This is one of the few areas in Australia that grows truffles from oak trees.

Truffles are a gourmet treat that only the wealthy and the upper classes used to be able to afford. ``What we're trying to do is make truffles more accessible to everybody,'' Ms Laidman said.

The tours will include a truffle hunt with dogs, a gourmet woodfired oven picnic lunch at the trufferie and a four-course meal prepared from the produce found on the hunt.

The tour also offers participants a rare opportunity to learn about truffles from the growers, who will be at both hunt and dinner.

Ms Laidman said the flavour and the aroma of a truffle were ``elusive'' and difficult to describe.

She said the scent of truffles could be likened to a very strong mushroom as well as to what she called ``a woodsy aroma'', to garlic and even to burnt-tyre rubber and petrol all at once.

She said truffles were unique.

``When mixed with chicken, duck fat or mushrooms in a pasta dish, the smell is quite heavenly,'' she said. ``The aroma just permeates the whole area where you're sitting and eating.''

The participants will also be able to buy and take home the raw ingredient as well as savouring the truffle-laden meals and produce on the tour. ``On our truffle tours we give people guidance on how to store them and the best ways to prepare and use truffles to maximise their investment. At about $2000 a kilo, they're not cheap. The average value of a truffle we would find on the tours is about $45 to $70 and it would be a bit larger than a golf ball.''

The first truffle tour is on June18.

Details: 98623042.