Your hosts Denzil, Anne and Matt Sturgiss with truffle dogs, Dusty and Joker offer a unique experience of a “hands on” truffle hunt during winter. Hunt with the harvesters and truffle dogs as you help dig for the elusive fabled fungi from under the trees.
Truffle harvesting is essentially a winter activity as the cold kilojoules of the winter frosts are needed to fully mature the black winter truffle. The season runs from late May/early June through to the end of August and sometimes into early September – all subject to the prevailing weather conditions.
Truffiere location
Tarago Truffles is a very accessible 50 minute drive from Canberra; an enjoyable two and half to three hour trip from Sydney or a 90 minute day trip from the South Coast. We are at 173 Willandra Lane, off the Tarago-Bungendore Road, Tarago. Be careful, your sat nav may try to take you to Willowglen Road (to the east of Tarago). We are 7.2km from Tarago and 20km from Bungendore on the Tarago-Bungendore Road. Also note that mobile phones do not always work in this area.
Dress informal for winter conditions ranging from frosty mornings followed by sunny days to wet, windy and sometimes a little snow. Clothing layers are a good idea with footwear flat, comfortable and enclosed.
Biosecurity
Tarago Truffles likes to minimise the chances of introducing disease or competing fungi so you are asked to clean soil etc from the soles of your footwear before coming on to the property and to also make sure your jackets, scarves and hats and bags are free from possible contaminants. Before you walk through the truffiere gate you will be asked to step through a shallow footbath of a chlorine solution.
Make a Weekend of It
Check the web sites of The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region – www.trufflefestival.com.au and www.goulburnaustralia.com.au to discover other activities you may like to experience across the region.