Brae, Great Ocean Road, Victoria © Tourism Australia
Australia’s sustainable food and drink experiences
Dig in to some of the most sustainable ways to sip and savour Australia’s diverse culinary scene.
Explore native dining
Explore native dining
Our Aussie landscapes are home to many plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. Sustaining First Nations people for thousands of years, local foods from juicy finger limes to citrusy green ants are celebrated for their bold flavours and unique health benefits. Choosing native ingredients is a great way to dine sustainably; it often involves low food miles and frequently provides jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses that grow the ingredients.
Forage for local foods
Forage for local foods
Prefer to find your own native ingredients? Australia is a great place to forage a feast. Foraging tours are as varied as our environments, and your location will dictate what you find. Some tours operate from the heart of our cities, while others are in the desert or along our coast. Try your luck at sourcing the freshest possible ingredients on guided tours as you pluck native botanicals, catch a mud crab with an Aboriginal guide or pull seafood straight from the sea.
Embrace plant-based dining
Embrace plant-based dining
Some travellers choose to decrease their environmental footprint by consuming fewer (or no) animal products. Luckily, Australia has the freshest of farmed produce. Vegan and vegetarian restaurants are now found all over Australia, from cities to small towns, and some have been awarded with the highest of dining accolades.
Enjoy farm-fresh eating
Enjoy farm-fresh eating
Reducing the distance food travels is a key part of making the perfect meal more eco-friendly. Pop into a farmers market to stock up on picnic supplies and sample the seasonal, local produce of the region or peek into the world of harvesting with farm to fork experiences. If you’d prefer to have a chef plate your produce, try dining at restaurants with their own kitchen gardens such as celebrated restaurant, Brae.
Sample sustainable seafood
Sample sustainable seafood
Our waterways are teeming with a vast array of fresh seafood, and we have some of the world’s most sustainable fisheries, backed by research and careful fishing laws. Oyster farms are a highlight, with spots like Coffin Bay Oysters and Sydney Oyster Farm running hands-on tours that will have you wading into the water to dine on a fresh catch. You can also try your hand at fishing, or join a seafood cruise to watch the experts in action.
Look for low-waste options
Look for low-waste options
Dreaming up recipes that uses every part of a plant or animal has become a show of creativity and culinary expertise in Australia. Top dining rooms are reinventing menus to see that nothing goes to waste. Chef Josh Niland of Sydney’s Saint Peter is renowned for his fish butchery, executing such dishes as Coral trout consommé with noodles made from fish bones. Low waste dining ingenuity is also at the core of the Agrarian Kitchen in Tasmania and Monster Kitchen and Bar in the Aussie capital, Canberra.
Say cheers to sustainable drinks
Say cheers to sustainable drinks
A new world approach to viticulture makes us one of the most innovative winemakers in the world, and sustainability plays a huge role in this success. Cellar door tours in some of our best wine regions help show how our winemakers deploy water conservation, renewable energy and even chickens as bug patrol to produce tasty, environmentally conscious drops. Other beverage makers are also following suit, with Four Pillars striving toward carbon neutral gin production, and popular Single O coffee aiming to achieve Net Zero by 2030.
