With market leading rates, I guess our model is more like other low cost carriers like Virgin Blue etc, so it’s up to you to organise, book and pay for activities on the ground. The staff at Dominque Portet Winery, Chateau Yering and De Bortoli Winery are very helpful, we also have a local guide who can come up with some affordable ground activity options for you. For more details visit destinations tab at our Yarra Valley Helicopter Website

Destination 1, Dominique Portet Winery for barrel tastings, wine tastings and light lunches or a 1 minute car ride/10 minute walk to lunch next door at Bella Vedere. (ph 59626161) is a fantastic unpretentious restaurant within Badgers Brook winery. Using local produce and run by Gary Cooper. (former Eleanore’s Restaurant founder and Chefs hat) You do need to book in early with Bella Vedere, it’s worth the effort, we receive awesome feedback from our clients about this restaurant.

But of course completely up to you and there are many other dining options in the valley. Dominique Portets wine tastings are recommended and they have very good sparkling wines. Their lunches are light and great for casual snacks.

If you wanted some more wine touring activities on the ground you can depart earlier and return later. We recommend private Local Guide Brian Ingleson, (photo above with pilot and guest) his ph no is 0405249030, he can come up with a ground itinerary to suit or just provide transfers in the valley.

Destination 2, De Bortoli Winery, where you can enjoy fantastic rustic Italian cuisine in the “Locale” restaurant, which has been recently refurbished. Home of the Nobel One Sticky wine and perfect for those who want a long luxurious lunch with great wine.

Destination 3, Chateau Yering is a member of the association of Relais and Chateaux, This unites 426 independently owned hotels and restaurants of charm and prestige in 43 countries around the world. Relais & Chateaux represents the highest quality and offer the perfect balance among exceptional service, food, comfort, and surroundings.

The fine dining Eleonore’s Restaurant, with its emphasis on regional produce matched with local wine from our historic stone cellar. Executive Chef Mathew Macartney produces a menu that reflects the seasons and his dishes often surprise with his imaginative use of unusual ingredients.The conservatory style Sweetwater Café with its casual ambience is open from 7.30am daily and serves gourmet breakfasts, lunch and morning and afternoon teas .It is also an easy stroll to winery Yering Station next door.

One of Heli Experiences Helicopter Fleet Chateau yering

Customers will also receive a city scenic on the outbound leg. You can Lunch at Cafe Sweetwater mid week or stay overnight* and dine at Eleanores Restaurant, which offers full degustation Menu.Perfect for that special anniversay.* Heli Surcharge applies.

View above Chateau Yering from Helicopter

helicopter over De Bortoli Winery

Also includes a city scenic en route. That is simply the best rate available in Melbourne and you will be flying with Melbourne’s No1 Scenic Flight operator, Heli Experiences. To find out more about our great Yarra Valley destinations visit www.yarravalleydirect.com.au and to book in just ring 1300 771 916.

Guy Maine Pilot Heli Experiences

Continuing along our pilot profile series of posts, meet Guy Maine, Managing Director of  Heli Experiences and our leading Pilot. Here he is standing in front of one of his favourite helicopters (Above). Secretly nicknamed “Kojak” here’s a few mug shots of Kojak. (Above as well)) what do you reckon?. Also below a great shot Guy took with his beloved iphone,  On one of our Yarra Valley Direct Helicopter Flights to Chateau Yering. For more info about our Yarra Valley direct helicopter flights from Melbourne, you can click here. To learn about KOJAK you can click here.

Yarra Valley Helicopter at Chateau Yering

More than just Helicopter Pilots, a belief in Hospitality

All of us at Heli Experiences enjoy creating special moments for our clients on special days. One of the biggest events in the year is Mother Day. Why not treat your mother or wife or girlfriend to an awesome scenic flight around Melbourne.  All our customers are treated with VIP status. We are offering 15 min and 30 min private flights on Mothers Day for 2 – 4 passengers.

Starting at

15 min private flight $99 per person based on 3 passengers or $150 per person based on 2 passengers

30 min private flights starting at $166 per person based on 3 passengers or $250 per person based on 2 passengers

4 passenger flights in our Luxury Jet Ranger for $200 per person

For 15 min flight plan click here For 30 min  flight plan click here.

Scenic flights Melbourne happy customer

No snobby helicopter pilot heroes in their “Jumpsuits”, but just welcoming friendly, commercial pilot, tourism professionals who understand how to ensure a special experience for all involved. Heli Experiences is the No1 scenic flight operator in Melbourne, with the most scenic flights around the city every week. It’s because we believe in hospitality.

