AUSTRALIA ON THE MENU EPICUREAN ADVENTURES ON THE EDGE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ON THE ROAD TO GOURMET CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

EXPLORE AN HIT THE SUBLIME HEAV EN LY ISLAND OF CULINARY WINE & DINE FORAYS FOR GOOD TASTE HIGHWAY DRIVES FOOD LOVERS TASMANIA NEW SOUTH SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA 1 CONTENTS SOUTH AUSTRALIA 4 BIG-BITE COUNTRY Where artisans and ample appetites meet the sea

TASMANIA 6 TASTE OF THE SOUTH An island orchard full of dairy country delights

NEW SOUTH WALES 8 EAT-DRINK CENTRAL A culinary cornucopia for hipsters and hunters

ACT 10 CAPITAL APPETITES Gourmet acts aplenty in a taste-fuelled territory

Pedal to produce trail, High Country, Victoria VICTORIA 12 PLATED PARADISE Seriously good eating Welcome to Australia on the Menu, from town to country There is no better way to explore Australia’s food and wine regions than by embarking on your WESTERN AUSTRALIA 14 own journey of discovery. Be sure to pack Australia on the Menu – this gourmet guidebook is an EDGE OF FLAVOUR invaluable starting point for making delicious inroads across six states. Vines, limes and truffles Connect the culinary dots along some of the country’s most picturesque food, wine, whisky beneath the setting sun and cider trails. Our suggested epicurean escapes highlight important stops en route, along with places to rest your weary head when you’re well and truly sated. We have turned the spotlight on the best food and wine experiences in stunning locations – from iconic institutions to the best-kept secrets and hot-new kids on the gastronomic block. In South Australia, ACT, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania, you can raise a glass to good taste among the vineyards with a view, enjoy fine dining in top-tier city restaurants, or feast on farm-style country fare. And, while you’re supping and sightseeing, take advantage of the variety of world-class events – from fabulous food festivals to art exhibits, and international music performances. Australia on the Menu serves up a platter of experiences to help you plan an incredible edible escape. MARTIN LUCAS

The Agrestic Grocer, Orange, NSW

2 SOUTH Finally, a visit to food to 919 Wines, specialists AUSTRALIA legend Maggie Beer’s Farm in heritage fortified wines Shop, Nuriootpa, is a must. and Banrock Station where WESTERNSOUTH southaustralia.co.nz you can walk through the LAKE EYRE wetlands. Trail highlights

SOUTHERN include the Overland LAKE LAKE TORRENS AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIA OCEAN DRIVE Corner Hotel (with the GARDNER The fog-soaked cliffs along biggest beer garden in all this iconic drive provide Riverland) and Havenhand PORT AUGUSTA Epicurean reason enough to explore Chocolates which bring Way Trail but add the wow factor melted moments to Seafood Murray Frontier River Trail with an itinerary that Waikerie. Wineries to watch Trail weaves in vineyards such as for include Caudo Vineyard PORT LINCOLN BIG-BITE Coonawarra Estate, Zema on the banks of the Murray Estate and Hollick Wines. as well as Bleasdale ADELAIDE Or take a tour of Mayura Vineyards and Bremerton

