Ask any food-obsessed traveller where they’d point a fork first in Australia, and New South Wales has a very strong case. From harbour-side Sydney restaurants to cellar doors in the Hunter Valley, farm-to-table dinners in Orange, and coastal feasts in Byron Bay, NSW is where Australian food and wine culture is at its most varied, most creative, and frankly most delicious
If you’ve ever wondered how a wine region can be both a big deal and delightfully low-fuss at the same time, the Hunter Valley has you covered. It’s widely recognised as Australia’s oldest wine region, with vine-growing history stretching back to the early 1800s, yet it stays refreshingly down to earth.
In most cities, a bar wants you to find it. In Melbourne? We make you work for it. Some of the city’s best drinks are hidden behind fake bookcases, tucked down “is-this-even-safe?” graffiti laneways, or buried deep beneath the bluestone streets of the CBD. If you’re tired of the same old neon signs and want a drink with a side of mystery, Taste Marketplace has the keys to the city. We’ve rounded up the best guided tours to get you past the “Staff Only” doors and into the inner sanctum.
Forget the stuffy cellar doors and the “swirl-sniff-sip” routine. If you think a food tour is just a long lunch with a side of white tablecloth, we’ve got some news: Australia’s food scene has gone rogue in the best way possible. Taste Marketplace has hunted down the experiences that actually let you meet the legends behind the labels. Here are our favourite ways to get your hands dirty (and your glass full) across the country.
The Barossa Valley sits at the heart of Australia’s wine story. As one of the country’s largest and most established wine regions, it has built a global reputation for depth, consistency, and character. Generations of growers and winemakers have shaped the valley, resulting in wines that reflect both tradition and ongoing refinement.
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