Trying local produce and following food and wine trails was a big part of our travels. Here are some of our favourites:
Seafood, fresh water fish and crustaceans
The Eyre Peninsula – famous for a great variety of seafood but particularly oysters. We followed the ‘seafood frontier’ road trip. Coffin Bay oysters were our favourites. http://southaustralia.com/things-to-do/road-trips/seafood-frontier
Greenwell Point, NSW – At Jim Wild’s Oysters you can sit and watch the shuckers at work whilst eating some freshly shucked oysters from their little kiosk. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.
The Old Vasse Trout and Marron Farm, Pemberton, WA – purchase live marron and they will lend you a cooking pot. Expensive but delicious. They also regularly release rainbow trout into the river.
The Snowy River – Jonathan caught brown trout while fly fishing in and around the Snowy River.
Fishing in Tasmania. Pick up the Tasmania Inland Fisheries leaflets from information centres which provide maps and detailed information on access points.
The Tasmanian Scallop Pie Company. The scallop pie traditionally contains a creamy curry sauce. The company is based at Bakery 31 in Ross. You can also buy their pies at the Salamanca Market in Hobart. The best one though was made by a lady at the Boat Shed Cafe, Huonville.
Cockle Creek. You can harvest your own oysters and mussels from the creek. Remember to take a hammer!
The Fish Van, Triabunna, Tas. Possibly the best fish and chips we’ve tasted on our entire trip.
Cheeses
The Barossa Valley Cheese Company near Angaston, SA. The La Dame goat’s cheese was our favourite.
Margaret River Dairy Company, WA. The smoked club cheddar was our favourite here.
ABC Cheese Factory, Tilba, NSW. The 3 udders brie was very tasty.
Bega Cheese Factory and Heritage Centre, NSW. Grab a Bega cheese toastie and discover the history of cheese making in the museum.
Wicked Cheese Co, Richmond, Tas. The Wicked Cheddars are particularly tasty.
Cellar Doors
Jacobs Creek winery and visitors centre, Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, SA
Annie’s Lane winery, Clare Valley, SA. Wines for sale that are not available in the bottle shops.
Sevenhill Cellars, Clare Valley, SA. Much more than a cellar door. St Aloysius’ Church, the Jesuit college and beautiful gardens to explore.
The Black Dog Brewery, located at the Taminick Winery near Glenrowan, Victoria. We only stopped at this one because of the name but the craft beers brewed here are great. We bought a mixed selection so we could try them all.
Coffee Yahava Koffeeworks in the Swan Valley, WA and the Margaret River, WA.
Sweet tooth
The Margaret River Chocolate Company, Swan Valley, WA. Some unusual truffle flavours to try such as Turmeric latte, cardamom crunch, sour cherry and chia, beetroot & orange, chilli cashew with Sichuan pepper and smoked maple with bacon.
Haigh’s Chocolates, Adelaide. Very indulgent chocolates.
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, Vic. A Willy Wonka type experience.
Portugese Tarts – these are similar to custard tarts but are made with puff pastry and the custard is flavoured with cinnamon. Very popular at bakeries around the Barossa.
Shops and Markets
Nuriootpa, SA – Maggie Beer’s farm. See her famous quince orchard and buy products from her farm shop.
Barossa Farmers’ Market, near Angaston SA. Every Saturday morning. Local producers from the farms of the Barossa selling everything from meat, fruit and veg, cheese, bread and chocolate to coffee and wine.
Beerenberg Farm Shop, SA – a bit disappointing that there were no tastings but the shelves are full of chutneys, sauces and jams that you don’t see in the supermarket.
Pacdon Park Shop, Port of Echuca, Vic. They make Australia’s only award winning haggis, as well as every pork product you can think of.
The Heritage Bakery, Milton, NSW. The best pies we’ve tasted on our travels.
Red Hill Bakery and Providore, Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula. Delicious rustic style bread.
Coffin Bay Bakery, SA. Famous for its oyster pies. Expensive at $8 a pie but everyone should try one. Plump local oysters in a creamy bacon sauce.
Cafe next to the BP servo in Dongara. The only place you can buy Doyles’ pies which have won Gold Medal pie awards.
Salamanca Markets, Hobart. Every Saturday on the harbour. Most of the Tasmania producers and farmers in the area have a stall here.
