Australia travel vacations are exciting for a number of reasons. Whether a stay involves a specific series of tours or a self-guided exploration of a particular region, there is always plenty to do. One thing that discerning guests have learned over the years is to be sure to incorporate the local cuisine into their efforts. Australia is rightly famous for its foods and wines, and there are a number of places that can be visited as part of a tour or even made the point of a journey.
First, there’s the Top End of Australia in the Northern Territory near Darwin. Darwin is the cultural hub of the Northern Territory, and has a series of weekly markets from May to October. These Thursday night meets are a clearinghouse of assorted foods and wines, allowing guests to sample everything in the southern Pacific menu. The setting is a near-tropical one, with warm air, soothing breezes and swaying trees to relax among as dinner is served.
Further south in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, there is a host of winemaking sites at which one can indulge and enjoy oneself. Fifty-five wineries, many of them world-famous award winners, are within easy traveling distance for any guest of the valley. Ranging from large, near-industrial operations with guided tours of high-class facilities to the personal service of cellar door-style depots, there are wines for every palate to be found here.
Of course, many people have one favorite place to enjoy their vacation — the beach. Good food at the shoreline is a wonderful experience for the holidaymaker, and Bondi in New South Wales offers some of the finest beaches in Australia. Less bustling and crowded than the more iconic shores near larger cities, these beaches offer a picturesque setting and some of Australia’s fantastic signature seafood. Start the day at an exquisite little cafe, have gelato for dessert at a little trateria and enjoy a martini on the shore as the sun slides behind the waves.
