Melbourne Laneways, Bites & Brews Shore Excursion from Cruise Port
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Discover Melbourne the local way on a premium, small-group shore excursion designed especially for cruise ship passengers. Experience the city’s famous laneways, vibrant neighbourhoods, lush gardens, and incredible food scene, with convenient pickup and return directly at Melbourne’s cruise port. 🚐
Your Melbourne adventure begins with a warm welcome from your friendly local guide at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, where you’ll board our comfortable premium mini-coach and set off to discover Australia’s cultural and culinary capital.
A Seamless Blend of Walking and Comfort
Combining short guided walking experiences with comfortable mini-coach transport, this unique hybrid city tour allows you to experience more of Melbourne in less time, without spending your entire excursion on foot. Explore Melbourne’s iconic graffiti laneways, historic arcades, beautiful gardens, bustling markets, and colourful neighbourhoods, including the creative streets of Fitzroy. 🎨
A Culinary Journey Through the Capital
Along the way, indulge in five or more food and drink tastings, celebrating Melbourne’s incredible culinary diversity. Enjoy freshly brewed Melbourne coffee, delicious dumplings, local market treats, sweet delights, and a relaxing rooftop drink, with each experience accompanied by stories and insights from your local guide. ☕
Why This Shore Excursion is Unmissable
- Intimate Small Groups: With a maximum of just 10 guests, this experience offers a personal and authentic alternative to traditional large-coach shore excursions.
- Expert Local Guides: Your guide will share local secrets, fascinating stories, and personalised recommendations, giving you a genuine taste of Melbourne beyond the usual tourist trail.
- Cruise-Friendly Scheduling: Best of all, your excursion is carefully scheduled around your cruise ship’s time in port, with convenient return transport to Station Pier and a generous allowance before your ship’s scheduled departure. 🍽️
What is Included in Your Day
- Cruise Port Pickup & Return: Convenient collection and return at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, with timings planned around your ship’s schedule.
- Premium Mini-Coach Transport: Travel comfortably between Melbourne’s iconic attractions, neighbourhoods, gardens, and markets.
- Five Guided Walking Locations: Explore a curated selection of Melbourne highlights, potentially including city skyline viewpoints, the Royal Botanic Gardens, famous graffiti laneways, Fitzroy, Queen Victoria Market, and the historic Royal and Block Arcades.
- Five or More Food & Drink Tastings: Experience Melbourne’s celebrated culinary scene with coffee, sweet treats, dumplings, savoury delights, market specialities, and rooftop refreshments.
- Authentic Local Guide: Discover Melbourne through the eyes of a local, with engaging commentary, fascinating stories, and personalised recommendations.
- Premium Onboard Comfort: Relax in comfortable seating with a guaranteed window seat and onboard Wi-Fi.
- Small-Group Experience: A maximum of 10 guests ensures an intimate, relaxed, and personalised experience.
- Cruise-Friendly Scheduling: A carefully planned itinerary designed to maximise your time exploring Melbourne while allowing ample time to return to your ship.
- All Taxes & Fees: No additional charges for the listed tour inclusions.
Not Included
- Gratuities and extras
How We Make the Journey Memorable
- Taste Melbourne: Get a taste of why Melbourne is celebrated as Australia’s food and wine capital. Along the way, you’ll sample an array of local flavours and brews—enough to satisfy, yet sure to leave you craving a return visit.
- On Foot and In Bus: With the comfort of our private mini-bus, you’ll journey through Melbourne’s iconic laneways, gardens, boroughs, and bustling markets—stepping out at each stop to experience these locations up close on foot, and to get a taste at each memorable locale.
- Local Guide: At every stop, your local guide will be there to share stories and insights that bring Melbourne to life. Whether you’re after the perfect place to eat, shop, or explore, our guides are always ready with recommendations to make your experience even more memorable.
- Small Groups: Enjoy a more personal experience as you travel in a small group of no more than 10 guests. With a curated journey and plenty of space to connect, you’ll share the magic of Melbourne while still feeling it was designed just for you.
Departure Details
Departure Location: Station Pier, Port Melbourne, Victoria
Your local guide will meet you at the designated cruise port pickup point, with detailed meeting instructions provided before departure.
At the conclusion of your Melbourne adventure, you’ll be transported directly back to Station Pier, with return timings planned to allow ample time to reboard your ship.
