Our 2023 season has come to a close having just completed our Victorian High Country tour. Time to put our walking boots away for another year and we look forward to a relaxing Christmas with family and friends!
We were thrilled that we were able to finally operate the majority of our overseas holidays again this year. Having had to put our new Japanese walking holiday on hold for the last 3 years Gabriela was very excited to be able to lead two groups there.
Graeme was equally excited to be back in Europe again leading the Sea to the Summits and Taste of Europe walks and then in October he was finally able to get back to Africa for our Walkabout Safari.
Over the last 38 years we have established a wonderful working relationship with our hotel and restaurant owners in Europe.
Most of them are small family-run businesses like ours and many have been working with us since the beginning so it was very difficult not to see them during the last 3 years.
Thankfully this year we were able to have lots of "family reunions" again with our hosts.
Our guests continue to be amazed by the charm and beauty of Mallacoota and the pristine wilderness surrounding Croajingolong NP. Staying in historic Karbeethong Lodge, our hosts Jenny and Graeme spoil us each evening with delicious canapes in the library before serving us a delicious 3 course dinner.
Our walks take us beside the sparkling waters of Mallacoota Inlet and along the coastal paths and deserted beaches of the rugged Southern Ocean. We explore the extensive waterways of the Bottom Lake with local captain Dale Winward aboard the historic MV Lochard and on the Gipsy Princess we discover the pristine wilderness of Gipsy Point and the Wallagaraugh River.
This was my first trip with WGA but from the moment I spotted my group at the meeting place, I knew I was going to enjoy it. The welcome was warm and relaxed from both Graeme and guests. Karbeethong Lodge accommodation, pre-dinner drinks and nibbles, and delicious meals, were a definite highlight in a trip with absolutely ALL highlights! The coastal walking in Mallacoota is incredibly scenic and thankfully has recovered quite quickly post fires, although reminders are still present, eg blackened trees. Extra additions to walking such as Dale's boat trips to the sea eagles' nest and to his farm for a seafood lunch were just delightful. Many opportunities for photographs and sightseeing. I can't wait to be a part of more WGA trips in the near future. Thanks Graeme, Trish and my walking friends." Kerry from Ballarat Victoria, Australia
Mallacoota & Croajingolong 6-day Walking tour in Mallacoota and Croajingolong National Parks, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
We have been operating our walks to the Grampians since the beginning of Walkabout so it has always been one of our favourite destinations.
Based in lovely Halls Gap we explore both the central and northern sections of the park with ease. The area has so much to offer from the amazing Wonderland Range, Makenzie Falls and Mt Zero and Stapleton in the north which includes the richest Aboriginal rock art in Victoria.
On our travelling day to the Great Ocean Road, we explore the southern end of the national park including an easy walk to Mt William, the highest point in the park. In Port Campbell we base ourselves in the luxurious Southern Ocean Villas from where we get our first taste of the magnificent Great Ocean Coastal Walk and the Port Campbell National Park. Of course, the 12 Apostles and Lochard Gorge are world renowned but there are many more highlights to this region.
On the edge of Apollo Bay, we have the opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful sections of the Great Ocean Coastal Walk. A highlight of our stay here is our dining experience at Chris's superb restaurant at Beacon Point. On our final day we travel the full length of the Great Ocean Road which was built by the returned service men from 1919 - 1932 stopping briefly at one of the world's surfing meccas - the famous Bells Beach.
From beginning to end this gourmet walkabout was full of exciting experiences - wine tastings, walks through centuries old champagne tunnels, wonderful accommodation in glorious settings, gourmet food and friendly fellow walkers. The walks, some a little challenging (thank you Graeme for the use of the walking pole), others easy, all through mesmerising scenery, many with a towering mountain or crashing waves as a backdrop. Thank you, Graeme, for a thoroughly memorable holiday. I cannot wait for my next experience with Walkabout Gourmet Adventures." Christine from Melbourne, Australia
Grampians & Great Ocean Trail 8-day Walking tour in the Grampians National Park, Otway National Park, Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles
The Prom was the reason why we started Walkabout all those years ago.
