Meet Your Host Niki
My name is Niki Karamalis, baptised Androniki Karamalis, and I am a proud Greek Australian. Both my parents were born in Greece, my father on the island of Limnos and my mother on the island of Rhodes, and their love for their homeland has always been a guiding force in my life. I grew up surrounded by the language, music, traditions, and soul of Greece, and those roots run deep within me.
Here in South Australia, I’ve always remained close to my heritage. I have a Greek restaurant that I’m proud to use my family’s recipes in. I’m an active member of our Greek Orthodox Church and volunteer with Open Hearts, a branch dedicated to supporting those in need.
I am also on the organising committee of the Semaphore Greek Festival, South Australia’s largest ethnic festival, where I help bring our culture to life, from traditional food and dancing to Bouzouki by the Sea, which celebrates the music of Greece.
Nisi Escapes is a reflection of that same love, a way to share the magic of my heritage with others. They are about slowing down, reconnecting to what matters, and experiencing the warmth of Greek hospitality.
Through these journeys, I hope to create spaces where people can immerse themselves in culture, food, music, and soul, just as I have all my life.
MY STORY
How NISI Was Born
I’ve always lived an active life. In my 20s, I spent ten years in Greece, immersed in nature and a slower, simpler way of living. Returning to Australia marked a turning point. After my first miscarriage, I began to examine my lifestyle, what I consumed, how I moved, and how I nurtured myself.
What followed was a long reproductive journey, multiple miscarriages, IVF, and finally surrogacy. After years between India and Thailand, a donor egg gave us our beautiful daughter. During that time, I opened Raw and Real, a juice bar focused on organic, plant-based food. It became a way to heal, nourish, and create hope.
Two years ago, at 48, I thought I had heartburn one night, but it was Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare condition and the leading cause of heart attacks in women under 50. It was a powerful reminder that even with healthy habits, hormones shape everything.
Through this journey, I’ve learned that food is medicine.
Growing up Greek, fasting during Lent and holidays was part of life, naturally plant-based. Those family recipes inspired me to write a vegan cookbook Earth to Soul My Greek Table, to show how simple, honest food can support our health and the planet.
But I wanted more than a cookbook. I longed for a slower life, the kind found on Lemnos, my father’s island. That longing became Nisi: a space to return to simplicity, breathe, move, eat well, and dance under the stars.
Nisi isn’t just an escape, it’s an experience of connection, culture, and soul.
NOW BOOKING
26th August - 3rd September 2026
With limited spots available, now’s the perfect time to secure your place and treat yourself to the calm you’ve been craving. Express your interest today and start counting down to your island escape.