Departure Time: 9:00am
Return Time: 2:30pm – or spend more time in the City and make your own way back to the Pier
Tour Duration: Approximately 4 hours for the city experience, with additional time allowed for cruise port transfers where required.
Group Size: Maximum 10 guests.
Please note: The exact locations and tasting experiences may vary depending on venue availability, market operating hours, and your cruise ship’s schedule, while maintaining the overall experience and included tastings.
Important Information for Your Tour
Departure Details
Departure Time: 9:00am
Return Time (to Pier): 2:30pm approx.
Departure Location: Melbourne Station Pier – Cruise Ship Terminal
Arrival: Please arrive at least 10 minutes before departure time. Punctuality is crucial, as the tour departs on schedule and we will not be able to wait for you if you are late. We will park outside the Mr Hobson Cafe, which sits just outside the Pier.
Click Here for further Departure Information
What to Bring
There are no mandatory items required for this tour—just bring yourself! However, a few additional items for a great experience you may like to bring:
- Appropriate Clothing: Melbourne is known for having fast-changing weather. Check the weather forecast and pack accordingly.
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated with refill stations available throughout the day.
- Spending Money: Some stops may accept card payments only.
Special Requirements
Please let us know if you have special requirements.
Without prior notice, we cannot guarantee accommodation on the day of the tour.
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A huge part of what made the experience so special was our guide, Sue. She was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and made everyone feel welcome from the very beginning. Sue shared great information about the Yarra Valley and the wineries while keeping the day lighthearted and enjoyable. She struck the perfect balance between being informative and letting us relax and enjoy the experience.
The wine tastings were excellent, the stops were well chosen, and the beautiful Yarra Valley countryside made it a day we’ll remember for a long time.
We highly recommend this tour—and if you’re lucky enough to have Sue as your guide, you’re in for a fantastic day!
From the moment he picked us up at the airport, Shelton made us feel so welcome and looked after. Over the four days he took us through Melbourne’s CBD and famous laneways, shared his knowledge of the city, and accompanied us on our incredible Great Ocean Road adventure.
Shelton was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about Melbourne. He always seemed to have another interesting story, fact or little local insight to share, and he had a wonderful way of bringing everything to life. Nothing ever felt rushed or scripted.
But what we loved most was Shelton himself. He was such a genuinely lovely person. Warm, friendly, patient, thoughtful and incredibly easy to be around. With a group of 20 people, keeping everyone happy and on track isn't always an easy job, but Shelton handled everything with such ease and professionalism.
By the end of the four days, Shelton felt less like our tour guide and more like someone we were genuinely happy to have spent the time with. He became such a lovely part of our Melbourne experience.
The Great Ocean Road was an absolute highlight, and having Shelton with us made the day even more special. His knowledge, local recommendations and attention to our group made such a difference.
Shelton, thank you for looking after us so wonderfully. You were an absolute star, and we feel very lucky to have had you as our guide. You helped make our four days in Melbourne incredibly memorable, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to anyone visiting the city.
We hope our paths cross again one day! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
He was diligent and informative without ever making the tour feel rushed. He taught me about Aussie Rules football (a completely new world to me), and introduced us to places we would never have discovered by ourselves, including a fantastic almond croissant near the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Ned’s enthusiasm felt completely genuine, and his thoughtful little touches elevated the entire experience. The tour was interesting, relaxed, well paced and very good value. A superb ambassador for Melbourne and an excellent guide.
The second tour, Mornington Peninsula Food & Wine Tour, lead by Perry who was a fantastic guide: friendly, respectful and remarkably attentive to every member of the group. He made a real effort to include everyone, regularly engaging us with thoughtful questions and creating a warm, relaxed atmosphere throughout the day.
The itinerary was excellent, and we discovered some truly outstanding wines, particularly at Port Phillip Estate that ranked among the best we have ever tasted. The large van was clean, comfortable and very well maintained, which made the journey even more enjoyable.
Perry’s local knowledge proved especially valuable on the return to Melbourne during a very busy Friday evening. He skilfully navigated the smaller streets, avoided the worst of the traffic and even found a way to drop us closer to our hotel (an incredibly thoughtful gesture, particularly as we were carrying a box of wine.)
A well-organised, personal and very good-value tour, made exceptional by Perry’s professionalism and genuine care for his guests.
Since this was a small group tour, I'd checked out the reviews beforehand and was happy to find that the experience actually lived up to all the great things people had said.