It has always been one of our favourite places and still today we are thrilled to share its unique beauty with our guests. It is the most southerly point of mainland Australia with over 700 species of native plants providing the perfect habitat for the prolific wildlife. Our leisurely walks pass through a variety of vegetation from bush to luxuriant, moist fern gullies. These harbour magnificent white sandy beaches washed by spectacular rolling surf.
Apart from visiting The Prom itself one of the highlights of this tour is our gorgeous accommodation overlooking beautiful Waratah Bay. It has spectacular ocean views across the bay to Wilson's Promontory and Bass Strait. It is a mecca for wildlife too - there are a few resident koalas plus wombats and an array of birdlife. We have direct access to the beach just 5 minutes away so each evening, energy permitting you have an opportunity for a refreshing swim.
Next year we are delighted to include in our itinerary a visit to the Clarke family farm. Enroute we shall travel into the Strzelecki Ranges and discover the Tarra-Bulga National Park. This hidden gem is home to magnificent shady fern lined creeks, luxuriant tree ferns, giant mountain ash and ancient myrtle beech. In the afternoon we shall call into the Clarke farm for a stroll around the property and afternoon tea.
This walking trip was a genuine surprise and delight. I had not realised just how beautiful and pristine the Prom is and it was such a pleasure to discover this area under the capable and professional guidance of Graeme. He clearly knew the area well and was happily able to take us to some very special parts of Wilsons Promontory. Several of our group swam at Squeaky Beach and the absolutely divine Fairy Cove - one of the most beautiful beaches I have been to. And there are many more picturesque beaches to be found. We also walked to Tongues Point, the most southerly part of mainland Australia - this walk was the highlight for me. Our accommodation was very comfortable, in the gorgeous cottages at Bear Gully, a very secluded and pretty part of the Prom. We ate breakfast and dinner in the Homestead - dinner was delicious, with an amazing three course meal served to us each evening. The walking holiday was very well organised and our group of 8 ladies thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, so much so that we are booking another walking trip with Graeme next year." Sue from Sydney NSW, Australia
Wilson Promontory & TArra Bulga 6-day Wilsons Prom National Park, George Bass Coastal Walk, Cape Liptrap, Waratah Bay, Tarra Bulga NP
We are looking forward to our Sydney Coastal Gems tour again in March next year.
It is a perfect time to visit these stunning coastal locations, the ocean water is lovely and warm and there is nothing like a refreshing swim in the sea after a beautiful coastal walk.
It's very hard to imagine that these pristine places are so close to Sydney. This is very much a "foodie" tour where we are thoroughly spoilt with wonderful dining experiences at Barrenjoey House in Palm Beach and Bells Boutique Hotel in Killcare.
Staying in only 2 locations means less time travelling and more time relaxing in these gorgeous hotels. The tour is restricted to only 8 guests and one of the highlights is that we use the local historic ferries to get to and from our various walks.
The tour commences at Bondi where we take advantage of our location and do the iconic Bondi to Bronte coastal walk and then transfer to Manly where we walk around to idyllic Shelly Beach.
Here we get our first taste of the wonderful hospitality of the Boat House group which Barrenjoey House is a part of with lunch at the Shelly Beach Boathouse.
Apart from the delicious food we also have some beautiful walks in store for you in Kur- ring-gai Chase, Brisbane Waters and Bouddi National Parks. At Killcare we have the opportunity to join Tim Selwyn a local indigenous guide as he walks us through a section of Bouddi NP explaining the significance of the aboriginal culture in this area.
On our last day we learn about Broken Bay Peals when we join Ash and his team on the water and visit some of their oyster farms - a fascinating insight into how these beautiful pearls we are all familiar with are actually formed.