Station near Millicent, which Wines. Join the Proud Mary KANGAROO OPPOSITE PAGE: Cycling in the Barossa. THIS PAGE ISLAND Southern COUNTRY farms premium wagyu beef. paddle steamer for a lunch Ocean CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 919 Wines; d’Arenberg winery; Drive Trail While fisherfolk may enjoy cruise from Mannum and, Mayura Station wagyu at Penfolds’ Magill Estate Restaurant; WHERE ARTISANS AND AMPLE throwing a line in at Robe’s while onboard, clink glasses Flying Fish Café; Aussie legend Maggie Beer; Casa Carboni Italian cooking school; Houseboat on the Murray River. APPETITES MEET THE SEA Long Beach, the more to your good fortune. BELOW: Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island. sedentary can order fresh- southaustralia.co.nz f your holiday checklist demands great food and caught seafood at Sails FACT FILE wine, wildlife, adventure, remote beaches and Restaurant. If you’re veering SEAFOOD EPICUREAN WAY toward Victor Harbour, national parks, then South Australia gets the big FRONTIER WHEN TO GO Year-round visit the Meningie Cheese The ultimate seafood safari DISTANCE 400 km (four days) tick. Adelaide is the epicentre of the lively artisanal Factory Museum and Wirra hugs the coast between the EAT Magill Estate Restaurant, Imovement, but to meet the people behind the Penfolds Wines Wirra winery. Visitors to Yorke and Eyre Peninsula, products, explore the bountiful land they depend on. STAY Kingsford Homestead, McLaren Vale can go the which hangs above the Gawler Visit rolling lands blanketed with grapevines in the extra mile on the McMurtrie water’s edge like an eyrie. Barossa, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Mile tour to quaff beer, food If it’s fish and chips you’re SOUTHERN OCEAN and wine on a concentrated after, stop at Inland Sea DRIVE Vale. The striking terrain entices with forests, cruises WHEN TO GO September on the mighty Murray River, cliffs shaped by the strip. Then mosey over to Restaurant, Warooka to May Southern Ocean and those Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island to feast or Pier One seafood café. DISTANCE 565km (five days) EAT Andermel Marron Café Kangaroo Island, a short hop away. More time to on crazy fresh crayfish at For an insight into tuna Andermel Marron, honey and kingfish breeding, join STAY Southern Ocean Lodge, stay and play? Head to the Eyre Peninsula, Flinders Kangaroo Island straight from the hives at Arno Marine Tours or get Ranges and Outback. Clifford’s Honey Farm, up close and personal MURRAY RIVER TRAIL cheese from Island Pure with a Swim with the Tuna WHEN TO GO Year-round Hill Winery, another is and wine at Dudley Wines. experience off Port Lincoln. DISTANCE 565km (five days) EPICUREAN WAY EAT Flying Fish Café, Begin a tastebud-led tour ChocoVino. At Hentley southaustralia.co.nz For adrenaline-charged Port Elliot at The Blending Bench Farm enjoy a farm-to-fork dining, chow down below STAY Unforgettable Houseboats at d’Arenberg winery meal at the restaurant. MURRAY RIVER TRAIL sea level in an aqua sub where oenophiles unite Learn to curate your Go with the flow of the while watching Great White SEAFOOD FRONTIER WHEN TO GO September to play winemaker for own rustico feast Murray River as it snakes sharks in their habitat with to May a day. Pop into Blessed at the Casa Carboni through historic townships, Adventure Bay Charters. DISTANCE 2212km (eight days) Cheese to pick up a big Italian cooking school past groves of red gums. DIY diners can pick up EAT Mocean Café, Streaky Bay wedge of brie or plan or lunch beneath an The Woolshed Brewery is prawns, whiting or snapper STAY Kangaluna Camp, Gawler a picnic in the Barossa olive tree at Skillogalee a great place to spend an from The Fresh Fish Place with a bottle of Penfolds. restaurant before an afternoon, local ale in hand, or take in a tasting tour of DELICIOUS EXTRAS One highlight in the excursion to Knappstein overlooking the river. Wine Pure Coffin Bay Oysters. • If you’re in McLaren Vale Adelaide Hills is Hahndorf Winery and Brewery. pilgrims should make haste southaustralia.co.nz on a Saturday, visit the Willunga Farmers Market. • Follow the Kangaroo Island Farm Gate and Cellar Door Trail and enjoy produce made on the patch of land you’re HOW TO standing on. GET THERE • Work off the calories and join Fly to Adelaide, pick up a car and the 1200km-long Heysen Trail, head to the trails: Adelaide Hills a 60-day hike on the Fleurieu (20 mins), the Barossa (1 hour) Peninsula – but you don’t need or Murray River (1 hour 15 mins). to do it all! Get there with Flight Centre; • Dedicate a day or two to call 0800 35 44 48 and start explore the spectacular planning your dream escape Southern Flinders Ranges to South Australia today. and Outback. • Adelaide mounts a good argument to stay put. Enjoy al fresco dining at Street ADL, which uses Australian native ingredients on its menu.

4 5 FIVE-DAY EAST French Oak cask dram COAST SAMPLER named the best single malt Kate’s Berry Farm is an at World Whiskies Awards Cradle to Coast Cider & Whisky Tasting Trail WESTERN East Coast sensation where 2014. Nant Whisky Bar, Tasting Trails visitors to the Just Desserts Salamanca is a top spot SMITHTON Tamar Valley Wine Route TASMANIAAUSTRALIA café can celebrate the to get into the spirit, as is fresh, fruity produce that a whisky tour at Hellyers underpins the menu. Fuel Road Distillery in the your love affair along the northwest of the island, LAUNCESTON 400km-long route with which looks out over TASMANIA a visit to Freycinet Marine paddocks velcroed with East Coast Farm, which serves cottonwool sheep. The Sampler

