Australian Food and Wine Experience
Pre-Cruise Circle of Interest
Food and wine connoisseurs will delight in this 6-night pre-cruise Circle of Interest, available prior to the November 19, 2008 sailing of Seven Seas Mariner in Sydney. Guests will take part in an incomparable adventure through the wine regions of Australia, composed of accommodations at luxurious and charming boutique hotels and inns, transfers around the region including a domestic flight from Melbourne to Sydney, delectable meals paired with regional wines, local expert hosts, exclusive tastings at the region's best vineyards, and much more. The program begins in Melbourne and continues on board as you embark Seven Seas Mariner in Sydney.
Day 1: Arrival in Melbourne, Transfer to Yarra Valley (Thursday, Nov 13)
Upon arrival in Melbourne, will board your private charter coach and transfer to your accommodations at Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley. Victoria is blessed with the best that Mother Nature has to offer in the Yarra Valley and the Dandenongs regions. Superb wineries, wonderful gardens, incredible mountain views and inspiring forest walks are all a part of this area. In the evening, your group will enjoy a 3-course dinner on property, including selected wines.
Day 2: Yarra Valley (Friday, Nov 14)
After breakfast at the hotel, your private coach and guide will take you on a full day tour of the Yarra Valley. With a rich history stretching back to the first settlers, the Yarra Valley is not only one of Australia's oldest wine producing regions, but also one of the most diverse, containing large commercial enterprises and small boutique producers. The Yarra Valley is home to more than 40 wineries and is best known for its success with pinot noir, fine chardonnays and also 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 will 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 enjoy a two course lunch with wine at the Wine Bar and Bistro. Visit the Produce Store at Yering Station, showcasing produce from the Yarra Valley region. You will then continue on to the stunning Green Point Vineyard at Domaine Chandon for sparkling wine tastings and a tour of the winery. The afternoon will conclude with a visit to the cellar door of Coldstream Hills Winery with magnificent views across the Yarra Valley before arriving at your accommodation. After returning to the hotel, enjoy dinner at your leisure.
Day 3: Melbourne to the Hunter Valley via Sydney (Saturday, Nov 15)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be met by your private coach and transferred to Melbourne where you will be treated on a food lover's ride with chef and food author Allan Campion. Allan will take you to his favorite "foodie" places: coffee in a South Melbourne warehouse, stunning pastries from one of the most gorgeous bakeries in town, tutored olive oil tasting, a wander through the heart of Prahran Market for handmade chocolate truffles, cheese tasting at one of the city's best providers, a trip to the streets of Carlton for amazing gelati, and finally to funky Fitzroy for a glass of wine and a visit to an incredible foodie book store.
You will then be taken to the airport for a short flight to Sydney, where you will be transferred to your new accommodations in the Hunter Valley at Peppers Guest House. The Hunter Valley is now recognized as the birthplace of the multi-billion dollar a year wine industry. It is renowned for its full-bodied white wines, 'medium weight reds' and some excellent ports. Dinner will be at a local restaurant, Rock, offering contemporary Australian cuisine with a classical French influence. Chef Andrew Clarke is a passionate advocate of fresh, seasonal and regional ingredients. His food will challenge and excite, and its presentation will display both form and balance like good artwork.
Day 4: Hunter Valley (Sunday, Nov 16)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be joined by Karina Barry, who worked as a chef at The Savoy in London and Rockpool in Sydney, and her husband Brian Barry, who is a Wine Educator with 25 years experience in the wine industry. They will take you on a visit to the Binnorie Cheese Factory where you will experience a private tasting. Then it is back to their purpose-built Cooking School Kitchen with Library and Wine Cellar attached. This is a hands-on class and all dishes are cooked from scratch using local organic produce. Recipes are provided and the dishes cooked are eaten for lunch, followed by an additional course of Binnorie Cheese. After lunch, enjoy some leisure time on your own in the Hunter Valley.
Your dinner will be at Robert's Restaurant situated in the Hunter Valley. The restaurant has a strong reputation for being home to some of the finest cuisine in this leading wine region. Enjoy a de-gestation menu with matching wines. Throughout dinner, guests are joined by the Cellarmaster and each course is matched with the perfect wine.
Day 5: The Hunter Valley to Sydney (Monday, Nov 17)
After breakfast, you will be joined by Richard Everett, who has 25 years experience and is a graduate Winemaker. You will visit the region's best wineries, where you will be given a comprehensive sit down private tasting of the top wines, including aged examples not available to the public. Your lunch will be a set two-course menu at one of the finest restaurants in the region.
