For foodies around the world, no destination is too far to travel for the best in food and drink. While Australia is well-known for its glorious weather and picture-perfect landscapes, it has a bustling and unique food culture that crosses all states, cities, and towns, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed by international visitors and locals alike.
Once it’s time to head home, don’t forget to pick up a tasty sweet treat to enjoy while curled up on the couch with a glass of Winton Road red wine, plenty of lasting memories, and newfound culinary inspiration to recreate at home.
Melbourne’s Food & Wine Festival, Victoria
If you are looking for any excuse to jump in the car and embark on the ultimate culinary road trip, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, an enticing 10-day celebration in the bustling Victoria capital, is the place to be.
Filled to the brim with food and drink, the event hosts a star-studded line-up of international chefs, local food heroes, and plenty of popular Australian dishes. With over 300 events, including everything from bake sales and sausage sizzles to pop-up dinners and the festival’s signature World’s Longest Lunch, 10 days will not feel like enough time to tackle everything.
Taste of Kakadu, Northern Territory
Taste of Kakadu is a unique experience that should not be missed. As one of the top First Nations festivals in Australia, the wild flavors of traditional native cuisine reign supreme, with a weekend of events championing Aboriginal culture and Indigenous flavor profiles backdropped by the world-famous Kakadu National Park.
Throughout the festival, guests can enjoy cooking demonstrations, plenty of delicious food stalls, local bush tucker trails, and live music. You can even hop aboard the Taste of Kakadu cruise, where attendees indulge in indigenous-inspired morning tea as they glide along the calming waters while taking in the picturesque surrounding landscape.
Tasting Australia, Adelaide
Adelaide is often considered to be the Festival City of Australia. Nothing encompasses this more than Tasting Australia, which is held annually in Town Square. It is one of the longest-running food and drink festivals in the country.
With plenty of bustling food stalls and sizzling grills, the air is filled with intoxicating, mouthwatering aromas that will make you never want to leave. Foodies of all shapes and sizes can enjoy an array of must-visit events and a wide selection of gourmet sensations and street food delights filled with familiar local flavors and global influences.
Tasmania’s Taste of Summer, Tasmania
Tasmania may be the smallest state in Australia, but it produces some of the best fresh produce, cheese, wine, seafood, whisky, and beer in the country. For one convenient opportunity to discover and enjoy everything Tasmania has to offer, look no further than Tasmania’s Taste of Summer.
This popular festival is held on Princess Wharf no.1 in Hobart’s historic Salamanca area between Christmas and the new year. A casual stroll from the CBD delivers visitors to an abundance of delicious craft brews, fresh seafood, decadent crepes, and creamy gelato, among many other offerings. Don’t miss the ultimate New Year’s Eve celebration, where you can welcome the upcoming year with a host of gourmet delights, good company, and live music.
Orange F.O.O.D Week, NSW
With its unique country charm, pleasant and cool climate, and wide range of brilliant boutique winemakers, Orange has fought hard to earn its place as a go-to global wine destination. Nothing celebrates the offerings of this wonderful location like Orange F.O.O.D week, Australia’s longest-running regional food festival.
On average, visitors consume more than 10,000 meals and over 6,000 bottles of wine across 100 events held throughout the week, including the famous Sampson Street Long Lunch, the iconic 4 km trek to the most well-known Orange vineyards in the region, and the fun-filled F.O.O.D Week Night Market.
Noosa Eat & Drink Festival, Queensland
If four days in the Australian sunshine, surrounded by a host of people happily chatting away in an incredibly relaxed atmosphere while enjoying plenty of local food and drink, sounds like your idea of a good time, the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival in Queensland should make the bucket list.
Festival Village is a hub of lively entertainment, guest chef demonstrations, and masterclasses where you can learn new tips and tricks from the best in the business. End the day off at the Festival Sundowner Party, held on the beach at sunset. Guests can enjoy the ultimate foodie feast under the stars before dancing the night away.
Shore Leave Festival, Western Australia
If you have a passion for the deep blue and want to enjoy some of the freshest and most delicious seafood available, the Shore Leave Festival is one for the bucket list. It takes place annually in Geraldton, where more than 30 events are hosted across five jam-packed days.
Guests can enjoy a wide range of fun and food-filled activities, including the iconic Albrolhos Island long table lunch, the Mid-West Paddock, and the Plate culinary experience among a host of tours, bustling markets, and plenty of live music.