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Winter Newsletter |
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| Dear friends
I’m writing this from Sardinia where our first safari in 3 years has started. It’s so good to be back in the big wide world and travelling again with small groups of food lovers. For 25 years, Gourmet Safaris has been my playground and I’ve been blessed to have gathered a group of travellers who love the same things. Sardinia and Corsica Safari I’ve hit the ground running – waking up and visiting the big colourful San Benedetto markets in Cagliari where I’ll be bringing the group…every sight and smell screams “you’re not in Australia any more”…from the aromas of the beloved pecorino to stalls dedicated to the unique small goods of the island, bunches of soft fresh basil to stone fruits singing with sunshine and juicy goodness. The welcomes made me feel very special – stallholders remembering our small tour company from Australia after a 3 year hiatus.
That genuine warmth (and great food) is what makes our trips special.
Wish us luck…we have 2 groups this year to cover the number of travellers who have been waiting and have booked with us. Follow our trip on Instagram : @maeveomeara and Facebook: @Maeve O’Meara’s Gourmet Safaris |
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August to December Program |
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| We are adding new dates to our website for all the favourite tours – walking tours in Vietnamese Cabramatta, Italian in Haberfield, Turkish in Auburn, Lebanese in Punchbowl. Bus tours including French, Best of the Mediterranean, Spice Trails Safari, Afghan Safari and Middle East. Plus our fabulous immersive breakfasts – Indian in Harris Park, Turkish in Auburn and Lebanese in Greenacre. |
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End of Year Celebration/30 years of Peter Conistis in the Kitchen |
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| We are also adding a gorgeous big lunch to end the year and celebrate 30 years in restaurants for our friend, Peter Conistis. We’ll be right on Sydney Harbour at the stunning Ploos Restaurant at Campbell’s Cove, Circular Quay and Peter will be preparing some of the greatest hits from his acclaimed restaurants – expect scallop moussaka, spanakopita and many more favourite dishes…plus cool climate wines matched from Gapsted Wines in the Victorian High Country.
Saturday 2nd December – 12.30pm. Click here to book
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Lemnos Oil in Australia – attention Greek Safari Travellers! |
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We are delighted to announce that cold pressed olive oil from an organic grove in Greece, which we visit, has been shipped to Australia. Ktima Olon’s oil is simply exquisite made with such love and care from our friends Tasi and Rena Laskaridou and with a polyphenol count that’s off the scale.
Our guests over many years have loved this oil and will be delighted to have it available here! We love that we’ve walked the olive grove where this oil comes from and heard the inspiring story from its founders. |
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More Lemnian news – our wonderful Liz |
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Our dear friend and Greek islands guide Liz Kaydos has just returned from Lemnos where she joined the Australian Governor General David Hurley and the Greek President and Prime Minister to confirm the start of the huge open air museum to be known as the Lemnos Remembrance Trail to commemorate the stories of the Anzacs who left Lemnos to fight in Gallipoli…some returning to a makeshift hospital, many buried on the island.
The story of Gallipoli is one we know from school but the key part that the island of Lemnos played is less well-known. We visit the cemetery in Moudros on our visits to Lemnos – its beautifully kept in a large open lawn area next to a whitewashed church set amongst pine trees. And sad – when you see the age of the soldiers and nurses buried and the inscriptions from far away families, it’s very moving – and important to know. Liz Kaydos is a proud daughter of Lemnos. Her mother was born and grew up there and there is still a house in the village of Plati which Liz owns and our Gourmet Safaris guests have visited. Liz says it was the regular visits to Lemnos with Gourmet Safaris that sparked the idea of making the history more accessible – “When I started taking the safaris there (to the cemetery) I didn’t know what to say and started researching and the ghosts of those Anzacs put me to the task”. We are so proud of you Liz and your contribution to both Lemnos and the many Australians who will visit in the future.
Greek Islands 2024 – for your diary – next year’s safari is planned for 3rd to 15th September. |
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Victorian High Country Safari March 2024 |
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Italian families, incredible wines, long tables, bocce competition with lashings of Prosecco…there’s so much to love in this 6 day breath of fresh Alpine air and some of the most charming hosts in Australia. We always time our visit to early autumn to get warm clear days and nights just starting to cool down.
We’ve been lucky enough to join forces with some charming Italian families who welcome us in and create simply exquisite experiences – thank you to the Pizzini and Dal Zotto families, Simone and Miranda families, to Pietro Porcu and many families who host us – the Crookes, Waddingtons, Rivett family, Sluga family and Jane and Brian Casey along with Don Arden, Rita and Henry Hilton, Michael Ryan, our friends at Gapsted Wines, Dan, Jay & Sharon at Pepo Farm plus the team at Lancemore Milawa.
Plus my dear friend Franca and her husband Donald who share their home and show their well-stocked cellar and vegetable garden, and her parents Angelo and Mary and friends Jenny and Nadia. A golden trip into a great part of Australia. 3rd to 8th March 2024.
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South Australia Safari |
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We have created the perfect safari – an 8-day exploration of the very best food and wine experiences across McLaren Vale, the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills as well as good quality time in Adelaide.
It’s an easy safari as you’re not travelling long, you unpack twice and you have a huge gang of passionate people to meet across markets and restaurants, vineyards, private homes, private galleries and many quirky inclusions that we are sure you will love.
One frequent flier who has been on every safari reckoned this is the pick of the tours! Each day is a jewel. There are cooking demonstrations from our favourite Italian and Colombian chefs, wine tasting with the makers, an after-hours visit to the famous Cube (timed at sunset), a curated visit to the brilliant SA Art Gallery, Sunday lunch in a private home with our dear Greek friends, Tina and Peter. Pure magnificence! |
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New Zealand Safari |
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Come and discover the Central Otago region of New Zealand with its spectacular jagged mountain peaks and pristine lakes, brilliant wineries and passionate food producers and chefs keen to have us enjoy their incredible produce. For 2024 we will explore in the warmth of late summer with its glorious long twilight. 9th – 15th February.
We stay at the luxurious Hilton Queenstown right on Lake Wakatipu with its sweeping views up to the Remarkable Range and with walking and bike tracks at the front door or lounge chairs in the sunshine. We are lucky to have some good friends on the ground who create great experiences for us.
We’ll take a private boat trip to a beautiful untouched island in the middle of Lake Wanaka; a lunch at Sam Neill’s Two Paddocks curated by one of NZ’s top chefs matched with superb wine; a private garden visit to a thoughtfully created paradise – one of the most impressive gardens of NZ; a movie screening in our own private cinema; feasts created just for us plus some simple joys like taking the water taxi across Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown; standing on top of the Crown Range in that clean fresh air; enjoying meeting chefs and artists, farmers and winemakers and tasting some of the best of the region. Click here for more information. We wish you a warm and productive winter, happy travels if you’re on the road and look forward to welcoming you on our many safaris.
Maeve and Suzy |
