2008
Australian Gourmet Extravaganza Designed Exclusively for 12-20 Food & Wine Lovers
ARRIVAL DATES IN SYDNEY: APRIL 22 2008
Featuring: Private wine tastings, d'gustation meals, cooking class, private homes, deluxe accommodation in Sydney, Hunter Valley, Pittwater, Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Adelaide, Fleurieu Peninsula, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley.
In brief
DAY 1: Arrive in Sydney. City Orientation Tour
DAY 2: Tour of Sydney Fish Markets. Cruise on Sydney Harbour
DAY 3: Sydney Secrets Tour. Lunch at a private beach house
DAY 4: Full day tour of the famous Hunter Valley Vineyards
DAY 5: Fly to Melbourne. City Orientation Tour
DAY 6: Full day tour of Yarra Valley Wineries
DAY 7: Full day Gastronomic tour on Mornington Peninsula
DAY 9: At leisure in Adelaide with optional touring
DAY 10: Full day touring in McLaren Vale on the Fleurieu Peninsula
DAY 12: Cooking Class and touring in the Clare Valley
DAY 13: Fly to Sydney. Farewell Gala Dinner in Paddington
DAY 14: Depart Sydney
In detail
DAY 1: Arrive in Sydney, Australia. City Orientation Tour L
You will arrive in Sydney early this morning and clear customs. After you have completed the Australia Immigration formalities you will be met and transferred to your hotel. During your 4 nights stay in Sydney you will be accommodated at Quay Grand Sydney, a luxurious suite hotel overlooking Sydney Harbor and within walking distance of Sydney Opera House, the Botanic Gardens and the historic Rocks Village. After an early check-in at the hotel join your small group of 12-20 wine and food lovers and, famous local Sydney guide, Suzanne Akerman, for an introductory tour of Sydney downtown, the exclusive Eastern Suburbs and the famous Bondi Beach where you’ll stop for lunch at a local trendy bistro overlooking the beach. Ms Akerman will accompany your group throughout your tour.
Ten times in the past 11 years readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines have voted Sydney the World’s Best City. You will enjoy this cosmopolitan city with its impressive harbor foreshores, glamorous homes and coastlines dotted with jagged sandstone cliffs and golden beaches. With its Mediterranean climate, arcade shopping, restaurants, parks, gardens, museums, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge- you’ll find Sydney a gem.
Suggestions for a light dinner to be enjoyed at a variety of Sydney restaurants (at own expense).
*****Optional tours
Massages in hotel rooms
Privately guided tour of Sydney Opera House
DAY 2: Early morning tour of Sydney Fish Markets. Cruise on glorious Sydney Harbour B L
For an early start this morning join Suzanne at the well known Sydney Fish Markets for a Behind The Scenes Auction Tour where you will have the opportunity to join a vibrant, leading edge commercial auction at the world’s second largest fish market of its kind where over 100 species of fish are auctioned daily. During the 1 ½ hour tour you will experience all facets of the fish markets operation from the auction floor to the sashimi pavilion and the crustacean pen. At the conclusion of the tour you’ll be able to sample tastings of the sashimi, sushi, famous Sydney rock oysters and Australia’s king prawns (shrimp).
You will return to Circular Quay to meet any members of your group who would prefer to sleep-in or take an independent stroll around Circular Quay or The Botanic Gardens. Your day will continue when you board a luxury motor launch on a 3-hour private luncheon cruise to discover beautiful Sydney Harbor and its many picturesque coves. You will return to Darling Harbor at 3.00pm and have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore this bustling area, to return to your hotel to relax or to explore the city independently.
***** Optional tours at additional expense
Climb Sydney Harbor Bridge early this morning
Explore Sydney Aquarium
Dinner at one of Sydney’s 5 star restaurants where you will enjoy our fine Aussie fusion cuisine.
Suggestions for a light dinner to be enjoyed at a variety of Sydney restaurants (at own expense).