abalone, mussels and golden nectar flows at HOBART oysters plucked straight McHenry & Sons, an TASTE OF from the sea. Discover ambient drinking den in greener pastures west Port Arthur, and Belgrove of the Bay of Fires at the Distillery, a sustainable, bio-diesel operation in OPPOSITE: Tamar Valley Wine Route. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE Cider & Whisky THE SOUTH Pyengana Dairy Company FROM TOP LEFT: Stillwater; Jon and Lyndall Healey of the Tasting Trails and buy a doorstop-sized the Midlands. Redlands Pyengana Dairy Company; Seven Sheds Brewery; lunch at circle of awardwinning Distillery is one of two Josef Chromy Wines; Willlie Smith’s organic apple cider in AN ISLAND ORCHARD RICH Huonville; Freycinet Marine Farm; Belgrove Distillery is a IN DAIRY COUNTRY DELIGHTS English-style Cheddar or ‘paddock to bottle’ single sustainable operation running on bio-diesel in the Midlands. order a toastie at the Holy malt distilleries in the world. BELOW: Lark Distillery on the Hobart waterfront. he vast, varied landscape around Tasmania Cow Café. For a killer taswhiskytrail.com FACT FILE counter lunch, try the Pub makes the island state one of the world’s most FIVE-DAY EAST COAST in the Paddock. Licensed CRADLE TO COAST scenic places to hit the highway for a road SAMPLER since 1880, it’s home to the TASTING TRAIL WHEN TO GO Year-round trip. After drinking in the views, visitors also beer-swilling pig, Pinky, and Whether you visit Belgian- DISTANCE From 30km to 300km Tdiscover there are rich pickings to be found in the (one to three days, without stops) is packed with character(s). born chocolatier Igor Van EAT Freycinet Marine Farm vibrant food and wine scene. While the mountains eastcoasttasmania.com.au Gerwen’s House of Anvers, STAY Tidal Waters Resort, are the starting point for many treks, epicurean dine in a converted flour St Helens tourists are drawn to attractions that range from TAMAR VALLEY mill at Stillwater or TAMAR VALLEY marine farms serving seafood a periwinkle’s throw WINE ROUTE replay your childhood at WINE ROUTE from the source, to cellar doors offering top cool- Stock up on provisions – Christmas Hills Raspberry WHEN TO GO Year-round climate drops, awardwinning dairy farms, cheese such as Bill’s Beetroot Farm with a Redback DISTANCE From 30km to Marmalade and Oomph Spider (raspberry soda and 300km (one to three days) makers, chocolatiers and ice creameries. Following coffee – at Lilydale Larder ice cream), you’re in for an EAT Josef Chromy Wines STAY Hotel Charles, Launceston are highlights from five diverse itineraries that direct and find a patch of grass epicurean adventure. At traffic around the state that is the cradle of some real for a picnic. The Leaning Mount Gnomon Farm you’ll TASMANIAN culinary treasures. Church Vineyard, outside encounter rare heritage WHISKY TRAIL Launceston, is the next breeds of cattle, sheep and WHEN TO GO Year-round DISTANCE From 40km-250km place of worship for pigs that will soon turn up (one to four days) wine lovers hell-bent on on the menu at the new EAT Frank Restaurant, Hobart exploring the Pipers River restaurant. Seven Sheds, STAY Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart district. Pipers Brook is the Ashgrove Cheese, and CRADLE TO COAST home of Kreglinger Wine 41 Degrees South (salmon TASTING TRAIL Estates, producers of and ginseng farm) are WHEN TO GO Year-round Kreglinger Vintage, Pipers pleasant pit stops. DISTANCE From 30km-200km Brook and Ninth Island; cradletocoasttastingtrail. (one to four days) EAT Pier01, Ulverstone succumb to a bottle of com.au STAY Quamby Estate, Hagley Kreglinger Vintage Brut de Blanc. Finally, toast the TASMANIAN TASMANIAN success of cool-climate CIDER TRAIL CIDER TRAIL WHEN TO GO Year-round wines at PX Tapas with The cider industry is well DISTANCE From 40km-200km a sunset glass of pinot noir. and truly at the core of the (one to four days) tamarvalleywineroute. Apple Isle’s agri-tourism EAT Franklin, Hobart com.au equation. Fruit puns aside, HOW TO STAY Sullivan’s Cove Apartments Spreyton Cider Co in GET THERE TASMANIAN Aberdeen, Small Players at DELICIOUS EXTRAS For these Tasmanian • Tasmania is the only place WHISKY TRAIL Rowella and Dickens Cider experiences, fly in and out Lark Distillery was the first have put the awe back into in the world that produces of Hobart or Launceston. leatherwood honey. licensed whisky distillery orchards. Also celebrate Get there with Flight Centre; • Look out for the roadside to swing open its doors this premium product at call 0800 35 44 48 to start planning your dream escape honesty boxes, one of many in Tasmania since 1839. Two Metre Tall in Hayes, to Tasmania today. paddock-to-plate experiences Established in 1992, it’s Lost Pippin Cider in Coal the state has to offer. worth a detour to this River, Willie Smiths organic • No visit to Hobart would be Hobart waterfront location cider from the Huon Valley, complete without a visit to for a taste of single malt. and handcrafted the Salamanca Markets and Red Sails the Hobart Farm Gate Market. Or start at Sullivans Cove in southern Tassie. • Cascade in South Hobart where you can sup on the tascidertrail.com is Australia’s oldest brewery. 6 7 ORANGE & BEACH & BEYOND CENTRAL NSW BYRON BAY QUEENSLAND Plan to visit during one Start the day sitting cross- NEWWESTERN SOUTH of the area’s seasonal legged with a chai latte food and wine events, such on the beach at Byron BYRON BAY as F.O.O.D Week in April, Beach Café, mingle with Beach & Beyond AUSTRALIAWALES Byron Bay Trail Orange Apple Festival in the locals at Mullumbimby COFFS HARBOUR May or Orange Wine Week Markets and finish with NEW SOUTH

