Melbourne Exclusive Experiences and Day Trips Memories are made of .. Click through to these experiences available from Melbourne and curated exclusively for Southern Crossings Inside Chris Humfrey’s Wine and Dine Inside Paul Bangay’s Wild Life Behind Bars Private Gardens Day trips with a difference Celebrate Creativity at Fly, Forage and Sail Behind the Scenes in Uncovering Seville Robert Gordon Pottery Mornington Peninsula the Macedon Ranges Estate’s Secrets Wow Weekend Getaway The Ultimate Gourmet Getaway: taste, cook, sip and dine from Daylesford to Dunkeld southern-crossings.com Inside Chris Humfrey’s Wild Life Join Zoologist and super-charged television personality Chris Humfrey at his not so average family ‘home’. The Humphrey household includes more than 2000 native Australian animals. Their private zoo (not usually opened to the public) is nestled in an idyllic bush haven less than an hour from Melbourne and is home to a colourful menagerie including penguins, koalas, snakes, wedge-tailed eagles, cassowaries, and even blue-ringed octopus. The primary purpose of this private sanctuary is education and the breeding of rare and endangered species including the critically endangered Tiger Quoll as well as the adorable Mountain Pygmy Possum. Spend the morning as a Wildlife Ranger assisting Chris with some of the daily tasks of feeding animal husbandry and wildlife conservation, engaging with a variety of Australian native reptiles, birds, amphibians, mammals and insects along the way. Enjoy at a locals’ favourite café in the Macedon Ranges, before your private transfer back to the city*. Duration: approx. 6 hours Location: Macedon Number of people: 2 adults and up to 3 children (max. 5 people) When: Year round, subject to availability Cost: $4,000 for up to 5 people Includes: Private car transfers (*pick up /drop off location within 10km of Melbourne CBD), exclusive hands-on wildlife education experience with Chris Humphrey, lunch and a Click for T&Cs contribution to Australian wildlife conservation efforts, Wine & Dine Behind Bars A monument to nineteenth century architecture, Pentridge Prison’s imposing blue stone walls incarcerated some of Australia’s most notorious prisoners, from Ned Kelly to ‘Chopper’ Read, between 1850 and 1997. Celebrate new found freedoms again by stepping inside Pentridge Prison’s D Division .. and you will want to throw away the keys! Some of Australia’s finest wines are now cellared behind bars. Join Ned Goodwin, a Master of Wine from Langton’s fine wine auctioneers and globally respected wine writer (who has worked as sommelier for Veritas in Manhattan, Les Juveniles in Paris and Michael’s in Los Angeles). Ned will guide your palate through a privileged collection of wines as you tour Pentridge’s former cells, now Melbourne’s most exclusive cellars. Sit down to enjoy an 8 course wine-matched degustation menu prepared by an award-winning chef, whilst a live acoustic ensemble completes this exclusive sensory experience. Duration: 3.5 hours (plus transfer time) Location: Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison Number of people: Up to 12 (subject to the applicable social distancing and COVID gathering restrictions) When: Year round, subject to availability Cost: $27,750 for up to 12 people Includes: Private transfer (for locations within 10km of Melbourne CBD), privileged access to Master of wine – Ned Goodwin and the cellars of Pentridge Prison, 9 premium wines, 8- Click for T&Cs course degustation lunch or dinner, live music during the meal, and a take-away gift. Inside Paul Bangay’s Private Gardens For 30 years Paul Bangay has fulfilled his clients’ aspirations for gardens that are expressive of the timeless elegance and classic simplicity for which he is internationally renowned. Widely regarded as Australia’s foremost garden designer, Bangay’s distinctive approach has been featured in countless publications, and he is a sought-after guest on many gardening and lifestyle programs. Spend the morning with Paul Bangay roaming the expansive gardens at his private property halfway between Kyneton and Daylesford. Gain insight to Paul’s garden design philosophies and enjoy morning tea accompanied by awe-inspiring views. Enjoy lunch in the nearby village of Kyneton and spend the afternoon exploring some of the region’s finest gardens and historic streetscapes, before being transferred back to Melbourne*. Duration: approx. 