✦ The 2026 guide: 9 reasons Cooee Tours leads Brisbane wine + craft beer touring · Mt Tamborine · Scenic Rim · Laneway breweries · Cooee Wine concierge  Enquire →
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Brisbane Wine & Craft Beer Specialists
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✦ The 2026 Brisbane Wine & Beer Guide

Brisbane's Best Wine & Craft Beer
Bus Tour Operator

Nine reasons Cooee Tours leads the category in 2026 — from boutique Mt Tamborine cellar doors and Scenic Rim wineries to Brisbane laneway craft breweries. Local-curated itineraries, drivers who are storytellers first, food pairings, custom group tours, and the Cooee Wine concierge service that extends the cellar-door relationship long after you've gone home.

4.9 · 412 reviews
ATAS Accredited
~6 min read
Brisbane locals since 1974
9
Reasons
50+
Years
15+
Cellar doors
12+
Brewery partners
Max 11
Per vehicle
Enquire about a Tour Read the 9 Reasons
From $159ppMt Tamborine day tour

Good day, wine and craft beer lovers. If you're planning a delicious day out from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, there's no better way to enjoy South East Queensland's cellar doors and craft breweries than from the back seat of a Cooee Tours coach — bold Tamborine reds, crisp Granite Belt whites, and creative Brisbane laneway brews, all in one stress-free day where nobody draws the short straw to drive home.

Brisbane's wine and craft beer scene has come a long way in two decades. The Scenic Rim — the volcanic plateau and rolling foothills west and south of the city — now produces internationally-recognised cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon, Verdelho, and Chardonnay from Mt Tamborine's elevated 550m boutique wineries (Witches Falls, Albert River Wines, Sirromet's mountain estate, and a half-dozen smaller family operations). The Granite Belt around Stanthorpe — Queensland's only Geographical Indication wine region, sitting at 900m+ altitude — produces the "Strange Birds" alternative varieties (Tempranillo, Saperavi, Fiano) that consistently win national awards. Meanwhile, Brisbane's craft beer revolution has filled the city's industrial laneways with award-winning microbreweries — Newstead Brewing, Green Beacon, Felons, Range, Aether, Slipstream — many of which run cellar-door-style tap rooms with locally-made woodfired pizza.

This guide explains why Cooee Tours has led Brisbane's wine and craft beer bus touring category for five decades — and why our customers keep coming back with hens parties, birthdays, corporate groups, and out-of-town family visits. Nine reasons, plus an introduction to Cooee Wine — our concierge service that lets you keep accessing your favourite cellar doors long after the tour ends.

The 9 Reasons

Why Cooee Tours Leads the Category

Not a sales pitch. Just the nine specific reasons our customers cite when they explain why they booked us — and the nine reasons they keep coming back for the next hens party, birthday, or corporate group day.

Locally-Curated Itineraries

Our team has handpicked every cellar door and brewery on the schedule — Mt Tamborine boutique wineries, Brisbane laneway breweries, Scenic Rim hinterland venues. You'll visit places with serious flavour and local character, not just the big names with marketing budgets. Each tour is built around variety and memorable experiences first.

Groups of All Sizes

Hens parties, birthdays, team-bonding days, milestone anniversaries, or just a chill afternoon with your favourite people. Vehicles in 7, 11, 14, and 20+ seat configurations. Couples through to corporate groups — public departures, private hire, or fully-customised bespoke days. The vibe is yours to choose: social and shared, or exclusive and tailored.

Mix Wine & Beer Same Day

One of the genuinely best features. You don't have to choose. Many guests blend a morning swirl of Scenic Rim Shiraz with an afternoon hazy pale ale at a Brisbane brewery — all in one smooth ride. Perfect for groups where preferences differ (most groups do), and a beautifully well-balanced day of discovery.

