There are many destinations around the world vacationers travel to explicitly and specifically to eat. In these places, culinary tradition is revered, its heritage preserved and its defining ingredients a key part of the culture’s identity. But in others, the appeal of the place is so spectacular that it overshadows the food, stealing the headlines from what would otherwise be a primary feature. One such place? Australia.
Under the shadow of touristic riches like the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback is travel-worthy dining—exceptional ingredients, unique local cuisine, and excellent wines. Order the freshest seafood in Queensland and savor course after course of the finest dining while gazing at the Sydney Opera House. Enjoy a gourmet picnic with world-class wines in the Yarra Valley, or try the best produce of the season, interpreted uniquely by the people of Australia, and reflective of the history and place the venue is found.
To taste the best of the land Down Under, here’s what to get and where.
Tuck In to Bush Tucker Fare
Australia is home to the world’s oldest living culture and one that’s been well-preserved. Because of this, visitors are able to take a journey through the eons by visiting restaurants honoring it. Being able to try native ingredients is a highlight of bush tucker tours, sampling food that has sustained the land’s Aboriginal people for centuries and even experiencing ancient but still-used methods of sourcing, such as digging for mud crabs and picking berries. Keep on the lookout for ingredients like desert quandong, bunya nut, desert and finger/caviar limes, Tasmanian pepperberry, Moreton Bay chestnuts, bush coconut, and, for the daring, witchetty grubs on casual café and fine dining restaurants throughout the country.
Wine Down, Down Under
Oenophiles must include the Hunter Valley in their itinerary—it’s the birthplace of Australian wines and well known for its exquisite varieties of semillon and shiraz. Over 150 wine cellars sprinkle this farming area, where vintages are paired with innovative restaurant cuisine with a strong tie to local farming. Paddock to plate and biodynamic experiences lie at the heart of the culinary experience in this gourmet region, making it one of the most exciting yet relaxing places (especially with the number of day spas in the area!) to immerse yourself in indulgence, the Australian way.
Another option: make a stop in or near Melbourne, which is only an hour away from the 80+ vineyards of the Yarra Valley. With specialties that range from everything from chardonnay to shiraz, a wine land day trip or side quest is a favorite adventure for visitors and Australians alike. And if wine’s not for you? The Four Pillars Gin Distillery, the country’s number one craft spirit and an international competition winner, is based here, too.
Icons Across Australia
As delightful a segue into grape-growing country is, vacationers may find themselves having a hard time leaving Melbourne, a city with a cool, quirky character that extends beyond its colorful laneways and live music venues into its trendy cafés and the coffee shops that make it the nation’s coffee capital. Dipping in and out on foot and exploring with a cup of brew in hand is par for the course. Make sure you make it to the celebrated Queen Victoria Market, a historic landmark with over 600 market stalls that vary between seasonal and regional produce and treats and clothing and souvenirs.
No visit to Australia is complete without a stop in the nation’s most famous city: beautiful Sydney in the state of New South Wales. There, fine dining may come with a side of harbor and opera house views, vistas over famed Bondi Beach, or gorgeous cityscapes. On the western side of Circular Quay lies Quay, the country’s most awarded restaurant overlooking the city’s most magical harbor panorama. For a sprawling ocean view, head to Icebergs, which overlooks Bondi Beach.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to connect with Australian seafood at its deepest level, Queensland is where you’ll want to go. Here, Indigenous traditions are still honored and presented in memorable fashion, particularly around the coastline where you can enjoy mud crabs the way First Nations Peoples have. In fact, you can even catch them the same way, too, by spearfishing with Queensland’s Traditional Custodians at Walkabout Cultural Adventures. The experience—and the crabs!—are harvestable year-round. But if all else fails, order a bucket of prawns and a cold beer at Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, one of the region’s most iconic dining experiences. As they say, the beach views and lifelong memories are free once you get there.
Other Australia Resources
Hungry for more Australia? Because this is only the appetizer. ALG Vacations® offers an ALGVPro program that dives deeper into this incredible country, and a comprehensive, customizable Travelogue digital brochure that illustrates its splendor and helps travel advisors plan. Meanwhile, on ALGV360⁰, marketing material is available for easy downloading and sharing to your clients, and when they’re ready to book, Travel Protection Plus with Cancel for Any Reason and commission protection for advisors is ready to support. Visit FunjetAgent.com to book your clients next trip-of-a-lifetime today.
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