I doubt that I can come up with enough superlatives to embrace the March 2023, discovery tour of Sydney Coastal Gems. The itinerary just 'kept giving', at every turn. Graeme's attention to detail has to be admired, which ensures that all 'on tour', can travel at their pace. A testament to the WGA brand, is the large percentage of repeat tour participants, and Trish's efficient and competent manner, in the WGA office. To my travelling companions, thank you for being so much fun." Judy from Tamworth NSW, Australia
Sydney Coastal Gems 9-day Walking tour Palm Beach, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, Brisbane Water National Park, Bouddi National Park
Nastassja Clarke was excited this Autumn to lead our first Parisian small group tour. She spent many years living in Paris so the city has a special place in her heart. On this 5-day tour Nastassja shows guests her favourite corners away from the normal tourist haunts. Paris is rich in art, gastronomy, fashion and culture and these will be the main focus points throughout the trip.
Whether you'd like to source out that extra special item for a loved one or for yourself, trust Paris to have just what you are looking for! The "Art de Vivre à la Française" will be experienced in the most authentic way and on a daily basis - how lucky are you!
Making the time to sit at cafes and watch the world go by with delicious croissants and of course the divine French bread and butter! In the evenings, we will slowly stroll our way through the night-lit streets and enter a whole new culinary celebration of French cuisine in some of the best sought out restaurants in town. Speaking of which we're also going to dive into a super fun croissant baking class right in the heart of Saint Germain.
Get prepared to unravel the secrets of perfecting those buttery delights and leave armed with not just recipes but the skills to recreate these delicious croissants whenever you please!
Nastassja's Parisian Getaway is limited to only 4 very lucky guests so why not get a few friends together and join Nastassja next year in Paris.
Our engaging, delightful and thoughtful guide Nastassja took us on a magical and all-encompassing tour of some of the most fascinating parts of Paris, the most romantic city in the world. Our route took us to diverse places and experiences which encapsulated some of the most glamorous and interesting facets of this fabulous city. The tour was a thoughtful and clever balance of artistic and cultural experiences. Nastassja shared with us her inside knowledge of so many special places including city gardens, the grand Mosque Cafe, Belle Epoque style restaurants and unusual Eiffel Tower viewing points. Nastassja enhanced our understanding of the city's architecture by arranging a historical guide of medieval, renaissance and nineteenth century Haussmann architectural styles. A croissant making and appreciating class was also included. This tour is perfect for anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the magical city of Paris and have a great time and a lot of fun in the process." Jennifer & Helen, Adelaide, Australia
A Parisian Gateway5-day Walking Tour in Favourite food finds and secret corners of Paris
Due to Covid we had not visited these 3 wonderful regions in Europe since 2019. It was so special to be back catching up again with our hotel owners which, over the many years, had become part of the "Walkabout Family ". We were blessed with wonderful Autumn weather and our small group had a wonderful time.
In the Black Forest we stay in a small family run hotel. It is a traditional Black Forest timber farmhouse dating back to 1733 and is located in the small village of Menzenschwand in the Alb Valley. This area is a paradise for walking and we are able to do all our walks directly from our hotel. Each afternoon we return to the amazing hospitality of our host and her son who spoil us each evening with delicious Black Forest specialities.
From here we cross over into France and spend 5 nights in Alsace in the picture postcard town of Obernai. Here we have the best of both worlds as we are surrounded by the world-famous Alsace vineyards and next door, we have the Vosges Mountains. Our extremely comfortable hotel is located in the centre of town and is renowned for its gastronomy.
Our last stop is Champagne where we stay in Chateau Corban which has been lovingly restored by the Vandendriessche family over the last 20 years. They were repeatedly told it couldn't be done but they proved everyone wrong! Today this 4* hotel has a Michelin* and each evening we are served up some truly memorable dinners. Our walks take us through the gorgeous Champagne countryside with magnificent vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see over rolling hillsides, dotted with picturesque villages.
