A NEW Orange tour company offers a chance to indulge the palate while getting a genuine taste of country life.
Country Food Trails is run by local resident and experienced tour guide Nicole Farrell and offers an insight into every aspect of great country food, from production to plate.
Guests get a chance to visit the region's farms and meet the growers and producers who are the backbone of its food and wine scene.
The company is offering six tour trails and Nicole said this was the first time the region had offered interactive tours outside of its annual food and wine festivals.
She said while the town had 35 cellar doors to be explored, it was much more than just a wine region.
"Now we have the tours to make that discovery easy for people - they don't have to worry about following a map and navigating," she said.
They can just sit back and enjoy. It's all about having a thoroughly fabulous time exploring our region."
Nicole said the company aimed to offer socially distanced tours which gave people deeper connections with the food they consumed.
Guests also get to sample local cheeses, cured meats, olive oil, hazelnuts, chocolate, gin, wine and beer along the way.
The six trails on offer include:
The Tasting Trail: A chance to indulge the taste buds with a half-day walking food tour through the town of Orange. Indigenous local Gerald Power will welcome guests to his community garden for a chance to sample some local bush tucker. The tour also visits local landmarks and provides a historical insight into the region before finishing at a popular local wine bar.
The Village Trail: A private tour of Millthorpe Village which offers a chance to explore its history and sample some great local produce.
The Farm Trail: This private tour of the area's best farms offers a chance to meet growers, pick some seasonal crops and enjoy a grazing lunch along the way.
The Heritage Trail: This walking tour allows guests to learn fascinating stories about Orange's history, before enjoying a glass of wine in a stunning local mansion.
The Ale Trail: This tour of local breweries offers the opportunity to sample a range of the region's best beer and gin.
The Wine Trail: Offers the chance to visit and explore local vineyards, meet wine producers and taste some award winning cool climate wines.
The Saffron Trail: This tour provides a behind-the-scenes tour of the largest saffron farm in NSW. Guests can meet the growers and pick their own saffron.
Tailored tours: The company also offers the chance for guests to mix and match their favourite elements from the tours to create their own bespoke experience.
For more information call Nicole on 0402-650-190 or click here.
