Sydney - New South Wales
Blue Mountains - New South Wales
Byron Bay - New South Wales
Coffs Harbour - New South Wales
Hunter Valley - New South Wales
Lord Howe Island - New South Wales
Southern Highlands - New South Wales
Canberra City - Canberra & the Australian Capital Territory
Brisbane - Queensland
Tropical North Queensland - Queensland
Gold Coast - Queensland
Sunshine Coast - Queensland
Melbourne - Victoria
Ballarat - Victoria
Rutherglen - Victoria
Great Ocean Road - Victoria
Phillip Island - Victoria
Hobart - Tasmania
Devonport - Tasmania
Launceston - Tasmania
Port Arthur - Tasmania
Strahan - Tasmania
Adelaide - South Australia
Adelaide Hills - South Australia
Barossa Valley - South Australia
Kangaroo Island - South Australia
Darwin - Northern Territory
Alice Springs - Northern Territory
Uluru - Northern Territory
Perth - Western Australia
Albany - Western Australia
Bunbury - Western Australia
Fremantle - Western Australia
Kalgoorlie-Boulder - Western Australia
Margaret River - Western Australia
Eating out in Australia Although Australia has its share of expensive restaurants, eating out is generally reasonably priced, and you can sample cuisines from all over the world. Restaurants fall into two major types: licensed to serve alcohol, or the popular BYO category - Bring Your Own wine, beer or other liquor. Booking is recommended for most restaurants, and most are non-smoking (except for outdoor areas). There is generally no service charge, although a GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 10 per cent is added to bills, and tipping is optional.
Modern Australian Cuisine Acclaimed by `foodies' the world over, Modern Australian cuisine has its roots in the nation's multiculturalism. By using the freshest produce and combining cuisines as varied as Thai and Mediterranean, Australian chefs are creating taste sensations in every major city. `Bush tucker' - consisting of ingredients generally considered traditional Aboriginal fare - is also popular, and you can sample unusual delicacies like native berries, crocodile, kangaroo and emu.
Australian Seafood With an extraordinary range of produce from the sea, it is not surprising that Australia boasts so many excellent seafood restaurants. Every major city offers at least a couple of really good places that serve this cuisine, and many coastal towns have their own specialities. Tuna from South Australia, Tasmania's Atlantic salmon, Sydney rock oysters, Brisbane's Moreton Bay bugs, and the tropical fish, barramundi, are all highly recommended.
Asian Cuisines Australia's proximity to Asia, and the fact that the country has a substantial Asian population, have led to oriental food becoming extremely popular. Generally, Indian restaurants are not as good as in many other parts of the world, but there are plenty of high-quality Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and other Asian eateries in which to enjoy these exotic cuisines.
Melbourne's Restaurants Although Sydney would dispute the claim, Melbourne likes to regard itself as Australia's culinary capital. There are some 4,000 restaurants, and dining out is a favourite Melbourne pastime. With 170 or so ethnic groups among the city's population, the variety of cuisines is extraordinary - everything from Spanish to Korean is represented - and there are prices to suit every budget.
Tasmanian Produce Among Australia's array of fresh, flavoursome produce that has had such a strong influence on the new `Modern Oz' cuisine, Tasmania's home-grown products stand out. There is wonderful seafood such as Atlantic salmon, ocean trout and crayfish; superb Bries, Camemberts and other gourmet cheeses; fine meats; and fruit and vegetables with real taste. To wash it all down, Tasmania's excellent wines are some of Australia's finest.
`Tourist Restaurants' Australia's major cities all have an array of dining options particularly designed for tourists. Many such restaurants are in scenic locations, and though the standard of cuisine is not always out of the ordinary, it's worth sampling a few. You can dine while cruising Sydney Harbour or the Brisbane River, or at the top of tall buildings with spectacular views; and you can sample Aussie `bush tucker' in most capital cities.
The Café Scene Australia's thriving café scene provides plenty of options for inexpensive dining. Every capital city, and many of the larger towns, have lively cafés that serve snacks and light meals for $10 or less. Many of these eateries have outdoor dining areas - often as simple as a few pavement tables - which are wonderful for the warmer months, and you will generally find excellent coffee to accompany your meal.
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