6 of our favourite Australian culinary experiences

The Penobscot Farm, in the Clare Valley is a bio-dynamic, organic farm and hailed as one of the best dining experiences in South Australia. This epicurean experience will give you the opportunity to walk through orchards, vegetable patches and the farm’s unique trellised vineyard, picking produce for dinner, while you learn about the farm from your host.

Once the tour is complete, you will head to the historic Watervale Hotel, and deliver your hand-picked produce to the chef, who will prepare each of the six courses right in front of you, explaining each dish as it is cooked. You can also enjoy Clare Valley wines with your meal or try a mocktail based on locally made native teas with Penobscot Farm botanicals.

This insightful and delightful experience is a great way to explore Aboriginal agricultural practices and learn about the Nyungar Six Seasons. Your host Dale Tilbrook will teach you about native food and medicine plants, and bush tucker fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, leaves and how they can be used in sweet and savory dishes.

You’ll also have the opportunity to taste a variety of wild bush foods, explore the bush food garden and feed the emus who are happy to pose for a selfie!

Get a taste of the best coastal produce at Pottsville’s Pipit, an award-winning restaurant that celebrates the Northern Rivers region, local produce and wood-fired cooking. This mouthwatering culinary tour of the coast will have you indulging in freshly baked bread, canapes, savoury courses and sweet treats.

Owner and Head Chef Ben Devlin is passionate about sustainability and ensures that most of the ingredients used in the kitchen are sourced from local suppliers.

If farm-to-table dining is what you’re after, look no further than The Agrarian Kitchen. With an onsite garden that is the heart and soul of the establishment, this Tasmanian gem is so much more than just a place to fill your belly.

The 2024 Restaurant of the Year, kitchen kiosk and the best cooking school in Tasmania can all be found here for a complete culinary journey sure to soothe the soul. Operating for over seventeen years, the team here knows a thing or two about the importance of provenance and how to nourish their guests inside and out.

Their commitment to sustainability is evident in all that they do from their flourishing onsite garden that is used for 90% of the menu to the comprehensive composting system that repurposes food waste.

You probably know The Farm as one of the best things to do in Byron Bay, but you may not really know why. The popular spot offers a unique dining experience because it is also a fully operating farm from which the restaurant produce is sourced.

And at The Farm there is something for everyone. Looking for a gourmet dining experience? Three Blue Ducks restaurant is a must. Need a family day out? Bring the kids to feed the ducks, wander the gardens and grab a pastry from the onsite bakery. Keen to learn? Take part in one of the farming, florist or kids workshops that happen throughout the year. With free entry to the property, this place covers every aspect of nourishment from the inside out.

“Only source locally, make everything from scratch, move with the seasons and waste nothing”. That’s the ethos at Tea Tree Gully’s Topiary, where wellness and nourishment take centre stage. With sustainability pioneer and culinary master, Kane Pollard, at the helm it’s no surprise that this hidden gem is hailed as one of the best dining experiences in South Australia.

Kane’s dedication to slow, localised living shines through his dishes which use locally grown and seasonal produce. The quaint, rustic-style restaurant is the perfect spot for Sunday brunch with plenty of plant-based options to choose from or if lunch is more your thing, their handmade sourdough base pizzas are a standout on the menu.