International Tours 2027
We are providing
one small group tour to Victoria Australia
and two small group tours to Italy and France
Our Approach to Travel
Although you may have travelled extensively and visited many places around the world, Philip and I believe our tours offer something quite unique. We create experiences where every detail is carefully organised for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy the journey.
We are personally involved in every stage of planning and executing each tour. We have spent many years in hospitality and travel, and we pride ourselves on going the extra mile to ensure that everyone has a wonderful time.
I have always found our tour groups to be friendly, inclusive and cohesive. Each day includes a meal with wine, carefully chosen to reflect the region we are visiting. Dining is an important part of our tours, not simply because we love food, but because it is one of the best ways to understand a place and its people.
Each region we visit is brought to life with the help of knowledgeable local guides, who introduce us to the history, customs, traditions and cuisine of the surrounding countryside. It is very important to us that the experience is similar to the type of travel Philip and I would choose for ourselves.
We research every destination thoroughly and, wherever possible, we personally visit and stay in the hotels and dine in the restaurants we recommend. This allows us to know the places we are taking you to and to ensure they meet the standards and style we look for ourselves.
Food, Gardens & Travel
My life has been influenced by food, cooking and teaching for many years. While food remains an integral part of my life and something I continue to love, my focus has also expanded to include my passion for gardening and growing our own fruit and vegetables.
I particularly enjoy using what we grow to create simple, seasonal dishes for family and friends. I also love landscaping in our dry climate, choosing plants that thrive in our conditions and creating beautiful gardens that are both practical and inspiring.
Travel gives us the opportunity to bring these passions together. Food and gardens tell us so much about a culture, and I want our tour groups to experience that for themselves.
I want you to be introduced to new cultures and to connect with the food, customs, traditions and celebrations of each region. We immerse ourselves in local life through markets, gardens, restaurants and the people we meet along the way.
Our tours are not about cooking classes – in fact, these are very rare. Instead, they are about experiencing the lifestyle of a region: interacting with local people, discovering wonderful food, exploring gardens and markets, becoming familiar with our surroundings and having the time to simply enjoy being there.
Creating Lasting Memories
We endeavour to make every tour a lifetime experience – one filled with laughter, friendship, discovery and wonderful food.
Most importantly, we want you to return home with happy memories that you can dip into at any time: a beautiful garden, a memorable meal, a glass of wine shared with new friends, a fascinating story from a local guide or simply a moment when you thought, “How lucky am I to be here?”
Victoria | Melbourne & the Victorian Countryside
In 2023 and again in 2025, we included a special 13-day journey through Victoria, travelling almost 180 degrees around Melbourne.
This has always been one of my favourite travel experiences. Just 1½ to 2 hours from Melbourne, the Victorian countryside opens up into a world of beautiful landscapes, extraordinary gardens, wonderful food and fascinating history.
What makes this tour so special is the opportunity to go beyond the usual tourist attractions and meet some of the wonderful people who have made this region their home and their passion.
We have enjoyed some truly memorable experiences along the way, including a visit with Matt from Antique Perennials, time spent exploring Ralph Bristow’s absolutely stunning Barwitian Garden, and a very special lunch and visit with the incredible Annie Smithers and Susan.
The Victorian landscape is spellbinding, and as we travel from Melbourne to Sorrento, through the Yarra Valley and Daylesford, and on to Dunkeld, each region brings something completely different.
There are magnificent gardens, rolling countryside, historic towns, fabulous restaurants, local produce and the opportunity to meet people who are passionate about what they do.
It is a relatively simple journey geographically, but so rich in experiences and memories.
For me, this is what travel is all about – discovering beautiful places, sharing wonderful food, meeting interesting people and experiencing a region in a way that stays with you long after you return home.
Simple, personal and very special – a wonderful journey through the heart of Victoria.
Italy: Sicily & Sardinia
18 Days
12th - 30th June 2027
Island Hopping
In 2023, my tour to Italy was highlighted by a wonderful week in a villa in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany. In 2024, our villa just outside the beautiful walled city of Lucca spoiled us once again. Then, in 2025 and 2026, Masseria Pistola in Pugliawelcomed us with its luxurious accommodation, beautiful grounds and relaxed atmosphere.
For 2027, I’m delighted to be returning to Sicily and Sardinia for the first time since 2009!
Once again, I have booked a villa for our first seven days in Sicily. It is absolutely stunning, overlooking the Ionian Sea and just 15 minutes from the famous town of Taormina.
And to make the week even more special, Alessandro will be cooking for us throughout our stay, creating delicious meals for us to enjoy together.
