Daily Australian meals vary, but breakfasts generally range from quickly made offerings such as toast and cereal to a hearty “big fry-up” featuring bacon, eggs and sausages. Lunch is often a lighter meal, such as a sandwich or salad, but can also include a variety of international dishes. Dinner, the main meal, is diverse, with Australians enjoying everything from roasts and barbecues to pastas, curries and stir-fries.
Australia Travel Information
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Food & Drink
From cutting-edge gourmet menus to rustic Outback fare, Australian cuisine is a rich blend of culinary flavours influenced by the country’s Indigenous heritage, British colonial history, and immigration from various parts of the globe. Add in some of the world’s greatest wine-producing regions, and you have the ideal makings for an unforgettable vacation centred on an unparalleled food and drink scene. Start planning your custom Australia food and wine adventure with one of our Destination Specialists today.
The Flavours of Australia: A Culinary Overview
Australia’s diverse population has influenced the country’s gastronomy to a significant degree, with dishes from Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean joining bush tucker (native Australian foods) to shape the national palate.
Indigenous staples such as lemon myrtle, Kakadu plum and wattleseed are gaining popularity in both traditional and contemporary dishes, all of them distinguished by an adherence to fresh, seasonal ingredients.
And though Australia is a top producer of beef and lamb (not to mention such endemic meats as crocodile, kangaroo and emu), the bounty of the country’s farms, forests and seas means that vegetarians and seafood lovers are also well attended to.
Iconic Australian Food Experiences
One of the most iconic elements of Australian food culture is the “barbie” or barbecue: Australians love to grill meats such as lamb, beef and sausages in outdoor settings with friends and family. Seafood is also quite prominent on menus, with barramundi, prawns, and Tasmanian salmon being popular choices.
In addition to kangaroo and emu, classic Australian ingredients include quandong and finger limes—native fruits long used by the country’s Aboriginal population. Look for them in jams, chutneys, and sauces.
And don’t conclude your Australian food tour without trying one or more of the following: a hearty meat pie, the famous Vegemite spread on toast, or a classic dessert like the pavlova. As Destination Specialist Alice Teramoto, puts it: “I have two favourite dishes: meat pies and pavlova. It’s a tie!”
Wine, Beer & Coffee: Australia’s Beverage Scene
Whether it’s wine, beer, coffee or tea, drinking is a big part of Australian culture, so you’re likely to indulge in one or more on your tour of the country.
In particular, Australia is known for its world-class wines and wine tours—top regions include the Barossa Valley near Adelaide and Margaret River south of Perth.
Craft beer and coffee culture have also gained popularity, and in recent years there has also been a rise in distilleries, particularly gin. “Australia has a robust coffee culture, and trying a flat white is definitely a must!” shares Destination Specialist Alice Teramoto. “Among the best places to experience the latter are the laneway cafes of Melbourne.”
Dining & Drinking Etiquette
While Australian dining is generally relaxed, there are a few customs to remember during your Australia vacation. Punctuality is important and a sign of respect, while the formality of dress codes varies by venue and occasion. Meals are often served family-style, with dishes shared among the group. If you’re invited to a barbie at someone’s home, it is thoughtful to bring a small gift such as wine, dessert or something to throw on the grill.
Destination Specialist Alice Teramoto has her own favourite drink - “I always enjoy a lemon, lime, and bitters (LLB) when I visit Australia. A mixed drink made with clear lemonade, lime cordial and Angostura bitters, it’s often called Australia’s national drink.”
In terms of drinking, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter a social gathering without drinks. Going out for wine, cocktails or coffee to celebrate or to socialize is a common occurrence. Remember to join in any toasts before taking your first sip!
Dietary Restrictions & Limitations
Australia is quite accommodating when it comes to dietary restrictions, especially in big cities and popular tourist destinations. In major urban centres such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, you'll find a rich variety of dietary options, from vegetarian and vegan to halal and kosher. Most restaurants and grocery stores cater to these dietary restrictions, which your Goway Destination Specialist can help you navigate.
What to Expect: Pricing & Value
The most affordable time to visit Australia is during the off-season, from June to August, during the country’s winter. Domestic and international tourism generally drops due to the cooler winter weather, making it easier to secure a table at Sydney and Melbourne’s hottest restaurants.
