| Dear friends
Welcome to another year of our Gourmet Safaris – a full delicious adventurous year lies ahead and I hope we may see you along the way. I’m hosting 10 trips and researching another 2 and loving being able to ride the magic carpet and create incredible memorable experiences for food and wine lovers…in Sydney, Australia and beyond.
Tasmania November 2026 Following a successful trip last year, we are continuing our Tasmanian Gourmet Safari and changing a few things to create an even better experience. If you’ve joined us before, consider a return!
This is the only Safari that remains to be booked for 2026, and we hope to release the details soon. |
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New Zealand |
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This week I’m heading to Queenstown and the first Safari of the year – 6 days of exploring the best food and wine in Central Otago. It looks like we will have much cooler temperatures than Australia over the summer. I always look forward to looking out over the jagged mountains from the plane and still seeing patches of snow.
Last year we had journalist and publisher Liz Schaffer join us and the result is a New Zealand edition of Lodestars Anthology – a great travel guide and read – and this contains a special story on Gourmet Safaris. You can order or pick up copies at Ariel Books in Oxford Street, Paddington. Or order online – click here. |
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The year ahead |
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| Is huge. The biggest travel time is from May to July when I do a recce trip in France and then 4 safaris back-to-back – Sardinia and Corsica x 2 and Sicily and Malta x 2.
I’m feeling so fortunate that the world is peaceful enough to travel and great people are booking on our safaris. Do follow our adventures on Instagram and Facebook
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Marrickville Safari |
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Did you know you can escape the world for a magic carpet day visiting the producers of Marrickville. From coffee roasters to sourdough muffin bakers; soft Italian cheeses to a dedicated ethical butcher where you always learn something; a made-in-Marrickville cordial tasting with our friend Katie Swift; a slap up Chinese feast at the Lucky Prawn and introduction to the origin story of Hawke’s Brewing in the classic pool room…along with a cold beer; then a unique behind-the-scenes visit to Messina, makers of gelato and exquisite chocolates plus a visit and tasting at the now famous made-in-Marrickville distillery Poor Toms.
It’s such a great day…take a day off, grab a friend and join us! Dates are: Thursday 26 February, 26 March, 16 April and 23 July. Click here to book. |
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Filoxenia Cooking |
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| Gourmet Safaris guide on the island of Ikaria Tina Germanos, who is based in Adelaide, has just started a Cooking School she has called Filoxenia which means hospitality in Greek.
I’m taking a group of travellers from our 2025 Greek Island Safari to go and have a day cooking with her at the end of the month. Watch my Instagram and consider a visit to Adelaide and booking in to cook with Tina. By the way, I’m MCing the launch of her business at the Adelaide central Markets on Friday 27th March. If you are around in the morning, come and join us and taste some of Tina’s great food. |
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Australia Day Ambassador 2026 |
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| I had the honour of being invited to be the Australia Day ambassador in Uralla Shire…where my grandparents William and Kitty lived for a few years and where my friend Sarah is doing great things on the local council.
I’ve been asked to be an Australia Day ambassador over the years but was either filming or busy with family and unable to say yes. This year the time was right, and I have to say the place was right.
Being part of a rural community during Australia Day really brings home the sense of community and everyone working together and being recognised for their work. I was welcomed by the Mayor and the council and the Australia Day Committee with a delicious meal in the local pub the Bolt Inn and a wonderful gift of a personalised box of local produce, Walcha coffee and a tea towel. Talk about nailing the gift! Australia Day started with breakfast at the Balala Fire shed…all staffed by volunteers…then after a morning tea at the brilliant local Library, the New England Highway was closed off as a parade led by the Uralla Pipe Band…making its way along the street with locals coming to wave and cheer…the parade including vintage cars and fire trucks.
I was on the back of the Ute with Mayor Robert Bell, my name on the front of the truck.
What an honour – I had to pinch myself it was happening, and I wonder what my grandparents would’ve made of me smiling and waving down the highway. Uralla Shire Council has good ties with local indigenous groups and the smoking ceremony and welcome to country was meaningful. Even better at the end of all the mornings proceedings, local Aniwan man Kristian Steinbeck presented me with a Coolamon that he’d made. I spoke about my commitment to highlighting the many cuisines in our multicultural paradise; I spoke about 12 stylish chairs my grandparents bought in the 1950s that would’ve been the centre of many dinner parties or luncheons while they lived in Uralla.
Those chairs are now the centre of our home, and everyone who comes to sit at our table admires granny’s Danish chairs as they enjoy good food and conversation. A lovely full circle moment. |
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Sydney Safaris |
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| Here are some Sydney Safaris you may consider booking into:
Middle East Safari – Saturday 14 February & 30 May
French Safari – Saturday 21 February
Marrickville Safari – Thursday 26 February and 26 March
Best of the Mediterranean Safari – Saturday 21 March and 6 June
Cypriot Safari – Saturday 28 March
Spice Safari – Saturday 11 April
Afghan Safari – Saturday 18 April
Turkish Brunch – Saturday 18 April
All the best to you for the Year of the Fire Horse…love the energy of this beautiful artwork from our friend Chris Chun who creates the most gorgeous cards in boxes. I travel with them all the time. I have a couple of gorgeous Chris Chun paintings and I have to say his ceramics are lovely too. Here’s the link to Chris’ website.
Best from Maeve and Suzy |
