Gin-making, jam trails and Indigenous eats: Aussie foodie adventures A-Z

Australia's passionate producers, ethnic diversity and food- and drink-obsessed locals who love nothing better than a winery visit or a food festival, make for culinary experiences that are as extraordinary as our landscapes.

From dining under a star-spangled outback sky to foraging for native botanicals and distilling your own gin, here's an A to Z of Australian food experiences worth travelling for.

The days of the sad canteen-style cafe tucked away in an obscure part of the art gallery are over, as the country's cultural centres acknowledge the love of art and the culinary arts are often analogous.

Tassie's MONA in Hobart has six eating and drinking options, including fine diner The Source, its menu backed up by made-on-site wines.

Palette at Gold Coast's HOTA draws inspiration from the exhibitions for its creative and ever-morphing menu, while the contemporary menu at Sydney's MCA restaurant, Canvas, is a worthy partner to the dazzling harbour views. mona.net.au; paletterestaurant.com.au; mca.com.au

Also: Apple pie

The location of Australia's best apple-pie apple is a hard one to pick, but there are many apple-growing regions to just explore and enjoy. Hit the Apple Pie Trail in Bilpin in the Blue Mountains, NSW, to compare pies at around a dozen stops. discoverthehawkesbury.com.au

From pineapples to prawns, big chooks to bananas, Australia's multitude of big food things are larger-than-life tributes to small-town agriculture.

True enthusiasts could map out an entire big-food-themed lap of the country, including a mango sorbet and a selfie at the Big Mango in Bowen, Queensland; a potato pie at the bakery in the town of Robertson, NSW, home of the Big Potato; and a cold beer at journey's end at the Larrimah Hotel in the Northern Territory, home of the Big Stubby. tourismbowen.com.au; robertson.nsw.au; larrimahhotel.com.au

Also: Bug roll at Rick Shores restaurant

There are few pleasures as visceral as watching the ocean at Burleigh Heads on Queensland's Gold Coast while biting into one of Rick Shores' soft milk buns filled with Moreton Bay bug, butter lettuce and a spicy sriracha sauce. rickshores.com.au

Can't afford a ticket to Copenhagen or Rome? Feed your wanderlust at one of Australia's greatest dining secrets - its cultural clubs which offer not just time-warp-priced menus, but a full cultural immersion. Try a proper Danish smorgasbord at Denmark House in Melbourne (also home to Australia's biggest list of the spirit aquavit), a bowl of slow-cooked Calabrese ragu pasta at Perth's Italian Club, pierogi at the Polish Club in Brisbane or pork knuckle with a serve of gemutlich at Sydney's Austrian Club. denmarkhouse.com.au; waitalianclub.com; polonia.org.au; austrianclubsydney.com

Also: Calile Hotel

Ranked at 25 on the World's 50 Best Hotels list, Brisbane's chic Calile Hotel is for dining as much as sleeping, with restaurants such as Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster and Same Same, plus the prime people-peeping possibilities of its Lobby Bar, all set amid Fortitude Valley's buzzy James Street shopping and dining district. thecalilehotel.com

Australia has more than 300 distilleries, from big-league brands to micro-distillers, producing everything from limoncello in far western Queensland to whisky at the country's most southerly distillery McHenry, at Tasmania's Port Arthur. Most have cellar-door tastings and tours, while others offer interactive experiences, from cocktail making at Sydney's Archie Rose to a martini masterclass at Applewood Distillery in the Adelaide Hill, to a high tea at Victoria's Bass & Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula. westernqldspirit.com; mchenrydistillery.com.au; archierose.com.au; applewooddistillery.com.au; bassandflindersdistillery.com

Also: Diner en Blanc

Brisbane was the fifth city in the world to host a Diner en Blanc in 2012. Today, diners can dress up in their best white outfits, pack a picnic and join a dinner at a secret location in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra or the Gold Coast. dinerenblanc.com

Whether you're intent on dish-hopping through different venues or foraging for fancy ingredients, most Australian cities have a street with stand-out culinary chops. In Sydney, Newtown's King Street is a global roll call of cuisines, moody bars, old-school pubs and patisseries. Melbourne's Smith Street is crammed with ramen bars and restaurants, pubs, taquerias and breweries, while in Adelaide, Gouger Street is not just home to some of the city's best restaurants and its Chinatown, but one of the country's most venerated produce markets, the Adelaide Central Market.

