Much more than pies and vanilla slice: Australia’s 11 best regions for food

The Michelin food guide has changed over the years. Though this famous French institution is now known for its reviews of high-end restaurants across the world, it began as a simple French touring guide, a free brochure distributed by a tyre manufacturer hoping to encourage drivers onto the road.

For that reason, Michelin’s featured restaurants were all out in the French countryside, driving distance from major centres. And it was, of course, wildly successful.

Up until recently, you couldn’t picture something like that working in Australia. Where would you go? Our regional centres haven’t exactly been known for their gastronomic glory, unless you count a pie or vanilla slice.

Fortunately though, things have changed, and there’s every reason to jump in your car and head out to Australia’s regions in search of a good meal – a unique meal, a meal prepared with skill, one that speaks intensely of place. If you’re up for a drive – or you’re lucky enough to live in some of these places – these are Australia’s best regions for a gourmet experience.

Barossa Valley, SA

Hentley Farm in the Barossa Valley.

Australia’s original gourmet region – a place that pioneered the idea of leaving the city to enjoy good food – is still one of our best. The Barossa Valley is known around the world for the quality of its wine, but there’s also truly great cuisine here, in the form of everything from farmers markets to old-school bakeries (hello, Apex), to casual eateries (Harvest Kitchen, fermentAsian) and the absolute pinnacle of high-end dining (Hentley Farm and Fino).

Mornington Peninsula, VIC

Mary’s garden greens, whipped roasted macadamia, apple balsamic, rye crumb from Ten Minutes by Tractor. Credit: Katherine Jamerson

You’ve barely left the surrounds of greater Melbourne and already there are vineyards, there are orchards, there are restaurants. Welcome to the Mornington Peninsula – every Melburnian gourmand’s favourite road-trip destination. If you have plenty of money, splash it around at Tedesca Osteria, Doot Doot Doot, Laura or Ten Minutes By Tractor. Enjoy wine and good eats at Foxeys Hangout, Polperro and Montalto. Tour the surprising foodie offerings at the Dromana Habitat industrial estate. And will have just scratched the surface.

Huon Valley, TAS

Apple varieties at Willie Smith's Cider.Credit: Adam Liaw

The Huon is Tasmania’s food bowl, a famous heartland for good produce in a state that’s known in its entirety for delicious eats. In places like Huonville, Ranelagh and Franklin – just half an hour or so south of Hobart – there are vast orchards, wineries, cider producers, general stores and cafes, and upmarket restaurants making the best of local produce. Don’t miss Port Cygnet Cannery, Masaaki Sushi, Home Hill Winery and Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, to name a few.

Great Ocean Road, VIC

A La Greque at Aireys Inlet.Credit: Drew Ryan

Be sure to work up a hunger before you jump in the car to drive the Great Ocean Road: there are some seriously great places to eat on this famous journey. We’re talking everything from destination fine-dining at Brae, A La Grecque and Chris’s, elevated pub grub at Aireys and Hotel Warrnambool, boutique beers at Great Ocean Road Brewhouse and Salt Brewing Co, and simple but supreme quality at the likes of Merrijig Kitchen and Fish by Moonlite.

Margaret River, WA

The restaurant and tasting building at Vasse Felix vineyards, Cowaramup. Credit: Vasse Felix

Wine has always paired well with food, so it’s no surprise to find that the regions producing the former are pretty good at the latter, too. So it goes with WA’s gorgeous Margaret River region, a leader in Bordeaux-style reds and classic chardonnays, which is also the perfect place to go for quality cuisine. Wineries such as Vasse Felix, Cullen and Voyager Estate have excellent restaurants on site (as do breweries such as Wild Hop and Beerfarm), plus there are cracking stand-alone diners such as Miki’s Open Kitchen, El Toro and Elkamo. Drive a little down the highway and there’s also fresh truffles in Manjimup.

Orange, NSW

Fresh figs at Orange Farmers Market, Orange.Credit: Destination NSW

Orange was a well-kept local secret until a few years ago, when Sydneysiders began to realise that not only is the wine produced here top-quality, but there’s cuisine to go with it. Orange F.O.O.D Week – an annual festival – is now legendary, but you could visit here any time and enjoy fine-dining at Charred Kitchen and Lolli Redini, more affordable but equally high-quality cuisine at Birdie and Byng Street Local Store, and insanely good pastries at Racine. Then you have all of the wineries also serving great food: Printhie, Philip Shaw, Borrodell and more. Oh, and don’t miss Spanish chef Ruben Lopez Mesa’s pop-up A Table of 10 lunches.

Tamar Valley, TAS

Stillwater River Cafe. Credit: Tourism Tasmania

There’s so much to love about the Tamar Valley, in the north of Tasmania around Launceston. To begin with, you have perfect conditions for creating sparkling wine – drops that rival the famed products of Champagne. But you’re here to eat, right? So you should check out Timbre Kitchen, Stillwater and Geronimo for classy cuisine, grab snacks and wine at Havilah and Stoney Rise (or snacks and beer at Saint John) and stock up on the best local produce at Alps & Amici and Harvest Market.

Goldfields, VIC

Chauncy is a special place to eat lunch in Heathcote. Credit: Simon Schluter

It’s hard to resist the obvious puns, because Victoria’s Goldfields region – taking in Castlemaine, Ballarat, Bendigo, Heathcote and more – is, um, a veritable goldmine of delicious treats. In Castlemaine you have Wild and Origini Café; in Ballarat there’s Mitchell Harris Wines; in Bendigo there’s cracking food at Masons of Bendigo and the Woodhouse; and in Heathcote check out old-school glory at Gaffney’s Bakery, and incredibly good pan-European dining at Chauncy.

Adelaide Hills, SA

Lot 100, Adelaide Hills.Credit:

It’s almost a stretch to call Adelaide Hills regional given you can reach it by car from the Adelaide CBD in about 20 minutes. Still, we’ll allow it on a technicality, because this is a wine region, and it’s not officially part of the South Australian capital. And it has some incredibly good dining options, from new-school cuisine at Summertown Aristologist, to wild pizza toppings at Lost in a Forest, to great breakfasts at Fred Eatery, classy Japanese at Yuki in the Hills, upscale pub grub at Crafers, to a little of everything at Lot.100.

Byron Bay, NSW

Fleet restaurant, Brunswick Heads.Credit: Lauren Phillips

The surfers are still in Byron; a few hippies, too. But what the town and indeed this whole region in Northern NSW now boasts is a whole heap of chefs and other foodies turning out top-quality cuisine. That scene is led by the likes of Raes Dining Room, Daughter In Law and Fleet, though don’t miss top-notch vegan cuisine at No Bones, classic Mediterranean fare at Belongil Beach Italian Food, and wine bar perfection at Lovers Lane.