Preliminary Itinerary
Obviously, this is still a preliminary itinerary and does not yet include all guides, visits or meals. These details, along with the final tour price, will be confirmed as the planning progresses over the next few weeks.
12–18 June | Sicily
Arrive in Catania and settle in for seven nights at Villa Naxos in Giardini Naxos.
During our stay, we will visit the beautiful towns of Taormina, Siracusa and Ortigia, Catania and Noto, as well as Mount Etna, Milazzo and the Lipari Islands. Noto, with its magnificent Baroque architecture, will be another highlight.
19–22 June | Palermo
Travel to Palermo for four nights. From here, we will explore Palermo, Cefalù, Trapani and Marsala, discovering the history, culture, food and character of western Sicily.
23–25 June | Bosa, Sardinia
Fly to Cagliari before travelling north to the charming town of Bosa. From here, we will explore some of Sardinia’s fascinating inland and coastal areas, including Orgosolo and Alghero.
26–30 June | Palau, Sardinia
Our final few days will be spent in Palau, exploring the spectacular Maddalena Archipelago by boat. We will also enjoy a day trip to Bonifacio in Corsica, before flying from Olbia to Rome on 30 June – or continuing on to your preferred destination.
An Exciting Tour Ahead
There is still plenty to work through, and the itinerary will continue to develop as I finalise the guides, restaurants, visits and other special experiences.
But I’m already very excited about how this tour is coming together!
After so many years, it will be wonderful to return to Sicily and Sardinia – and I think this is going to be a very special Italian adventure.
France : Bordeaux, Languedoc & Provence
18 Days
8th - 25th July 2027
Gardens, Gastronomy, History & French Living
I am still putting the finishing touches to the itinerary, but this will give you a glimpse of the route and some of the wonderful places we will discover along the way.
Join me for 18 wonderful days exploring some of the most beautiful and fascinating regions of France, beginning in the elegant wine city of Bordeaux before travelling south through the Languedoc and on to the enchanting towns and countryside of southern France.
This is a tour for those who love beautiful gardens, wonderful food and wine, fascinating history and the pleasure of simply being somewhere special. Rather than rushing from place to place, we take our time, staying several nights in each destination so that we can unpack, settle in and really get to know our surroundings.
Bordeaux | 5 Nights
We begin our adventure in Bordeaux, one of France’s most elegant cities and, of course, at the heart of one of the world's great wine regions.
Five nights give us plenty of time to discover the city and its beautiful architecture, enjoy its fabulous food and wine, and explore some of the surrounding countryside. We’ll venture beyond the obvious attractions to discover the gardens, villages, châteaux and vineyards that make this region so special.
There will be opportunities to taste the wonderful wines of Bordeaux, enjoy leisurely meals and discover the history and traditions that have shaped this part of France.
Through the Languedoc
From Bordeaux we travel eastwards through the Languedoc, a region I particularly love for its relaxed atmosphere, beautiful landscapes, ancient villages and wonderful Mediterranean food.
This part of France offers a fascinating mixture of history and everyday French life – vineyards stretching across the countryside, colourful markets, medieval villages, magnificent gardens and restaurants where local produce takes centre stage.
Our journey brings us to Carcassonne, with its spectacular medieval walled city and extraordinary history. From here we continue towards Perpignan, exploring the distinctive character of the French Catalan region along the way.
Perpignan & Southern France
Perpignan provides another change of scenery, where French and Catalan influences meet. We’ll explore the surrounding countryside, discover local food and traditions and enjoy the slower pace of life that makes southern France so appealing.
As always, the itinerary will combine some of the region’s major attractions with lesser-known places and experiences, giving us the opportunity to see France from a more local perspective.
Uzès | The Perfect Finale
Our journey continues north to the beautiful town of Uzès, a favourite corner of southern France with its elegant squares, narrow medieval streets, colourful markets and surrounding countryside.
Uzès is the perfect place to finish our tour – somewhere to slow down, enjoy the sunshine, wander through markets and gardens, browse the little shops and sit down for a long lunch or dinner with a glass of something delicious.
More Than a Sightseeing Tour
As with all my tours, this is not simply about ticking off a list of famous places.
I want you to experience France.
We’ll visit wonderful gardens and historic sites, explore markets and villages, meet local guides who can bring the regions to life, and enjoy meals that showcase the food and wine of each area.
There will be plenty to see and do, but also time to relax, shop, enjoy a coffee in a village square or simply sit back and watch French life unfold around you.
With comfortable travel, carefully chosen accommodation, included meals and wine, and all the organising taken care of, you can relax and enjoy the experience.
Come with me and discover a very special side of France – one filled with beautiful places, fabulous food, wonderful gardens, great wine and, hopefully, plenty of laughter and new friendships along the way.
