Tasting Australia Airlines – Adelaide to Limestone Coast

Even ancient places can be seen anew. Go further on this overnight adventure. Explore natural wonders and indulge across dining experiences only the Limestone Coast can offer. Think caves and sinkholes, crays and contemporary wine. Mayura Station wagyu is a given – and so too are surprises. Forget a four-hour drive. By plane you’ll reach the region in just 40 minutes, with ample time to discover its treasures. 

Four chefs are crafting food for the journey: culinary legend Mark Best, together with South Australian stars Kirby Shearing, Clare Falzon and Paul Stone. Each has a unique take on mod-Oz cuisine, embracing its breadth in delicious new ways. Their work here is sure to be extraordinary.  

Guests will travel from Adelaide to Naracoorte aboard a private charter plane. First is a tour of the spectacular Naracoorte Caves with fare prepared by Shearing.

From there it’s a short ride by bus to the Coonawarra vineyards of winemaker Sue Bell, whose Bellwether Wines label has a new take on tradition. Much is afoot beyond hefty cabernet, as Bell – and two fellow district producers – will show. Enjoy a fireside dish with your tastings.  

Penola is home for the night; check in and freshen up before an indulgent dinner at nearby Ottelia. Chef Stone is at the helm of the former schoolhouse turned restaurant; joining him for this occasion are Best – formerly of Sydney fine diner Marque, integral in the opening of Melbourne’s Ritz-Carlton and now consulting to The Calile in Brisbane – together with South Australian talent Falzon. Expect wine selections in celebration of Coonawarra’s rich legacy: the producers taking this unique South Australian terroir to the world.    

Day two will begin with a visit to Mount Gambier’s Umpherston Sinkhole/Balumbul, a magical sunken garden, for coffee and breakfast prepared by local chef Shearing. Then comes the coast. You’ll tour local seafood purveyor Ferguson Australia at Port Macdonnell before a crayfish-driven lunch, also courtesy of Shearing.  

Venture beneath the surface on this very special, all-inclusive odyssey. From sustainable farms to extraordinary apples, the Limestone Coast is a region reimagined.