Bickley Valley Wine, Cider & Gin Tour – Premium Small Group Tour

Small hills, serious drinks. This seven-hour Bickley Valley tour takes you just outside Perth for boutique wine, cider, gin, scenery, and lunch in a group capped at 10 people. I like the small-group size, which should make conversation and questions easier, and I like the chance to meet the people behind the local producers rather than simply sampling from a crowded tasting room.

The other strong point is the door-to-door city hotel pickup, a real help when wine tasting is involved. The main consideration is the price of $157.79 per person. That is not a casual half-day outing, though it includes transport, several tastings, a two-course lunch, and a full day in the hills.

Key points at a glance

• Three boutique wineries: One account describes visits to three small wineries, with owners or their wives personally explaining how the businesses work.
• Cider and gin alongside wine: This is not a single-minded wine circuit. You also sample locally made cider, with gin included in the tour theme.
• A seven-hour escape from Perth: Bickley Valley is close to the city, yet the rolling hills, orchards, forests, and country roads give the day a clear change of pace.
• A maximum of 10 people: The group limit should suit you if you prefer a quieter outing and direct access to the guide.
• Lunch is included: A two-course meal makes the price easier to justify and saves you from arranging food during a day of tastings.
• Hosted by Tim: Tim is described as cheerful, attentive, informative, and able to cater to the group’s needs.

Why Bickley Valley makes a smart day trip from Perth

Perth has better-known wine destinations, but Bickley Valley offers a shorter route into the countryside. Located in the Perth Hills, it is close enough for a practical day trip while still giving you rolling hills, orchards, wineries, cideries, and wooded areas to look at between tastings.

That setting matters. You are not spending the whole day moving between city venues or large commercial estates. The valley has a smaller, more personal feel, with boutique producers spread through a scenic rural area. The drive itself becomes part of the experience.

The tour is also useful if you want to understand how the local climate affects drinks production. The day includes an explanation of Bickley Valley’s unique microclimate, along with information about making wine and cider. I would treat this as a good introduction rather than a technical course. You should come away with a clearer sense of why this nearby region supports vineyards, orchards, and cider production.

A small group changes the feel of the day

The maximum group size is 10 people. That is one of the most important practical details here. Small groups usually make it easier to hear the explanations, ask questions, and speak with the people running each producer.

The strongest account of the day describes three boutique wineries where the owner or the owner’s wife handled the visit. That gives the stops a personal edge. Instead of receiving only a standard tasting script, you may hear about the day-to-day work of running a small winery, from production to the practical challenges of keeping a local business going.

I like that format because it connects the drink in your glass with the people who made it. It also gives you a better chance to ask direct questions about the wines, the valley, or the business itself.

The trade-off is that small producers can feel less polished than a major estate. That is part of the charm, but you should not expect a grand cellar, a large visitor centre, or a carefully staged show at every stop. The appeal is local character and personal contact.

The drive through Bickley Valley

The route begins with pickup from Perth city centre hotels, along with other central pickup points. Once you are aboard, you can let someone else handle the roads and concentrate on the views.

The journey into the Perth Hills passes through rolling terrain and scenic country around Bickley. Orchards, forests, and small drink producers help create a sense of place that is different from central Perth. The tour description makes clear that the drive is not simply a transfer between tasting rooms. It is part of the day’s appeal.

I would keep your expectations sensible. The information provided does not promise long walks, formal vineyard tours, or set viewpoints. The scenery is best enjoyed from the vehicle and around the tasting venues. If you want an active hiking day, this is not that kind of outing. If you want an easy rural escape without planning a route or assigning a designated driver, it fits much better.

Boutique winery visits and local stories

Wine is the main thread of the tour, and the boutique winery visits are likely to be the most personal part of the day. A recent account describes three small wineries, with direct attention from owners or their wives. That detail is worth noting because it separates this outing from a basic hop-on, hop-off tasting route.

You can expect to sample a range of wines, including sparkling wines. One account specifically praises the quality of both the wines and sparkling wines tasted during the day. The exact producers and pours are not fixed in the information provided, so you should think of the selection as dependent on the day’s route and availability.

The advantage of this approach is variety. You are not judging the entire region by one cellar door. You can compare the character of several small businesses and see how each presents its products.

The possible weakness is that a tasting-based day can feel repetitive if you are not interested in wine. The cider and gin elements help, but this remains a drinks-focused tour. It suits you best if you enjoy sampling, listening, and comparing rather than rushing from one sight to the next.

Cider, gin, and a wider taste of the valley

The cider stop broadens the day beyond grapes. You visit a local cider house and sample an array of locally made ciders. This is a useful addition for anyone who finds a full wine itinerary too narrow, and it reflects the valley’s connection with orchards as well as vineyards.

