Shuttle Buses –
Leave the car at home and buy a Toast to the Coast shuttle bus ticket.  Regional feeder buses will depart from Geelong Railway Station both days of the festival while regional shuttle buses can be boarded at any of the participating wineries* (*except Terindah Estate & Wayawu).  Your ticket gives you unlimited touring between the wineries throughout the Toast weekend (as schedule permits).

Buses from Geelong Station to the Sub-regions
Toast to the Coast shuttle buses start the day at Geelong Railway Station and travel to each of the three sub regions – the Moorabool Valley (Austins & Co), Surf Coast (Mt Duneed Estate) and  in The Bellarine (Leura Park Estate).  Services commence at 10am and will return throughout the day until approximately 6pm (but you can start your day at any of the participating wineries)

Last Buses – The last feeder bus departs each sub region around 5.30pm to return to Geelong Railway Station.   Patrons must be at one of these 4 subregion wineries no later than 5.00pm.

Bus Loops within the Sub-regions
Shuttle buses operate within each of the sub regions over the weekend to take you from one great Geelong winery to the next. The buses will operate in a continuous loop around the venues and are timetabled to arrive at/depart from each venue approximately every 30 minutes.

There is a shuttle service between Austins & Co and del Rios every hour

Please note, due to the popularity of the buses and in order to move people around the region effectively, tickets are strictly limited this year. You will need to purchase your bus tickets* before the event. Only 100 tickets will be available on the day and can only be purchased from Hub wineries or Geelong Railway Station.   Make sure you pre purchase your ticket so you don’t miss out!  Bus drivers will not be selling tickets on the day.

*To travel on the shuttle buses you will need a Toast to the Coast ticket and a shuttle bus ticket – both are valid for the entire weekend – you need to pre-purchase your shuttle bus ticket and present it to any of the shuttle bus drivers, at participating wineries or at Geelong Railway Station to get your shuttle bus wristband

Bus Timetable: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The above information is correct at the time of publication.

Please note: There is strictly no drinking of alcohol on buses and open containers will not be permitted.  Drunken behavior will not be tolerated.

FAQ – Toast to the Coast

Can I buy tickets on the day?
You can purchase a tasting ticket during the weekend at any of the participating wineries. Bus tickets are limited but will be available in small numbers throughout the regions.

Where can I get my glass and wristband?
Simply take your ticket to any of the participating wineries and swap your ticket for a wristband and your tasting glass. These will also be available from the railway station on both mornings of the event.

Where do buses depart from?
Buses to the main regions all depart from Geelong railway station, however, if you have a pre-purchased ticket, you can hop on the buses at any of the stops along the scheduled routes and swap your ticket for a wristband. A full timetable can be downloaded from our website.

What does my ticket give me?
Your ticket gives you access to wine tastings at all participating wineries across multiple venues over 2 full days. There is live music, gourmet food, displays and wine specials available across the board.

You can visit one, two or three of our Geelong Sub regions over both days, with access to the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Moorabool Valley. Totally spoiled for choice.

Your bus ticket allows you unlimited travel between the wineries all weekend.

I want to get on or off the bus somewhere that isn’t listed on the schedule, can I do that?
Unfortunately not. We have designated stops for people to get on and off the bus. This enables us to run an efficient service throughout the weekend hopefully without any delays.

I am the designated driver or designated non drinker, do I still need to purchase a ticket?
Designated drivers and non drinkers can still be a part of Toast to the Coast without a ticket. Designated drivers will have access to special offers and non alcoholic drinks but will not be able to partake in any wine tastings without a wristband.

Can I buy single day tickets?
Toast to the Coast is a weekend event.  Tickets are for both days.  This goes for both buses and tasting tickets.

I can only go one day, can I give my passes to a friend?
Tickets will be swapped for wristbands and are non transferable.  You will need your glass and wristband for both days of the festival.

Private Tours

Jump on-board with the crew from For the Love of Grape Specialty Wine Tours and enjoy the festival in comfort.  Our experienced hosts will escort you to the great wineries with a completely flexible itinerary (yes you decide where you want to go on the day!).  If you arrive at a destination and it’s not what you wanted, our local hosts will assist you to find a venue that’s just right for you. Don’t be stuck in queues waiting for crowded shuttle buses! Enjoy the experience and knowledge of our local hosts who know the area well and its wineries intimately.

Included is our door to door service which removes the need to drive. Toast to the Coast special rates of $85pp with discounts for groups of 10 or more (does not include your Toast ticket or lunch) for a full day tour. Get a group of friends together and book your own private vehicle for the day or join one of our public tours.

Call 0408 388 332 or email info@fortheloveofgrape.com.au

CAR
Geelong is a 45 minute car trip along the Princes Freeway from Melbourne.  The three sub regions where Toast to the Coast winery venues are situated are all a short drive from Geelong – heading out towards the Moorabool Valley, Surf Coast and The Bellarine.  If you are traveling to and around Toast to the Coast by car please plan ahead, nominate a designated driver and follow our tips on how to enjoy the Festival.

All of our Toast wineries have a special offer for Designated Non Drinkers and entry to all participating venues is free (without wine tastings)

TRAIN
Leave the car at home and catch a V/Line train to Toast to the Coast.  Geelong is about an hour by train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Trains to Geelong depart Southern Cross Station frequently, and are met at Geelong Station by shuttle buses.  Travelling V/Line is easy, convenient and good value. To check timetables and fares, and to buy tickets, visit www.vline.com.au or call 136 196.

PLANE
Interstate travellers can easily access Geelong via Avalon Airport.  The airport is only 20 kilometres from Geelong CBD, a quick 15 minute drive.  For more information about Avalon Airport visit www.avalonairport.com.au

HOW TO ENJOY THE TOAST TO THE COAST

We have shuttle buses running in each sub region but seats are limited

If you are traveling by car, be sure to have a designated driver.

Designated drivers – thank you!!

All venues have special offers for designated drivers. Ask the staff at cellar doors.

You can always ask your party to buy you a bottle of wine as a thanks for driving – and enjoy it at home!

Some wine tasting tips

• Don’t drink and drive
• Catch the shuttle buses or take a private tour
• Choose a designated driver
• Use spittoons
• Be careful topping up drinks
• Drink plenty of water
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach

It’s illegal to drive a vehicle at or over 0.05. So how do you know how much you can consume before you’re over the limit?  There’s no straight answer, as it’s different for every individual and can depend on how much you’ve eaten, how you’ve slept etc.

As a rough guide only, men can have no more than two standard drinks within the first hour and one every hour after that. Whilst, women can have no more than one standard drink in the first hour and one every hour after.

What makes a standard drink?

5 standard 20ml tastings of wine equals 1 standard drink

Here are some handy hints to stay under 0.05

• 5 wine tastings equals approximately one standard drink
• Breath testing is the only way to check you are under 0.05. If you’re over or close to 0.05, don’t risk it
• If breath testing is not available, a general guide is one standard drink per hour for most women. Most men can drink two standard drinks in the first hour and one each hour after that
• Eat before you drink, but avoid salty foods
• Choose low alcohol drinks or alternate with soft drinks
• The only way to reduce your blood alcohol level is to allow time to process the alcohol. It takes about one hour to break down the alcohol contained in one standard drink.

Please remember to drink in moderation

To find out more go to the TAC’s drink driving campaigns page.