How to spend the most luxurious day in the Yarra Valley – using Helen and Joey’s Re’em as your base

No matter the time of year, the Yarra Valley (located just 50 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD) is always a must-visit region for wine enthusiasts, nature lovers and foodies – especially if you’re wanting to experience the best of the best in total luxury.

To highlight this, we’ve teamed up with the team at Helen & Joey Estate to create this epic itinerary for those looking to spend a totally lavish day in the Yarra Valley. It will have you flying over vineyards in a hot air balloon, tasting all manners of locally made wine and spirits, and sleeping in absolute comfort. Find your luxury Yarra Valley guide right here.

Fly above the vines in a hot air balloon

Soaring across the sky with the thunderous sound of flames pushing you up even higher is a really magical experience – even more so when that hot air balloon flight happens across the Yarra Valley’s undulating hills covered in vineyards. And thankfully, joining a hot air balloon ride here is all too easy. 

Several operators run daily flights over the region (Go Wild Ballooning, Red Balloon and Global Ballooning) mostly at sunrise. You can either rent out the whole ride for you and your partner or join a small group – even choosing to add a bottle of sparkling wine and snacks to the whole affair. It’s romantic and unforgettable. 

Indulge in fine wines during a lavish tasting

The Yarra Valley is home to countless cellar doors with wine tasting experiences, but the relatively new (opened in early 2024) Re’em is next level. First off, the surrounds are quintessentially Yarra Valley – with the cellar door offering uninterrupted views across the property's lake and rolling vineyards. You can look out at these from the balcony – when the weather is behaving – or from the comfort of your own table inside.

When it comes to the tastings themselves, you have a few options. First off, the $20 standard tasting lets you try six current and back vintage wines across their Unicorn and Wayward Child ranges. Then there’s the $30 premium tasting, which includes seven wines from their limited Re'em range – these are crafted from the estate's best parcels of fruit. Large groups can also work directly with the Re’em team to create their own bespoke tasting – plus snacks are always available to add on from the restaurant. 

Distill your own gin out in Healesville  

Four Pillars has become an absolute must-visit spot in the Yarra Valley – for this huge distillery and cellar door offers up a great swathe of gin-filled experiences. The hourly gin tastings will set you back $50, and include Four Pillars’ signature gin and tonic followed by five gin samples. Sip and chat to experts about the distilling process up in the mezzanine while overlooking the many surrounding gin stills. 

Those wanting a little more can also dabble in a distillery tour, marmalade workshop, cocktail masterclass or a special Healesville Maker Session – distilling your own gin that the team will post home to you later. Light bites are also on hand for this elevated gin-making experience.

Take a scenic Helicopter flight over the Yarra Valley

Helen & Joey Estate has gone the extra mile, linking visitors up with helicopter transport. In partnership with Helicraft, the team has curated a truly special experience which sees guests board a chopper in Melbourne – enjoying a flight over to the Yarra Valley – before ending right at Helen and Joey’s.

You can either follow this up with vineyard walks and a long lunch, or a short stay at Re’em’s own hotel. It’s the ultimate alternative mode of transport for those wanting to get to the Yarra Valley in epic style.  

Treat yourselves to a decadent dinner

The Yarra Valley is also home to countless restaurants – and Re’em’s hatted restaurant is one not to miss. Instead of leaning into classic winery dining options – think wine-friendly Euro-centric eats – the team has opted to infuse Asian influences throughout the menu. Seeing as the owners Helen Xu and Joey Zeng are themselves from China, this just makes so much sense. it's also a refreshing alternative.

The 80-seat dining room (boasting floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sprawling vineyard) is complete with intimate booths and balcony seating, making it a fine spot to have dinner. Watch the vineyards become aglow in sunset hues as you feast on a brilliant set menu which changes regularly. We can certainly think of worse dinner spots.

Spend the night right by rolling vineyards

Once you’ve spent a day in hot air balloons, sampling gins and wines, and eating all kinds of incredible food, you’re not going to want to travel far to your bed. And you’re not going to want to get in a car (fighting over who is the designated driver). That’s when a luxury Yarra Valley stay is needed. And Re'em offers one fine hotel of its own.

Each of its 16 thoughtfully designed rooms features a private balcony or patio, delivering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The top floor boasts four large suites, each featuring an oversized bath strategically placed to highlight the spectacular scenery – perfect for unwinding in scented luxury. And the other 12 rooms are smaller, but just as lavish.