DAY 3: Sydney Secrets Tour. Lunch at Private Beach House B
After breakfast at your hotel you will join Suzanne on a scenic tour of a native animal sanctuary enroute to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park one of the oldest national parks in the world. In the park, if time permits, you’ll take a gentle walk to an Aboriginal ceremonial site with engraved rock art where you’ll learn about Australia’s unique Aboriginal culture and history. Then it’s onto West Head Lookout that boasts wonderful views over Broken Bay, Palm Beach, Pittwater and the Tasman Sea. A scenic drive through the park takes you to Church Point where you’ll board our private water taxi for a cruise along Pittwater en route to your luncheon site, Suzanne’s splendid beach house on Towlers Bay. Meet the local caterer and Suzanne’s friends as the BBQ is lit and the wine cellar opened. Join in the preparation in the kitchen or relax on the verandah feeding the local parrots and kookaburras. This will be a fantastic day so bring plenty of film!
****Optional tour at additional expense
Top off the day with an exhilarating seaplane flight back down the coastline, circling over Sydney Harbor.
Suggestions for a light dinner to be enjoyed at a variety of Sydney restaurants (at own expense)
DAY 4: Full day tour of the famous Hunter Valley Vineyards B L
After breakfast at your hotel join Suzanne and your specialist guide on an interesting and scenic tour to the Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest wine region. Enjoy the peculiar Australian beauty of the Hunter, with the smoky blue Brokenback Range and gentle undulations glistening with green vines, while you learn about the character and varieties of Australian wines and recent wine making developments. During the day private tastings will be offered at several award winning and boutique wineries. The Hunter is famous for its Semillon and Shiraz with both wines reflecting the unique character of the Valley's climate and soil. Relax over a gourmet lunch, sample these fine wines and compare tasting notes. You’ll return to Sydney in the late afternoon with satisfied palates and a better appreciation of Australia's first wine region.
Suggestions for a light dinner to be enjoyed at a variety of Sydney restaurants (at own expense)
DAY 5: Fly to Melbourne. City Orientation Tour B
After breakfast at your hotel you have a leisurely morning to relax before transferring to Sydney Airport to board a lunchtime flight to Melbourne. On arrival in Melbourne our local guide, Patrick, will meet and escort you on an introductory tour of Melbourne. During your 3 nights stay in Melbourne you will be accommodated at Langham Hotel, a luxury hotel at Southbank, an area famous for its many restaurants and boutique shops within easy walking distance of Melbourne CBD, The Arts Centre including Hamer Hall, Melbourne Exhibition Centre & Crown Casino. Dinner will be at your own expense this evening. Your guides will make suggestions and bookings for the restaurant that will most suit your palates.
****Optional tour at additional expense
Dinner at one of Melbourne’s premier restaurants
Performance at Melbourne Art Center
DAY 6: Full day tour of Yarra Valley Wineries B L
After breakfast at your hotel you will join your private wine specialist guide to travel to the Yarra Valley, one of Australia's oldest and most diverse wine producing regions. It contains large commercial enterprises and boutique wineries and is best known for its success with Pinot Noir, fine Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz varietals. The Yarra Valley offers a unique food and wine experience, with many wineries specializing in the foods of the region at the cellar door and adjacent restaurants. You’ll be guided through a private tasting at the family owned and operated De Bortoli Winery followed by a visit to Yering Station Winery to taste wines in the Old Winery Building and visit the Produce Store showcasing produce from the Yarra Valley region. You’ll visit Chateau Yering Historic House Hotel for lunch followed by a visit to the stunning Green Point Vineyard at Domaine Chandon for sparkling wine tastings and a tour of the winery.
