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, great wines and a couple of knockout restaurant experiences in Melbourne. Come on all...many do!

Book now for:

Victorian High Country Autumn 2011
Kangaroo Island November 2010
Margaret River Autumn 2011

 21st - 26th March 2011

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.

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.

In Melbourne you'll meet two more stars of the Italian Food Safari - Sardinian chef Pietro Porcu and my co-presenter Guy Grossi...and we will have a couple of wonderful dinners with them with matching wines.

You will have an exceptional week of luxurious accommodation in Melbourne (Sofitel on Collins) and 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.

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.

Host and guide: Maeve O'Meara and Franca Norris

In the High Country: The Pizzini family, Miranda family, Dal Zotto family, Simone family

In Melbourne: Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino) and Pietro Porcu (Da Noi)

Inclusions: 6 nights luxury accommodation in Melbourne and Milawa, porters, transfers to restaurants and coach transport to the Victorian High Country, meals as specified - 6 breakfasts or brunch, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, wines included.

Cost:
Twin share: $3375
Single: $4225

Click here for sample itinerary

 28 March - 2 April 2011

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.

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.

Costs:  $3057 per person twin share land content only ($494 single supplement) we start and finish the safari in Perth.
A deposit of $450 per person is required to secure your place.

 Book Now!
If you would like to join the tour please contact our office on 02 8969 6555
Payments for travel arrangements are to be made to Port to Port Travel -  licence number 2TA 4684 - A division of Julietta Travel Pty Ltd
Ph: 02 9337 6966. 

Your guide - Don Hancey

Don Hancey (pictured above) 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.

Please click here for a sample itinerary

15th - 20th November 2010

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 fabulous beach 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.

The tour is 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 - $2495 per person twin share plus single supplement of $350. Excludes airfares. Click here for a sample itinerary.

Please contact our office to make a booking.
Payments for travel arrangements are to be made to Port to Port Travel ' -  licence number 2TA 4684 - A division of Julietta Travel Pty Ltd  - 02 9337 6966.

Feed back from the November 2006 safari

"Sue lived up to everything I had heard about her, she is truly remarkable, to have been able to feed us all like she did on the remote island I just shake my head and know I couldn't do it. Her food was great, not too rich which I think is perfect when eating so much all through the day."
- Janelle Bloom Food Editor and chef on Ready Steady Cook