PORT MACQUARIE in October. Sip stunning a seafood feast at Fins. The WALES Hunter Valley Trail cool-climate wines at cellar cultural heart of Byron Bay Orange NEWCASTLE & Central HUNTER doors sprinkled around seems to have seeped as NSW Trail VALLEY the undulating landscapes, far south as the mid north ORANGE SYDNEY

enjoy a ploughman’s lunch coast where you will find WOLLONGONG at The Agrestic Grocer Hearthfire, in Bellingen and Gourmet Sydney EAT-DRINK and visit food shrines Headland Café, Valla Beach, Trail BATEMANS BAY such as Lolli Redini and the fabulous Fig, in South Coast BEGA Food & Wine VICTORIA EDEN and Racine Restaurant. Sawtell. As the Pacific Trail The Central NSW towns Highway wends its way to OPPOSITE: The Pass, Byron Bay. THIS CENTRAL PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: of Orange, Cowra and Port Macquarie, your first Byron at Byron Resort and Spa; Black Star Mudgee are all part port of call should be the Pastry; Taste Orange; Eveleigh Markets; The A CULINARY CORNUCOPIA Agrestic Grocer; Muse owner and chef, Troy FOR HIPSTERS AND HUNTERS of the four-day Taste town’s finest restaurant, Rhoades-Brown. BELOW: Kitchen by Mike. Orange itinerary. The Stunned Mullet, then or dedicated gourmands, NSW sits near the tasteorange.com.au a pitstop at Sundays at FACT FILE Near River, where you top of the hit list. Australia’s most heavily GOURMET SYDNEY HUNTER VALLEY can feed the chooks and populated state embraces regional food bowls, WHEN TO GO Year-round The Hunter Valley is harvest veggies that will be DISTANCE 30km (one day) world-renowned chefs, fabulous markets and a place of provenance. used to make your lunch. EAT Sepia Fartisan talent who are winning plaudits for their STAY Pier One Sydney Harbour It’s where restaurateurs pacificcoast.com.au commitment to their chosen craft. While many of the and winemakers unite to ORANGE & food trails skirt the sea – from cosmopolitan Sydney to present food-and-wine SOUTH COAST CENTRAL NSW the South Coast, Byron Bay and beyond – there is an experiences that locals FOOD & WINE WHEN TO GO March to October and visitors flock to. Visit Meander south from DISTANCE 450km (four days) increasingly sophisticated scene in the Hunter Valley EAT Tonic Restaurant and Central NSW, where you can sample food and Circa 1876 to enjoy the Sydney along the coast STAY Borrodell vineyard, Orange wine on the very land you’re tramping across. NSW’s sort of food you’d imagine to unearth an astonishing if Pokolbin bordered range of wines, cheeses, HUNTER VALLEY obsession with food is reflected in its diverse range of Piedmont, with chef and seafood. Offerings WHEN TO GO Year-round regional festivals, its pop-up eateries, fleet of mobile DISTANCE 150km from Sydney George Francisco’s run the gamut from glam EAT Muse, Hungerford Hill food trucks, cult cafés and multicultural suburbs spanner crab linguine (Rick Stein at Bannisters, STAY Peppers Convent, Pokolbin where you’ll find some of Australia’s best cheap eats. a trademark sensation. Mollymook) to rustic BEACH & BEYOND Then book a private (Pilgrims Vegetarian Café, BYRON BAY GOURMET SYDNEY as Black Star Pastry, and tasting at Tyrrell’s Wines, Milton) and everything WHEN TO GO Year-round Every city has its own institutions like Ms. G’s, say cheese at Binnorie in between. Follow the DISTANCE 400km (five days) flavour. As well as a vibrant where it’s compulsory Dairy and visit Troy eponymous river to the EAT Cicchetti, Byron Bay Byron at Byron Resort arts and cultural scene, to inhale a couple of mini Rhoades-Brown’s Bega Cheese Heritage STAY glittering harbour and pork banh mi. Adventurers much-lauded Muse Centre before crossing SOUTH COAST world-famous architecture, should search for the sweet restaurant which has to back to the coast for an FOOD & WINE Sydney has a serious food spots in the suburbs be the Hunter’s haute-st oyster tour at Wheeler’s WHEN TO GO Year-round 500km (four days) focus. Hot spots include for everything from pho property. Plan your cellar- Seafood Restaurant. Like DISTANCE EAT On the Pier, Batemans Bay Iggy’s Bread, Nomad, (Pho Tau Bay, Cabramatta) door strategy over coffee any oyster farm worth its STAY The Escape at Ester, and Kitchen by to falafel (Jasmine 1, at Cafe Enzo and circle salt, Tathra Oysters serves Shallow Crossing Mike, as well as high-end Bankstown). Eveleigh Krinklewood and Harkham the bivalve molluscs in situ. restaurants such as Sepia Markets are a must. Winery on the map. visitnsw.com/destinations/ DELICIOUS EXTRAS and Quay, cult cafés such sydney.com winecountry.com.au south-coast/food-and-wine • Include 121BC, 10 William St, The Wine Library, and Love, Tilly Devine on your hit list in Sydney. • At Lovedale Smokehouse HOW TO you’ll be tempted to stock GET THERE up on Ben Sales’ vine-smoked meats, cheeses and seafood. YouFor allcan these fly in trails, and out fly inof Pick up some local olives Sydneyand out orof Canberra?Sydney or, Airportfor and olive oils, too. andByron either Bay, hire to Gold a car Coast. or catch publicGet there transport. with Flight Flights Centre; to • Make time for the Mudgee Fine Sydneycall 0800 leave 35 44x times 48 and per start Food Farmers’ Markets when weekplanning from your x, y dream and z. escapeFlights visiting Central NSW. to CanberraNew South leave Wales x times. today. • Drop into Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley to taste the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, the only Hunter wine rated “exceptional” by the prestigious Langton’s Classification.

