Gourmet Weekends in Australia

If delicious local cuisine is high on your holiday wish-llist, check out the collection of sumptuous short break destinations in Australia that Tricia Welsh has gathered ... where wining and dining is just as important as the room and the view.

Launceston, Tasmania

Let Wursthaus at Olivers pack a picnic hamper to enjoy in the grounds of local vineyards Goaty Hill or Brook Eden where you can savour their wine. Or make up your own picnic with home-made goodies, local smoked trout, cheese and more from chef Daniel Alps’ fabulous new Alps & Amici foodstore and kitchen. > Read more

Mollymook, New South Wales

Although only a hamlet, leafy Mollymook is supported as a gourmet region by cracking little restaurants such as the Tipsy Fig in Milton and The Vineyard Kitchen at Cupitt’s Winery (both perfect for lunch) and Millard and the Stone Grill in Ulladulla. > Read more

Castlemaine, Victoria

Just over an hour from Melbourne, it’s a gorgeous drive through flourishing farmlands to this former gold mining town when some 150 years ago, more than 30,000 miners flocked to this part of Victorian goldfields to seek their fortune. Book a balcony room at the beautifully restored historic Empyre Boutique Hotel so you can enjoy cocktails at sunset overlooking the town. > Read more

Maleny, Queensland

On a spur of the Great Dividing Range, the Sunshine Coast hinterland around Maleny has the lot – a gentle country lifestyle, idyllic climate, a vibrant food scene and great views across fertile farmlands to the state’s famed white sandy coastline.
Commune with nature in a Falls Pavilion at Spicers Tamarind, sip a Spicers Sunset cocktail and dine in the intimate on-site restaurant of former Darley St Thai and Chilli Jam Café chef Paul Blain’s exemplary Thai cuisine. > Read more

Stanley, Victoria

With one pub, a post office, an apple shed and a spread-out population of just 700, Stanley offers the best of both worlds – quality restaurants, cafes and food outlets in nearby Beechworth, plus the intimacy of small community living. > Read more

The Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Just 20 minutes by car from Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills could be another world away. These undulating hills are dotted with picturesque villages interspersed with market gardens, orchards, long-established formal gardens and myriad vineyards producing quality wines. > Read more