Drivers Are Guides First

Our drivers are tour guides who happen to drive. Friendly, professional, genuinely love what they do, and full of local stories about every winery and brewery on the route. They'll offer commentary, share insider tips, take group photos for you, and keep the day running smoothly without rushing it. You'll know your driver by name by the end of the day.

Behind-the-Scenes Access

Many of our partner venues offer barrel-hall tours, winemaker walks, or kitchen-side brewery introductions for our groups — moments you wouldn't get walking in off the street. See how a Tamborine Cabernet is blended, watch hops become beer in the conditioning tanks, hear the family-history stories from cellar doors that have been on the mountain for three generations.

Everyone Enjoys the Day

The simplest and most important reason. No designated driver needed. Modern air-conditioned coaches, professional driver doing the heavy lifting on the winding Mt Tamborine roads, and every member of your group able to genuinely enjoy every pour. Safer, more convenient, and significantly more fun than splitting up rideshares or drawing straws for who stays sober.

Food Pairings Done Right

A good drink deserves a good bite. Most stops include grazing boards, cheese platters, or full lunch options that complement what's in the glass. Mt Tamborine cellar doors are particularly strong on artisan cheese and charcuterie; brewery stops typically include woodfired pizza or kitchen tasting plates. Dietary requirements catered with advance notice.

Top-Rated Venues With Character

From heritage Mt Tamborine wineries with sweeping Scenic Rim views to creative Brisbane microbreweries pushing the flavour boundaries — we partner only with venues that prioritise quality, hospitality, and the local story over volume. You're not just drinking something delicious; you're supporting passionate Queensland producers.

Easy Booking & Custom Tours

Book directly online via Rezdy, or reach out to plan a personalised tour. Want to visit a specific Tamborine vineyard? Prefer a late start because it's a 30th birthday and there's a recovery to manage? Want to combine cellar doors with a Brisbane brewery for a stag-and-hen joint event? No problem. Our team tailors itineraries to your schedule, taste, and vibe.

South East Queensland Wine & Beer

The Regions & Partners We Tour

A short guide to the wine regions, brewery clusters, and venue partners that make up the Cooee Tours wine and craft beer day-tour catalogue. All within day-trip range of Brisbane CBD or the Gold Coast.

Region 1 · 90 min from Brisbane

Mt Tamborine · The Headline Wine Day

Our flagship wine tour destination. Mt Tamborine sits at 550m elevation on Wangerriburra Country (Yugambeh language), the volcanic plateau that formed from the massive Mount Warning eruption 22 million years ago. That red basalt topsoil, the 5-7°C cooler-than-coast climate, and the boutique-winery culture (most are family-owned, most welcome you personally) produce some of Queensland's most surprising cool-climate wines — Cabernet, Chardonnay, Verdelho, occasional Pinot. Our partner cellar doors include Witches Falls Winery (Queensland's first organically-certified vineyard, 1908 area heritage), Albert River Wines, and Sirromet's mountain estate. See the dedicated Mt Tamborine Wine Tour page →

Distance ~90min from Brisbane
Altitude 550m volcanic plateau
Cellar doors 4-5 per tour
From $159pp Classic / $229pp Premium
  • Witches Falls Winery
  • Albert River Wines
  • Sirromet mountain estate
  • Cool-climate Cabernet
  • Boutique family operations
  • Cellar-door exclusive releases
Region 2 · 3 hr from Brisbane

Granite Belt (Stanthorpe) · Queensland's Wine GI

For the genuine wine enthusiast, the Granite Belt around Stanthorpe is Queensland's only official Geographical Indication wine region, sitting at 900m+ altitude — the highest mainland Australian wine region outside the Snowy Mountains. The granite-derived soils and cold winters here produce the famous "Strange Birds" alternative varieties: Tempranillo, Saperavi, Fiano, Petit Verdot, Viognier, plus serious Shiraz and Cabernet from the classics. Granite Belt tours typically run as private hire day trips or 2-day overnight options because the drive is 3 hours each way. Best for serious enthusiasts and birthday/anniversary celebrations rather than mixed groups.

