Bayside Private Driver and Tours

17/04/2022

All smiles for a birthday treat on ‘The Ninch’ and these good folks made my job very easy indeed😉. delivered the chill once again (never a doubt), lunch was so good at that a doggy bag was involved and Selma captivated the group with an intimate look into life on a winery. The day couldn’t have been any better.

03/04/2022

Dropping my guests off at The Motorists Concours d’Elegance . I’m running my eyes over the classics in the car park, wondering which one to snap. I went for the red one obviously.

03/04/2022

I love Harry’s Mussels - no secret. Napoli sauce is my choice but my guests reckon I’m missing out on the Laksa 👌.

08/02/2022

Travel is looking better and thankfully live music is on the up! I'll be the wheels for Melbourne's very own 6 piece soul band Mayfield heading to this summer's newest soul/funk festival -
Ballarat Funk'N'Fest on 20th Feb. Headlined by Kylie Auldist, with Women of Soul, Lake Minnetonka and The Moreland City Soul R***e. Food trucks, independent brewers, wines, good times and dog friendly 🐕
www.funknfest.com.au

22/12/2021

Every day should have at least one dog patting opportunity! Here’s Matilde and Moët on my Wine & Walkies on the today.
Big thumbs up 👍 to and for the hospitality and warm welcomes

09/12/2021

Baysider’s…it’s 16 Days until Christmas🎄 and Uber surge is off the charts! If you still need to get your shopping done and dusted 😵‍💫, I’ve decided to offer a shuttle to Chadstone or Southland, limited to Bayside Suburbs only.
Book in advance as a group or solo and forget the parking woes. No frills, just pickup and drop off…consider it a rescue mission 👊😉👊

29/10/2021

Let’s give a big ‘cheers’ 🥂to the wineries, distillers, breweries and establishments that we’ve missed during Vic lockdown ❤️

27/10/2021

Woo hoo! Taking bookings now from mid-Nov for Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula tours.
Private tours for up to 7 passengers.

15/01/2021

The wool shed at is among some of the oldest buildings in the and was once upon a time the local Dancehall. The spirit of this gathering place lives on in the boutique cellar door overlooking it. Here you will find the warmest of welcomes ❤️

28/12/2020

centerpiece looking a tad menacing at this angle, which is a far cry from the spritely on-site crew at / - their Pinot Noir Rose’ being a firm fav with my guests today

14/12/2020

Let’s talk about hidden gems. Prancing Horse Estate is a firm fav on my since chatting to owner Tony about his approach. The wines are outstanding and the sit down tastings are deliberately unhurried and extremely interesting. The view from the walk down to the cellar door is breathtaking (if I added a pic, it would spoil the suprise!). My guests on Sunday didn’t talk about anything else until it was time for our next stop for lunch 👏

14/12/2020

People have asked me why I don’t often include my guests in my pics. TBH I find it a bit awkward and I really just want them to enjoy each moment of the tour. Classic example of a no faces pic is the private tasting room at Crittenden Estate Wines . While Guy conducted a superb, light hearted walkthrough of their wines with my guests, I had a chance to chat to the crew - in short, the hosts are lovely people and very passionate. The Crittenden family not only produce remarkable wines (with sustainability in mind)- their staff also have a strong sense of belonging which shines through when you meet them. On tours, it’s not always about the wines and spirits, so always be open to a connection with the people that bring them to us 😉. Crittenden is firmly on my map for future tours!

13/12/2020

Finally back on the road since lockdown and a return visit to Bass & Flinders Distillery on the - 100% delighted with the B&F crew’s care and attention to my guests and equally impressed with their innovative approach to their plethora of Gins. Created from grape rather than grain, their infusions are above anything I could ever have thought of. Matched with specific Tonics, guests can sample paddles or take a Gin or Brandy masterclass. A high five from my guests and IMO a must see on the Peninsula with ideas for

22/06/2020

Winter can sap the heat out of rural Victoria but it can’t take away the glory.

Took this pic early on Sunday morning...literally just me and the sunrise ❤️.

Can’t wait to get back out there, showing people new places - bring on July

06/06/2020

Can’t wait to get back to the wine tours but I’m the meantime, you can still get your Maddens Rise fix online

Dear Lovely Everyone..... It is still a little way off until MR will re-open. We are trying to figure out the best and safest way forward for our little cellar door and for you our treasured visitors. We will keep you posted. In the meantime if you are needing an MR top up, please feel free to visit our online winestore to grab yourself some of the goodness. (There are a couple of new delights listed on there too!... inc. Rosé!!) 💕

http://www.maddensrise.com/wine-store

11/04/2020

If I’ve ever taken you to Flinders Conchilia you’ll know how much I rate this little gem as a must do lunch stop.
While tours are on hold, why not treat yourself to a delivery of Harry’s juicy mussels instead for next weekend? I’d like to see the Conchilia a permanent feature on the tours and those Mussels aren’t gonna eat themselves 👊😉👊

Geeesh.
Quite a response, there’s a lot of lovers of the muss out there.
This thing has got legs. Or wheels.
The musbus is gonna hit the road.

Mussel delivery 🚗

WEEKLY RUNDOWN:
🐡 All orders by 5pm Monday
🐡 Text 0412 220 031 with name, delivery address and how many kgs
🐡 Usual price $12/kg.
🐡 Minimum order 2kgs
🐡 Melbourne $5 delivery fee (free delivery for orders over 10kg - group orders encouraged)

🚗 Wednesday: Melbourne - Northside/Southside
🚗 Thursday/Friday: Mornington Peninsula

* fresh mussels can be refrigerated for up to a week after delivery

Eftpos + cash available

Tell your friends, any help getting the word out is appreciated

19/03/2020

Hang in there folks.

Bayside Private Driver & Tours has temporarily suspended business until the threat of Covid-19 is well behind us. It’s a time for us all to lay low for the sake of the elderly and compromised.

My bookings schedule has been decimated of course and this situation is definitely going to hurt but I’m optimistic.

I have one thing to ask of you....
Many of the small businesses I work with, rely on tourism and they’re facing a harsh number of months - some may not survive this impact on their income. When we’re back to normal, please consider booking a winery or scenic tour and inject much needed business back into the rural communities that will need it most.
As a local small business, this will also help me to get back on track but in the long term, should these boutique gems we have on our doorstep disappear, I’ll have nowhere to take you!

So, give it a few weeks and consider filling up my days with driving...I’m sure my wife won’t mind 😉
Please share and let’s get back out there!

18/02/2020

I can’t resist stepping into a barrel room...it’s a rich atmosphere and aroma.