BREWERS ON TOUR
G'DAY
We’d love for you to join us in March 2027 for a trip to HPA, the largest hop grower in Australia. HPA’s operations are among the oldest continuously running hop farms in the world. Over the last 12 years, they’ve introduced six proprietary varieties – Galaxy®, Vic Secret™, Eclipse®, Enigma®, Ella™, Topaz™ and Luna® – and today grow 90% of Australia’s hops, roughly 1% of the world’s total.
This trip is all about the journey from paddock to pint. Expect farm tours, hands-on education and plenty of time to chat with HPA’s hop experts, plus an exclusive look inside our brand-new, state-of-the-art hop pelleting facility – a first for many of our guests.
But it’s not just about hops. We’ll visit standout breweries, stop by Healesville Sanctuary for some Aussie wildlife and finish up at the High Country Hop Festival for fresh beers and good music.
You’ll find the registration form below. Plus, a few tips on what to pack and how to get ready for the trip. Contact details for the organisers from HPA and BarthHaas can be accessed here – don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
HPA is thrilled to host you and will be taking care of a whole lot along the way – think hospitality, farm and Hop Central tours, the Hops Academy, a fun round of barefoot bowls and much more.
Everyone will need to book and cover their own flights. Aside from that, a single fee covers everything else for the trip: coaches from Melbourne to the High Country, shuttles once you’re there, accommodation, and additional activities like the sanctuary visit and tickets to the High Country Hop Festival. We’re still finalising a few quotes, so the exact fee is still to be confirmed – as a rough guide, expect somewhere around AUD$xxx.
To secure your spot, we ask for a deposit of AUD$xxx upon registration. Please note that registrations close on Friday, 30 October with the deposit payment required by 15 November. We’d love to have you along, so don’t leave it too late!
ITINERARY
Please note, the itinerary below is tentative and may be adjusted at the organiser’s discretion. We’ll do our best to keep you updated every step of the way.
Day 1: Sunday 14 March – MELBOURNE
During the day: Arrive in Melbourne
Evening: Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Monday 15 March – WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, BREWERY + DRIVE
7:30am – Breakfast at hotel
8:30am – Hotel check-out
9:00am – Coach departs hotel for Healesville
10:30am – Healesville Sanctuary
12:15pm – Lunch + Tour at Watts River Brewing
1:30pm – Quick stop at Bonnie Doon Hotel
5:30pm – Arrive in Bright + Check-In
7pm – Hoppy Hour at Bright Brewery
Day 3: Tuesday 16 March – FARM TOUR + BAREFOOT BOWLS
Morning – Farm Tour
Evening – Barefoot Bowls
Day 4: Wednesday 17 March – HOP CENTRAL + HOPS ACADEMY
Morning – Hop Central Tour
Afternoon – Hops Academy with BarthHaas Brewmaster Lorenz Schareina
Evening – Global Beer Event at Bright Brewery
Day 5: Thursday 18 March – HIGH COUNTRY EXPERIENCE + HARVEST DINNER
Morning – High Country Leisure Activity
Evening – Harvest Dinner at Bright Brewery
Day 6: Friday 19 March – HIGH COUNTRY HOP TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM
Morning – Check-Out of Bright Hotel + Drive to Beechworth
During the Day – The High Country Hop Technical Symposium offers a day of thought-provoking sessions, industry-leading speakers and opportunities to connect with the best minds in Australian craft brewing. Please note, some of the sessions might be Australia centered content. Feel free to spend the day exploring Beechworth if you prefer.
Evening – High Country Hop Kick-Off Party
Day 7: Saturday 20 March – HOME
High Country Hop Festival
2027 Music + Brewery Line-Up still to be announced
Day 8: Sunday 21 March – DRIVE TO MELBOURNE
Morning – Check-Out of Beechworth Hotel + Drive to Melbourne (~4-5 hours)
After – Flight home or travel onwards
Please note:
Please don’t hesitate to ask if you’d like further advice on your travels down under, simply email Lisa.Ethe@hops.com.au.
REGISTRATION
Guest
GOOD TO KNOW
WHAT TO PACK
Hop harvest kicks off at the beginning of March. The average temperature ranges from a minimum of 13°C to a maximum of 35°C, with around 9 days of rain totalling just 50mm. But Victoria is known for surprising unsuspecting brewers with four seasons in one day, so come prepared for anything by packing everything from a raincoat to a pair of budgie smugglers. You’ll also need a pair of sturdy closed-toed shoes if you’re visiting the farm. These will need to be thoroughly cleaned before entering the country and again before entering the farm. This process involves minor chemical and physical abrasion, so pack accordingly. Better yet, buy a pair of iconic Blundstone boots on entry.
HOW TO PREPARE
Remember to sort yourself out with the necessary paperwork prior to entry. The process is relatively quick and painless. Simply visit the Australian Department of Immigration website and follow the prompts. The maximum luggage allowance on domestic Australian flights is 23kg. But if you want to bring us a carton of beer to say thanks for the hospitality, you can purchase additional baggage in advance. Check your chosen airline’s website for more information on fees. While you’re at it, check your mobile’s international roaming allowance to avoid being hit with a big bill. And if you’re picking up a hire car, remember we drive on the left. This means you’ll want to look right, left, and right again before pulling into traffic, or crossing the road on foot for that matter. And buy travel insurance. The alternative isn’t worth the risk.
CONTACT
Concierge
Elise Griggs | Brand Activation Specialist, HPA
Elise has a knack for making things happen. Whether you want advice on what to pack, how to prepare, or where you should eat, drink, play and stay, Elise has local insights and is willing to assist in any way she can.
BarthHaas
Joanne Love | Events Manager
joanne.love@barthhaas.co.uk
+44 7950 931104
Jo is your European liaison for the tour. She will work closely with Elise to coordinate a fantastic tour and ensure your hoppiness!
HPA
Owen Johnston | Head of Sales & Marketing, HPA
Owen.Johnston@hops.com.au
+61 400 126 015
OJ is your hoptimal tour guide. He’ll educate you on HPA’s rich history and production process, as well as entertain you with some classic Aussie slang.
Concierge
Lisa Ethe | Events & Partnerships Manager, HPA
lisa.ethe@hops.com.au
+61 480 155 515
Whether you want advice on what to pack, how to prepare, or where you should eat, drink, play and stay, Lisa has local insights and is willing to assist in any way she can.
BarthHaas
Joanne Love | Events Manager
joanne.love@barthhaas.co.uk
+44 7950 931104
Jo is your European liaison for the tour. She will work closely with Lisa to coordinate a fantastic tour and ensure your hoppiness!
HPA
Owen Johnston | Head of Sales & Marketing, HPA
owen.johnston@hops.com.au
+61 400 126 015
OJ is your hoptimal tour guide. He’ll educate you on HPA’s rich history and production process, as well as entertain you with some classic Aussie slang.