Australia’s Food & Wine Highlights

Australians take their food and drink very seriously so prepare yourself for a journey into excellent cuisine.

Some of the world’s finest restaurants are found in Australia’s cities. With swaths of the country’s expansive landscapes given over to farming and its surrounding ocean, there’s no shortage of ingredients. We want your holiday to be an amazing experience and that includes the food so our Travel Experts have suggested a few things you might want to try when you visit.

1. Bush Tucker

Bush tucker isn’t just witchetty grubs and honey ants. It’s a general term used for Indigenous ingredients and there’s some great stuff to try! Take finger limes: a juicy rainforest fruit that adds a citrus kick to dishes and is becoming more common in modern restaurants across the country.

2. Kangaroo Steak

Often considered a novelty meat for tourists, such as crocodile or emu, kangaroo is actually one of the most sustainable red meats in the world. It’s also very lean, making it a healthier choice too.

3. Oysters

Australia has two widely available types of oysters - the Pacific and the more rich and distinctly flavoured Sydney rock. Coffin Bay in South Australia has a reputation for the country’s finest Pacific oysters, whereas your best bet for the Sydney rock is, well, Sydney.

4. Moreton bay bugs

So the name isn’t great...but then you don’t eat the name. These crustaceans are slightly smaller than crayfish and are a Brisbane classic. Try them with garlic sauce or simply a squeeze of citrus.

5. Barramundi

Barramundi is from the sea bass family and its buttery flavour and meaty texture make it Australia’s signature fish dish. You can try it almost anywhere but we think it’s best in North Queensland and the Northern Territory, where they are found in large numbers.

6. Coffee

Boasting the moniker of ‘Australia’s Coffee Capital’, Melbourne seems to breed roasters and baristas with an uncanny knack for producing outstanding coffee. You can pretty much walk into any independent coffee shop and expect fantastic quality.

Australian wine brands are now household names and, with over 60 wine-producing regions in Australia, you’re bound to have the chance to visit one on your trip. Here are five of the best-known regions that we can help you to discover with a delicious tasting tour:

1. Margaret River

This is one for the connoisseurs. While this Western Australian region is a fairly small producer, it generates 20% of the country’s premium wine. It’s famed for its Cabernet Sauvignon but the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are some of Australia’s best.

2. Barossa Valley

If you’re going to Barossa, you’ll drink the Shiraz that made the region great. Here, the biggest names in Aussie wine - such as Jacob’s Creek and Wolf Blass - share these rich soils with smaller, boutique wineries, creating a varied tour experience.

3. McLaren Vale

Less than an hour south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is another Shiraz-led region, though Grenache and Chardonnay are specialties.

4. Hunter Valley

The oldest wine-growing region in the country, Hunter Valley boasts 150 cellar doors including Wyndham Estate and McGuigan. Among the many varieties on offer, the area’s acclaimed Sémillon is essential for tasting.

5. Yarra Valley

Widely renowned for producing Australia’s finest Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley is Victoria’s oldest wine region. With a cooler climate compared to other areas, you’ll also find some excellent sparkling wines.