Yarra Valley wineries (no car required): A guide to Healesville cellar doors

Want to go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley, but don’t have access to a car or driver? The delightful town of Healesville is the perfect place to visit, with several cellar doors walking distance from each other. Discover how to visit Yarra Valley wineries without a car or an organised tour in this guide to Healesville cellar doors accessible on foot.

This post covers the four winery cellar doors that are on or near the main street of Healesville, plus a few more within easy reach of town, and some bonus locations to round out a day of wine tasting in the Yarra Valley without a car.

Wineries in Healesville that you can walk to

There are four cellar doors located on or near the main street of Healesville, making it easy to visit some amazing Yarra Valley wineries without a car.

Jayden Ong

The first option as you arrive in town from Melbourne is Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar, which receives rave reviews for the friendly service from sommelier-turned-winemaker Jayden himself and his team. Sample the day’s selection of minimal-intervention wines or sit down to dine à la carte or on the chef’s selection.

Open Thursday to Sunday. 

Payten & Jones

One block over (a mere five minutes’ walk) is Payten & Jones. Their covered courtyard, described as an ‘urban garden’, offers chilled vibes. This is another venue where you may well be welcomed by one of the namesakes. Take a seat and be looked after by a staff member who will pop by to give you each sample, allowing you to taste at your own pace.

Open 7 days a week.

Giant Steps

There’s a bit more of a walk – about 15 minutes – to the next winery. Towards the east end of the town’s busy shopping strip, you’ll reach the Giant Steps cellar door. This sleek tasting room and wine bar flows into courtyard space to enjoy shade in summer or a fire pit in winter. They offer several tasting options depending on how much time and money you’d like to spend, as well as wine by the glass or bottle.

Open 7 days.

Innocent Bystander

From Giant Steps, it’s 4 more minutes’ walk to Innocent Bystander. Start at the bar to sample your picks from their wine list, then hang out in the courtyard or lounge spaces with a glass or take a seat in the restaurant for woodfired pizzas.

Open Thursday to Monday.

Bonus spots for wine-lovers in Healesville

Just across the road from Payten & Jones is Four Pillars Gin Distillery. Not a winery – but worth a mention for one of their signature products: shiraz gin! They steep local shiraz grapes in their rare dry gin to create a vibrant purple liquor. It’s a great gateway to gin for wine lovers. First created in 2015, the shiraz gin has developed a cult following and has led to further experimentation, with a pinot noir gin joining the lineup since 2023 as a more delicate alternative. Both are delicious made into cocktails using the many recipes on their website. Open 7 days.

And to break up the walk between the Payten & Jones and Giant Steps, drop into Barrique Wine Store (open 7 days) on the way. I’d also recommend a stop at Cheesemonger Sophie (open Friday to Tuesday) for all your platter needs – because wine is even better with cheese. They also do some excellent cheese toasties and baguettes.

Wineries close to Healesville & accessible by bus

Want more? Here are some wineries around Healesville that you can get to on a public bus. Jump on the 685 bus from the main street of town (with your Myki card) for about a 10-minute ride.

Boat O’Craigo

Boat O’Craigo winery is on the eastern outskirts of town. You could get there on foot, with a roughly 30-minute walk from where we left off at Innocent Bystander, then treat yourself to a well-earned lunch. But if that’s a bit much, then never fear, the bus goes near! This family-owned winery boasts stunning views of the vineyard and hills. Enjoy a tasting on the deck with the option of wine and cheese or chocolate flights. You can also graze on antipasto and pizza.

Open Thursday to Monday.

TarraWarra Estate

At TarraWarra Estate to the west of Healesville, you can get a feel for the wineries that dot the Yarra Valley’s gently rolling green hills. Step into their unique underground cellar door for tasting and grazing. They also offer vineyard tours for those who are interested in a more in-depth insight into the viticulture on site.

Open Tuesday to Sunday.

Badger Creek Blueberry Winery

For something a little different, try Badger Creek Blueberry Winery not too far south of town (near Healesville Sanctuary – one of the area’s most popular attractions). They produce blueberry wines in several styles, which you can sample in a tasting paddle. There’s also local cider and jams for sale, plus food perfect for a light lunch or afternoon tea.

