Phillip Island - Food Foraging & Dining Highlights

Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm

The area's fresh air, rich volcanic soil and cool coastal climate make it excellent food and wine producing country. Organic meats, fruit and vegetables are produced on Phillip Island as well as unique preserves, marinades and spices with ingredients farmed from the native bush land. The Island is also home to two award-winning wineries – both picturesque spots to spend a lazy afternoon.
In the pleasant surrounds of Western Port, the Churchill Island Farmers' Market is a great place to source the region's local produce including cheeses, preserves, Phillip Island honey, coffee, spices, free-range meats and fruit & veg. Held from 8am-1pm on the fourth Saturday of every month and extra markets during Christmas and January, the market provides an opportunity for visitors to talk with the farmers and learn more about the produce. It provides true value to both consumers and farmers.

Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm offers visitors exciting natural experiences in beautiful native bush land. The farm's Bush Tucker Trail winds through three hectares of native food crops, producing numerous edible fruits, berries, seeds, leaves and flowers. A leisurely afternoon can be spent exploring the trail, learning about how Koori people harvested and used these plants from the wild. Visitors can also try their luck catching rainbow trout from the picturesque tree-lined lake and have it cooked into a delicious fresh fish and chip lunch. The farmhouse café and food store stocks jams, chutneys, marinades, bush spices and native tea blends with ingredients sourced from their bush tucker farm plantation, fruit orchard and serves Devonshire Tea with jumbo wattle-seed muffins. The food store now boasts a new range of Gippsland cheeses, breads, fresh eggs and special condiments. www.rhylltroutandbushtucker.com.au

Purple Hen Winery and Phillip Island Wines are both boutique wineries producing high-quality cool climate wines not readily available on the mainland. Both offer full cellar door facilities including wine tastings, light lunches and cheese platters. The lawn at Phillip Island Winery is a beautiful spot to spend a warm Sunday afternoon, with winery owner Tim O'Brien playing guitar and singing on Saturdays and Sundays.
Purple Hen Winery: www.purplehenwines.com.au
Phillip Island Wines: www.phillipislandwines.com.au

The quirkily titled Goat in the Boat is a new Greek restaurant in Cowes that blends classic Mediterranean cooking traditions with Australian produce. Set in a refurbished old butchers shop in the town's heart, the restaurant serves up share-plate, family style meals that celebrate traditional Greek cuisine. The delicious, homely menu includes house made dips, pan tossed olives, Saganaki, chorizo, grilled Cypriot style Haloumi cheese, charred king prawns or octopus, Spanakopita, Greek meatballs, Moussaka and more, all served with a dose of warm Greek hospitality. www.thegoatintheboat.com.au

Island Primary Produce in Ventnor sells gourmet meats and has an organic green grocer at the farm gate. Island Quality Meats & Seafood Cowes offers a range of Island and Gippsland meat, local seafood and cheeses. The Island Food Store is a delightful café with a store of food delicacies and wonderfully freshly baked café offerings.

For fresh fish and an array of seafood, visitors can head straight to the source at the San Remo Fisherman's Co-Operative. Established in 1948 and located at the San Remo pier with a stunning architecturally designed Family Restaurant, education centre and seafood sales, the Co–op is an icon of San Remo and a great place to gather supplies for holiday feasting.

Phillip Island RSL

The Lone Pine Bistro at the Phillip Island RSL in Cowes features modern, comfortable surrounds with a great range of food and entertainment options. Executive Chef James Gross and his skilled team pride themselves on providing consistently high quality food at affordable prices, and with an extensive daily specials board, vegetarian and gluten free options there is something to suit all tastes. www.pirsl.com.au