Starting at Casa Belle - a country villa that will make you feel as if you are smack bang in the middle of Tuscany - you will find an Italian-style courtyard, vaulted arches, and Mediterranean-style dicor. The rooms all open out to private terraces and the villa itself overlooks the beautiful Bellingen valley.Just like Tuscany, the Bellingen and Nambucca Valleys have their own unique culinary specialties and to check them out you can take a one-day gourmet tour.The first stop is the Valla Smoke House, which is located 20 minutes' drive from Casa Belle. It is one of only a handful of traditional smoke houses operating in Australia where they use century-old methods to produce everything from smoked meats and hams to trout.Further along the tour you will find what some locals say are the best macadamia nuts in the world. The climate here allows them to grow and develop rich with oils and the local Pepper Tree Farm has 700 macadamia trees.Casa Belle also organises a gourmet hamper for lunch, which is served up with some of Nambucca's best coastal views.At the end of the day, make sure that you visit the Never Never Creek, which is only ten minutes from the villa. This is the perfect place to sooth the soul and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of your Tuscan paradise!
The facts
Boutique Gourmet tours offer a range of local sightseeing and food tours. The Bellingen and Nambucca Valley gourmet tour costs $99 per person including lunch.
Boutique Gourmet Tours
Tel: 02 6652 2464
Rooms at Casa Belle start from $175 per couple per night including breakfast and afternoon tea.
Casa Belle
Tel: 02 6655 9311
