Seeking out ways to combine her passions – food and adventure – Taylor began curating adventures where she could move her body in beautiful locations, then nourish it with fresh local food. By making food the focus and your legs/bike the mode of transport, you can unlock places you might never otherwise discover.

Historically, food on long expeditions was not only a necessity but also a vital emotional support in challenging times. In her book, Food on Foot, Demet Guzey explains how the foods taken on expeditions represent more than just necessary calories. They provide rich insight into who each Explorer is and where they’re from. 

Food has the ability to nourish us beyond satiation and help create new memories of time and place. It can act as a sensory timestamp, where a single taste or smell can take us directly back to a single moment. Moving to Italy has made me think more about this concept. Hiking trails here are full of families and friends of all ages taking a walk. Enjoying the outdoors is something for everyone and despite being far from a kitchen, there’s certainly no compromise on nutrition here.

If I needed another reason to cycle, this’d be it!

Local pumpkin and tomatoes en route to the trailhead? Yes, please!

On the contrary, the hike is actually just a means of reaching a table outside, in the sun, to connect with loved ones over delicious rustic food.

Mountain huts are dotted all over the national parks where hearty homegrown food is served. The cuisine is regional and the food you’re served largely depends upon where you’re hiking.

Rifugi are family run mountain huts that offer accommodation in the alps

They also offer traditional meals to hikers, climbers, and mountaineers

It led me to wonder how we can bring this sense of slowness (and hunger) to more of our adventures, regardless of where we are in the world?

Irrespective of if you’re looking to get out on the trails for a day or a week, making food the focus will add a whole new dimension to your adventures.

Read more: Brews and Beds: The Ultimate Waterfall Way Food, Drink & Accommodation Guide

Experience the Joy of Local Food and the Story it Tells

When you buy food from the source it was grown or produced, you immerse yourself in a new place. It adds a new sensory dimension to your adventure. Consider upgrading your next trip beyond just admiring the scenery, and feel the energy of the land through tasting the local flavours.

 

You might even discover a new favourite, like this truffle pasta

Food is shaped by the history of a place and you can learn a lot about the culture and people by diving into the local cuisine.

Talk to the people providing the food and ask about where it came from, then when you eat it close your eyes and let the flavours teach you about the land and its people.

My Tip: Hunt and gather your hike snacks on your way to the trailhead. Stop at roadside stalls or markets to pick up an assortment of local specialities to have on a picnic lunch. Think cheese, bread, honey – you never know what you might find!

 

Colourful markets are full of colourful characters who love to chat!

Food Takes You On A Journey – No Matter Where You Are

Whether you’re in a different country or exploring your own backyard, food can help take you somewhere new. Sometimes, the planning and ideas stage of an adventure is as much fun as the adventure itself.

Over time, I’ve found that approaching my adventures through the lens of food has let me get creative with how I engage with the outdoors. Suddenly, my space and scope for exploring has become even wider.

Opportunity for adventure exists everywhere and food can act as the compass on which direction to take.

Seeking out delicious local food has taken me cycling and hiking across beautiful parts of Australia and the world, that I may never have experienced otherwise.

My Tip: Let the restaurant decide the route. Find a restaurant that looks exciting to you ( a ‘paddock to plate’ style is always great) and then research ways you can move your body to get  there. I’ve been pleasantly surprised on a number of occasions to find a bike path or walking trail that takes me close to where I want to go!

Read more: Best Places To Eat In And Around Gariwerd/Grampians National Park

Oysters mid-ride? No complaints

Essential pit stop on Bruny Island

Take Friends on Your Foodie Adventures

Have you ever shared a meal with loved ones and found yourselves still at the dinner table hours later blissfully talking, laughing, and asking questions? 

The timeless tradition of sharing food is an opening experience (much like steady-state physical activity). You’ll enjoy deeper conversation, deeper connection, and deeper camaraderie. 

The physical and mental benefits of spending quality time outdoors are enriched by the chance to enjoy nourishing food together. 

The timeless tradition of sharing food strengthens bonds and creates a sense of belonging through open conversations, storytelling, and laughter.

By inviting others to share in the chance to discover a new place through food, we have the chance to not just nourish our physical bodies but to forge more meaningful relationships.

My Tip: Plan an urban adventure in your backyard and walk or ride to a local market with a group of friends. Everyone can do grocery shop there before heading back to someone’s house to cook up brunch for the group.

