Oz Odyssey - The Trip of a Lifetime
Anyone can get on a jet and visit Australia but we take it to a whole new level!
Join a small group of our wine club members to visit our home country of Australia with us.
Fabulous resorts, talented chefs, great wines at totally unique places you might never find on your own.
We take care of the itinerary, the hotels, the meals, tips and tax. Just lay back and enjoy our Oz Odyssey experience.
Click here if you want to join us on an Oz Odyssey . . .
Day 1 - Welcome to Sydney ~ Wednesday March 16 - 11:00 am
We meet at the iconic Park Hyatt Hotel in the historic Rocks area of Sydney overlooking the Opera House and suspended above the waters of Sydney Harbor where our king suites all have breathtaking views.
Limo across the Harbor Bridge traveling through Sydney’s Northern Beaches for a long, luxurious lunch with stunning foods overlooking a fabulous beach with a panoramic view of the South Pacific Ocean.
After a leisurely we lunch return to Park Hyatt for a free evening to relax or explore the Rocks area pubs and shops. Bill always likes to have a beer in the rooftop pool area and watch Sydney's giant fruit bats fly over so you may want to join him for this urban bush experience.
Day 2 - Sydney Harbor ~ Thursday March 17 - 9:30 am
It's a short walk to the wharf where we board our 65 foot cruiser on the stunning waters of Sydney Harbor. Please remember to wear soft, removable shoes as our time on the Enterprise is barefoot.
We disembark for lunch at Balmoral, a masterpiece in elegant beachfront dining.
We are joined at lunch by Ian "Herbie" Hemphill one of Australia's foremost culinary herb and spice experts who will give us an interesting and informative discussion on just how easy it is to use great spices in our everyday cooking.
Following a relaxing Sydney afternoon we stroll to one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for the dining experience of a lifetime.
Day 3 - Hunter Valley ~ Friday March 18 - 9:30 am
Heading north to the Hunter Valley and its exceptional Semillon and Shiraz wines we stop to enjoy a light luncheon with our old mates Chef Robert Molines and wife Sally.
Next we check in at a truly unique small five-star luxury hotel in the Hunter Valley, where we occupy virtually the entire hotel under the watchful eyes of local kangaroos. The hotel estate offers spacious suites with indulgent amenities set among vineyards and natural bush land while the Estate’s own restaurant is a Hunter Valley gourmet icon.
We are joined at dinner by fifth-generation Hunter winemaker Keith Tulloch together with wife Amanda and members of their wine club to enjoy a local, farm-to-table produce & wine dinner. Keith and Amanda will then host us all at their winery the next day.
Day 4 - Hunter Valley ~ Saturday March 19 - 9:30 am
Today we tour and taste at the oldest family winery still making wines in the Hunter Valley. Founded in 1858 the Winery with its dirt floor and old world charm has been preserved in its current state for over 100 years.
Next it's on to tour and taste a great set of wines with a private tasting at a five-star winery where we get to enjoy the company of the winemaker as we lunch with delicious dishes and meet some real Aussie animals.
After lunch we are off to The Little Wine Company, a boutique winery comprised of husband-and-wife team Ian and Suzanne Little. The pair is united by their passion for producing superb wine, including classic red wines, nuanced whites, flavorful pink wines, and many more. After tasting too many wines we return to our estate hotel where the Botanica chefs have created a genuine Aussie barbecue.
Day 5 - Hunter to Adelaide ~ Sunday March 20 - 8:00 am
After breakfast we return to Sydney Airport and fly to Adelaide. We have a group booking on the 12:20 pm QANTAS Airlines flight to Adelaide. We already have tickets purchased for each of our Oz Odyssey travelers from Sydney to Adelaide but please note for airport security reasons you need to manage your own bags and any excess luggage fees. . . . more important luggage information →
Adelaide Hills & Barossa Valley ~ Sunday March 20 - 2:00 pm
Noted for its many music festivals and sporting events, Adelaide is Australia's fifth-largest city , ranks in the Top 10 of World's Most Livable Cities. and with its food, wine and culture is gateway to famous Australian wine regions .
At Adelaide Airport we are greeted by our favorite wine country host Joe Ahern who shows us his Adelaide and then it's on to the Adelaide Hills to enjoy a leisurely lunch paired with fine wines of The Lane Winery.
Arriving at The Louise in the heart of the legendary Barossa wine country we have a free night in which you can relax at the Appellation Bar at The Louise, where Executive Chef Daniel Murphy and his team will produce some delightful nibbles.
Day 6 - Clare Valley ~ Monday March 21 - 9:30
After breakfast in your private courtyard we take a country drive to McLaren Vale to visit the eclectic d'Arenberg Winery where you will become a blending winemaker for the moning followed by an Aussie long lunch on d'Arry's Veranda.
That evening Yalumba, Australia's oldest family owned winery, invites our family to visit, taste their wines, visit the working cooperage, and wander through the wine cellar accumulated by the family over 150 years of collecting, ending up in the tank room where local celebrity chef Peter Clark, another old mate of Dawn and Bill, will present us with an incredible dinner.
Day 7 - Barossa Valley ~ Tuesday March 22 - 9:30 am
Meet Dan Standish, one of the powerful winemakers of the Barossa Valley and owner of one of our "Sister Wineries". Dan's exceptional wines sell out every year but a few find their way into "Bills Cellar Club". In this rare opportunity Dan, often accompanied by his wife Nicole, shares his vineyard and wine making philosophy and even more importantly, his breathtaking wines.
After tasting the fabulous Standish Wines we meet Keith Hentschke to taste his award-winning wines then head chef Lachlan Colwill will produce a fabulous lunch in the stables at Hentley Farm, originally built in the 1880s on the banks of Greenock Creek, which have been meticulously restored and converted into a contemporary dining room.
Back to The Louise for some much needed free time, then off to the Vintners Inn for more spectacular Barossa hospitality and cuisine.
Day 8 - Barossa Valley ~ Wednesday March 23 - 9:30 am
No Barossa visit would be complete without experiencing Rockford Wines where winemaking is carried on using the traditional methods as it was in 1890. It's almost indescribable - you just have to experience it for yourself. . . . more →
In 1851 Joseph Seppelt established Seppeltsfield where our mate Nigel gives us a behind-the-scenes look through the estate's treasure of historical buildings and spectacular surroundings, tells us about the Seppelt family's profound influence on the Australian wine industry and gives us the rare opportunity to taste our own birth year vintage tawny, directly from the barrel.
We saved a rare experience for our final dinner together. The newly built St Hugo is located within the 150 years old William Jacob’s winery, the new designed to tie in with the old, including the driveway, surrounded by ancient cork trees.
The best of St Hugo waits inside. Longtime friend of Dawn and Bill, Executive Chef, Mark McNamara designs each dish to complement the power and elegance of the wines.
Each menu item starts by placing the wine first, overlaying flavorings and seasonal regional produce to create the truly memorable and delicious flight of dishes. What could be a more fitting venue to savor a degustation dinner while celebrating our last Oz Odyssey night together?
Day 9 - Barossa to Adelaide ~ Thursday March 24 - 9:30 am
We spend our last morning saying goodbye to our fellow travelers in the beautiful Barossa and then each visitor goes their separate way from Adelaide to explore incredible Australia.
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