Ah, Australia. From the red rock of the Outback to the sapphire bays of Tasmania, this colorful country delights and amazes visitors at every turn. One day you might come face to face with a kangaroo or koala; the next day could find you dining under the stars in view of the world’s largest monolith. This much is certain: Life in the Land of Oz is never dull. And neither is the food. (If overcooked roasts, mushy vegetables and canned lager are your impression of dinner down under, you’ve been watching too many old movies.) Contemporary Australian cuisine is fresh and innovative – a convivial marriage of Oriental and Occidental ingredients and cooking techniques.

Boasting a clean environment, Australia’s microclimates range from the steamy tropical heat of the north – perfect for growing mangoes, avocados and macadamia nuts – to the cool south where Asian herbs, mussels, yellowfin tuna and Chardonnay grapes thrive. All find their way into a cuisine widely celebrated for its creativity.

Australia is one of the world’s greatest wine nations and home to some 1,800 wineries. The main wine growing regions are the Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley in South Australia; the Yarra Valley in Victoria; the Hunter Valley in New South Wales; Margaret River in Western Australia; and Richmond in Tasmania. While they produce the majority of the country’s wine, boutique wineries abound all over the nation.

New South Wales is the birthplace of Australia’s wine industry. The first grapevine was planted – not far from the Sydney Opera House – in 1788. Today you’ll find over 350 vineyards scattered from the outskirts of Sydney to the Outback, from the Snowy Mountains to the sub-tropical North Coast.

Hunter Valley Wine Country
Less than two hours drive from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine producing region. It boasts over 120 wineries and is renowned for producing classic Semillon and Shiraz wines which have great capacity for graceful aging. In the Hunter Valley, wine tasting is free and you will often be tasting wine with the winemaker in person.

Dining in Sydney
Australia’s oldest, largest and liveliest city, Sydney offers a wealth of culturally diverse food styles and a great selection of vibrant dining neighborhoods. These reflect the different influences generated by wave after wave of immigrants from Europe and Asia. Whether you dine at the city’s leading restaurants fronted by star chefs or assemble your own picnics from Sydney’s wide array of markets and delis, you’ll enjoy mouthwatering food and million-dollar views in “the Harbour City.”

Tasmania, Australia’s only island state, enjoys a clean, unpolluted environment. The air in northwest Tasmania is reportedly amongst the cleanest recorded in any populated place on earth. The result: fresh, full-flavored produce which figures prominently in Tasmanian cuisine.

Then there are the rolling green grasslands which produce exceptional cheeses – from Blues and Bries to Cheddars and Camembert – and homemade natural ice cream. Incidentally, many cheese-makers offer farm-gate or factory tastings and will sell directly to you.

And, as you would expect from this ideally situated island, Tasmania is renowned for its seafood: fresh Tasmania Atlantic salmon, blueeye cod (trevalla) and ocean trout.

As for the Wine…
Tasmania’s cool climate and long, sunny autumns are perfect for growing intensely flavored Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Riesling grapes. Tasmanian Pinot Gris is gaining a strong reputation, and the island’s sparkling wines continue to win high international praise. Tasmania now boasts over 200 vineyards, largely boutique, producing more than 6,500 metric tons of grapes per year.

Beer? You’ll find some of the world’s best ales and lagers in Tasmania too, thanks to the pure water, premium barley and fine hops. For a tasting, take a tour of Boags Brewery in Launceston or Cascade Brewery in Hobart.

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
Splash Seafood Restaurant
Located on the Cairns Esplanade overlooking the Coral Sea, Splash dishes up the delightful marine cuisine of the Tropical North Queensland with friendly flair.
Red Ochre Grill
Offering a new take on Australian cuisine, the Red Ochre combines indigenous fruits, berries and game meats with premium regional produce, beef, poultry and seafood.

Port Douglas
Flames of the Forest
Experience a living theatre of light and shadow as you enter the rainforest for a unique evening of culinary pleasures, indigenous culture and entertainment.
The Beach Shack
A Port Douglas icon, this classic informal beach bar and restaurant offers fresh local seafood and award-winning pizzas.

If you know wine, then you know South Australia. We don’t have to mention world-famous names like the Barossa, McLaren Vale, or Coonawarra. And we certainly don’t have to remind you that our wines have bagged countless awards on the global stage. Over 60% of all Australian wines come from South Australia and Adelaide is home to more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia.

The Adelaide Central Market, buzzing with sounds, colors and wondrous smells is truly the destination for food lovers. The Market is the largest undercover market in the Southern Hemisphere. Offering not only fresh fruit and vegetables, but also one of the largest ranges of meat and fish, along with gourmet specialties introduced by the waves of immigrants and their families who call Adelaide home.

The Barossa is the wine capital of Australia, a place where you can get a real taste for the finer things in life. The area boasts more than 60 wineries, ranging from quaint boutique cellar doors, to large international companies. There are plenty of wine experiences beyond the cellar door including the ‘Blend your own Penfold’s wine’ tour, tutored tastings at Wolf Blass, touring of the historic Seppelt or Langmeil wineries or taking a masterclass at Two Hands Wines.

The Clare Valley Riesling Trail is one of Australia’s most popular and accessible walking and cycling trails. Steeped in history, flanked by quiet townships and vineyards, blessed with stunning vistas and never far from delightful restaurants, cafes and cellar doors, the Riesling Trail is immensely enjoyable and totally free.