8 9 CAPITAL, COAST leg of the tour also & COUNTRY TRAIL travels through the THE CAPITAL In Canberra, villages of Bungendore WESTERN it’s common for restaurants and Braidwood, where SYDNEY awarded hats by The you can pick up an artisan NEW SOUTH AUSTRALIAACT Sydney Morning Herald’s loaf at Dojo Bakery. WALES esteemed Good Food visitcanberra.com.au/ Capital, Coast Guide to rub shoulders visitor-information/ & Country Trail with cult food vans brochures-and-maps (Brodburger), quirky cafés The Poacher’s WOLLONGONG Way Trail and cellar doors. This trail THE POACHER’S WAY steers visitors from top-tier This flourishing food trail eateries such as Monster on the fringes of Canberra

Kitchen & Bar and showcases a range of JERVIS BAY CAPITAL Aubergine to the Capital immersive experiences. The CANBERRA Region Farmers Market, trail was created by Susan ULLADULLA where you can sample and Robert Bruce as an AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL APPETITES everything from spreads extension of their business, TERRITORY BATEMANS BAY and breads to smoked the Poachers Pantry, which GOURMET ACTS APLENTY IN fish and fresh produce. comprises a smokehouse, A TASTE-FUELLED TERRITORY After enjoying coffee at cellar door and café. Lonsdale St Roasters, There are more than 140 allow time for afternoon vineyards in the Canberra anberra is known for its speckled greyish- FACT FILE tea at the National District wine region and green countryside, world-class art galleries, CAPITAL COAST Arboretum Canberra. there are tutored tastings & COUNTRY TRAIL and as the political hub of the nation. But of cool-climate wines along WHEN TO GO September to the capital is now a destination for food THE COAST The crystal- The Poacher’s Way at November and March to May C clear lakes, vast beaches , DISTANCE: 7km-717 km and wine tourists who are happy to swing through the Clonakilla Tallagandra (one to six days) city’s many roundabouts in search of the region’s best and beautiful rivers of the Hill and Lark Hill Winery, EAT: Mocan & Green Grout vineyards and restaurants. As well as being fertile South Coast make it an which is a lovely spot to STAY: Hotel-Hotel, Canberra ground for artists and activists, the Australian Capital ideal destination for fishing, press pause over lunch. diving, surfing and boating. Grazing at Gundaroo is also THE POACHER’S WAY Territory is breaking new ground on the food front. WHEN TO GO September to Motoring north along the part of The Poacher’s Way So, next time you pencil in some time feasting on November and March to May Grand Pacific Drive from collective of artists, chefs, or June and July (for the impressionist art or heckling politicians at Parliament Jervis Bay to Wollongong, winemakers, galleries and truffle hunt) House, be sure to connect the dots between the Capital you will pass pristine stands rural retreats that have DISTANCE: 225 km (five days) Coast & Country Trail and The Poacher’s Way, two EAT: Poachers Pantry, Hall of eucalypts, tea-tree scrub, banded together to STAY: East Hotel, Canberra gourmet drives that link swishy restaurants with high cliffs and pounding celebrate a landscape hipster-heavy cafés and Über-cool hotel bars. waves. It would be that is paramount to their DELICIOUS EXTRAS unthinkable not to stop at success. The locale of the • The Kingston Foreshore the SAGE Farmers Market Capital Wines Epicurean is shaping up to be a vibrant precinct with in Moruya, Rick Stein at Centre has been a time- C Dine Bar, 38 Espresso Bannisters in Mollymook, honoured stopover since and La Rustica just a few the ABC Cheese Factory, it began its life as the old of the new restaurants Eden Smokehouse and stables at the Royal Hotel, and cafés to move into the waterfront precinct. one of the 100 farms along built in the 19th century. • Get your foodie fix at The the Oyster Coast Trail. Epicurean tastings focus Old Bus Depot markets, This skirts the coast for on home-cooked which are filled to bursting 300km and includes farms farmhouse food