AUSTRALIAN SAFARIS 2012  

Testimonial:

 “What an amazing time I had on the Kangaroo Island Gourmet Safari!  

It was all great - Liz (our guide), Peter (our driver), Sue (our chef), Andrea and Karina (Sue's assistants), and all the others we met were all fantastic.  

We had delicious food and wine at every meal.  The house on KI was excellent.”
Tracey Schneiders 2010

 

 

Book now for....

Victorian High Country - Autumn 2012
Kangaroo Island - November 2012


Gourmet Safaris’ Australian journeys explore some of the most beautiful parts of Australia,  giving guests a range of exceptional and delicious experiences that they would be hard pressed to organise for themselves. Our groups are never more than 20 people, a good number to enjoy a many good meals with but not so many that you’re lost in the crowd.

All safaris are designed by director Maeve O’Meara, and most of the time, you’re visiting people she has met and filmed and been inspired by. We try hard to offer those experiences that money can’t buy – the exquisite regional food served at a long al fresco table; elegant dinners and lunches in private estates where you’re treated like a treasured friend. Plus of course a seat at some of the best restaurants in the country, with meals designed especially for our group. We love meeting the passionate producers who grow wine grapes and olive trees; the farmers who make exceptional cheese, the artisans baking bread or producing small-goods.

Each safari has a different flavour – Margaret River on the breathtaking Western Australian coast is full of unbeatable gourmet and wine experiences; Kangaroo Island gives a breath of the wild, with five star food in some of the most divine locations on earth; and Victoria’s Alpine country offers you a week of wonderful Italian food, warm welcoming families and great wines. Come on all...many do!

 
Victorian High Country 2012
25 - 30 March 2012

Lunch under the trees Angelo Bonacci

This is your opportunity to step into the culinary heaven you see on our TV show - Italian Food Safari. Join the extended families as they celebrate the Italian culture they brought to this incredibly beautiful part of Australia. We journey into the King and Ovens Valleys where many Italian families settled initially as tobacco farmers. Plus we’ll have a day in the very pretty Kiewa Valley with two fabulous food experiences.

The lush soil and high altitude is now perfect for growing Italian varietal wines such as prosecco, nebbiolo, sangiovese, pinot grigio, dolcetto, arneis and barbera…Join us and taste these wonderful styles of wine that match so well with food. Meet many of the winemakers who are really putting these areas on the map.

Plus we will have a walk through pine forests and forage for pine mushrooms with Angelo Bonacci - the king of Fungi in Myrtleford, and we’ll visit chestnut and walnut groves, explore the gardens of private estates and the kitchens of great cooks.

You will have an exceptional week of luxurious accommodation in country Victoria (Lindenwarrah in Milawa) combined with “kiss on both cheeks” warm Italian hospitality, countless “money can't buy" experiences including making our own pasta at a cooking school, enjoying time with 3 generations of food and wine loving families, al fresco lunches at long tables in the clear country air, visits to Italian winemakers in the King and Ovens Valleys, feasts prepared by legendary chefs, visits to producers, and much more…all with a backdrop of those lovely mountains - the beautiful Victorian High  Country at its best.


Host and guide:

Maeve O'Meara & Franca Norris

 

In the High Country:
The Pizzini family, Miranda family, Dal Zotto family, Simone family, Bonacci and Norris families, the Crooke and Waddington families.

Inclusions:
5 nights luxury accommodation in Milawa, coach transport to the Victorian High Country, meals as specified - 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinners, wines included.

Cost:
Twin share: $2995.00 per person
Single: $3550.00 per person
Deposit: $450.00 per person, non refundable deposit at the time of booking.

How to book:
Complete the booking form online.
Our dedicated travel agents at David Vuong Travel will contact you on our behalf to arrange all of your requirements for this fabulous safari. 

Note:
This safari has a minimum number policy - please do not book your flights until minimum numbers have been reached.

Click here for a SAMPLE itinerary

  Playing Bocci

Feedback from April 2011 trip:
Maeve writes: Our April 2011 Italian High Country Safari was everything our group dreamed of and more – truly warm welcoming Italian families who helped us learn more of “la dolce vita” and showed us how to collect and cook pine forest mushrooms, roast freshly picked chestnuts, the finer points of bocce under the big spreading gum tree, the delights of prosecco and Italian varietals grown in the King Valley, local produce, welcoming hosts, glorious feasts of Italian regional food and good company.

“One of the most enjoyable and memorable of our many trips in Australia and around the world. We loved the in-depth experience of the Italian family culture and the generous hospitality of all those we met. The food was phenomenal!" Robert and Joan Gwyther

“Will spread the word – what a great trip it has been" Jan and Ray Spittle
 
“Food, vino, hugging, kissing, talking laughing and more – I don’t think I can take more than 5 days of la dolce vita! Seriously though it was wonderful, a beautiful experience.” Alida Mednis

“Exceptional!” John Elias

Margaret River


Every year we return in autumn to this incredible part of Australia where the white powdery surf beaches meet some of the most stunning vineyards on earth, a place of magnificent tall karri and jarrah forests and some amazing food and wine...passionate chefs and producers and loads of money cant buy experiences.

We go off the tourist trail and meet some of the locals with our guide, top Margaret River chef Don Hancey, who has helped to put this part of the world on the culinary map. Indulge in some tailor-made progressive lunches that you'll be telling your friends about for years to come. We meet the chefs and have a course and glass of wine at Vasse Felix, Cullens, Leeuwin Estate and Voyager Estate. We’ll taste treats from some of the hot new restaurants in the region, and step into a dream day at a beautiful private estate that opens just for us. Get the wind in our hair on the most south western tip of the country and watch the forest slip by as we feast on local lobster. Meet the passionate people producing some wonderful food...and generally have those experiences you would never organise yourself.

