For a bespoke experiential Australian holiday call +61 2 9571 6677

FOLLOW US

Luxury Australian Itinerary – A culinary experience for stylish foodies

A culinary experience for stylish foodies

6-9 nights (plus suggested add-on and extra nights en route if desired).

The enjoyment of food and wine is integral to the experience offered by every luxury lodge of Australia and the culinary standard at all properties is outstanding. However, the food & wine experience offered by some properties is truly the lodge’s reason for being, and for visitors for whom food and wine is a primary reason to travel, these properties will have a compelling attraction.

Appellation at The Louise, Cape Lodge and Lake House are outstanding examples of destination restaurants, with luxury accommodation co-located. These culinary destinations, or ‘restaurants with rooms’, have international and national recognitions at the highest level. The below itinerary is should appear on any food and wine lover’s bucket list.

This itinerary is just an indicator of what’s on offer in Australia. At Alquemie we tailor make every vacation based on the whims of our guests. Please contact us to find out about the magical holiday we could craft for you.

Cape Lodge is Margaret River's finest dining experience
Cape Lodge is Margaret River’s finest dining experience

CAPE LODGE, MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA (2-3 NIGHTS)

Described as one of Australia’s finest gourmet establishments, Cape Lodge private estate and boutique hotel sits within 40 acres on its own vineyard in the heart of the Margaret River wine region.

A selection of must do’s

  • Best of the Best Wine Tour – A sophisticated behind the scenes wine tour often referred to as “The wine tour for people who don’t do tours”. No minivans, no crowds; the Best of the Best Wine Tour represents personalised touring at its best.
  • Sunset Kangaroo Safari – Have your camera ready as you get up close and personal to the Western Grey Kangaroo’s in their natural surroundings. Savour delicious home baked orange cake with a steaming cup of Billy tea or coffee.
  • The Cape Lodge Gourmet Retreat and Cooking Classes are ideal for lovers of great food and wine experiences.
Discover perfectly paired wine and food at Appellation restaurant at The Louise
Discover perfectly paired wine and food at Appellation restaurant at The Louise

THE LOUISE, BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA (2-3 NIGHTS)

The Louise, an idyllic luxury vineyard retreat, encompassing acclaimed restaurant Appellation, is situated on a gentle hill surrounded by hundreds of acres of vines, with breathtaking vistas across the world renowned Barossa Valley.

A selection of must do’s

  • The Most Brilliant Blend with Appellation restaurant and Penfolds – Don a labcoat and enjoy the challenge of being a winemaker for a day in the Penfolds laboratory where many of the iconic Penfold’s wine blends originate. Bring your blended wine back to Appellation where the award winning culinary team will create a special course custom paired to your wine that will form part of your dining experience at Appellation that evening.
  • On a Saturday morning join one of Appellation’s chefs at the Barossa Farmer’s Market, as they shop for dinner provisions and share in their delight for the food of the region.
  • Exclusive private tour of Seppeltsfield – A National treasure and living museum of Australian wine history.
  • A day touring a selection of (over 100) wineries that have made the Barossa Australia’s most famous and revered wine region.
Discover dining delight at Daylesford's LakeHouse
Discover dining delight at Daylesford’s Lake House

LAKE HOUSE, DAYLESFORD, VICTORIA (2-3 NIGHTS)

An icon in regional dining, Lake House in Daylesford has long been considered to be one of Australia’s best restaurants, championing local seasonal cuisine long before it became a mantra for many. The hotel and all manner of indulgent facilities that have grown around the restaurant over the past three decades continue to delight visitors from near and far. Indeed executive chef and co-proprietor Alla Wolf Tasker has enough national and international awards to fill virtually every wall of her fabled house on the lake.

A selection of must do’s

  • Dine at the multi-award winning Lake House Restaurant.
  • Farm Gate & Winery Tour – Head out for the day with a local guide and meet the farmers, producers and winemakers who passionately connect the ‘paddock to plate’. There’s organic and biodynamic producers, rare breed farmers, producers of goat and sheep’s milk cheese, cider, beer & winemakers, bakers and more. You’ll taste along the way and there’s plenty of opportunity to fill your bags if your luggage allowance can cope!
  • Meander through the property grounds and explore the Kitchen Garden planted out with herbs and edible flowers. Orchard areas include olives, crabapple, stone fruits, apple, quince and medlar.
Enjoy a sunset and al fresco dining at Spicers Peak Lodge
Enjoy a sunset and al fresco dining at Spicers Peak Lodge

SPICERS PEAK LODGE (OPTIONAL EXTRA)

The eponymous Spicers Peak Lodge Restaurant, is a highly respected and awarded restaurant, offering cooking schools and specialist cooking retreats.

