About Us - Fruit Trails

Our Story

Fruit Trails was born from a simple family vacation gone wonderfully unexpected. In 2010, Emily and Michael Robertson, a married couple with backgrounds in tourism and agriculture respectively, took their children on what was meant to be a casual weekend trip to a small vineyard in Hunter Valley.

What started as simple grape picking turned into a profound experience when they witnessed their children's excitement at connecting the fruits they ate daily with their actual origins. The vineyard owner, seeing their enthusiasm, invited them to a private tour of the processing facilities and shared stories of generations of grape cultivation that had shaped the land.

On their drive home, Emily and Michael couldn't stop discussing how transformative the experience had been. They realized that while Australia had a booming wine tourism industry, there was a gap in meaningful, educational experiences around broader fruit cultivation. The seed of Fruit Trails was planted that day.

Within six months, they had both left their jobs to pursue their vision of creating immersive agricultural tours that would connect people with the origins of their food while supporting local growers. They started small, with weekend tours in Hunter Valley, but their passion for storytelling and authentic experiences quickly attracted attention.

Today, Fruit Trails operates across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, employing a team of 25 guides passionate about sustainable agriculture and cultural heritage. From humble beginnings, we've grown to welcome over 10,000 guests annually, but our mission remains the same: to create joy through connection with the land and its fruits.

Our Mission & Values

Our Mission

To create joyful connections between people and the agricultural heritage of Australia through immersive, educational tours that support local fruit growers and showcase sustainable farming practices.

Authenticity

We believe in real experiences with real people. Every tour connects visitors directly with farmers and producers who share their genuine stories and passion.

Sustainability

We actively promote and support environmentally responsible farming practices, ensuring that the beautiful landscapes we visit today will flourish for generations to come.

Community

We're committed to supporting local economies by partnering with family-owned farms and businesses, creating meaningful economic opportunities in rural areas.

Education

We believe knowledge enhances appreciation. Every tour is designed to deepen understanding of agriculture, food systems, and the connection between what we eat and the environment.

Meet Our Team

The people behind Fruit Trails are passionate experts in agriculture, tourism, and cultural heritage. Together, we work to create unforgettable experiences that connect visitors with Australia's rich fruit-growing traditions.

Emily Robertson

Co-Founder & CEO

With a background in luxury tourism and a degree in business administration, Emily oversees Fruit Trails' strategic direction and growth. Her previous experience managing eco-tourism ventures across Australia gave her the expertise to develop our unique tour formats. Emily is particularly passionate about creating tourism that supports rural communities.

Michael Robertson

Co-Founder & Agricultural Director

Michael's agricultural science degree and 15 years working with Australian fruit growers make him our expert on all things related to cultivation. He personally vets every farm and vineyard on our tours, ensuring they meet our standards for sustainable practices. Michael leads our educational programs and maintains relationships with our network of growers.

Aisha Patel

Head Tour Guide

With a background in cultural anthropology and five years leading tours across Australia, Aisha brings both knowledge and charisma to our tour experiences. Fluent in four languages, she specializes in creating inclusive experiences for our international visitors. Aisha trains all new guides and develops our tour curricula to ensure educational quality.

James Nguyen

Culinary Partnerships Manager

A former chef with experience in award-winning restaurants, James now manages our relationships with culinary partners who create the farm-to-table experiences on our tours. His deep understanding of flavor profiles and seasonal produce helps us highlight the best qualities of each fruit variety we showcase. James personally designs all tasting experiences on our premium tours.

Our Achievements

Over the years, Fruit Trails has grown from a small family operation to a recognized leader in agricultural tourism. Here are some milestones we're particularly proud of:

Excellence in Food Tourism

Winner of the 2019 Australian Tourism Award for our innovative farm-to-table experiences and contribution to regional economies.

50+ Farm Partnerships

We've built lasting relationships with over 50 family-owned farms and vineyards across three Australian states.

50,000+ Happy Visitors

Since our founding, we've welcomed over 50,000 guests from more than 30 countries to experience Australian fruit growing firsthand.

Sustainable Tourism Certification

Proud recipient of ECO Tourism Australia certification for our commitment to environmentally responsible practices.

What Our Guests Say

★★★★★

"Our family tour with Fruit Trails was the highlight of our Australian vacation. Our children still talk about picking strawberries and learning how to identify different apple varieties. Michael was incredibly knowledgeable and patient with all our questions. The farm lunch was absolutely delicious and showcased the fruits we'd just picked in creative ways. I've recommended this experience to everyone I know visiting Australia."

Charlotte Wilson, Brisbane

★★★★★

"As an international visitor interested in agriculture, I found the vineyard tour with Fruit Trails to be exceptionally educational and enjoyable. Our guide Aisha had extensive knowledge of wine production and sustainable farming practices. The experience of tasting grapes directly from different vines and then sampling the wines made from them created a profound connection to the land. The small group size allowed for personalized attention and meaningful conversations."

Raj Mehta, Mumbai

★★★★★

"I organized a team-building event for my department with Fruit Trails, and it exceeded all expectations. The custom itinerary they created perfectly balanced fun activities with educational components. The cider-making workshop was particularly effective at getting our team to collaborate in a new environment. Many colleagues commented that they'd never seen certain team members so engaged and enthusiastic. The attention to detail throughout the day was impressive, from dietary accommodations to transportation logistics."

Lisa Chen, Corporate Events Manager, Sydney