AUSTRALIAN GOURMET FOOD SAFARIS®  

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....


Kangaroo Island Gourmet Food Safari® - November 2016

Victorian High Country Gourmet Food Safari® - March 2016


Gourmet Food 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 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 – 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 Gourmet Food Safari®
6 - 11 March 2016 - Sorry, now fully booked

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.

 

 

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

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

Cost:
Twin share: $2995.00 per person twin share - land content only
Single: $3495.00 per person - land content only
Deposit: $450.00 per person, non refundable deposit at the time of booking. Balance due 60 days before departure

How to book:
Complete the booking form online.

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

Click here for Sample Itinerary

Feast magazine did a story on all our favourite people we visit in the area. Click here to read more


Feedback from March 2013:

‘Most amazing experience! In the past 6 days I have had the sort of meals most people would be lucky if they had once in their lifetime! And I’ve been lucky enough to have 6 days of them! Whole experience was awesome! - Min Watson

“ Fantastic – trip of a lifetime (I swear we don’t get these comments after 3 glasses of wine!! - Maeve)
Every foodie should experience this! Guides Franca and Liz were absolutely fabulous.”

“This was the second time I have done this trip, interesting and inspiring – I’m in awe of these folk!" - Queenie Thompson

“A great trip to Italy to visit Italian families with only a flight to Melbourne” - Robyn Marsden

“We loved the boccce competition because we won!” - Jill Matters

"Amazing Perfect wow wow wow!!! - Julie Thomas and Tim Sieber

"Franca is a gem. The trip was a treat – quietly exhilarating – to immerse oneself in the eating and drinking lives of these Italo-Australian families." - Geoff Bentley

"Food highlights – the prosciutto wrapped figs at Dal Zotto, the tiramisu at Simone’s, the fig based dessert at Provenance, Pietro’s goat – in fact every meal something stood out. Being introduced to brachetto (a sparkling wine) with lime, ginger and mint in the vineyards at Pizzini’s was a revelation” Debbi Gadd and Margaret Smith


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

Kangaroo Island Gourmet Food Safari®

21 - 26 November 2016

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 Food Safaris manages to deliver.



Host and guide:

Liz Kaydos & Sue Pearson

Tour includes:
6 days and includes accommodation on KI, transport from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island and return (bus & Ferry), all meals on KI, wine accompanying meals, entry fees to national parks, one night in Adelaide with dinner at a top restaurant.

Click here for Sample Itinerary

Cost:
Twin share: $3250.00 per person land content only
Single supplement: $550.00 per person
Deposit: $450.00 per person, non refundable deposit at the time of booking. Balance due 60 days before departure

How to book:
Complete the booking form online.

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

 

Feedback from our 2015 Safari

"On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), how well did the tour meet your expectations?

“10”

"How would you sum up the trip?  

The only way to visit KI.  We enjoyed many Island attractions some of which are not available to the average tourist." Stephen & Barb F.

On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), how well did the tour meet your expectations?

"9"

"How would you sum up the trip?  

"A very good introduction to Kangaroo Island with a pleasing range of activities". – Tim R


Feedback from our 2014 safari

"Just a short note to let you know how much I enjoyed the KI trip. The hospitality and welcome from all the places we visited was just great and I really loved the enthusiasm and passion of the local producers and their commitment to ensuring the quality and naturalness of their products. Liz is a born tour leader, Peter drove us around those dirt roads in absolute safety and Sue is an absolute genius of organisation and fabulous food. Thank you." Carol N

"I've just returned from the lovely Gourmet Safari to beautiful Kangaroo Island and thought I would send you a photo of our group taken at the fantastic lunch we had last Friday at Primo Estate Winery at McLaren Vale….we met some wonderful people on KI who are really passionate about what they do. I'm so glad I was able to do it with my friends….Liz was a very organised, knowledgable and helpful guide and it was great having Peter as our driver. Sue Pearson and her assistant Naomi also looked after us very well on the island." R

"Excellent, very interesting, great food & staff. Very well organised - 10/10." - Louise R

"Great balance with scenery, food and producers. Great to meet the producers passionate about their products - 10/10" - Adrian B

"I had a great trip. I did something I have wanted to do for a long time. I needed the break and there was the opportunity to relax (read, walk along the beach, sleep), chat to friendly, interesting people. 9/10" - Janet T


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 November 2012 safari:
"It was a fantastic experience which with both enjoyed greatly. Please pass on our thanks again to Liz & Peter who were fantastic tour hosts, guides & drivers and also to Sue & her team who provided all the wonderful meals as well as all the locals who hosted us on KI as well as McLaren Vale & Adelaide. It was an experience we will never forget. Regards, Peter "


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 2011

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

  

 

Click here to see photo gallery

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