Open Thursday to Monday.

Map: Healesville wineries without a car

Here’s a Google map with all the locations mentioned in this post pinned. Save the places you want to visit to your own map to create your itinerary.

Healesville wineries 1-day itinerary (without a car)

Here are two suggested itineraries for a day wandering between the cellar doors in Healesville, starting at either end of town. 

The best days of the week to follow these itineraries are Friday or Saturday, as all of the venues are open and some have extended hours. You can adjust the timings to suit your preferred meal times and interests. Allowing around an hour at each tasting venue is a good guide.

Healesville winery walking itinerary – from west to east

• Morning: Travel to Healesville from Melbourne, or if you’re already in Healesville, fill up with a leisurely brunch – lunch will be on the late side.
• 12pm: Arrive at Jayden Ong for your first wine tasting.
• 1pm: Head around the corner to Payten & Jones for your second wine tasting.
• 2pm: Either visit Four Pillars Gin Distillery for a light lunch and/or gin tasting (book ahead), or take your time wandering through town with a pause for lunch at your choice of cafe and time to browse the cheesemonger and wine store.
• 4pm: Reach Giant Steps for your third wine tasting.
• 5pm: Head to Innocent Bystander for your fourth and final wine tasting, then settle in with a glass of your fave and order their tasty pizzas for dinner.

Healesville winery walking itinerary – from east to west

• Morning: Travel to Melbourne from Healesville. Or if you’ve stayed overnight, have brekky and squeeze in sightseeing like a visit to Healesville Sanctuary or a walk in Maroondah Reservoir Park (both accessible via bus).
• 12pm: Kick off with wine tasting and lunch at Innocent Bystander.
• 1.30pm: Do your second wine tasting at Giant Steps.
• 2.30pm: Amble through town perusing the boutiques (make sure to grab some goodies for a cheese platter).
• 3.30pm: Do an experience at Four Pillars Distillery if shiraz gin sounds like your jam.
• 4.30pm: Enjoy afternoon courtyard vibes with your third tasting at Payten & Jones.
• 5.30pm: Arrive at Jayden Ong for your final wine tasting followed by dinner.

Healesville 2-day wine itinerary without a car

Spending a weekend in town? Choose one of the above options to visit the most centrally-located Healesville wineries on your first day. Then explore a little further afield on day two. 

To visit more Yarra Valley wineries without a car, you can use a Myki card to catch the 685 bus from the main street in town to Boat O’Craigo, TarraWarra Estate or Badger Creek Blueberry Winery.

Or spend some time enjoying the town’s other attractions!

• Get up close to Australian animals at Healesville Sanctuary. 
• Go for a walk through gardens and bushland around the dam at Maroondah Reservoir Park. 
• Browse the boutiques lining the main street for clothes, homewares and gourmet goodies.

Getting to Healesville by public transport

You can reach Healesville from Melbourne CBD via public transport in around 2 to 2.5 hours. The first leg of the journey is by metro train: hop on the Lilydale line from any station on the City Loop. It’s around a 1-hour journey to the end of the line (Lilydale Station). There, you’ll catch the 685 bus for a 35- to 40-minute journey to Healesville. 

You could easily make this journey in the morning and arrive by 12pm to start the itineraries suggested in this post. And the last bus back leaves Healesville after 9pm each day, so there’s time to enjoy dinner at the end of the day.

You’ll need a Myki card (used for public transport throughout Melbourne and Victoria) preloaded with money to pay your fare. Fares are capped at rates that are very cheap for a longer journey like this. As of early 2025, it’s $11 a day, or just $7.30 on weekends and public holidays!

If you have a group or prefer a direct ride, you might like to book a private transfer/shuttle service. There are also hop-on, hop-off buses as well as organised wine tours, which are great options if you want to explore Yarra Valley wineries and sights outside the town of Healesville.

Plan your Yarra Valley wine tasting trip without a car

This itinerary will take you to several great cellar doors conveniently located right in Healesville – perfect if you want to visit Yarra Valley wineries without a car (either because you’re not bringing one or want a day where no-one has to be the designated driver). But there are many more wineries to explore in the surrounding Yarra Valley countryside. You can visit them without a car through public or private tours or a hop-on/hop-off bus.