Ultimate Truffle Cultivation Tour: Learn from Australia’s Premier Truffle Farms
GENERAL ITINERARY
*Please note that the exact itinerary might alter slightly due to weather and on-the-ground circumstances.
On Day 1 we will meet and greet with a welcome breakfast at the Epicurean Crown Towers in Perth prior to loading our transport headed for Margaret River & Manjimup. This will provide an opportunity for everyone to gather and meet each other as well as go over the daily itinerary before heading out.
We recommend staying in Perth at the Crown Hotels prior to departure after breakfast on June 19th. There are a variety of accommodations there to suit most needs, and this is a good location in proximity to the welcome breakfast and jumping-off point.
From there, we will depart Perth for Margaret River. Along the way, we will discuss the history of Australian truffle production, get local knowledge from our tour driver, and stop at one of Western Australia’s famous bakeries for a fun and authentic Australian lunch experience. Lunch is a la carte and not included in the price. It is not, however, expected to be costly. This is a quick stop for what is considered an Australian lunch staple. It is a 3 ½ hour drive (plus the lunch stop) and we will have plenty of time for discussions. Snacks and water will be provided on the bus.
Margaret River is Western Australia’s premiere wine region with particularly tasty reds that are hard to beat. While we are there, we will go to a truffière for a hunt, visit a few wineries, enjoy some fantastic food, and have the option (for those who are not too jet-lagged) to visit the local Koomal Dreaming Cape Cultural Experiences, a unique opportunity to see the caves and learn about Aboriginal culture. We will spend 2 nights in Margaret River, leaving after breakfast on day 3 (breakfast included at Margaret River). Due to the potential for people to still be very jet-lagged and simply want to crawl into bed very early, dinner is not included in Margaret River. We will offer options, one of which is intended to be a picnic at a local Olive Oil farm where we will be able to taste olive oil and enjoy the kangaroos and other wildlife that visit the property. The Caves Hotel where we will be staying has a traditional Australia pub to enjoy.
From Margaret River, we will head toward Manjimup, Australia’s exceptionally productive Tuber melanosporum region. After a gourmet lunch at Hound & Hunter in Manjimup and checking into our Manjimup accommodations, we will head to Australian Truffle Traders for an evening truffle hunt. The drive from Margaret River to Manjimup is about 1 ½ hours. Again, snacks and water will be provided.
Our 3 full days in Manjimup (4 nights), organized by Australian Truffle Traders, will include case studies, marketing strategies, dog hunting, an optional cooking class with famous local chef, hands-on harvesting, cleaning, grading, and packing, as well as visits to a local wildlife location where you will likely interact with “wild” kangaroos (they like to be hand fed), experience the Donnelley River cruise, and visit a marron farm, after which we will enjoy a marron and truffle lunch. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included for all 4 days in Manjimup.
We head back to Perth on day 7 (a 3 ½ hour drive plus the lunch stop; snacks and waters provided). This will involve another opportunity to try Australia’s famous pies and sausage rolls for lunch or visit a local brewpub on the way back to Perth at a different favorite bakery. Again, this isn’t included in the price, but it is a must when visiting Australia.
We should be back at our original meeting point in Perth by early afternoon, allowing you to explore Perth further on your own, head out on another adventure or begin your return journey home.
As noted on the website page, accommodation in Perth is not included in the tour cost as it would be too difficult to coordinate all the different travel times/ itineraries, but we are happy to offer suggestions.
Australia is a wonderful place to visit, and we are happy to provide many suggestions for things to do before and after the Truffle Tour. The Cartwrights have enjoyed taking friends and family through much of Australia and would love the opportunity to give you some ideas.