We chose this trip primarily because it went through regions that we had not visited before. From the start, staying at Château de Courban set the relaxed ambiance to enjoy the journey going forward, with a "No worries be Happy" attitude. The walking was varied, never too technical and most of the time with amazing views and beautiful lush forests. Outstanding areas were the town of Essoyes, where Renoir lived in the latter part of his life; Les Ricey area with endless rolling hills saturated with vineyards and the grape pickers picking the grapes. In Obernai (Alsace) the Tudor style houses were very pretty and walking to the top of Mount St Odile was quite special. Staying in Menzenschwand provided a different experience again high up in the alpine area, the forests and meadows and views were stunning. The dinners in Courban & Obernai were five-star ratings, super culinary delights, enjoyed by all. A huge thank you to Graeme, our "Gran Capitan", for making it all happen. The walks were tailored to the abilities of the group and at the end of the day we were all ready to enjoy the delicious dinners. It was a fantastic holiday. Noely & Bill from Sydney NSW, Australia
A Taste of Europe 14-day Walking Tour in France and Germany, Black Forest, Alsace and Champagne.
From the Sea to the Summits is one of our favourite walks offering our guests a multitude of landscapes to experience.
In the Dordogne we spend our time walking through delightful oak forests, past ancient villages and beside the romantic Dordogne River. You will be surprised by the variety of delicious produce which comes from this area - walnuts, foie gras, black truffles, goat cheeses and some excellent wines.
The Dordogne has a very colourful history dating back to the Stone Age and today has some of France's best-preserved chateaux. Onto Burgundy - a land of clustered storybook hamlets, medieval chateaux, world-renowned wines and hot mustards!
Our walks concentrate on trails through some of the most famous vineyards in the world. We also introduce you to some of the lesser-known regions near Autun which is renowned for its beautiful deciduous forests and a history dating back to Roman times. Surely one of Europe's most treasured sights are "the Alps". There is nothing in the world quite like them. It is not only the sheer grandeur of the towering peaks but it is the cosiness of the hillside villages, the unforgettable display of alpine wildflowers, the sound of cowbells ringing through the valleys and the sight of a welcoming inn as you round a bend on a mountain trail.
We base ourselves in Chamonix at the foot of Europe's highest mountain - Mont Blanc and from our rooms in our cosy chalet style family hotel we have an uninterrupted view. With 310 kms of walking tracks, this wonderful alpine area is a walkers' paradise. Here, you also have the opportunity to ride on the world's highest cable car to Aiguille du Midi - 3,842 metres.
Our final destination is the famous Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps where we have chosen the lovely village of Grindelwald as our base. Marvel at the sheer splendour of Europe's most spectacular mountain scenery. Stroll knee deep in alpine wildflowers and journey to the famous Jungfrau Joch on the highest railway in Europe. At night relax in our beautiful hotel and enjoy their delicious dinners.
The tour was amazing from start to finish. We had perfect weather for walking, in the Swiss alps from Grindelwald and the French Alps in Chamonix. Cable car ride to the Top of Europe and the Aiguilles du Midi as well was just magic. The trails were challenging but the rewards so satisfying. Walking in the Soane valley through beautiful vineyards around Beaune was a complete contrast. There is so much history to enjoy as well with a visit to Cluny and Hotel Dieu. A delicious and informative wine tasting rounded off the time there. Further west into the Dordogne through lovely villages was a real treat. Our accommodation was superb, and having four nights in each location meant less packing and more time to relax at the end of each walking day with aperitives and a special dinner. Graeme is a wonderful, thoughtful guide, so helpful and knowledgeable about each place we visited. A truly memorable experience." Denise from Sydney NSW, Australia
From the sea to the Summits16-day Walking tour in Dordogne, Burgundy, Mont Blanc and the Swiss Alps
After 13 years of absence, it was amazing to return to Portugal - from the cliffs of Cabo da Vincente near Sagres at the most south westerly point of Europe to the rolling hills of the Douro River.
