tour experience is the Southern Highlands tasting day, and the first stop is part of that. You’ll still get that core “arrive, taste, learn, move on” flow.

Practical tip: if you have a strong wine preference, consider checking with the operator before booking about which specific cellar doors are confirmed for your date.

Stop 2: Eling Forest Winery and lunch with a glass of wine

Eling Forest Winery is the mid-day anchor. You get about 1 hour 30 minutes, and tastings come paired with a lunch experience. The big win here is that lunch isn’t an afterthought—it’s included, and it comes with a glass of wine.

The tour also offers upgrades to 2 or 3 courses if you want a longer meal. That’s ideal for people who’d rather slow down for a proper sit-down than eat quickly between tastings.

There’s also a visual reason Eling Forest gets attention: the tour description notes one of the prettiest views in the Southern Highlands. Even if you’re not a scenery tourist, the location can help you reset mid-day. It breaks up the wine focus and turns lunch into a real pause.

How it feels in practice: you’ll likely leave this stop with your palate warmed up, your stomach happy, and enough time afterward to enjoy the final winery without feeling wiped out.

Stop 3: Bendooley Estate Book Barn and the post-lunch finish

After lunch, the tour heads to Bendooley Estate at the Book Barn cellar door. This is one of the more requested Southern Highlands venues, so it’s a good choice if you want a satisfying final stop that feels like a highlight rather than a rushed checkbox.

You’ll get about 1 hour here for another tasting experience. This stop is a strong end-cap because it’s after you’ve eaten, and the day is still fresh enough that you can enjoy the last round without “tour fatigue” taking over.

The tour notes highlight the Book Barn area as stunning, so even if you’re not chasing photo spots, it can make the tasting feel special. And for a final winery, that matters: last stops tend to either sparkle or fizzle depending on pacing and atmosphere.

As with the first stop, you’ll move as a group. If you want a slow wander through the property, you may feel slightly time-limited, since the hour is the plan.

Small group or private vehicle: choose your vibe

Kenny Escapes offers options that affect comfort. You can join a small group, or request a private vehicle for your group. Either way, the tour uses a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle and includes pickup.

I like this flexibility because people book wine tours for different reasons. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple and want a social day, the small group option can be great. If you’re celebrating and want privacy, private transport keeps it focused on your crew.

One important note from the tour details: it’s described as a private activity where only your group participates. In practical terms, that means you shouldn’t expect a random crowd mixed into your day the way you might on some very large coach tours.

Group discounts and mobile tickets: little things that help

It’s the small logistics details that make a day tour feel smoother. You’ll get a mobile ticket, and the tour also mentions group discounts. If you’re traveling with friends or family, grouping can help value jump without having to micromanage anything yourself.

Mobile ticket access matters because winery days aren’t “paperwork days.” You want to get moving, get to the first tasting, and start enjoying the day.

Also, the meeting time is fixed at 9:00am, so make sure your morning plans leave room to arrive on time. A relaxed start is what makes the later part of the day feel fun instead of stressful.

What this tour is best for

This is a strong choice if you want:

• a one-day taste of multiple Southern Highlands wineries,
• a schedule that keeps the day efficient from Sydney,
• lunch and tastings handled for you,
• and a driver who makes the day feel easy.

It’s especially good for celebrations. The feedback you’ll see around Kenny Escapes includes hens and milestone birthdays, where the day is part tasting, part event. The vibe people praise most often is a combination of organization and a friendly host.

If you’re a total wine beginner, this kind of tour can be a confidence boost. Even when you don’t know the words, you’re still tasting and learning in a low-stress way. If you’re a serious enthusiast, you may want to do extra research on what you like, because the day is designed around three stops, not in-depth time at one estate.

The downside to think about before booking

The biggest consideration is time. You’re allocating about an hour at each winery (with Eling Forest a bit longer), so you’re not going to have a long, slow day at one cellar door. If you’re the type who wants to chat with staff for ages, or you want to revisit your favorite pours, this schedule won’t fully match that style.

Another small consideration: it runs on good weather. If conditions are poor, the tour can be canceled and you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s common for this kind of day trip, but it’s still worth keeping flexibility in your plans.

If your calendar is strict with no wiggle room, you’ll want to think about how you’ll handle a weather-related change.

Should you book Wine Tours Sydney Southern Highlands Day Escape?

I’d book this tour if you want a low-planning, high-fun day that hits classic Southern Highlands wineries without turning your day into a drive-and-decide mess. The combination of three tastings, lunch at Eling Forest, and roundtrip pickup makes it a strong value for a full-day experience.

You might skip it if you crave long, unstructured time at a single winery or if you’d rather build your own route with maximum flexibility. And if you’re booking during a period where weather can be unpredictable, plan for the fact the operator requires good conditions.

Bottom line: for most people looking for an organized, comfortable, wine-focused day trip from Sydney, this one checks the right boxes.

FAQ

How long is the Southern Highlands wine tasting day escape?

It runs for about 9 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00am.

Which wineries are included?

The tour includes Tertini Wines, Eling Forest Winery, and Bendooley Estate at the Book Barn. The tour description also notes you may visit Centennial Vineyard or another Southern Highlands winery as part of the experience.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included at Eling Forest Winery and includes a one-course meal plus a glass of wine, with options to upgrade to 2 or 3 courses.

Do I get roundtrip pickup from my hotel?

Yes. Roundtrip transportation from your hotel is included, and pickup is offered.

Is this a private tour?

It’s described as a private activity where only your group participates, and the operator also offers options for small group or private vehicle.