Wander beyond the beaten track and fully immerse yourself in the world of Australian food and wine. This will be the ultimate expedition, and you will be getting your hands dirty with oyster diving, wild vegetable foraging, seafood gathering, oil, honey, barbecues, and lobster brunches. Discover islands and wine regions, markets and peninsulas along with the handcrafted collection of restaurants and chefs as over these two weeks, you will taste Australia’s most inimitable gastronomy.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Melbourne – Markets and Indulgence
It is in the markets that you can appreciate Melbourne’s culinary diversity. With influences coming from every corner of the globe, this multicultural city is a melting pot of ideas that has forged a unique fusion of cuisines. After an airport transfer and some time to freshen up, your guide will take you out into all the aromas and through two markets that best celebrate Melbourne’s energy and style. The food is not high-end nor fine, more a celebration of contrasting flavors coming together. Plus, all the excitement and positivity is ideal if you are battling against jet lag. Indulge on the variety of flavors, perhaps freshening up with a Flat White coffee – it was invented in Melbourne after all – before retiring to your five-star hotel in the city’s heart.
What's Included:
Day 2
Melbourne – Discovering the Yarra Valley Wine Region
Day 3
Melbourne – Hidden Highlights of the Mornington Peninsula
Day 4
Melbourne – Gourmet Food and Street Art in the City
Day 5
Hobart – Art, Scallops and Oysters in Tasmania
Day 6
Hobart – Cheese and Veggies on Bruny Island
Day 7 - 8
Kangaroo Island – Lobsters, Oils, Wine and Wild Nature
Day 9 - 10
Eyre Peninsula – Hunting and Gathering Exceptional Seafood
Day 11
Barossa Valley – All the Charms of Boutique Estates
Day 12
Barossa Valley – Degustation Dining and More Premium Wines
Day 13
Adelaide – Market Highlights and a Collaborators Dinner
Day 14
Adelaide – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Drift through Shiraz country as you spend two days in the historic Barossa Valley
- Go searching for oysters and scallops in Tasmania, where nature meets foraging for fine ingredients
- Explore Melbourne’s gourmet food scene, from markets and neighborhoods to some world-leading fine dining
- Spend two days immersed in the seafood of Eyre Peninsula, including hunting and gathering as well as cooking
- Go off the beaten track as you indulge on the highlights of Mornington Peninsula, Australia’s up and coming food and wine region
- Scallop dive and enjoy a beachside lobster feast for just two highlights from a day spent on Kangaroo Island
- Explore premium wineries in the Yarra Valley to round out your authentic Australian gourmet tour
- Discover Adelaide’s nascent food scene and the creations of Australia’s next generation of chefs
- Find elegant cheese and gourmet vegetables, along with koalas and other marsupials, on the island of Bruny
Detailed Description
Australia’s gastronomy is as unique as its wildlife, and a foodie expedition befits the country’s style of adventure. This is not just a country for eating at fine restaurants and exploring local markets, as this is where you can dive into the gastronomic culture and hunt for the ultimate ingredients. From remote coastal cliffs to hidden green valleys, this two-week tour has been handcrafted with Australia’s ultimate food and wine experiences at the forefront. You will go hunting for scallops and oysters, barbecue lobster on the beach, smoke fish and pickle seafood, meet with cheese and wine makers and wander wilderness areas where wild vegetables meet with native marsupials. Based around the southern region of the country and incorporating Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, this is a journey through both raw produce and the end result.
Of course, there are exceptional restaurants as well, along with cafes and small market stalls best know to the locals. So for each unique experience like harvesting scallops, there will also be a degustation menu or an inside look at one of Australia’s up and coming restaurants. Port Lincoln is all about the seafood while in the Barossa and Yarra Valleys there is a more traditional platter of red meats. Tasmania and Kangaroo Island are rugged places teaming with wildlife, and Melbourne and Adelaide offer a contrasting experience. Hopping between the destinations you can taste the food and wine that has put Australia on the culinary map, along with a new generation of Australian flavors.
Start your two-week tour with four nights in Melbourne, where the local market will provide some jet-lagged early indulgence before day two is dedicated to the Yarra Valley, a world-famous wine region where you can go behind the scenes at premium wineries. The Mornington Peninsula has yet to attract fame, but it is evolving as Australia’s next big food destination and is filled with artisanal producers, market gardens and wineries for your next day. Move next to Melbourne for a few more city highlights along with a gourmet food and art walk. Fly south to Tasmania next and start your island adventure with scallops and oysters, probably with some kangaroo observing. Bruny Island is the setting the following day with a chance to meet with cheese makers and forage for wild vegetables.
Fly privately to Kangaroo Island next and kick off the next day with oysters, lobster, olive oil, local wine and lots of wild nature, and you cannot miss the koalas here. Then head to the Eyre Peninsula for a complete change in culinary scenery as you jump into the commercial world of sustainable seafood, including tuna, crab, snapper and rock lobster. An iconic destination follows with two days in Shiraz country as you discover the Barossa Valley. And then finish in Adelaide, upcoming and full of promise, a lovely city to end two weeks in Australia. Interested in learning more by seeing some of our travelers’ Australia vacation tour reviews? Click here for more.
Starting Price
$5,700 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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