Jennifer shared plenty of interesting information without going overboard, which was especially helpful since several guests spoke English as a second language.
We were lucky to have beautiful weather, especially after how wet the previous evening had been.
I mentioned that we'd visited one of the locations years ago, and Jennifer was more than happy to help us find the famous "Arthur's Seat" so we could recreate our old photos.
The places we visited were beautiful and full of interesting history, just as promised in the itinerary.
After enjoying a relaxing drink at the Sorrento Hotel, we took a different scenic route back to Melbourne, which was a lovely way to end the day.
Overall, it was a fantastic day, and I'd definitely recommend this tour, Mornington Peninsula Coastal Doscovery.
Highly recommended!
We went on the Small Group Peninsula Hot Springs, Lunch & Wine Tour, which was perfect for the day after a long flight over from California.
Lunch at the Green Oliver winery hit the spot and the Peninsula Hot Springs were very well done. It was a cool winter day, which was a great fit for testing out the hot pools. When you go, be sure to check out the amazing views from the Hilltop Pool.
The tour is something we would highly recommend. It truly gives you a real taste of Melbourne through its sights, bites, and brews. We loved how it combined short walks through the famous laneways with convenient mini-van travel to cover more ground.
Sheldon was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing interesting insights about the city’s history, culture, and hidden gems. The mix of amazing local food experiences and sightseeing around the CBD made it a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.
If you’re looking for a great way to explore Melbourne, this tour is a must.
One of the main reasons we chose this tour was the hotel pick-up, which made the whole trip very convenient—especially as we were travelling with my elderly mum, who uses a wheelchair. Our guide, Michael, was extremely helpful and thoughtful. We brought along a foldable wheelchair, and he assisted with storing and deploying it whenever needed, which made a huge difference to our comfort and peace of mind.
The tour itself was well planned and comprehensive. We visited several scenic lookout points near The Nobbies, explored the Nobbies area, and then headed to the Penguin Parade. The tour company also managed to secure Penguin Plus tickets for us, which really enhanced the experience.
Michael shared interesting background information about Phillip Island and its wildlife, and even showed us how to spot penguins in their burrows—something we wouldn’t have noticed on our own.
Overall, it was an enjoyable, well-organised, and very inclusive tour. We truly appreciated the care shown to our family and would highly recommend this tour to anyone!
The weather was perfect, the locations were beautiful, and the wineries were excellent. It was such a relaxed, enjoyable day and a great way to experience the Mornington Peninsula. Highly recommend Local Way Tours and especially Jenny as a guide.
I joined the Phillip Island tour with Local Way Tours and it was truly an incredible experience. Everything was perfectly organised from start to finish, and the whole day ran smoothly. The team was professional, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do.
What impressed me the most was how sustainable and animal-friendly all the stops were. Every place we visited treated the animals with real respect. I especially appreciated that you weren’t allowed to touch or disturb the koalas, which shows that they put the animals’ wellbeing first. It felt good to be part of a tour that chooses locations you can genuinely stand behind.
The nature, the wildlife encounters and the whole atmosphere made this day one of the highlights of my stay. I can wholeheartedly recommend Local Way Tours – I’d book with them again anytime!
It was a long day but, ultimately, worth every minute.
The wine element was a late substitution due to weather conditions forcing cancellation of the seal tour. This proved very interesting.
The Penguin Parade was amazing and well organised.
Thank you
Our driver, Yuri, was the star of the show. He was friendly, informative and when we got bogged did all he could to sort the problem as quickly as he could. We were lucky to meet some lovely people and perhaps because of being bogged got to spend time with them. One of the best days out we've had. A great way to spend my birthday.
Cheers, ‘U-Ray-nus’!
Communication 5🌟 Prompt & trustworthy, from booking to tour guide. It’s really nice when we’re kept in the loop as to what’s going on and options available to us along the way.
Price 5🌟 Considering the time involved, this tour was great value for us, plus the generous drop off service at the end of the night was really appreciated for two women.
Highlights:
🌟 We were lucky enough to get retired drama teacher Rod who put on an epic show, entertaining us on the drive to and from the island. Rod was enthusiastic & patient with us all, creating a vibe that made the trip relaxed & friendly. My 69 year old mum felt included & I got all my queries answered.
🌟 Sunset drinks at Flynn’s beach: what a lovely time watching surfers sipping on champagne, enjoying an iconic Aussie beach scene before the penguins.