Your guide - Don Hancey
Don Hancey (pictured below) has long been recognised as a passionate West Australian chef who has championed the cause of regional foods for decades. His first seafood restaurant in the sleepy fishing town of Augusta won Don a gold plate award and he went on to win another when he was directing the kitchens at Leeuwin Estate.

Don has been instrumental in setting up food producer groups in the Great Southern and is a founding board member of the Margaret River Regional Food Producers Association.  He also instigated a community meeting which was the catalyst for the formation of the first farmers markets in the region.

Olive oil is another of Don's passion and he co-founded the listed Company Piquant Blue Ltd which markets premium Australian olive oils under the njoi and redisland brands.  He also freelance writes for magazines and hosts a weekly radio show aptly called ‘eat it”.

Don writes: " I promise to give you a cooks tour of the wonderful eateries, wineries and stunning coastal and forest scenery that is the Margaret River region.  I'll introduce you to some of the leading chefs and winemakers, who share their insights into why the region produces stunning foods and wines. It’s their passion and knowledge that really make this part of the word the magic place it is.  I look forward to you joining me to provide a unique snapshot of one of the most beautiful parts of Western Australia.

Tour includes:
3 nights at Smiths Beach Resort, one of the Small luxury Hotels of the World; 1 night in Margaret River township at Quest Hotel, and 1 night in Perth, 4 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 5 lunches, 4 dinners accompanied by wine, all food and wine tastings, tours, tour guide and coach transport. We start and finish the safari in Perth.

Costs: 
$3057.00 per person, twin share - land content only
$494.00 single supplement
Deposit: $450.00 per person, non refundable deposit at the time of booking.

How to book:
Complete the booking form online.
Our dedicated travel agent will contact  you on our behalf to arrange all of your requirements for this fabulous safari.

Note:
This safari has a minimum number policy - please do not book your flights until minimum numbers have been reached.

Click here for a sample itinerary 


 Kangaroo Island 2012

12 - 17 November 2012


Kangaroo Island, off the South Australian coast, is one of the secret "finds" of Australia. This is a magic place, full of incredible produce, some of the best beaches and scenery on earth and wildlife everywhere.

While there are exceptional cheeses, wines, lobster, marron, samphire, honey, olive oil and many other yummy things, there are no restaurants that you'd write home about. Enter enterprising chef Sue Pearson. Sue was working at the very upmarket Ivy Restaurant in London as one of 45 chefs, had a sea change and relocated to K.I. as all the locals call it. She has the best fish and chips shop in the world and also caters for weddings and stocks some of the beach houses with hampers of great produce.

Together we have planned an exceptional trip - hard to do without that good local knowledge. We've found a series of stylish and modern, fully equipped holiday houses with decks and lovely gardens where we will base ourselves and then go out adventuring to meet some of the producers, taste the produce, put on a few spectacular lunches and dinners and generally have the sort of "behind the secret door" experiences that Gourmet Safaris manages to deliver.



Host and guide:

Liz Kaydos & Sue Pearson

Tour includes:
6 days and includes accommodation on KI, one night in Adelaide with dinner at a top restaurant, all meals on KI, wine accompanying meals and a tour of the renowned Central Markets in Adelaide.

Click here for SAMPLE itinerary

Cost:
Twin share: $2950.00 per person land content only
Single supplement: $450.00 per person
Deposit: $450.00 per person, non refundable deposit at the time of booking.

How to book:
Complete the booking form online.
Our dedicated travel agents at David Vuong Travel will contact you on our behalf to arrange your requirements for this fabulous safari.

Note:
This safari has a minimum number policy - please do not book your flights until minimum numbers have been reached.


Click here to read Part One & here to read part two of a wonderful blog written about the October 2011 tour - http://mykitchenstories.com.au/

Feedback from our October & November 2011 safaris:
"Hi Suzy,....I would like to thank Liz for being such a good guide and Peter the driver also. Nothing was too much trouble. I must say that this was an experience that I will never forget it was just amazing. I learnt a lot. (Did not know about Samphire.)  

The whole tour was just great and I can recommend to all my friends.  What a pity that my friend Mary could not come.  I do hope that she will eventually be able to go and enjoy as much as I did.
Sue the Chef is such an exceptional woman.  I emailed her and told her she is just a champion and so courageous. It was great to meet the farmers. (I must say I was in my element).
A big Thank you to Maeve also.  She also is a marvellous woman. Hopefully in the future would like to do more Safaris with you. Best Regards to all at gourmet Safaris." Marie Barbera - Oct 2011

How would you sum up this trip?   "Amazing, amazing, far outweighing my expectations – and all the people who came to talk to us were wonderful…thank you to all the wonderful team who together made this trip so memorable" - Laurel Abbott - Nov 2012

How would you rate this trip?  10
Accommodation – Excellent
How would you sum up this trip? – both of the trips have been exceptional and the thought of a third is on our minds…….Val & John Henderson - Nov 2011


Feed back from our November 2010 safari:
“ I have just returned from the Kangaroo Island trip and cannot praise you all enough for a wonderful experience. To have had a tour leader like Liz with her patience, experience and enthusiasm was exceptional. She is such a good sport and so much fun!!!! Good on Pete for his sense of humour and expert driving.
Sue Pearson, Andrea and Corina did an exceptional job and I was often a little concerned that they went above and beyond. The planning required to allow us to have the ultimate experience was frankly amazing.  Maeve, I will continue to tell all my foodie friends about your wonderful travel company and I will treat my two children very soon”:  

Susan Cheney-Smith 2010

  


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