Distance ~3hr from Brisbane
Altitude 900m+
Format Private hire / 2-day
Pricing POA
  • Geographical Indication wine region
  • Strange Birds alternative varieties
  • Tempranillo Saperavi Fiano
  • Highest altitude QLD
  • Heritage wineries
  • Private hire format
Region 3 · Brisbane inner city

Brisbane Laneway Craft Breweries

Brisbane's craft beer revolution has filled the city's industrial inner suburbs (Newstead, Teneriffe, Milton, Yeerongpilly) with award-winning microbreweries operating cellar-door-style tap rooms. Most pair beer with woodfired pizza or brewery-kitchen tasting plates. Our regular partners include Newstead Brewing (the original Brisbane craft pioneer), Green Beacon (Teneriffe waterfront), Felons Brewing (at Howard Smith Wharves under Story Bridge), Range Brewing (creative small-batch Newstead), Aether Brewing, Slipstream, Helios, and Bacchus. Brewery tours typically combine 3-4 stops in a half-day or 5-6 stops in a full day. Brewery-only tours start from POA; combination wine + beer days available.

Pickup Brisbane CBD
Format Half-day or full-day
Brewery partners 12+ rotating
Pricing POA
  • Newstead Brewing
  • Green Beacon Teneriffe
  • Felons at Howard Smith Wharves
  • Range Brewing creative
  • Aether Slipstream Helios Bacchus
  • Woodfired pizza pairing

Cooee Wine · The Concierge Behind Every Wine Tour

After a Cooee wine tour, the relationship with the cellar doors doesn't have to end. Cooee Wine is our complimentary concierge service that lets you keep accessing the wines you fell in love with — from anywhere in the world. No membership fee, no minimum spend; you only pay for the wine and shipping you choose. Six service pillars handled by our sommelier on your behalf.

📦 Curated Tour Cases

Sommelier picks a 6 or 12-bottle case from the cellar doors you visited on the tour. Personalised note on each bottle, Australia-wide delivery within 5 business days, international 10-14 days.

✈️ International Shipping

40+ destinations including UK, US, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and EU. Temperature-controlled containers; all customs and duty handled. Door-to-door tracking.

🔑 Cellar-Door Exclusives

Many Mt Tamborine and Scenic Rim wineries release small-volume vintages exclusively through their cellar doors. Cooee Wine sources these directly — including library and back-vintage releases.

📞 Sommelier Hotline

Email or call your tour sommelier for ongoing collection advice — pairings, vintage timing, cellar notes. No-charge consultation for past tour guests indefinitely.

🏛️ Brisbane Cellar Storage

For international guests building Australian wine collections — temperature and humidity-controlled storage in Brisbane. Catalogued and photographed inventory accessible online.

🍂 Quarterly Selections

Opt-in seasonal wine club: 4 deliveries per year, sommelier-selected from the Mt Tamborine and Scenic Rim region. Curated around the season. Skip or cancel any quarter.

Full Cooee Wine details & terms

What Brisbane Wine & Beer Tour Guests Say · 4.9/5 · 412 reviews

Brisbane Wine & Beer Reviews

★★★★★

"Booked Cooee for my sister's hens — 12 of us on a private bus from Brisbane to Mt Tamborine. Three cellar doors, a brewery on the way back, lunch in between. Driver was hilarious and patient with us. Everyone got home safe and the bride was thrilled. Will book again for the 40th."

Hannah K. · Paddington, Brisbane · Hens party

★★★★★

"Used Cooee Tours for our team end-of-year — wine in the morning at Tamborine, then a Brisbane brewery for the afternoon. Genuinely the best corporate day we've ever organised. Cooee Wine picked us a 12-bottle case afterwards that arrived in Sydney within the week. Five stars."

Tom A. · Sydney corporate group, 14 guests

★★★★★

"Anniversary day trip from the Gold Coast — Mt Tamborine, two cellar doors, a winery lunch, and home in time for dinner. Sommelier knew the wines so well. We left with a Cooee Wine subscription and three cases on order to the UK after our move. Brilliant operation."

