Truffle Tours in Granite Belt Wine Country

Learn all the secret truffle growing tricks in Ballandean at Queensland’s first commercial truffiere, The Folly Truffles.  

Belying their name, it’s no act of folly to add this new Granite Belt tourist attraction to your itinerary… our tip is this is a new MUST-DO attraction!

What to Expect on Arrival at The Folly

You’ll meet the incredibly welcoming family behind this truffiere.  It all began with a love of the South of France and a dream to grow truffles… which led the family to look for a spot closer to home than France to bring their plan to life.  Research revealed Ballandean’s cool climate and soil composition was ideal for truffle growing and now three generations of the family have a hand in making the dream come true.

On arrival at the farm you’ll be welcomed at the Truffle Cottage by Maple, the truffle farmer and lead tour guide of the family.  The cottage couldn’t be cuter, with its French charm and views across to a cottage garden and a river below.

A Walking Tour Through the Truffiere

Join Maple on a walk through the truffiere… the French Oak trees under which the treasured French Black Perigord truffles grow.  There is so much to learn about how the truffles are grown and because tours are capped at groups of 6 people there is ample opportunity to ask questions.

The first 450 trees began producing truffles ripe for harvest in winter 2021 and a further 1800 trees are expected to produce their first harvest by 2024.

When it’s the season for truffle harvest, Barry the truffle dog joins the tours to sniff out the location of truffles.

When is Truffle Harvest?

Truffles are seasonal and ready for harvest from June to August.  Truffiere tours operate all year round, but in these winter months there’s the extra tour option to join Barry the truffle dog into the truffiere as he identifies where ripe truffles are ready and get your hands dirty digging out truffles!  Then it’s back to the truffle cottage to carefully wash them off (with a tooth brush of all things), to fully uncover the truffle finds of the day.

Tour Options…

1) A Taste of Truffle Tour

Available: Friday or Saturdays throughout most of the year.

Maple will take you on a tour of the truffière to walk amongst the trees and see where the truffles are grown. All your questions will be answered – the lifecycle of the truffle, the harvest process and everything in between. The tour concludes at the truffle cottage where you will be able to sit back and relax, enjoy a glass of local wine, sample some cheese and browse truffle literature.

Here’s the best bit – Maple will demonstrate how to cook a simple truffle pasta. You grate the cheese, stir the butter, savour the aroma of fresh truffle and enjoy!

Tours commence at 5PM, just in time for sunset, and are approximately 2 hours in duration. Numbers are limited to 6 people to ensure an personal experience where everyone leaves with a taste of truffle!

2) Truffle Hunt Tour

Available: Saturday or Sundays only in June, July and August.

You will become a truffle hunter for the morning, walking amongst the trees and following Barry the truffle dog as he sniffs. When he alerts us to a potential truffle, you will see how these prized ingredients are harvested.

As you unearth the truffles, you will be able to experience first-hand the thrill of the hunt. Next warm up at the truffle cottage to clean and store the truffles. See Maple demonstrate some simple ways use and eat truffles and enjoy a light lunch using local products with Folly truffles.

This is the perfect opportunity to purchase truffles (subject to availability) straight from the farmer.

Tours commence at 10.30am and finish around 12.30. Maximum 6 people per hunt to ensure everyone can get their hands dirty!

Can Kids Visit the Truffiere?

Kids are welcome to join on the tours free of charge.  They will love running through the trees and spotting farm animals too.

Where is The Folly Truffles?

30 mins south of Stanthorpe (via Ballandean)
10 mins west of Ballandean

1110 Bents Road, Ballandean QLD

NOTE: There is a short drive over unsealed road  to access the property, but any standard vehicle will have no problem with access.  In the event of high rainfall, please contact The Folly Truffles to enquire about road floodway water levels.

Truffle Farm Tour Bookings

Bookings are essential.   CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TOUR NOW

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