7.5 hours Number of people: 1-6 people When: Subject to availability Cost: $6,750 for 2 people, $7,500 for 3-6 people Includes: Private car and local host for the day (*pick up /drop off location within 10km of Melbourne CBD), exclusive garden tour hosted by its creator Paul Bangay, lunch in the Click for T&Cs village of Kyneton and afternoon exploring the region’s gardens Celebrate Creativity at Robert Gordon Pottery Discover a secret enclave of incredible local talent in a quiet village at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges. Start your day with a hands-on behind the scenes experience at Robert Gordon Pottery. Arguably the best-known name in Australian ceramics, Sam and his father Robert’s handmade ceramics are on display in some of the world's finest restaurants, from New York and Los Angeles to the tiny town of Birregurra (home of the peerless, Brae restaurant). Chat with Sam and/or Robert Gordon about their craft, enjoy a live demonstration and create your own masterpiece under the guidance of these master potters. Your kilned piece will be posted to you. Continue to celebrate creativity with a farm-to-plate degustation dining experience at the nearby ‘O-My,’ where the Bertoncello brothers have been quietly delighting local and international diners in-the-know since 2013. Seasonal and sustainably grown produce sourced largely from the Bertoncello’s farm is prepared and presented with passion and without pretension. Duration: approx. 7 hours Location: Beaconsfield Number of people: 2-6 people When: Saturdays and Sundays year round, subject to availability Cost: $2,600 for 2 people, $3,200 for 3-4 people, $4,000 for 5-6 people Includes: Private car transfers (pick up / drop off location within 10km of Melbourne CBD), Click for T&Cs morning tea, behind the scenes hands-on experience at Robert Gordon Pottery (creating a personalised souvenir piece) and gourmet lunch with beverages. Fly, Forage and Sail in the Mornington Peninsula Take in the spectacular city and coastal views on a scenic helicopter flight from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula. Spend the morning meeting local farmers and specialty producers at a variety of farm gates. Gather incredible local cheeses at Main Ridge, olives from the Red Hill Hinterland and strawberries from Sunny Ridge. Enjoy personalised introductions and tastings at Mock Red Hill Orchard and a collection of fabulous local wineries, the likes of Stonier and Quealy Winemakers; collecting many memories and tasty treats to take home. With produce and wine in hand, set sail aboard a private catamaran to enjoy grazing on Peninsula produce and sipping on Mornington Pinot Gris as you gaze across the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay (keeping an eye out for the resident dolphins). If the weather permits, take a dip in a sheltered bayside cove. Private road transfer back to Melbourne* in the late afternoon Duration: approx. 7 hours Number of people: 2-6 people (dependent on helicopter weight restrictions) When: Year round, subject to availability Cost: $5,800 for 2 people, $7,200 for 3-4 people $9,400 for 5-6 people Includes: Private car and local host for the day (*pick up/ drop off location within 10km of Melbourne CBD), one way private helicopter transfer from Melbourne to Mornington Peninsula, foodie experience of the Mornington peninsula, private 2-hour cruise aboard a Click for T&Cs sailing catamaran and grazing lunch of regional produce with matching wines. Behind the Scenes in the Macedon Ranges Explore some of the tastiest treasures on your backdoor. Join one of Melbourne’s leading sommeliers to uncover the hidden gems and local secrets of one of Australia’s magnificent – yet often overlooked - wine regions, the Macedon Ranges. Tour the mainland’s highest wine country, tasting Riesling, Chardonnay, Sparkling, Shiraz and Pinot Noir with privileged exclusive access to some of the region’s finest vineyards such as Curly Flat, Bindi and Athletes of Wine. Go behind the scenes at cellar doors to meet the winemakers and sample celebrated back vintages, before sitting down to a delicious lunch featuring fabulous regional produce. Sit back and relax on the scenic private transfer back to Melbourne*. Duration: approx. 6 hours Number of people: 1-6 people When: Friday – Wednesday year round, subject to availability Cost: $3,600 for up to 6 people Includes: Private car for the day (*pick up and drop off location within 10km of Melbourne CBD), Click for T&Cs wine tour hosted by a leading Sommelier, lunch of regional produce. Uncovering the secrets of success at Seville Estate Spend the day learning the secrets of success behind James Halliday’s 2019 ‘Winery of the Year’. Situated on a ridge of fertile red volcanic soil, hidden from the well-trodden tracks of the mainstream, Seville Estate has established itself as one of the Yarra Valley’s finest producers. A private road transfer from Melbourne will deliver you to the Seville cellar door for an exclusive introduction to their fine wines and great food. Venture into the winery or wander through the vines with one of the estate’s winemakers, taste the full range of estate and reserve wines – and perhaps even sample an ‘unreleased’ wine from the barrel. The experience is tailored to the winery workings of the season. Continue with a kitchen garden tour in the company of one of Seville Estate’s chefs then step inside the kitchen for an exclusive cooking demonstration before sitting down to a multi-course lunch with matched Estate wines.