Ring us Now on 1300 771 916 for Early Bird Bookings by end of April for Mothers day will receive a Gift Pack on the Day which includes

1.Bottle of French Champagne (1/2 Bottle) Gift Wrapped
2.Box of Fine Chocolates Gift Wrapped
3.Free entry to Eureka Skydeck 88 for all passengers

Another happy and excited Melbourne helicopter scenic flight customer

And the lovely note received from her Daughter

“I never thought my Mum would ever get to experience the joy of flight and with the help of your experienced staff  it all went perfectly.
Looking forward to our next flight with you
Thanks
Heather”

Heli Experiences offers the best prices and rates for couples and small groups for scenic joy flights around Melbourne and beyond, operating from our private Lounge and Heliport at Essendon Airport, you safety is assured. Feel free to contact our tourism professionals for any more information about our flights.  Yarra Valley return flights are also very Popular and we are also the market leading rate for couples to the Yarra Valley. For more info click here

One of the views seen from a heli experiences scenic flight

Pilot, helicopter and happy guest at De Bortoli winery and Locale restaurant on a picture postcard day!

We just received this kind note from the Wilsons from Qld. (see some images below they kindly forwarded to us. Thought i’d share it with you. With market leading rates for return helicopter flight into the Yarra Valley and impressive winery and food destinations in the Yarra Valley, this tour is highly recommended by all who participate. Perfect for the upcoming christmas entertainment season. For more information simply click on the Yarra Valley icon on the RHS of this page or click here to visit the website.

Testimonial and images courtesy of Ken Wilson.

Just wanted to drop you guys a note and attach some of the wonderful photos we took of the day.
Guy made us feel extremely comfortable the entire time from pick-up at our hotel to drop off at the airport for our flight home.
We will be more than happy to recommend your experience to all and sundry whom are interested. What a day!
We appreciate everything you personally did to make our trip that experience we wont forget.

Again, thanks for a great day.
Cheers, Ken & Deb.

Happy to announce a new destination for our Yarra Valley Direct helicopter flights, the venerable De Bortoli winery and Locale restaurant in the Yarra Valley. Happily this blog writer was invited to their very special Noble One 25th vintage anniversary celebration. This included a special informative masterclass and back vintage tastings led by Darren De Bortoli, the creator of Noble One. Here’s a picture below of darren being given undivided attention.

An interesting story on the night, apparently our prime minister kevin rudd, recently presented a case of Noble One to the Pope, who loves the golden drop and was visibly impressed! if you want to drink what the pope drinks, buy the 2006 vintage.

The tastings on the night included back vintages of the Noble One and comparable sweet wines from around the world including a 2001 Chateau D’Yquem (and ive added my short tasting notes pic above bottom left to top right) 1. a light bodied 1981 bortrytis pedro ximinez 2. a more luscious, viscous 1985 de bortoli sauternes 3. less oak, matured in young french barrel 1995 de bortoli noble one 4. a great example of the king of stickies 2002 de bortoli noble one 5. one of the great vintages of the century 2001 chateau d’yquem 6. a 2001 chateau suduiraut no match compared to noble one, high in alcohol and bit of a petrol smell 7. in my opinion the most impressive vintage of the night with lovely caramel the 2007 de bortoli noble one.

Some ardent fans of the noble one all the way from hong kong for the special event and below more pics from the night

There also was a dinner involved and i reckon the highlight was the honey and vanilla pannacotta with noble one poached quince. It was sublime, not so sublime my photo below!

the de bortoli winery restaurant “Locale” with executive chef Tim Keenan have created a powerful menu of rustic italian food, staying true to the roots of where the winery and the family hail from. recently refurbished and with absolutely delightful head waiter “Tony”, this is one of the most outstanding winery restaurants in the yarra valley district. with great decor and comfort.

The private tasting room downstairs is perfect for small groups and with a full cheese maturation room right next door, all you have to bring is your palate. the private tastings and trophies room below.

]]> http://heliexperiences.com.au/incentives/2009/08/de-bortoli-noble-one-25th-anniversary-tasting-and-dinner/feed/ 5 http://heliexperiences.com.au/incentives/2009/03/yarra-valley-direct/ http://heliexperiences.com.au/incentives/2009/03/yarra-valley-direct/#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:02:27 +0000 admin http://heliexperiences.com.au/incentives/?p=172 SAME DAY RETURN HELICOPTER FLIGHTS TO THE YARRA VALLEY

FROM MELBOURNE (ESSENDON AIRPORT)

HOT PRICE From $233 PP (3 passengers) or $349 PP (2 passengers)

Outbound flight leg includes a Melbourne City fly around including Docklands, Eureka Tower, Goverment House, Rod Laver Arena, the yarra and the venerable MCG. What a great way to start your Yarra Valley experience. Departing from our private VIP lounge and heliport, enjoy a glass of French bubbly before departure. What you do on the ground in the Valley is up to you. We can recommend restaurants, private guides and activities, but you make the decisions and bookings. Which is why we can do this flight at the lowest price from Melbourne. Great Value

Landing at the Exclusive Dominic Portet Winery Click Here.

Heli Experiences will be launching a new website dedicated to the Yarra Valley www.yarravalleydirect.com.au with this market leading price for return helicopter flight form Melbourne to a choice of destinations in the Yarra Valley. It’s business as usual in the Vally and the tourism operations based in the valley need visitors to come back and support them after the recent bushfires. Simply stunning sightseeing for family and friends !