It's no secret that today’s travellers pack their appetites along with their suitcases when heading off on holiday. With this in mind, Choice Hotels has tapped into its on-the-ground intel across Australia to identify some of the best spots beyond the capital cities for discovering a sublime food and wine experience that only locals know about…until now.
According to research by global management consulting firm IMARC Group, the Australian food and beverage tourism market reached USD 31.2 billion last year (AUD48.4 Billion)—and it’s showing no sign of slowing down. It is propelled mainly by growing interest in culinary experiences and local cuisines, promotion of regional food festivals and events, rising demand for farm-to-table and organic food experiences, and the growth of regional wine tourism.
Choice Hotels’ insider insights highlight some stand-out culinary pairings in Mooloolaba, Queensland; Ballarat, Victoria; Devonport, Tasmania; Esperance, Western Australia; and the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. These pairings aim to help guests experience the flavours of each location and satiate travellers’ appetites for food and beverage experiences.
“More and more, we are seeing holidaymakers planning their trips around food and wine experiences,” says Kari Hunter, Senior Director, Commercial and Revenue Management for Choice Hotels Asia-Pac. “Regional travel is becoming just as much about the stops along the way as it is about the destination, with travellers seeking road trip routes that offer unique foodie opportunities.”
“From coast to country, oysters to parmigiana, Australia has so many gems to offer food and wine lovers, and we’ve selected some of our favourite hidden hotspots with Choice properties to match. Just like a good cheese and wine combo, tastes and stays in these destinations bring out the best in each other.”
Choice Hotels’ top hidden gems for tasting Australia
Mooloolaba, Queensland
Home to one of the best beaches in the South Pacific, this Sunshine Coast spot is part of the Maroochydore urban centre, just under an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Brisbane. It has all the beachy charm of Noosa with a more laid-back vibe (and affordable price tag). Start your morning with breakfast and a fresh brew from The Velo Project, known and loved for championing locally sourced produce and farm-fresh ingredients. Take a stroll down to The Wharf, where Saltwater Eco Tours’ Bush Tucker Cruise will make your tastebuds sail away with a delicious canape lunch showcasing Indigenous ingredients. Diners will sample seafood including rock oysters and king prawns, as well as other delectables over two hours, while cruising the waterways on a heritage-listed vessel. Later, dinner at The Dock Mooloolaba delivers pub classics with a sprawling view of the Mooloolah River. Wind down for the night at one of First Light Mooloolaba, Ascend Hotel Collection’s resort-style self-contained apartments – just a stone’s throw from the action.
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat, Victoria
While Ballarat is all about its gold rush history, this vibrant regional city is also full of modern-day treasures. Those who dare to dig deeper will discover a delectable culinary gem in Underbar, an intimate dining destination. Open exclusively on weekends and seating just 20 guests, Underbar is led by chef Derek Boath, who brings experience from New York’s three-Michelin-starred Per Se. Every dish on the eight-course tasting menu champions the best of Ballarat’s seasonal produce. For a cool treat that’s anything but ordinary, head to Timboon Fine Ice Cream on Sturt Street, which also offers a dog-friendly range affectionately known as Scoopys. Tucked away in the industrial heart of Delacombe, another hidden gem awaits at newly opened Kinfolk Ballarat. This light-filled space serves seriously good coffee alongside creative cakes, indulgent toasties and the kind of laid-back atmosphere that invites you to linger. For those who want to bask in the history, Quality Inn The George Hotel Ballarat offers stylish accommodation on historic Lydiard Street North in central Ballarat. Established in 1854, the location played a key part in the city of Ballarat’s social history when troops met in the dining room to plan the siege of the Eureka Stockade.
Devonport, Tasmania
Known for its maritime history, Devonport is the first port of call for passengers travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania. But just as the waterfront town is a gateway to the rest of Tasmania, it is a gateway for foodie exploration – and coffee connoisseurs. For more than 10 years, Leaping Goat Coffee in nearby Quoiba has operated a thriving micro roastery, where you can caffeinate, dine and watch the roastery in action. After a morning brew, enjoy a stroll through the Tasmanian Arboretum’s 66-hectares of botanical gardens – just a 15-minute drive from Devonport’s town centre. Equipped with a kiosk and public picnic and BBQ areas, you can enjoy lunch amongst Tasmania’s verdant flora and fauna. Of course, a trip to the Apple Isle wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Spreyton Cider, an apple orchard and cider producer that has called the area home since the mid-1800s. Taste a range of ciders and juices or spend the afternoon exploring the orchard grounds. For a restful night’s sleep, tuck in at Comfort Inn Devonport a short walk from town.
Esperance, Western Australia
While Esperance might be synonymous with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, this picturesque town on Western Australia’s south coast is also a gold mine for local brewing and eateries. Craft beer lovers can enjoy exceptional wood-fired pizzas at Lucky Bay Brewing, with sprawling lawns for kids and four-legged friends to run around. If you’re lucky, you might spot the resident brewery dog making the rounds. For freshly baked bread and baked goods such as croissants and sweet slices, Bread Local is the ultimate destination. It is situated on the private property of a local resident but opens to share the ultimate taste of Esperance hospitality every Friday and Saturday. Gin and whiskey never tasted – or looked – so good as at Esperance Distillery, operated by a father-and-son duo. With each bottle of uniquely infused spirits dressed in artwork from local Western Australian artists, it’s the perfect souvenir to mark a visit to the region. Comfort Inn Bay of Isles is ideally situated within Esperance’s town centre, making it the perfect base to explore all the area has to offer on foot.
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
South Australia is recognised as being home to some of the world’s best wineries, and Adelaide is the perfect base to explore the wine regions. A short drive east from the CBD in the Adelaide Hills is a wine and cheese lovers’ dream, completed by a visit to Woodside Cheese Wrights and Shaw + Smith Wines. Taste the unusual Anthill goat chèvre, rolled lightly in lemon myrtle herbs and topped with Native Australian Green Ants – a proud winner of Best Australian Cheese at the World Cheese Awards 2022 and the brainchild of renowned cheesemaker Kris Lloyd and the late chef Jock Zonfrillo. Top it off with a glass of the best-selling Sauvignon Blanc at Shaw + Smith’s bright and cosy cellar door tasting room. In the cooler months, a table by the open fireplace is the best seat in the house to admire the sprawling vineyard and landscape of the Hills. With a home base in Adelaide’s CBD, stay in style and comfort within the historic T&G building, where Quality Apartments Adelaide Central offers fully serviced apartments in the ideal location for city exploration.
