Forget the stuffy cellar doors and the “swirl-sniff-sip” routine. If you think a food tour is just a long lunch with a side of white tablecloth, we’ve got some news: Australia’s food scene has gone rogue in the best way possible.

Taste Marketplace has hunted down the experiences that actually let you meet the legends behind the labels. Here are our favourite ways to get your hands dirty (and your glass full) across the country.

Southern Highlands, NSW Ever looked at a vineyard and thought, “This needs more sheep and fewer gears?” The folks at Tractorless Vineyard are doing it old-school, like, pre-industrial old-school. You’ll head into the vines to see how regenerative farming actually works when you take the machines out of the equation. It’s biodynamic, it’s earthy, and the wine tastes like pure, unadulterated sunshine. Perfect for the eco-warrior who enjoys a crisp Pinot.

Orange, NSW Why walk when you can roll in a three-wheeled motorised couch? This is hands-down the coolest way to see the cool-climate region of Orange. You’ll be zipped around to the best local producers, sampling wine, cheese, and fresh produce, while the wind hits your face and you look like an absolute boss. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s the ultimate “treat yourself” morning.

Hunter Valley, NSW Look, sometimes a picnic rug in the backyard just doesn’t cut it. If you’re looking to win at life (or just win over a date), this is it. You’ll hop in a chopper for a scenic flight over the Hunter Valley before landing at a secluded, private vineyard. No crowds, no noise, just you, a gourmet spread, a bottle of local gold, and a view that’ll make your Instagram followers weep.

Melbourne, VIC Think you know your way around a kitchen? Try doing it with ingredients that have been growing here for 60,000 years. This Melbourne masterclass isn’t about boring soufflés; it’s about native flavours, incredible textures, and learning how to respect the land while you cook. You’ll prep, you’ll learn, and then you’ll feast. It’s practical, it’s delicious, and you’ll leave with some serious culinary street cred.

We don’t do “average.” We curate experiences for people who want to know the why and the how behind their meal. When you book through us, you’re getting more than a ticket, you’re getting a backstage pass to the people, the dirt, and the stories that make Australian food and wine world-class.

Southern Highlands, NSW Stop buying generic gin and start making your own masterpiece. At The Mill Sheds, you get to go behind the still, nerd out on botanicals, and blend a gin that is perfectly tailored to your taste buds. Like it citrusy? Go for it. Want it to taste like a spice market? Do your thing. You’ll even take home a bottle of your own signature creation to brag about at your next dinner party.

Oallen, NSW Winter in Australia means one thing: Truffle Season. Head out to Oallen to join the real stars of the show, the highly-trained (and very cute) truffle dogs. You’ll follow them through the orchard as they sniff out “black gold” buried in the dirt. Once the hunt is over, you’ll head back to taste the rewards in dishes that prove why these funky little fungi are the most expensive ingredients on Earth.