Your tour of the Hunter Valley includes a sampling of some of the vineyards that belong to big name companies, such as Lindemans, McWilliams, Rothbury, Hardy's, Wyndham Estate and McGuigan. Others, like Tyrells and Draytons, are very old Hunter Valley families which have been there for several generations and remained independent. Yet others are small wineries with big reputations such as Simon Whitlam and Lakes Folly. The range is huge though the output is small. Visit the Hunter Resort onsite winery which is by far the largest, and most advanced in the Hunter Valley. Crushing some 6,500 tons of grapes each year, the winery produces around 6 million liters of wine. Not to be missed is the comprehensive winery tour to experience how wine is actually made... right from the grapevine to bottle!
At the conclusion of your touring you will transfer to Sydney and your new accommodations at the Shangri-La Hotel. Sydney, Australia's oldest and largest settlement, is a vibrant city built around one of the most spectacular harbors in the world. The city is instantly recognizable by the unique architecture of the famous Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney also boasts attractions such as the historic Rocks, Victorian-era Paddington and excellent beaches such as Bondi and Manly. Your dinner will be at Altitude Restaurant at the hotel.
Day 6: Sydney (Tuesday, Nov 18)
After breakfast, you will begin your full day of exploring the best of Sydney's gastronomic scene. Australian cuisine reflects many influences - Thai, Italian, Japanese, Greek, French and even English, but at the heart of this culinary style is the access to fresh ingredients. An exclusive Gourmet Walkabout will begin at the Sydney Fish market, considered one of the finest fish markets in the world, and owned and run by the fishing co-operatives and retailers within the markets. Next is Queen Street, Woollahra with its fine array of food provisioners including Simon Johnson and "Jones the Grocer," for an introduction to Australia's finest products. We'll then stop at a fine wine shop for a look and tasting of Australian wines. A well-known Australian food and wine expert will dish the secrets of the area's unique food and wine scene. Then, we'll end our tour with a three-course luncheon experience which reflects the very essence of Sydney's gastronomy at the award-winning Catalina's overlooking Sydney Harbour at Rose Bay.
In the evening you will be transferred to Sydney Fish Markets for a private cooking class. No prior cooking experience is necessary - the class begins with a demonstration on how to prepare and cook seafood. Then it is hands on! You will move into the kitchen and prepare the meal which you will later enjoy with a wine sampling. Not only will it be a fun evening, but perhaps a few aspiring chefs will emerge! At the end of the evening you will transfer back to the Shangri-La.
Day 7: Sydney and Embarkation on Seven Seas Mariner (Wednesday, Nov 19)
After breakfast, you will begin a tour of the city. You will explore the charming Rocks area and enjoy a stroll around this historic district with its quaint old cottages, pubs and churches. Travel along Macquarie Street, the seat of government for New South Wales, the Mint and Hyde Park Barracks and St Mary's Cathedral. Visit Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for an unsurpassed view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Bridge. Continuing along the shores of Sydney Harbour, you will travel through Kings Cross, Double Bay and Rose Bay before traveling to South Head, with its breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the city. After a visit to Bondi Beach, you will return to the city where you will board a private charter lunch-cruise boat. From the charter, you will see Sydney Harbour's main icons - the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the bays and inlets, and the magnificent homes which line the harbor.
At the conclusion of this lunch charter, you will be transferred to the Sydney Cruise Terminal where your will board Seven Seas Mariner. Your Food and Wine Circle of Interest will continue on board, where throughout the voyage you will join your fellow Circle guests for wine tastings, a dinner, and more.
Circle of Interest Fare: $6,495 per person, based on double occupancy
$8,070 per person, based on single occupancy
Terms & Conditions
The "Australian Food and Wine Experience" pre-cruise Circle of Interest begins November 13, 2008, is limited in size and must be purchased in advance as it is not included in the regular tour program. Contact your travel consultant or RSSC Reservations at 800.285.1835 to purchase. The cost includes all accommodations, transportation, domestic flight in Australia, tours and most wine and meals. A minimum number of participants are required to operate this program. A 100% cancellation penalty applies to Circles of Interest programs cancelled within 60 days of departure.
Due to luggage allowance on most domestic flights in Australia, we recommend packing a small bag for the program and shipping the rest of your voyage's luggage to the ship by contacting International Port Services at (800) 395-8810.
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