🌟 Tips provided: thanks to Rod, we fit in fish and chips, went penguin burrow hunting for baby penguins (we saw lots of babies, wallabies, native birds) landed a great spot to see penguins without having to upgrade and didn’t get lost back to the bus.
Meanwhile, Rod is a globe trotter so make sure to squeeze him for tips on other places to visit in Australia & overseas.
🌟 Overall, I can see how this tour and its operators are winning all the awards. Well done guys, 👏👏👏 we loved the whole experience and would recommend you to our friends.
Ps The cruise part to seal island was bumpy but well worth seeing baby seals. Take sea sick tablets. The cruise crew were young, professional & friendly which was refreshing.
A comfy bus, with a small group.
A great driver/guide, Jordan, (was that his name 😜) who kept the group vibing, and in check.
Only a half day tour, but just enough.
Delicious wineries included. 🫶🏻
During the drive he shared so many fun facts and stories about Melbourne, which made the journey really engaging. The tour itself was well-paced, and we visited three different wineries, tasting an amazing total of 17 wines. Each stop offered a unique experience, from boutique cellars to scenic estates.
Despite the rain, the entire afternoon was incredibly enjoyable and I felt well looked after. My tour guide's professionalism and enthusiasm were key to making this such a memorable experience. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a great half-day wine tour from Melbourne.
We visited one winery where the meal was delicious and the wine was excellent, then spent time at the hot springs which were absolutely beautiful and relaxing. The whole day was perfectly paced and really enjoyable.
Ray truly made the experience special – we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Highly recommend this tour, especially with Ray!
We travelled through some beautiful scenery: such vibrant colours especially the yellow fields of canola! I felt I got a real sense of being in country Victoria.
There were plenty of unique experiences to enjoy including a paddlesteamer trip, a fauna park, silo art and a wine tasting in a gorgeous hill side vineyard setting. I was able to buy some yummy wine and cheese to take home too!
Our guide Jordan made sure everyone was happy and everything ran smoothly. The bus was clean and comfortable too.
It was a great day and an opportunity to visit an area that not many other tour companies cover which made it feel a bit special too!
The highlight was definitely the Penguin Parade, watching hundreds of Little Penguins waddle up the beach at sundown was absolutely magical. Along the way, we stopped by a koala conservatory.
The Scenic Wildlife Cruise was another standout. Being so close to Australia’s largest fur seal colony was incredible, there were thousands of seals all around, and the views of Phillip Island’s coastline from the boat were breathtaking. We were lucky and spotted a few southern right whales as well as a humpback whale.
The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about wildlife and conservation, which made the tour even more meaningful.
Highly recommend this experience, whether you love animals, beautiful landscapes, or just want a unique and relaxing day, this is a must-do when visiting Phillip Island!
We got to visit all the top spots — the Koala Reserve, The Nobbies, and of course the magical Penguin Parade 🐧 (which was the perfect way to end the day). There was also a bunch of local wildlife along the way, which made the trip even more special!
What I loved most is that you get to choose between a winery visit with a chilled lunch and views OR a wildlife cruise to see seals and whales 🛥️🍷 (we picked both (on different dates — 10/10 recommend!).
The guides were super friendly and really knew their stuff — felt like we were exploring with locals rather than being on a generic tour. Would 100% recommend this if you’re visiting Phillip Island or even if you’re a local looking for a great day trip!
Thanks Local Way Tours for such a fun experience! 🙌
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone.
Would highly recommend to learn about the island.
We were with Russell and had a wonderful day trip starting from Winery, Seagull nest coast, Wallaby jumping road and finally thousands of penguins are coming back to their home. Thank you so much Russell to make this precious timw happen and I strongly recommend this experience with my colleagues after I back to the Seoul. Thank you so much 🥰♥️
Each stop was great and had all tastings and lunch (which was lovely) included in the price as well as some local attractions/views to stop along on the way!
Sue was amazing and so friendly throughout the day and definitely made the tour!
I would like to leave a review. Our tour guide was Caitlin . My husband & I had an amazing day from start to finish.
We enjoyed the winery plus lunch & the penguin parade.
Nothing was a problem for Caitlin. She looked after our small group exceptionally well. Very friendly & knowledgeable. Would highly recommend this tour !!
Paul and Angie TSIKNAS




