The cider tasting also provides a natural contrast. Wine and cider use different fruits, production methods, and flavor profiles, so the change keeps the day from becoming one long series of similar pours. The tour also includes gin in its title and overall experience, although the provided details do not specify a separate gin distillery visit or the exact gin tasting format.

That distinction matters. You should book this for a combined wine, cider, and gin theme, but not assume a dedicated gin-making demonstration unless the operator confirms it before departure.

Lunch gives the day a useful pause

A two-course lunch is included. That is practical for two reasons. First, it means you do not need to find a restaurant in the middle of a countryside route. Second, it gives you a proper break between tastings.

A meal also adds real value to the price. If you paid separately for transport, tastings, and lunch, the package would be easier to compare with a self-drive day. The tour removes the need to plan a safe return after drinking, which is a major benefit.

The details do not specify the restaurant, menu, dietary choices, or whether drinks are included with lunch. If you have food restrictions, ask Best of Perth Tours before booking. The same applies if lunch is a deciding factor for you. The tour promises two courses, but not a particular dish or venue.

What the $157.79 price really buys

At $157.79 per person, this is best judged as a convenience package rather than a cheap tasting deal. You are paying for about seven hours, city pickup and drop-off, guided transport, multiple winery visits, cider tasting, a two-course lunch, and a group limited to 10.

The value is strongest if you are staying in central Perth and do not want to rent a car. You avoid fuel, navigation, parking, and the problem of choosing who will drive. You also gain access to several producers in one day without having to contact each venue or build a route through the hills.

The value is less clear if you already have a car, plan to visit only one producer, or do not drink much. In that case, a self-planned outing could cost less, though it would not offer the same guided structure or built-in transport.

I also think the personal hosting improves the value. Direct contact with winery owners or their families can make a small tasting feel more worthwhile than a quick pour at a busy cellar door. Tim’s role matters here too. He is described as attentive, cheerful, and able to adjust to the group’s needs, which can make a long day more comfortable.

Tim’s hosting style

Tim receives particularly warm praise for the way he runs the day. He is described as informative, cheerful, and attentive. Those qualities matter on a seven-hour tour because the guide controls the pace, explains the region, and helps the group move smoothly from one stop to the next.

The most useful detail is that he was able to cater to the group’s needs. That does not promise every possible special arrangement, but it suggests a flexible approach rather than a rigid script.

A good guide can also connect the separate parts of the day. Without that link, wineries, cider, lunch, and scenery can feel like unrelated stops. Tim appears to provide the thread that turns them into a coherent day in Bickley Valley.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Couples or friends who want a relaxed tasting day without driving
• First-time visitors to Perth looking for a nearby rural outing
• People who prefer small producers to large commercial estates
• Wine drinkers who also enjoy cider and want some variety
• Anyone who values a guide and a planned route over independent arrangements
• Solo visitors who would rather join a small group than organize a private day

It may be less suitable if you want a major wine region with many large estates, extensive cellar-door facilities, or a highly formal educational program. It is also not the best match for someone seeking a strenuous outdoor activity. The day is built around transport, tastings, conversation, lunch, and views.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, although the main convenience is the included pickup from city centre hotels. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience requires a minimum number of participants to operate.

Timing, booking, and cancellation advice

The tour lasts about seven hours, so reserve most of a day for it. The experience is often booked around 61 days in advance, which suggests you should not leave it until the last minute if your Perth dates are fixed.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local time, so check your booking carefully if you are arranging this from another time zone.

Because the tour has a minimum number of participants, Best of Perth Tours can cancel if that number is not reached. In that event, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Bickley Valley tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized day outside Perth with wine, cider, scenery, lunch, and a small group. The best reasons are the personal access to boutique producers, the included transport, and the variety beyond wine. Tim’s attentive hosting also appears to be a major part of the experience.

Think twice if the $157.79 price feels high for a tasting day, if you prefer setting your own schedule, or if you are mainly interested in gin and expect a dedicated gin distillery tour. For the right person, though, Bickley Valley offers a pleasant alternative to Perth’s better-known wine routes, with less time spent on the road and more focus on small local producers.

FAQ

Where does the Bickley Valley Wine, Cider and Gin Tour take place?

The tour visits the Bickley Valley in the Perth Hills, just outside Perth, Australia.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $157.79 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available at city centre hotels, with additional central pickup locations also available.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 10 participants.

What drinks are included?

The experience includes wine tastings, a cider tasting session, and gin as part of the tour’s wine, cider, and gin focus. The exact gin format is not specified.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes. A two-course lunch is included.

Will I visit more than one winery?

The tour includes visits to several hand-selected wineries. One account of the experience describes three boutique wineries.

Can most people participate?

Yes. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.