An exciting addition to our discovery was Nazaré north of Lisbon. Its major attractions are the waves and surfing, thanks to the Nazaré Canyon', a sub marine geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of perfect giant waves. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometres along the coast, reaching a depth of 5,000 metres.
This picturesque seaside town will take a secure place in our itinerary and we are hoping for some big waves again next year. Besides this it is also one of the best places to eat grilled sardines. We still have some free spaces on our second tour, starting on the 20th April in Porto.
We wanted to slow down and enjoy some exercise, good food and accommodation without having to plan it all. Bingo on all counts! It was a fab time with highlights including a wonderful guided tour of the Alhambra, a great stay in Ronda and the Sagres wildflowers. Gabriella's experience, local knowledge and contacts were excellent - we had memorable meals including at a water mill near Ronda, on the beach near Tarifa and at a winery in the Douro Valley. The walks were through quiet countryside, sometimes more challenging than anticipated. The very small group was great company and the guides were enthusiastic and committed." Cathy from Sydney Australia
A Journey back in Time18-day Walking Tour in Portugal and Spain, through the Douro Valley, Algarve and Andalusia
La Residence St Mary, our charming apartments in Provence
Discover the perfect holiday getaway in the heart of Forcalquier, a picturesque town in Upper Provence. Whether you are seeking a romantic retreat, a family vacation or a gathering with friends, we have the ideal accommodation for you.
Choose from our selection of two cosy one-bedroom apartments or opt for our spacious apartment with an adjoining bedroom, perfect for families. For larger groups, our apartments can be rented individually or combined to create a four-bedroom haven.
We have hosted numerous large family gatherings, where loved ones come together to celebrate special occasions or reunite with children and grandchildren residing in Europe. Immerse yourself in the rich beauty of Provence as you explore the enchanting surroundings.
Our apartments serve as the ideal base for your adventures, allowing you to uncover the region's hidden gems and create lasting memories. Consider the allure of spending "Christmas in Provence" and experiencing the magic of a "White Christmas." Don't miss out and reserve your stay with us soon!
I could not LOVE this place more! This is my second time in Folcalquier staying in The Clarke Family's flats. Everything is always perfect! And, Folcalquier is a magical place! I HIGHLY recommend staying here! Thank you again for another wonderful time! :)". Sarah, USA, October 2023
APARTMENT ELEONOREGround floor apartment for up to 4 people recently renovated. Offers large open kitchen with dining and lounge, bedroom with ensuite plus a sitting room which can be used as a second bedroom. Large interior courtyard and garden.
A luminous "loft style" apartment for 2 with a spacious bedroom, ensuite bathroom and a kitchen with a funky velvet lounge corner. Rooftop terrace with gorgeous views over Provence.
APARTMENT BEATRICE First floor one bedroom apartment with a spacious terrace with gorgeous views to the citadel and forested hilltop park, includes a large bathroom with a generously sized shower and a modern functional kitchen.
Blanche, rooftop terrace
Eleonore, open plan kitchen
Lure Mountains near Forcalquier
Forcalquier Market
Citadelle of Forcalquier
Upcoming Festivals for Foodies
There are plenty of events in Australia from Food & Fine Wine Festivals to Gastronomy Expos throughout the year. These Events bring together Australian and world-renowned winemakers, chefs and industry insiders to entertain, educate and inspire, you may also visit farm gates and cellar doors, meet with local producers, attend degustation dinners, taste regional products or even attend cooking classes! We have put a list of local and overseas gourmet events together, here is what's coming near you:
We hope you enjoy reading our latest news and look forward to catching up with you in 2024. Our Christmas greetings and New Year Calendar will be on its way to you soon.
I could not LOVE this place more! This is my second time in Folcalquier staying in The Clarke Family's flats. Everything is always perfect! And, Folcalquier is a magical place! I HIGHLY recommend staying here! Thank you again for another wonderful time! :)".
Blanche, rooftop terrace
APARTMENT ELEONORE