Also: Epicurean Way

Linking the Clare and Barossa valleys, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills, the four-day, 220-kilometre Epicurean Way could well be the country's foodiest road trip, featuring wine, cheese and chocolate, distilleries, country pubs, fancy fine-diners and more. southaustralia.com

It helps the agritourism cause that many of Australia's farm stays are in bucolic, food-centric regions. Like the Lake House at Daylesford's luxe Dairy Flat Lodge and Farm, luring guests with its regenerative vegetable gardens, orchards and olive groves.

In western Queensland, cattle farm Mt Mulligan Lodge has deluxe accommodation and a seven-course degustation dinner served under the stars. You can even stay in a cottage on the property of culinary legend Maggie Beer in the Barossa Valley. lakehouse.com.au; www.mountmulligan.com, maggiebeersfarmshop.com.au

Also: Foraging

Take a mushroom foraging tour in NSW's Southern Highlands: learn about slippery Jacks and saffron milk caps, then enjoy a mushroom cook-up in the forest. experiencenature.au

The cruise industry has been doubling down on its culinary efforts in recent years. Cruising in Australia this summer and next, Silversea's Silver Nova has 12 restaurants, from fine dining to pizza, plus a space dedicated to cooking demonstrations and master classes, as well as food- and wine-focused shore excursions. Celebrity Cruises has an itinerary including Australian wine-themed sails with excursions to the vinous regions and wineries of Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, the Yarra Valley and Tasmania. silversea.com; celebritycruises.com

Also: Garlic festival

At the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria, Korumburra is the new home of the South Gippsland Garlic Festival (March 8 in 2025). Meet the growers, browse stalls of garlic-laden dishes, watch chef demos and more. southgippslandgarlicfestival.au

The ultimate foodie experience for time-poor, cash-rich epicures. Take a private vine-to-wine heli-tour in NSW across the Snowy Mountains to Tumbarumba for a cellar door visit and lunch; marvel at the views of the Byron Lighthouse and enjoy lunch and a tour at the bucolic Frida's Field in northern NSW; or play distiller for the day with a helicopter foraging tour from Darwin to an outback farm for native botanicals to make your own gin - the ultimate brag-worthy souvenir. alpinehelicopters.com.au; kiffandculture.com.au; darwindistillingco.com.au

Also: Honey

Try some of the 40 Australian single varietal honeys at Beechworth Honey in Victoria, the famous leatherwood honey at Blue Hills Honey in Tasmania, or a honey ice cream and tour of rare Ligurian hives on Kangaroo Island. beechworthhoney.com.au; bluehillshoney.com; kangarooislandbeeco.com.au

Learn about the bounty of the bush with the people who know it best, from a one-hour First Nations-guided bush tucker walk in Sydney's Botanical Gardens, to foraging for seasonal native produce with a campfire barbecue at Margaret River in Western Australia.

In Queensland's Port Douglas, it's hands-on and feet-in as guests are taken on a beach excursion to learn to spearfish and hunt for mud crab while hearing about local bush tucker and the culture of the Kuku Yalanji people. botanicgardens.org.au; koomaldreaming.com.au; walkaboutadventures.com.au

Also: Illawarra

Sure the beaches and ocean pools are ace, but this region just south of Sydney also boasts a booming small-bar scene, breweries, historic pubs, casual cafes and hatted restaurants - fulfilling all requirements for a weekend gourmet getaway. visitnsw.com

Browse the huge spread of jams, chutneys and preserves at the purpose-built Beerenberg shop and cafe in the Adelaide Hills. At the Berry Farm at Margaret River, you can taste-test the range of jams, preserves and condiments, plus house-made cider and fruity liqueurs. Known as "the jam tarts", Christine Hood and Stephanie Ingall of Jamworks in Queensland's Granite Belt have more than 90 jams, pickles and sauces packed beneath the soaring roof of their modern barn-like factory, shop and cafe. beerenberg.com.au; theberryfarm.com.au; jamworks.com.au

Also: Jugiong

This charming village is a rewarding pit stop for hungry road-trippers on the busy route between Sydney and Melbourne. Have lunch at the rustic Long Track Pantry (renowned for its toasties), browse local wines at the Jugiong Wine Cellar, or share a 12-hour cooked lamb shoulder at the historic Sir George Hotel. visitjugiong.com.au

In a remote corner of Kangaroo Island, meals are served in the dappled sunlight beneath the spreading boughs of a 120-year-old fig tree overlooking Snelling Beach, the menu designed by The Fig Tree owner/chef John Stamatakis, an avid spearfisher and forager.

