Minibus Hire Across Australia

A day among the vineyards, with someone else driving

The best part of a winery day is that everyone gets to taste. Pick a region, choose a few cellar doors, and we'll ask licensed operators for a people mover or minibus with a driver to take your group between them.

Why smaller vehicles suit wine country

Cellar door driveways, gravel car parks and tight country lanes are where a people mover or minibus shines. A group of up to 19 moves between tastings easily, and nobody is stuck being the designated driver.

Passenger van interior
Passenger van interior

Regions within a day

From Sydney, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley is about two hours up the M1; from Newcastle, it's about an hour. Adelaide has three regions close by: McLaren Vale at about 45 minutes, the Barossa at about an hour, and the Clare Valley a little further out.

Perth's Swan Valley is only about 30 minutes away, while Margaret River is about three hours each way and suits an overnight stay. Melbourne groups often choose the Yarra Valley, around an hour out, and Canberra's Murrumbateman wineries are about 35 minutes from the city.

Rules worth knowing

  • NSW wine producers with a producer/wholesaler licence may sell their own product from the licensed premises, and can apply to serve it for drinking on site
  • HVNL standard hours limit bus drivers to 12 hours' work in any 24 hours, with at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest

Book the cellar doors ahead

In the Hunter Valley, large groups are asked to book cellar doors before they arrive, and winery tours of the winemaking process need a booking too. It's good practice everywhere. In NSW, anyone pouring for the public must have Responsible Service of Alcohol training, and staff can decline to serve someone, so pace the day with a proper lunch.

Ask the operator about their policy on drinks inside the vehicle before anyone packs a bottle for the ride home.

Western Australia does things a little differently

In WA, a tour that follows a published itinerary counts as tourism passenger transport, while a day where you set the times and places is an on-demand service. Vehicles doing tourism or charter work need a passenger transport vehicle authorisation, and the operator holds it.

Driver hours also follow WA's own fatigue rules rather than the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which is one more reason to break up a long Margaret River run.

Your questions

Can we choose which wineries to visit?

Yes. Send your list and your preferred order. If you'd rather have suggestions, tell us the style of day you're after and we'll pass it to the operator.

How many cellar doors fit in one day?

Three or four, with lunch, is a comfortable pace for most groups. More than that and the day starts to feel rushed.

Can you collect us from different hotels?

Yes. List every pickup address and we'll ask for a route that collects everyone before heading out.

Cities

Vehicles