Also less expensive than prime summer season are the shoulder periods of spring (September to November) and fall (March to May). These are especially good times for food and wine lovers to visit: Spring sees the season’s bounty appear on tables and menus, while autumn is harvest time at the country’s farms and vineyards. Just remember that Australia’s southern hemisphere location means its seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere.
In terms of cost, meal prices can vary across the country. On average, you can expect to pay around $25 to $30 USD per person for a meal, while more upscale dining options can cost $50 USD or more per person. Tipping won’t be expected during your Australia trip, but it’s always appreciated when you receive exceptional service.
Planning Your Culinary Journey
Hungry yet? Whether your ideal meal is jumbo prawns on the barbie by the coast or a seasonal feast in a bucolic vineyard, Australia offers something for every type of foodie. Book your tailor-made Australia culinary vacation with Goway today.
“It’s pretty casual everywhere during the day in Australia, but bring nice outfits for evenings if you want to dine out.” - Destination Specialist Alice Teramoto
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical Australian breakfast, lunch and dinner like?
Does Australia have any unique snacks or street foods?
Australia boasts a variety of distinctive snacks and street foods. Popular snacks include Vegemite on toast (Vegemite is a dark, salty spread made from yeast extract, typically eaten on toasted bread), Tim Tams (chocolate biscuits with a creamy filling) and Anzac biscuits (cookies made with rolled oats, flour, butter, sugar and coconut).
Beloved street foods, meanwhile, include meat pies (savoury pastries filled with minced meat and gravy), chiko rolls (deep-fried rolls filled with beef, vegetables and barley) and sausage sizzles (grilled sausages served in bread, often with onions and sauces).
Are there any foods or drinks unique to certain regions or cities?
Australia has a number of regional specialties. The Yarra Valley in Victoria, for instance, is famous for its artisanal cheeses and preserves as well as its wines, while Tasmania’s fresh seafood products, particularly its oysters and salmon, are highly regarded. Additionally, Outback regions are famous for incorporating bush tucker, native Australian ingredients such as kangaroo, emu, crocodile and quandong, into their cuisine.
Are there any famous Australian desserts or sweets?
Pavlova, a meringue-based dessert topped with fruit and whipped cream, is perhaps Australia’s signature dessert. Other popular sweets include lamingtons (square-shaped pieces of sponge cake coated in chocolate and coconut) and fairy bread (slices of white bread topped with butter and sprinkles, a classic Australian party food).
What are the most popular Australian beers and wines?
Australian beer brands like Carlton Draught, Victoria Bitter and Coopers Pale Ale are popular choices, especially for those seeking a refreshing lager. For craft beer enthusiasts, Pirate Life Brewing’s IPA and Kaiju! Beer's Aftermath are highly rated options. In the wine category, favourite Australian labels include Penfolds Grange, Yellow Tail, Jacob’s Creek and Rosemount. Among specific varietals, Clare Valley Riesling, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Hunter Valley Semillon often get top marks.
Is tap water safe to drink in Australia?
Yes, you can safely drink the tap water throughout Australia. However, it’s important to verify the water-quality standards in the country’s more rural parts.
Are vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options widely available?
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are widely available in Australia, particularly in urban areas. Over the past several years, supermarkets and restaurants have significantly increased their offerings to cater to these dietary needs, driven by a growing demand for plant-based and gluten-free options.
Are there any must-visit food markets or festivals?
Australia’s vibrant food scene includes numerous must-visit markets and festivals. Notable food festivals include the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (typically held in March), Scenic Rim Eat Local Month in southeast Queensland (June) and Tasting Australia in Adelaide and environs (May). Popular food markets include the Carriageworks Farmers Market in Sydney, the Noosa Farmers Market on the Sunshine Coast, Victoria Market in Melbourne, Adelaide Central Market and if you make it to the top end, Mindil Market in Darwin.
What are the typical operating hours for cafes, restaurants and bars?
Cafes and coffee shops tend to open early in Australia (between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m.) but are often closed by mid to late afternoon (from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.). Restaurants serve lunch from around 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., while dinner seatings often begin at 6:00 p.m. and conclude around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. In the big cities, many bars and nightclubs will stay open until the early hours of the morning, especially on weekends. An exception are the country’s pubs, which close much earlier (around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.).
What are the best places to experience fine dining or casual eats?