The island is also home to a distillery and brewery, wineries, olive groves and more. Follow the Kangaroo Island Farm Gate and Cellar Door Trail on your own or join an organised food tour. thefigtreeki.com.au; tourkangarooisland.com.au; exceptionalkangarooisland.com

Also: Kakadu

Taste of Kakadu (May 23-25 in 2025) celebrates the cuisine, culture and country of the Bininj people and includes a starlit dinner with ingredients foraged from Kakadu National Park, a ground oven feast, guided bush tucker walks and a "croc and canapes" cruise. kakadu.gov.au

October is dedicated to the veneration of a spicy noodle soup in Darwin, with more than 100 restaurants presenting their best version of laksa, from traditional Thai and Singaporean to Penang-style. The celebrations of the Darwin International Laksa Festival culminate in a grand finale with cooking demonstrations, laksa eating competitions and the awarding of the best restaurant laksa. During non-festival time, get your fix at multi-winners Chow, or join the queue at Mary's Laksa Stall at the Parap Village Markets - she's been simmering up the city's signature dish for two decades. darwinlaksafestival.com.au; chowdarwin.com.au; parapvillage.com.au

Also: Lobster Shack

Sit overlooking the Coral Sea at the Lobster Shack at Cervantes in Western Australia and watch sea lions frolic while enjoying lobster tacos, spring rolls, wontons or a whole lobster mornay. lobstershack.com.au

It's the answer many people will give when asked to name a quintessentially Australian food. Everyone has their touchstone meat pie, many from small bakeries in regional towns. Like award-winners Buddy's Bakery in Melton, Victoria, or Hayden's Pies in Ulladulla, NSW. Just off the MI near the Gold Coast, Yatala Pies is an essential east-coast snack spot - they've been baking pies for 120 years and even got a thumbs up from The New York Times. facebook.com/Buddybakerycafe; haydenspies.com.au; yatalapies.com.au

Also: Macadamias

Taste and learn at Macadamias Australia Bundaberg, with high-tech interactive displays, tours of their sustainable farm and macadamia-infused treats at the cafe overlooking the orchard. macadamiasaustralia.com

You're never far from good food in Noosa. End days on the beach with a glass of wine at Theo's Social Club at Noosa Junction, or a cocktail while watching the sun set over the river from Noosa Boathouse. Also in Noosaville is the picture-pretty Lanai and Italian favourite Lucio's Marina.

Book a long lunch at Bask at Peregian, take a water taxi to stalwart Ricky's, and wander the superb Sunday farmers' markets. It all comes together on the last weekend in May with the culinary extravaganza of Noosa Eat & Drink Fest. noosafarmersmarket.com.au; noosaeatdrink.com.au

Also: Nightfeast

A month-long feast of food and culture, Nightfeast at the Brisbane Powerhouse cranks up in the evenings from Wednesday to Sunday from mid-October, with stalls manned by some of Brisbane's best chefs, as well as art, music and dance performances. nightfeast.com.au

Oyster appreciators can witness the process of growing and harvesting, and taste a briny bivalve straight from the sea on one of Australia's oyster farms. At Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania, one of the signature experiences is donning waders and taking a tour of the Freycinet Marine Farm with a taste of oysters shucked in front of you.