Click here to begin your tailor-made journey to Australia

Lake House – Luxury Lodges of Australia

Award-winning Lake House in Daylesford just 90 minutes from Melbourne is as famous for its fine dining as it is for its boutique accommodation. Set within picturesque spa country, this family-run Luxury Lodge of Australia is a foodie’s delight and offers one of the best cellars in the country. Larissa Wolf-Tasker fills us in about this magical property.

Describe Lake House  in 3 words.

Gourmet | Country-chic | Service

Tell us a little bit about Lake House and what makes it so unique beyond great food, great wine and a very comfortable place to sleep?

Lake House is family owned and operated. It began as a restaurant in 1984 when Alla & Allan, husband and wife (artist and chef) opened the doors of their Lake House which had taken four years of building, plotting and planting. More than 30 years later Lake House is still owned and operated by the family including myself, my partner and 120 industry professionals.

The property is situated on six acres of country gardens; much of it planted by the previous generation, on the edge of lake Daylesford. It’s a rambling seasonal garden with old established fruit trees, fragrant old fashioned roses, lilac, magnolia and Daphne.

Lake House is near to the village of Daylesford which is filled with quirky shops, bars, cafes and galleries. A short stroll or bike ride will get you into the heart of the village within ten minutes but guests more often than not will spend hours exploring the main street and laneways on route.

This region is a land of extinct volcanos and boasts the largest concentration of naturally occurring mineral water springs in Australia. There is now an enormous spa industry built around the health giving properties of this mineral water and you can see the evidence on the springs on site where the waters flow above ground in creeks, water features and shallow pools. A local water diviner came on site to discover the underground springs and we now have water available for people to drink on site as well as bath in. The volcanic activity millions of years ago also ensured productive volcanic soil resulting in a diverse organic and biodynamic farming industry. As a result our restaurant has a consistent supply of extraordinary produce. It’s a pretty special place.

Accommodation at Lake House, Daylesford
Accommodation at Lake House, Daylesford

How is Lake House pushing the boundaries in guest experiences?

Our purpose built Cooking School gives guests an opportunity to get their hands dirty in either an intimate class of ten or amongst a masterclass with some of Australia’s leading chefs. The full calendar for the year ahead is always released in December and spaces fill quickly.

What’s a recent (last six months) innovation at Lake House?

We are always moving forward and now in our fourth decade the Lake House continues to grow and evolve with refurbished accommodation, brand new facilities and plenty of wistful country inspiration. The Lake House Team have never been known to rest on our laurels; now launching the newly refurbished Waterfront Suites. This update comes hot on the heels of the new Waterfront Pavilion – a private dining room for up to 40 guests on the lagoon shore, The Lagoon Deck – a place to enjoy afternoon aperitivo high in the poplars overlooking lake Daylesford, and the refurbished Lodge Studios and Suites in the original homestead.

The cooking school at Lake House, Daylesford
The cooking school at Lake House, Daylesford

What activity should guests not miss during their stay at Lake House?

A Signature Salus Bliss – it’s a combination of soft body polish, rhythmic massage and hot volcanic stones

Best dining experience at Lake House ?

Our restaurant is a destination in itself. Dining in the restaurant is the signature experience of a stay at Lake House and our tasting menu that changes with the seasons is a definite must-do. The Lake House Restaurant is listed as one of Australia’s best and this year alone has been included in every major national industry and media award.

Please describe a typical guest at Lake House.

There are no typical guests. We practise a very bespoke style of hospitality. Every day and every guest is a new opportunity to create very special memories.

The Spa at Lake House, Daylesford
The Spa at Lake House, Daylesford

Is Lake House child friendly?

Yes however we are on an unfenced lake and ask parents to be mindful of the natural landscape. Onsite there are plenty of activities for kids – feeding the kookaburras, geese and ducks, fishing, flying kites, tennis, basketball, lake walks etc. Nearby there is also quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, three golf courses and the Wildlife Park.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We have a few more unusual parts to the property. Our own resident artist Allan Wolf-Tasker’s studio is on site. At the moment he is working on a new exhibition “Lake Daylesford” which will be shown in Melbourne in November 2016. His studio is open to hotel guests or by appointment. We also display the work of several local artists throughout the gardens, in the public space and in the hotel rooms themselves.

The Lake House is also regularly featured on shows such as Masterchef. Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker AM is an icon in the hospitality industry and is often representing Australia’s food and wine in partnership with Tourism Australia overseas.

The deck at Lake House, Daylesford
The deck at Lake House, Daylesford

 

Click here to find out more about Australian travel with Alquemie