Margaret & David W. · Burleigh Heads → UK · Couple

Before You Book

Frequently Asked Questions

Five decades of Brisbane-local relationships with cellar doors and brewers. Cooee Tours has been running East Coast tours since 1974 (under the Waggie Group umbrella). Wine and craft beer day-tour itineraries are curated by locals who know the Scenic Rim wineries, Mt Tamborine cellar doors, and Brisbane laneway breweries personally — not just the big names. We're ATAS accredited, maximum 11 guests per public tour vehicle, and our drivers are tour guides first and drivers second.

Yes — about a third of our group bookings request a mixed itinerary. A typical day might pair 2-3 boutique Mt Tamborine cellar doors with a single Brisbane laneway brewery stop on the way back, with a gourmet lunch in between. This works particularly well for groups where preferences differ (couples, hens parties, corporate groups). Just specify when booking, or call to discuss.

Our brewery itineraries rotate based on what each group prefers — popular partners include Newstead Brewing (Milton), Green Beacon (Teneriffe waterfront), Felons Brewing (Howard Smith Wharves), Range Brewing (Newstead), Aether Brewing (Milton), Slipstream (Yeerongpilly), Helios Brewing (Yeerongpilly), and Bacchus Brewing (Capalaba). For groups travelling out to Mt Tamborine we'll often add Fortitude Brewing on the mountain itself. We book each stop ahead so you're not waiting for tastings.

Absolutely — these make up the majority of our wine and brewery bookings. We have private vehicles in 7, 11, 14, and 20+ seat configurations. Hens parties typically book the full vehicle for privacy. Corporate groups frequently combine cellar door visits with a casual team lunch. Birthdays are flexible — we've done everything from 30th surprise hens combos to 70th wine appreciation days. Private hire usually works out better-value than per-person public tour seats once you have 6+ people.

Cooee Wine is our wine concierge service that extends the cellar-door relationship after your tour ends. Our sommelier can curate 6 or 12-bottle cases from the cellar doors you visited and ship anywhere in Australia or internationally (40+ destinations, customs and duty handled). Members access cellar-door-only releases, a sommelier hotline, Brisbane-based temperature-controlled cellar storage for international buyers, and optional quarterly seasonal selections. No membership fee — you only pay for the wine and shipping you choose. See Cooee Wine for full details →

Yes — wine and brewery tours run year-round from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Mt Tamborine and the Scenic Rim are 5-7°C cooler than the coast at 550m altitude, making them excellent in summer. Winter (June-August) and autumn (March-May) are the most popular seasons. Daily public departures plus private hire any day; advance booking strongly recommended for weekends and public holidays.

Lunch is included on most wine tour itineraries — usually a 2-course gourmet lunch at a winery restaurant on Mt Tamborine, Scenic Rim, or another partner venue. Brewery itineraries typically include a brewery lunch (woodfired pizza, brewery-kitchen tasting plates). Cheese boards and charcuterie are common at cellar door stops. Dietary requirements always catered with advance notice.

Call 0409 661 342 (Brisbane local), email contact@waggiegroup.com, or book online via the booking link. A 20% deposit secures private hire; smaller public tour seats are payable in full at booking. Free cancellation 7+ days before departure. We respond to enquiries same business day.

Ready to Book Your Brisbane Wine or Brewery Day?

Five decades of Brisbane-local wine & beer expertise.

Hens · Birthdays · Corporate · Couples · Solo travellers · International visitors. Public departures daily, private hire any day. Mt Tamborine from $159pp Classic / $229pp Premium. Brewery-only and combination POA.

Call 0409 661 342 Email Enquiry
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Sommelier-curated cases, international shipping to 40+ destinations, cellar-door exclusives, Brisbane cellar storage, quarterly seasonal selections. Complimentary service.

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