At Batemans Bay in NSW you can take a guided kayak paddle out to a lease for a fresh-from-the-sea tasting. Or travel by oyster barge on South Australia's Smoky Bay to an overwater viewing platform where oysters will be harvested and brought to you to enjoy with a glass of wine. saffire-freycinet.com.au; regionx.com.au; sapremiumoysters.com.au/tours

Also: Orange Food Week

Australia's longest-running regional food festival, Orange Food Week (March 28-April 6 in 2025) shines a light on the best of the region's seasonal produce and cool-climate wines, with a packed program of long-table lunches, vineyard adventures, and high-profile guest chefs. orangefoodweek.com.au

Wine, food and song (in that order) are the "pairings" for this four-day Margaret River festival, celebrating its second year this November (20-23).

Last year, Pair'd featured about 30 events, from guest sommeliers presenting their wine stories to a long-table dinner, street eats and collaborations with chefs and winemakers at wineries. On the music side, there was Blur bassist-turned-cheesemaker Alex James guest DJing at the Beach Club, along with Cafe del Mar legend Ken Fan, the Whitlams and cook/opera diva Silvia Colloca. Keep an eye out for an announcement of this year's program. pairdmargaretriver.com

Also: Pick your own olives

Pick your own olives and have them pressed into your personal Extra Virgin brand just outside Perth at Jumanga Olives; enjoy harvesting followed by lunch in a grove at Hidden Valley Farms between Sydney and Canberra, or pick at Silver Acres near Adelaide and take home to preserve. jumangaolives.com.au; hiddenvalleyfarms.com.au; silveracresolives.com.au

Deep in Queensland's Old Parliament House is one of Brisbane's best, yet least-known restaurants, the historic Strangers' Restaurant.

It's not only big on atmosphere, having retained many of its original late-19th-century features, but has one of the best-value menus of this calibre in the city. Make time, too, for a pre-lunch drink next door at the Lucinda Bar, with its soaring ceilings, parquet floor and polished wooden bar made from timber reclaimed from an old government steamer boat. qldparliamentdining.com.au

Also: Q Train

On the restored Bellarine Railway line in Victoria, the Q Train takes guests on a scenic round-trip from Drysdale to Queenscliff while serving a six-course degustation dinner and a drinks list of local independent wines, beers and ciders. theqtrain.com.au

Small-town Australia is no slouch when it comes to sophisticated dining, with some of our most esteemed restaurants located far beyond capital-city limits.

In Victorian high-country Beechworth, the two-hatted Provenance has a Japanese-influenced menu served kaiseki-style. Book the chef's table for an up-close view of the kitchen action at Wickens at the Royal Mail in Dunkeld, have a mini-break with an overnight stay at the inimitable Brae, or settle in for a post-beach long lunch at the renowned Pipit in Pottsville, NSW. theprovenance.com.au; royalmail.com.au/dining/wickens; braerestaurant.com; pipitrestaurant

Also: Riesling Trail

A bike is the perfect vehicle to explore this old railway corridor that passes some of the best riesling-producing wineries in South Australia's Clare Valley. If you're a true "rizza" aficionado, grab a map from the tourist office and plan a route that includes wineries such as Grosset, O'Leary Walker and Pikes. clarevalley.com.au

Australia is the world's fourth largest truffle producer, with truffles grown in all states bar the Northern Territory. In season (June-September) you can learn how they're grown and watch highly trained dogs (not pigs) sniff them out below oak or hazelnut trees in truffieres in Manjimup, Western Australia, Canberra or Tasmania. If you just can't wait until winter, RedGround truffiere at Oberon, NSW, also grows summer truffles. thetrufflefarmtasmania.com.au; australiantruffletraders.com; thetrufflefarm.com.au; redground.com.au

Also: Tropical Fruit World

In the verdant Tweed Valley in northern NSW, this family-owned tropical fruit farm grows more than 500 species from all over the world, from black sapote to soursop. Take a tour with a tasting then buy some to take home. tropicalfruitworld.com.au

Guests are treated to canapes, bush-fruit-infused cocktails and native antipasti platters while taking in the groundbreaking Wintjiri Wiru - more than 1000 drones lighting up the sky to tell the Mala story of the Anangu people. Limited to just 20 guests, Tali Wiru is a fine-dining experience set under the desert stars with views of Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjutu.

