2011 marks another milestone for Walkabout Gourmet Adventures – yes it is hard to believe but it was 25 years ago that WGA was “born”!

Since then we have been incredibly fortunate to have travelled and walked in some of the most beautiful parts of Australia and Europe. More importantly we have met literally thousands of wonderful people along the way – many have become lifelong friends and they have continued to travel with us year after year.

We certainly have not taken this time for granted and feel very privileged that we have had the opportunity to share some of our favourite places with so many appreciative guests. A big thank you to everyone who has made this amazing journey possible.



European and Australia Walking Holidays, what are they all about?

The aim of our walking holidays is to take you into the countryside and through the villages - where you can get a feel for the “real” Europe and have an opportunity to meet the local people. We want to get you away from the big cities and to experience the local cultures and the fascinating history and traditions, which have taken centuries to develop.

In Australia our walks take you to some of the most beautiful National Parks in Victoria and Tasmania. Whether it is Europe or Australia walking is by far the best way to explore a region- you have time to absorb and appreciate the surroundings - smell the roses!! All our walking holidays are guided - this is an important feature, as we want to share with you these wonderful areas we have known for many years.



In terms of "grading" our Walking Holidays are designed for healthy, active people who want to explore a region at a leisurely pace allowing enough time to experience an area rather than just passing through it. Naturally those Walks in the mountains are going to be slightly more strenuous than those in flat country. However when done at a leisurely pace and with the encouragement of a like-minded group most people are capable of much more than they ever imagined.

Between locations our comfortable support vehicles will safely transport you and your luggage. During the day all you need is a light daypack. Top

Fine Hotels...

We realize that one of the most important aspects of your holiday is feeling comfortable and relaxed in your hotel at night after a day of walking. We prefer family run hotels, which offer charm and a personalized atmosphere. However this style of hotel is not always available in the areas where we operate our holidays. Even though the style may vary the standard is always high. In Spain we often use the unique Parador hotels. In some countries we use refurbished castles and monasteries or historic manor homes. One of our priorities is that they are in a quiet location. All have en suite facilities and many have swimming pools.



Twin share is the norm but single supplements are available on all walks if requested. Our group size is restricted to 16 guests and for Timeless Valleys and our Cooking Seminars a maximum of 8 guests. Top

... and Delicious Food



As our name implies the food is a very important feature of our holidays. You will have the opportunity to sample provincial cooking in some of Europe’s most famous food regions complemented by superb local wines. Whether it is a dinner in an Italian trattoria, a Greek taverna or a Michelin* gourmet restaurant in France, the meals will always remain a memorable part of your holidays.



Who are our guests?

When you join a Walkabout Gourmet Adventure Holiday you can expect to be traveling with a like- minded group of people who enjoy the outdoors and walking during the day and appreciate delicious food and a fine hotel at night. The composition of our guests is varied. It includes couples, friends traveling together and singles. Mostly our guests still come from Australia, some from New Zealand and then a scattering from all over the world. Top

Private Tours

We are happy to organize a private holiday for a group of friends or family to any of our destinations described in our brochure. If you have a special request just ask us and we shall see if we can fulfill it. We offer a 10% discount for groups of 8 or more joining an existing departure-direct bookings only. Top

Frequent Walker Points

Frequent Walker Points and RewardsOver 70% of our guests have travelled with us before; in fact quite a few of our guests have now done more than 20 Walking Holidays with us. To reward such loyalty we have introduced a Frequent Walker Scheme. For each tour a certain number of points will be credited towards future holidays.



Rewarding

We know how important “word of mouth” referrals are in business. Many of our guests recommend us to their family and friends and we are more than happy to reward these loyal guests with Frequent Walker Points towards their next holiday. In the future, they can look forward to the following reward: For each new booking that has been generated by a "*loyal guest" they shall receive frequent walker points towards their next Walkabout Gourmet Adventure. Top

*Loyal guests refers to travellers who have booked on one or more holidays direct with Walkabout Gourmet Adventures



The Walkabout Team

Walkabout Gourmet Adventures is owned and operated by Gabriela and Graeme Clarke.

Gabriela Clarke, a Cordon Bleu Chef from Europe, is an outdoor enthusiast, having travelled extensively both overseas and in Australia. She is also the teacher for the French Provincial and the Italian Cooking Seminars.

Graeme Clarke spent his youth in country Victoria where he gained a vast experience in the outdoors, with a special interest in the flora and fauna. He later travelled and worked in Europe before returning to Australia to work in the tourism industry. In 1986 he and Gabriela established Walkabout Gourmet Adventures, one of the first walking tour companies in Victoria. Gabriela and Graeme, together with their two children, live in Provence from where they operate their European office.

Trish Ozard is the office manager in Australia and guide. She has been working and guiding for Walkabout Gourmet Adventures since 1993 - both in Australia and Europe.

Most European Tours are still led by either Graeme or Gabriela and in recent years also by Gilles Boivin. He is an enthusiastic professional guide with many years experience in leading groups. Having travelled extensively, Gilles' passion for different cultures, adventure and wild places will inspire any who travel with him.

Some other tours are guided by our small team of enthusiastic European guides. The tour leaders are with you during the entire holiday and are experienced, open-minded and cheerful. They are there to look after all the details while you walk, relax and enjoy your holiday ! We are always delighted to hear positive feedback from our guests about our guides. Top


Quality practices

Walkabout Gourmet Adventures is licensed by Parks Victoria, Tasmania and Sydney National Parks.

Parks Victoria is committed to maintaining the health of the natural environment of their parks and reserves while providing a range of excellent visitor services – so that all Victorians can visit them to relax or exercise their bodies and minds – Healthy Parks, Healthy People.

If you wish for more information please visit:
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au




Committed to the highest quality practices and professionalism, Walkabout Gourmet Adventures complies with the National Tourism Accreditation Program.

What’s in it for you?
Professional standards in customer service
Consistency and reliability in delivering the service
Compliance with relevant business licenses
Adherence to sound environmental practices
Attention to customer safety and comfort
Dedication to continuous improvement

If you wish for more information please visit:
www.tourismaccreditation.com.au

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