 

Food always tastes better with a view too

Slowing down and letting food lead the adventure is exactly what we crave in our overly isolated, fast-paced lives.

Featured Event

Belangoloopy – Paddy Pallin Intro Rogain

  • Start Date: Jun 15, 2025
  • Venue: Belanglo State Forest

Come enjoy a classic 6 hour Paddy Pallin rogaine that is only a short drive from Sydney or Canberra! We’ll be using our navigation skills to explore stunning native forest. There will be plenty of route options for all ages,...

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Belangoloopy – Paddy Pallin Intro Rogain, NSW Rogaining

If you’re reading this, you probably already spend a good chunk of time outdoors, but what does your food look like when you do? Freeze-dried meals? Muesli bars? A quick bite at home before you run out the door?

Now more than ever, we’re craving connection to people and places, time away from screens, and just a bit more slowness in our lives! When we take the focus off the distance and speed of the adventure, it helps us bring a new sense of mindfulness to the experience.

Read more: The Traveller Who Stopped Travelling – Nina Karnikowski on Mindful Travel

Even when time feels scarce, approaching food in this way means we’re not simply fuelling our bodies, we’re cultivating a deeper appreciation for the abundance that surrounds us. 

My Tip: Spend at least one day a month letting food lead the way. Your mind, body, and belly will thank you for pencilling this into your calendar. 

 

Enjoying a moment of peace on the trail

Leave the Car at Home

Choosing to base my adventures around food in this way has a low carbon footprint. It’s a conscious choice that’s better for me and the planet. Especially in Australia, getting outdoors nearly always requires some time spent travelling by car. 

Plan a car-free adventure that forces you to get creative with public transport if needed! Consider station-to-station walks where you can catch a train to and from the start of the walk. Not to mention, travelling this way means you travel the kilometres so your food doesn’t have to!

Read more: Best Sydney Walks Accessible by Train

My Tip: Heading out on the bike is a great way to plan a food-centred itinerary. Cycling allows you to move further and faster and maximise your time for feasting! Regardless of whether you want to pitch a tent or book a bed, there’s always a way to let food lead your next adventure.

 

Follow the sign to strudel!

It just tastes and feels better!

There’s something that makes me deeply happy at a soul level when I’m eating gorgeous food with heavy legs and hunger that can only be carved out by a sweaty adventure.

Surprisingly, places with great hiking/cycling often also have great food (thankfully for us!) and with a little planning, your outdoor escapades can be ritualised into something truly unforgettable.

Stopping in towns to talk to the locals

…and stock up on supplies

The reality is, travelling this way and letting food lead your next adventure is a mindset – a conscious connected mindset you can bring with you on any adventure.

It doesn’t matter about your budget, location, or preferred mode of travel, there’s always a way to let food lead your adventure.

Keep your eyes (and nose) open for opportunities.

See a hand-painted sign saying ‘Local honey 500m’? Follow it.

Notice an old lady tending to her vegetable garden? Give her a smile.

You never know how your adventure might unfold.

 

We had homegrown pesto for dinner that night!

Tips To Help Food Lead Your Next Adventure

  • Decide on the type of trip you want to embark on – half day, full day, or multi-day
  • Choose a location/trail/area that excites you – consider where your adventure will happen. Keep this pretty general, you can get specific later
  • Do some research – a little bit of planning goes a long way with a food adventure. Once you know where you want to explore you can find out what there is to discover. Look online (try We Are Explorers first!) for articles that give recommendations of restaurants, local cuisines, and towns
  • Make a plan – get specific. Based on your research, now’s the time to decide the exact location for your adventure and how you’re going to move your body to get there. This is where you might need to get creative
  • Consider logistics – Can you utilise public transport? Are there existing trails you can use? Do you have to link up a couple of trails? What goods can you collect on your way to the trailhead?
  • Use apps to make it easier – I like to pin locations of interest on Google Maps and use an app like Komoot or AllTrails to plan/navigate the route
  • Don’t forget to live in the moment – Eat, adventure, and be merry!  Whether you’re soaking in some solitude or feasting with friends, truly take the time to enjoy your food and appreciate the beauty around you

Embrace the unexpected

And bring your mates along for the ride

Let Food Lead Your Next Adventure

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