Is this Australia's ultimate foodie experience?

If you are a gourmet with money to burn and you don't mind attending an event that uses the wanky word "curated" in its title, MasterCard has this week announced what might be Australia's ultimate foodie experience.

An Appetite for Paradise Curated by Neil Perry launches this July on the private island sanctuary of One&Only Hayman Island - and will be followed later in the year by a similar event at One&Only Emirates Wolgan Valley.

The two culinary escapes will see Neil Perry, Australia’s most-awarded chef, and his team of chefs and sommeliers host exclusive five-course degustation dinners at the luxury locations.

“I’m looking forward to creating some spectacular dishes and I’ll be working with my team to design a special degustation experience with food lovers in mind," Perry says in the publicity blurb.

"Naturally, given the locations, there will be an abundance of fresh seafood on the menu in Hayman Island whilst the native ingredients of the Blue Mountains will inspire the dinner in Wolgan Valley.”

The all-inclusive travel packages will also see guests sipping cocktails and sampling canapés prepared by Perry, as well as treats like a sunset sail around Hayman Island, or a Wolgan Valley safari.

The Hayman Island package from July 15-18 features three nights' twin-share accommodation, dinner hosted by Neil Perry, daily breakfasts, return luxury yacht transfers from the Great Barrier Reef for two, return porterage, three lunches, two dinners, a snorkelling excursion and use of the One&Only Fitness Centre, non-motorised watersports and selected resort activities. Prices start from $4,710 per couple.

The Wolgan Valley deal (November 11-13) features two-night twin-share villa accommodation with private pool, dinner hosted by Neil Perry, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily with a range of drinks, two on-site nature activities per day, a Wildlife and Sundowners Tour, use of the resort’s health and fitness facilities, complimentary in-villa mini bar and porterage service. Prices start from $5,454 for two guests.

The announcement of the gourmet getaways marks the launch of the MasterCard Priceless Cities program in Australia.

In addition to the Perry gourmet weekends, other offers include a complimentary wine cellar tour and priority seating for up to four people at the Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney.

For more information or to book An Appetite for Paradise curated by Neil Perry visit:
www.priceless.com/en-au.html