There is no shortage of fine dining establishments in Sydney, Melbourne and other big centres, many of which boast world-class restaurant scenes. (Some of the most acclaimed spots are Quay and Bennelong in Sydney and Attica in Melbourne,) When it comes to casual fare, pubs are as popular for their food as they are for their beer, offering everything from classic staples like chicken parmigiana and schnitzels to Asian cuisine, pizza and vegan options. Also popular for quick bites in Australia are its bakeries, which serve up both sweet and savoury fare, including the eternally beloved meat pies and sausage rolls.
Australia Travel Information
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ExcellentBased on 5,182 ReviewsMichael did a great job arranging all our transfers, hotels, trains and tours for our trip to Iceland and Andalucia, Spain. No blips or missed connections and accommodations were easy walking to central cities. Would use Goway again and recommend to our friends.David StoneOur trip to South Africa was a dream come true thanks to Gina our travel consultant.
Right from our first meeting almost two years ago the planning and execution were beyond perfect. The itinerary was carefully chosen and provided us with a full range of experiences that were incredible .
Logistically everything worked like clockwork( flights and ground transportation ) and even with the storm and the re routing the local company , Thompson travel , Mike, did an excellent job and did disappoint We had quite the adventure. The accommodation chosen for us by Gina were all different and very unique ! A new adventure every night
Both safaris were excellent yet so different. We have to say we will hold a special place in our hearts for our last stay at the Garonga , the staff were incredible and it felt like a family.
We saw is all, smelled it all , ate and drank it ( we both gained 5 lbs ) all and learned so much. South Africa is an amazing country with beautiful souls.
Every penny spent and every mile travelled was well worth every penny.We will be talking about this for years.
Thank you Gina and your colleagues behind the scenes at Goway travel for making our dreams come true!
Deirdre KeaneI found this agency when trying to find a trip to New Zealand and Australia. I never heard of them before, so I had to do some research to make sure they were legit. This trip was going to be seemingly more in cost, so I needed to feel everything was going to go as planned and I was not going to be scammed. I had Natasa Jaric as my Specialist. Her and I worked on an itinerary that suited my needs. She is very friendly and knowledgeable.
I had back to back tours for three weeks straight, as well as transfers and hopper flights. This was what I wanted, as this was my " One and Done" for this region. My transportation, hotels, tours and flights went as planned. Of course, Mother Nature dictates some plans and one activity was cancelled. I am getting a refund through the agency. Please book with confidence! This company is reputable and delivers on the itinerary. I had the opportunity to review each part of my itinerary with Natasa prior to leaving to make sure all looked correct. My trip was unforgettable!!! Thank you Goway Travel for making this trip so effortless and smooth.ConsumerGoway gave us a magical holiday in Southeast Asia. From the organization of the transportation, guides and drivers, hotels and tours, everything ran like clockwork with quality accommodations, experienced guides and drivers and amazing excursions. We had a wedding in Bali Indonesia that was the stimulus for visiting 7 countries Cebu Philippines, Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An Vietnam, Siem Reap Cambodia, Bangkok Thailand, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Bali, Indonesia and Taipei, Taiwan.
We had marvelous tour guides and drivers. All of them spoke excellent English, had years of experience, were very knowledgeable and passionate about their country and its heritage, very friendly, funny, patient , flexible and accommodating. In Bali we were able to add another tour when we changed hotels and the guide was able to accommodate our friends from Canada to go with us. The drivers were excellent considering the traffic volumes and what we would consider complex driving movements by cars, trucks, bicycles, vespas, tuk tuks and motorcycles.
The hotels we were placed in were five stars, with exceptional breakfast which showcased the country's food. We were always able to find ethnic food from that area that we could try. I would highly recommend the Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi. The hotel even has a bunker from the Vietnam War that you can tour if you are staying there. Also the Komaneka at Bisma in Ubud Indonesia was a beautiful property and we were treated like royalty by being placed in a villa with our own swimming pool. All the hotels except one had universal outlets.
For any of the Temples whether Buddha or Hindu, churches or Mosques, you need covered shoulders, covered knees and covered toes. Some like Indonesia provide sarongs as part of the entrance fee.
For tours the I highly recommend the following:
The overnight Ginger Cruise of Halong Bay. The suites were like what you see in the movies of Chinese junket's. You visit a secluded fishing village, the scenery is amazing, the food was excellent and we were taught how to make spring rolls and went squid fishing.