such as with artisan vendors. everywhere from the housemade sweet potato • Braddon, an inner north Crookhaven River to the ravioli or the signature suburb, has helped Canberra Clyde, known to produce pork belly roll. Additional find its mojo, with hipster coffee spots, cold-pressed some of the cleanest and highlights on the trail juice bars, funky dress and creamiest-tasting oysters include Robyn Rowe gift shops, and ultra-cool in the world. Chocolates, the Glenn dining experiences a go-go. Murcutt-designed Lerida • Drift above the skies of the THE COUNTRY Break Estate winery, a gumboot HOW TO Capital in a hot air balloon and get a birds’-eye view up the trip to or from tour of Mount Majura GET THERE of Brindabella Mountain the Capital with a visit to Vineyard, and an excursion For the Capital, Coast & Range and iconic historic villages such as to Poachers Pantry, home Country Trail, fly to Sydney or Canberra attractions. Mittagong and Bowral in to the Smokehouse Café Canberra and hire a car. For The • Pod Food set in the gardens Poacher’s Way, fly to Canberra. the Southern Highlands, and Wily Trout Vineyard. of the Pialligo Plant Farm in Get there with Flight Centre; Canberra is a firm favourite where you can balance If you’re visiting in June- call 0800 35 44 48 and start with locals and visitors alike. sightseeing at Fitzroy July, be sure to factor in planning your dream escape Chef John Leverink leads to ACT today. Falls and the International a dig with French Black OPPOSITE: Biota. THIS PAGE, a creative kitchen and the Cricket Hall of Fame with Truffles of Canberra CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: fine dining restaurant offers a fixed-price lunch menu. a side trip to where you’ll learn Ballooning over Canberra; Montrose Grand Pacific Drive; Rick Stein Berry Farm and lunch at how to cook trufffles. at Bannisters, Mollymook; Duck Biota Dining. The Country poachersway.com.au at Grazing at Gundaroo; National Museum of Australia; Mocan & Green Grout; Clonakilla Winery. 10 CUISINE 11 NEW SOUTH to the early 1800s. Sample WALES boutique brews on rural NEW SOUTH back roads dotted with WALES WESTERN craft cider makers such as the Kelly Brothers Cider VICTORIAAUSTRALIA Co. Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co and Napoleone Brewery also form the backbone of the tour. Come in Food May for the cider festival. Fossicking visitvictoria.com Trail Pedal to visityarravalley.com.au BENDIGO Produce Trail VICTORIA Cider & PEDAL TO PRODUCE Ale Trail BALLARAT Feeling fit? Try a diversion MELBOURNE through the High Country, GEELONG where you can earn your MORNINGTON dinner while on wheels. PENINSULA GREAT OCEAN ROAD Arrive rosy-cheeked at Otway Harvest Wine Food to good use at a picnic at the villages of Rutherglen, Trail Farmgate Trail Melvilles Lookout. Lovers , Glenrowan, of good food will also strike Milawa, , gold at The Dispensary Mansfield and Myrtleford. FACT FILE Enoteca and Masons Along the way, stop at FOOD FOSSICKING of Bendigo. Milawa Mustards, Milawa WHEN TO GO Year-round foodfossickers.com.au Cheese Company, DISTANCE FROM MELBOURNE Feathertop Wines in 152 km Porepunkah, Myrtleford EAT The Dispensary, Bendigo WINE FOOD STAY The Schaller Studio, FARMGATE Butter Factory and Bendigo There are hundreds of Broadgauge restaurant in wine, food and farmgate Wodonga. Learn how to WINE FOOD PLATED experiences to enjoy from make perfect pasta at FARMGATE WHEN TO GO Year-round Main Ridge to Red Hill on Pizzini Wines’ cooking DISTANCE FROM MELBOURNE the Mornington Peninsula. school and pop a few 74.2 km PARADISE Wine tourists can sample bottles in your panniers EAT La Petanque, Main Ridge drops true to their terroir from Ciaverella Oxley STAY Humming Bird Eco Retreat, Red Hill SERIOUSLY GOOD EATING at Darling Park Wines, Estate. Lose the Lycra FROM TOWN TO COUNTRY Lindenderry cellar door and enjoy some superb CIDER & ALE TRAIL and Ten Minutes by Tractor, High Country hospitality WHEN TO GO Year-round while food cognoscenti at