Your guides will make suggestions for dinner restaurants. Dinner will be at additional expense. (Back to top)
DAY 7: Full day Gastronomic tour on Mornington Peninsula B L
Breakfast at your hotel. Surrounded by two bays, and pounded by the surf of Bass Strait, the Mornington Peninsula is known as Melbourne's playground for the rich and famous. The vibrant colors of more than 150 vineyards provide an integral part of its rich scenic appeal. The rustic charm of the wineries and the warmth of the local wine makers will make your epicurean journey memorable. You’ll travel in luxury through a tapestry of vineyards with magnificent roadside landscapes and coastal scenery. The marginal maritime climate on Mornington Peninsula means that its most successful wines are the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, with Pinot Gris winning acclaim. You’ll visit Stonier and Paringa Estate Wineries and Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, followed by lunch at the unique and beautiful Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove to enjoy the innovative provincial food, taste their award winning wines and olive oil at the cellar door or take a stroll through the wetlands. Dinner will be at your own expense. Your guides will make suggestions and bookings for the restaurants that will most suit your palates. (Back to top)
DAY 8: Fly to Adelaide. City Orientation Tour. Grange Hermitage Wine Tasting and D’dustation Dinner at Penfold’s Magill Estate Restaurant. B D
After a leisurely breakfast at your hotel you will transfer to Melbourne Airport in time to board your lunchtime flight to Adelaide. When you arrive in Adelaide Airport your private tour guide will meet and escort you on an orientation tour of Adelaide enroute to your hotel, the Hyatt Regency. You’ll spend the afternoon touring Adelaide, the wine and festival capital of Australia. It’s one of the most vibrant, stylish and innovative cities you'll ever visit. During the afternoon you’ll visit a local museum and gallery, a family owned iconic chocolate factory and a unique liquor producer where liquors are created from seasonal fruits that include lemons, oranges, strawberries and mandarins. A 5-course d’gustation dinner with accompanying wines will be served at Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant, Adelaide's premier fine dining establishment winner of Restaurant of the Year at the Restaurant and Catering South Australian Awards For Excellence. Its wine list has an unparalleled range of Penfolds wines including mature vintage reds from the winery’s museum. Prior to dinner you’ll partake in a tasting selection of Penfolds Premium wines and take a tour of the magnificent property nestled in the Adelaide Foothills. (Grange wine will be available at dinner at own expense) (Back to top)
DAY 9: At leisure in Adelaide with optional touring B
Breakfast at your hotel. You have the day at leisure to relax and explore Adelaide independently. We have a selection of full days tours (at additional expense) from which to choose.
****Optional tour at additional expense
Depart on a morning Market Adventure tour where you’ll enjoy a unique behind-the-scenes experience at Adelaide’s Central Market. Your day will continue with a visit to National Wine Centre to learn about winemaking and the wine industry. You will tour the exhibition gallery where visitors come to understand the role wine has played in history, recognize the position of Australian wine in today's international market and appreciate the relationship between food and wine. There will be time to shop in the retail store where wines can be sampled and purchased.
Take a full day tour to Kangaroo Island, one of Australia’s true wilderness areas of rugged cliffs, roaring surf, pristine beaches, vivid blue ocean waters, dramatic caves, beautiful bushland, national parks and home to an abundance of wildlife. You will tour the island with your specialist guide in a luxury 4X4 vehicle and take a unique nature walk in search of kangaroos, wallabies, the rare glossy black cockatoo and the elusive echidna before returning to your accommodation in Adelaide. Lunch is included.
Pack your camera today to photograph the spectacular color of the Australian Outback in South Australia’s Southern Flinders Ranges. You will board your chartered light aircraft to fly to a timeless land that reveals the geological secrets of the last two billion years on Earth. Lunch is included.
DAY 10: Full day touring in McLaren Vale on the Fleurieu Peninsula B L
Breakfast at your hotel. Within a 40-minute drive south of Adelaide the Wine Coast encapsulates all things Mediterranean – olive and almond groves, vineyards & wineries nestled between the nearby ranges and the coast. A selection of the tastes of the region will be experienced with private wine, oil & cheese tastings at a variety of boutique wineries that includes Coriole Winery “where the grapes have been grown since 1920 and the first bottled wine was the 1970 Shiraz. Coriole has earned its reputation for producing premium full bodied red wines focusing on Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon”. You’ll enjoy their excellent wines in a glorious setting looking down to the sea. You’ll visit d’Arrenberg Wines to taste some of Australia’s most acclaimed wines . Lunch will be served at d’Arrys Verandah Restaurant. Your day will conclude with a walk on the local beach. Suggestions for a light dinner to be enjoyed at a variety of Adelaide restaurants (Dinner will be at own expense)
DAY 11: Touring, chef’s dinner and overnight stay in the famous Barossa Valley. B L D