The half day cooking class in Cambodia was an amazing experience. We were taken out to a village farm with a multi-generational Cambodian family. The farm had power but no running water. Water was gathered from the river or rainfall. We went to other farms around the village to look at the crops of herbs and vegetables, including rice that were used in the dinner. Also visited the village market for fruits, meats and fish. You were taught how to prepare the foods with the women of the farm while the men set up tables, chairs and lighting for the evening meal. The whole family plus our guide and driver ate the prepared meal under the stars. It was totally awesome.
Also don't miss the cooking class at the Blue Elephant in Bangkok. This was a class of 12 students, again with a market tour to select ingredients for what we would be cooking. We prepared four courses which were first demonstrated then we went into a kitchen with stations where each of us prepared that course. Afterwards we sat down to eat the meal that we had prepared.
For a different authentic experience The Dark Foodie Tour in Siem Reap by Vespa was one of the highlights of the tour. This tour you spend time with the Cambodian people in the night market, bars and restaurants and even a local fair. You are driven around the city like the locals on Vespa's.
You will see lots of temples but two you don't want to miss is Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Wat Suthat in Thailand. Both are astounding and if you get a chance circle back to view the Wat Suthat at night where the lights on the temple show off its beauty.
Chris LawsonThe tour was very well planned out and provided many incredible experiences! Alice Teramoto was very helpful while we were planning this trip.Sheryl RadetskyWe recently enjoyed a tour around Australia arranged by Natasa Jarik at Goway Travel. The trip lasted 10 days, too short to do justice to all of Australia, but enough to give us a taste of a fascinating country.
The trip was excellent, exactly what we were looking for. The complicated logistics all worked out smoothly and perfectly. Everything was on time and as advertised. The individual tours were excellent, the guides were absolutely first rate, the accommodations all worked out well (especially the central location of Swissotel in Sydney), and we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. One of the really enjoyable days was day 1, when we arrived early in the morning after a long plane flight from the US and spent the day walking through the parks and gardens and around the harbor in Sydney, visiting a couple of museums, and having a wonderful dinner at a little restaurant around the corner from our hotel. Sydney is a beautiful city! We missed spotting a cassowary in the rain forest, but we saw lots of roos and koalas and emus and dingoes and wombats and crocodiles and wallabies at Kangaroo Island and the Daintree rain forest, snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef, and enjoyed a very interesting tour around Sydney. The arrangements were handled efficiently and easily. Thank you, Natasa, for arranging a perfect tour for us!Mike CherryGoway Travels makes planning easy!! Every detail is included and they will taper your tour as you like!maureen von mindenGoway Travel has been a great partner to work with as a Travel Advisor and Travel Agency Owner. They are constantly providing excellent and fast service to ensure I can help customize the perfect itinerary for my clients with amazing destination specialists. I recently worked with Aylin Esin for an Alaska trip for a client and we are finalizing the details for my clients trip in July!Nick BryanThis is an excellent tour agency that provides an excellent, all inclusive safari experience in South Africa, especially in the renown Kruger National Park. The agency will provide a very detailed, day-by-day itinerary of the trip, which, for the most part, describes exactly the order of activities that a customer will experience from start to end of the reserved trip. Our safari trip included a hotel pick-up in Cape Town in the beginning of the safari trip and drop-off at the end of the trip. Flights to and from either Johannesburg or Mpumalanga airport are included. We reserved a 3-day safari trip which included an afternoon safari the first day, a full day safari the 2nd day, and a morning safari the 3rd day. The lodge where we stayed was very clean with modern and convenient accommodations, including WIFI and breakfast. The guides are well trained and very knowledgeable about all animals we came across during our trip, and were also very courteous, polite and easy to engage in conversation. They made our safari trip exciting but safe! I would highly recommend this safari tour agency. Christos PatriotisI had an amazing trip. It was more than I could have expected. I got to see everything I wished to see while I was abroad. All the guides were lovely and provided me with excellent knowledge on their cities/tours. Especially in China where it was their holiday week and they all took time away from their families to make me around their cities. The tour company in Japan made sure I got to every tour destination and knew what the plan was for each day.
This is the second time I have used Goway for traveling and it has exceeded my expectations. katieahotmail.com
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