Other Uluru food experiences include an Australian native high tea (saltbush caramel Tim Tams anyone?) and for the early birds, a sunrise sound and light show with a native produce breakfast. ayersrockresort.com.au/experiences

Also: Unesco Gourmet Cities

Launceston and Bendigo are the only Australian cities recognised by UNESCO as Cities of Gastronomy, a list that includes Italy's Parma and Rouen in France. Make a weekend of it and hit the vineyards, farmers' markets, restaurants and producers to find out why. explore.bendigogastronomy.com.au; visitnortherntasmania.com.au

The OG of chocolate bars in Australia, the Violet Crumble was our first home-produced chocolate, made back in 1913. After a time under foreign ownership, it returned to Aussie hands in 2018 and is now made in South Australia. Visit Menz's Glynde factory in Adelaide on weekdays to catch the honeycomb being made or other treats being enrobed in chocolate, or temporarily swap your wine tasting for honeycomb and chocolate at the Tanunda or McLaren Vale stores. menz.com.au

Also: Vertigo

Dine on high at Vertigo at Brisbane's Powerhouse at a table hanging over the side of the building with a 17-metre drop. After a three-course dinner (or Sunday brunch) by Italian bistro Bar Alto, you're invited to rappel back down. vertigobrisbane.com.au

Take to the streets with a walking tour and discover a destination's foodie secrets with a local. Join a tour of the Adelaide Central Market followed by lunch; be privy in Sydney to Thai Town's best restaurants with tasty samples along the way and a take-home guide to help you find them on your own later; be guided through Little Italy in Melbourne; or enjoy an Indian breakfast and introduction to the food shopping and restaurants of Sydney's Little India. localsaucetours.com.au; flavourhoodtours.com.au; ausfoodtours.com; gourmetsafaris.com.au

Also: Willunga Farmers' Market

South Australia's original farmers' market, held every Saturday, celebrates 23 years next month (FEB). Grab a coffee and a warm croissant and graze or shop through stalls selling everything from buffalo cheese to berries. willungafarmersmarket.com.au

Read more on Explore:

A spin-off of one of Sydney's legendary restaurants, Chinatown's Golden Century (slated to reopen in its new location at the Crown in February), XOPP in Sydney's restaurant-rich Darling Square laneway precinct takes its name from its parent's most popular dish, XO pippies - saucy wok-tossed clams on a crunchy vermicelli bed. There are other Golden Century favourites here too, but the traditional Cantonese offerings are supported by some more contemporary dishes and a yum cha menu. goldencentury.com.au/xopp

Also: Xanadu Wines

Add an X to your wine map while touring Margaret River for a stop at Xanadu, which has made wine here since 1977. Lovers of cab sav should do a tasting of the back vintages of their multi-award-winning red. xanaduwines.com

Australia's cherry capital, Young, in country NSW, activates party mode early with the National Cherry Festival, now in its 75th year, kicking off the festive season on the first weekend of December.

There's a family-friendly program of events and entertainment, from cherry pip spitting contests to best cherry-themed outfit, farm open days, music performances and Christmas markets. And of course, plenty of opportunities to taste the country's best cherries. nationalcherryfestival.com.au

Also: Yamba prawns

Along with wild beaches, Yamba, long hailed as the next Byron Bay, is famous for its sweet, fat Yamba prawns. Find them at fishos and on restaurant plates all over the NSW Northern Rivers town. visitnsw.com

Eat and sleep surrounded by wildlife. Options at Sydney's Taronga Zoo include the overnight camping experience Roar and Snore, with a night safari and dinner, or the upmarket accommodation at Wildlife Retreat including dinner at the smart harbourside Me-Gal restaurant. At Canberra's Jamala Wildlife Lodge, you can dine separated by big cats or hyenas by just a pane of glass, while Werribee Open Range Zoo just out of Melbourne has safari-themed tents, an African-style dinner and even a campfire to toast your marshmallows. taronga.org.au; jamalawildlifelodge.com.au; zoo.org.au/werribee

Also: Zeppole, ziti and zabaglione

Three dishes you might get to try at one of Australia's Italian food festivals. Enjoy la dolce vita at Ferragosto in Sydney in August, La Fiera in Myrtleford, north-east Victoria, in May, or the 10-day Italian Festival across Adelaide in November. canadabay.nsw.gov.au/ferragosto; lafiera.com.au; adelaideitalianfestival.com.au