After breakfast at your hotel you will join your wine specialist guide on a wine tasting tour of the famous Barossa Valley with a backdrop of rolling hills enriched by the hospitality and traditions of the German heritage. Just one-hour scenic drive from Adelaide; the Barossa Valley renowned for producing some of the best table wines is also one of the most picturesque parts of South Australia. During a private, tutored tasting at the well known Barossa Winery, Peter Lehmann Wines, you’ll taste the wines that made them International winemaker of the year and Australian Wine Producer of the Year at the London 2006 International Wine and spirit Competition. You’ll sample their premium wines with the opportunity to discuss your tastings with qualified, knowledgeable winery staff. A platter lunch will be served at the winery. You’ll also visit Wolf Blass wineries to sample a selection of their award winning Riesling, Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon wines. A Chefs Dinner with wines to marry each course and hosted by a local wine maker is included at your hotel this evening. During your 2-nights stay in the Barossa Valley you will be accommodated at Peppers The Louise, a luxury hotel perched in the middle of vineyards. Part hotel, part up-market country house with its own restaurant, the vineyard views will get any wine lover's blood pumping. (Back to top)
DAY 12: Cooking Class and touring in the Clare Valley B L D
After breakfast at your hotel you will join your specialist tour guide who will escort you on a tour of Clare Valley, the most unblemished wine region in Australia. You’ll travel to Thorn Park to join a cooking class. Based on the freshest local produce of the highest quality and combined with your instructor’s irrepressible character a very enjoyable and informative class is guaranteed. Lunch, naturally, will be the spoils of your class with wines to marry. Following lunch you’ll visit Seven Hill Winery established in 1851 by the Jesuit Fathers . This is the oldest existing winery in the Clare Valley . A three course dinner will be served at 1918, the haunt of local Barossa vintners.(Back to top)
DAY 13: Fly to Sydney. Farewell Gala Dinner in Paddington. B D
You will return to Adelaide this morning before boarding a late morning flight to Sydney and Quay Grand Sydney. The afternoon is at leisure to do any last minute souvenir shopping. This evening you will join Suzanne and Piers Akerman for cocktails at their Paddington terrace house before strolling to a local Italian trattoria. Lucio, your host, will be waiting to welcome you on your arrival at his restaurant. He is an avid collector of Australian art and will be delighted to show you the art hanging on the restaurant walls. During dinner you will have one more opportunity to sample the creative cuisine of one of Australia’s young chefs; to enjoy Australian wines that will be matched to your meal and to relax and enjoy some of the famous Aussie hospitality. The perfect setting to reflect on the past two weeks of our 'Epicurean Extravaganza' and bid farewell to good friends. (Back to top)
Say farewell to Australia today. Before breakfast at your hotel early morning risers may wish to take a stroll along the Grand Boulevard in Circular Quay or pass by the Sydney Opera House and continue through the Sydney Botanic Gardens. You will transfer to Sydney Airport with Suzanne Akerman in time to board your flight to your home country. You will return to your home in USA having experienced the kind hospitality of the Aussies, stayed in an eclectic mix of our hotels, visited our cultural, historic and natural icons, explored the usual and the unusual from extreme perspectives, seen the sights, found time to share a yarn with the locals and perhaps somewhere along the way you’ll have made a new mate. (Back to top)
*Please keep in mind that we would love the privilege of including additional touring at either end of your tour. This may include visiting Lizard Island, the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback or the spectacular Western Australia coastline. We would be happy to discuss your individual travel passions.
TOUR DATES BASED ON ARRIVAL DATE IN SYDNEY
APRIL 24 – MAY 7TH 2008
Your 14-Day Gourmet Extravaganza includes:
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Coach class flights within Australia
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13 nights deluxe hotel & B&B accommodation – twin share basis
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Early check-in on arrival in Sydney, Australia
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Services of professional tour guide throughout
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Professionally guided private tours
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Airport arrival & departure transfers
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Baggage handling
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25 meals as denoted by B, L, D code
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Australia goods & services taxes
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Park entry fees
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Selected wine lists at the included lunches and dinners
Does not include:
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Optional tours and meals not listed
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Items of a personal nature
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International airfares
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Roundtrip airfares from your home city to international departure city
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International airport departure taxes
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Travel insurance
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Please be aware that:
Australia 2000 Travel retains the right to modify the itinerary or venues due to unforeseen circumstances.
Contact us for more information and to make your booking
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