Simone’s Restaurant DISTANCE FROM MELBOURNE ictoria’s culinary credentials are rooted 61 km should blaze a trail to Blue in Bright. in the region’s fertile food bowl. From its EAT Locale at De Bortoli, Bay Cheese, Mornington victoriashighcountry.com.au OPPOSITE PAGE: Goats’ cheese and olives at Dixons Creek vibrant, venerated Melbourne eateries to Peninsula Chocolates, Epicurean, Red Hill. THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE STAY Chateau Yering the lush orchards around Mildura and the Peninsula Fudge and Pure FROM TOP LEFT: The Kilns; The Dispensary OTWAY HARVEST Enoteca, Bendigo; Michael Greenlaw, executive PEDAL TO PRODUCE Vartisanal nosh of the Mornington Peninsula, the state Peninsula Honey. Pick up chef at Lindenderry; Provender at Beechworth; TRAIL WHEN TO GO Year-round boasts some of the best dine-and-drink options in provisions for a DIY hamper Picturesque scenery along Boyntons Feathertop Winery. LEFT: De Bortoli DISTANCE 316 km Winery. BELOW: 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road. the country. Gastronomes weaving their way from at the Mornington Farmers this popular trail means EAT Provender, Beechworth STAY The Kilns, Bright Wyperfield National Park to Wangaratta, from Market and Somers General long journeys between Tallangatta to Talbot, will enjoy diverse experiences – Store or acquaint yourself stops are never dull. The OTWAY HARVEST from finding pickles at a roadside stall to visiting with the countryside while trail takes in wineries such TRAIL dining at Epicurean, Red Hill as Blakes Estate, Brown WHEN TO GO Year-round world-class wineries and landmark restaurants. or Linden Tree Restaurant, Magpie Wines and Gosling DISTANCE FROM MELBOURNE Meander along the food-focused trails for the chance 134 km where the pretty plating Creek Estate as well as EAT Chris’s, Beacon Point to eat your fill of natural wonders, too. Explore the competes with the views. microbrewery, Forrest STAY Great Ocean Ecolodge, legend of bushranger Ned Kelly through rugged bush, winefoodfarmgate.com.au Brewing Company. This Great Otway waterways, granite ridges and fields of wildflowers. fertile swathe of hinterland CIDER & ALE TRAIL is filled with vineyards and HOW TO DELICIOUS EXTRAS FOOD FOSSICKING Vineyard and learn why the You can pick your own fruit farms that are a celebration GET THERE • Tani Eat & Drink is a beacon for good food in Bright. Travellers to Bendigo and area’s ancient soils give rise at Rayner’s Orchard, buy of the seasons. Stock up To access these five food-and- the Heathcote Wine Region to amazing wines. Pick up fresh apple juice from Yarra at Winchelsea Larder, wine trails, fly in and out of • Time your visit to Melbourne to coincide with the annual will find many treasures on some Kyneton Olive Oil, Valley Cider and vinegar Provedore Birregurra Melbourne and hire a car. Get there with Flight Centre; Melbourne Food & Wine this trail which celebrates apples from Blackwood from Organics or The Ridge Organic call 0800 35 44 48 and start Festival in February/March. the central Victorian Orchard, bread from The all one hour’s drive east of Foodstore and Café, or planning your dream escape • Hot tip: Bridge Road Brewers region’s growers and Good Loaf Sourdough Melbourne. You can also visit the producers on site. to Victoria today. in Beechworth also serve producers, who also pool Bakery & Cafe, handmade embrace the age-old ways Fill your goodie bags at killer pizza. together at local markets. chocolates from Indulge of making craft beer and Apostle Whey Cheese, • High Country Victoria is rich Sample local varietals at and a wodge of triple brie artisan cider in the Yarra Gorge Chocolates and in gold rush and bushranger heritage. After the history Balgownie Estate, dine with from Locheilan Farmhouse Valley, where the tradition Kazbah coffee roasters. lesson, head to the Terrace a view of vines at Big Hill Cheese. Put all the produce of growing hops dates back otwayharvesttrail.org.au restaurant in Rutherglen.

12 13 DAMPIER Taste the PENINSULA Kimberley Trail

BROOME WESTERN AUSTRALIA PORT HEDLAND

CARNARVON WESTERN AUSTRALIA

GERALDTON

WESTERN Wine Wanderer PERTH Trail Southern AUSTRALIA OPPOSITE: Valley of BUSSELTON Delights Trail MARGARET the Giants treetop walk, RIVER ESPERANCE joining an eclectic mix and Aravina Estate Denmark. CLOCKWISE AUGUSTA of locals at Garrison, in in Margaret River. FROM TOP LEFT: DENMARK ALBANY Garrison; Aiyana Retreat Mt Adelaide, which rocks Australiassouthwest.com in Denmark; The Truffle the ‘joint’ on a Sunday with & Wine Co; Plantagenet Wines; Margaret River meaty roasts of pork, beef TASTE THE Gourmet Escape; Marron FACT FILE or chicken. Pepper & Salt, KIMBERLEY at Cape Lodge; Foragers Field Kitchen’s Pickled SOUTHERN DELIGHTS the Forest Hill vineyard Everything about this salt- Kale & Fresh Ricotta WHEN TO GO Year-round EDGE OF restaurant in Denmark, is kissed corner of the country Wraps with Wattleseed DISTANCE 925 km also kicking serious tail on focuses on a connection Za’atar. BELOW: Bbq at (three to four days) Kooljaman, Cape Leveque. the banks of the Derwent. with the environment and EAT Foragers Field Kitchen, Pemberton FLAVOUR Eat brined Plantagenet that breathtaking backdrop STAY Aiyana Retreat, Denmark pork belly, steamed bao of red earth and blue-green VINES, LIMES AND TRUFFLES bun, and green apple sea. It’s easy to eat and WINE WANDERER kuchla. Bao wow, indeed. drink well in Broome, which WHEN TO GO Year-round BENEATH THE SETTING SUN DISTANCE 874 km Australiassouthwest.com is considered the gateway (four to six days) to the Kimberley. Try EAT Cullen Winery Restaurant estern Australia’s rich, varied landscape The Kool Spot, where you can STAY Cape Lodge, Yallingup and climate makes it a magnet for WINE WANDERER Amble along this lush route enjoy the local delicacy of domestic tourists trundling around TASTE THE KIMBERLEY where farm gates and ‘pearl’ meat (the adductor WHEN TO GO May to October. in caravans, getting to know their own wineries collide. Indulge muscle of the pearl oyster), DISTANCE About 440 kms Wbackyard. Certainly, one of WA’s charms is its isolation in black truffle shaved over Cable Beach Club Sunset (five days) Pinctada, Cable Beach but, beyond the empty beaches and thud of the surf, fresh pasta at The Truffle Bar & Grill for bar food with EAT STAY Kooljaman Safari Camp, you will find what the locals have known for yonks: & Wine Co’s café before banging views, The Aarli for Cape Leveque that the area deserves its tag as a world-class culinary hunting down a bottle of dishes stamped with Asian and viticulture destination. Zigzag around the state the 2011 Leeuwin Estate flavours and Azuki, for sushi DELICIOUS EXTRAS • Visit A Taste of Broome. to sample oysters and whisky in Albany, black truffles Art Series chardonnay, freshly made in front of which nabbed the #5 spot you in this Japanese-style This regular event held in Manjimup, king prawns in Exmouth and award- throughout the year showcases on Wine Spectator’s Top eating house. Caffeine- winning Margaret River wines. Balmy Broome is also music, dance and food. 100 Wines of 2014 list. The fiends should get their goolarri.com/atob enjoying its place in the sun: the multicultural fabric southwest is home to more fix of coffee and cake at • Stock up on venison and of the town established as a pearling port has left than 150 wine producers The Good Cartel before homemade jams, preserves, a culinary imprint on the food. and 80 cellar doors, where breaking some bread at the olive oil and sauces from Providore in Margaret River you can sit, swish and sip Lombadina Bakery at Cape and find your own private SOUTHERN Castle Rock Estate, on the riesling, shiraz and Leveque. Forage for food beach for a BBQ picnic. DELIGHTS Ferngrove, West Cape chardonnay that has earned with the local Bardi people • If you really dig the fruit of You will want for nothing Howe and Plantagenet the area serious cred on the at Kooljaman on a mission the fungi, jaunt to WA in during a tour of the Great are all worth cracking New World wine map. Kick into the mangroves to June for the Truffle Kerfuffle. Southern Wine Region from a cap over. The sustainably back with a hand-crafted spear mud crabs. For HOW TO trufflekerfuffle.com.au Mt Barker to Albany and managed Oranje Tractor brew at Mash Brewing a round-up of regional • Jack’s Indigenous Tours at GET THERE The Kodja Place offer special Denmark. It’s cellar-door organic vineyard is also Bunbury and feed your face delights, visit Broome Fly in and out of Perth then insights into the local Noongar central in this, the largest a must-stop where you’ll along the trail with local Courthouse Markets with hire a car. The Margaret River culture as well as billy tea and ‘coolest’ of WA’s meet Rob Diletti, named produce such as marron, stalls selling chia seeds, region is about 3.5 hours’ and damper served with a drive south while Broome good yarn. viticulture regions, which James Halliday Winemaker rainbow trout, cherries, garbanzo beans, mangoes, is a 2.5 hour flight away. is renowned for its riesling, of the Year for 2014. native finger limes (dubbed pumpkins, giant lobsters, Get there with Flight Centre; • Plan a visit in November for call 0800 35 44 48 and start the Margaret River Gourmet chardonnay, cabernet The Old Marron Farm, ‘the caviar of citrus’) and prawns, scallops and Escape, which attracts big sauvignon, pinot noir, shiraz Great Southern Distilling chestnuts. You will also barramundi. Linger long planning your dream escape to Western Australia today. names in the restaurant and malbec. The region is Company and Albany eat exceptionally well at a beach barbecue on business such as Heston also regarded as a hotspot Farmers Market are also at Clancy’s Fish Pub in the Dampier Peninsula Blumenthal and Neil Perry. gourmetescape.com.au because of its warm, aces up the region’s sleeve. Dunsborough, Harvey and ask, ‘What’s up brew?’ Mediterranean climate Work up an appetite on Cheese, The Goose Beach at Matso’s Brewery. • Visit the charming Porongurup Tearooms, established in 1937. and incredible biodiversity. the Granite Skywalk before Bar & Kitchen in Busselton Australiasnorthwest.com  14 15