Australia's best food and drink festivals

Tasting Australia Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Ready for a gourmet getaway? Attend cooking workshops, mingle with celebrity chefs, groove to live music and sample scrumptious homegrown and global flavours at Australia's best food and drink festivals. From succulent seafood and Indigenous bush tucker, to craft brews, international cuisines and award-winning Aussie wines – there's plenty to sink your teeth into at these vibrant culinary celebrations.

Tasting Australia - Adelaide, SA - May

Welcome to Tasting Australia, the ultimate foodie extravaganza in Adelaide, the Festival City. Held in Town Square in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, it’s one of Australia’s longest-running food and drink festivals.

Bustling food stalls, sizzling grills and mouthwatering aromas fill the air. From gourmet delights to street food sensations, every bite tells a story of local flavours and global influences. Rub shoulders with top chefs like the culinary goddess, Maggie Beer; sign up for masterclasses; sip on craft cocktails and beers; and indulge in wines from Australia’s top wine regions, including the Barossa and Hunter Valley.

Whether you're a seasoned foodie or just eager to explore new tastes, Tasting Australia is a feast for the senses.

Shinju Matsuri - Broome, WA - August-September

Even though it's not strictly a food festival, Shinju Matsuri celebrates Broome’s unique cultural heritage and has some out-of-this-world food events, including the big daddy of the festival, the Sunset Long Table Dinner.

You'll be glad you went when you’re dining on a gourmet, multi-course dinner cooked by a celebrity chef under the stars on the iconic Cable Beach.

Taste of Kakadu/Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu -Kakadu National Park, NT - May

Wild flavours rule at the Taste of Kakadu! One of the top First Nations festivals in Australia, this weekend event showcases Aboriginal culture and Indigenous flavors all set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Kakadu National Park.

Cooking demonstrations, food stalls, bush tucker trails and live music are some of the events on offer here. Plus, you can hop aboard a Taste of Kakadu cruise. Savour an Indigenous-inspired morning tea as you glide along the tranquil waters and soak up the breathtaking scenery. It’s the ultimate blend of culture, cuisine and natural beauty.

Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival - Moreton Bay, QLD - August

Treat your taste buds at the three-day Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival, where the region's top flavours take the spotlight. Prepare for a delicious adventure filled with gourmet delights, exquisite wines and live entertainment.

Explore diverse cuisine from local chefs, and sample award-winning wines with beautiful blue-water views. Plus, don't miss the cooking demos by celebrity chefs, where you can learn all their favourite tips and tricks. Sip refreshing drinks at the pop-up bars, sample local treats, groove to live music and attend chats with culinary greats. It’s a great way to brighten up a winter’s day!

Noosa Eat and Drink Festival - Noosa, QLD - May

Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

Four days of sunshine, happiness, chill vibes and amazing Australian food and wine – that’s the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival in a nutshell. The food is light, fresh and tasty, and the drinks will quench your thirst on those balmy Queensland nights.

Festival Village is the hub for live entertainment, masterclasses, guest chef demonstrations and a VIP experience, and you can also reserve a spot at two long lunches in other inspirational Sunshine Coast venues.

The Festival Sundowner party is held on the beach at sunset, so you can feast beneath the stars, and dance with the sand between your toes. No wonder this is one of Queensland’s best food festivals.

GABS Festival - Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - May-June

If you're a craft beer fanatic, GABS Festival ('Great Australasian Beer Spectapular'), is where you need to be! It's a dynamic celebration of creativity and flavour held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (and Auckland).

Brewers showcase their most innovative craft beers at this epic beer festival event. Pizza beer, anyone? Or if that’s too wacky, how about a peanut butter brownie stout or a banana Pina Colada sour. If you can dream about it, you can probably try it here. Live music and entertainment amp up the vibe while you sample all these cutting-edge brews.

Orange F.O.O.D Week - Orange, NSW - April

Enjoy a gourmet retreat at Orange F.O.O.D Week, the longest-running regional food and wine festival in Australia. Nestled in the picturesque countryside of New South Wales, this 10-day culinary celebration is an absolute treat for your taste buds.

Discover the region's finest produce, wines and culinary talents as you embark on a scrumptious journey through farms, vineyards and bustling artisanal markets. Indulge in the unique flavours of Orange as top chefs showcase their culinary wizardry, blending local ingredients with international flair.

Taste in the City - Sydney, NSW - September

Wake up your taste buds at Taste in the City! Located in the iconic Bondi Pavilion, opposite one of Australia’s most famous beaches, this popular Sydney food festival is an absolute must-visit.

Live music and street performers add to the buzzy vibe, and pop-up bars serve up craft beers and cocktails to quench your thirst. And let's not forget the artisan stalls and markets brimming with delectable treats.

It's the ultimate spot to mingle with locals, fellow travellers and foodies from all walks of life. Plus, don't miss the wine-tasting room and the chance to catch a glimpse of your favourite celebrity chefs in action.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival- Melbourne, VIC - March

Running for 17 glorious, delicious days throughout March, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF) gathers the best restaurants, chefs and producers from Victoria all in one place for your eating pleasure. Indulgence is the name of the game at MFWF – it’s all about the food, the experience and the taste on your tongue.

Wild Harvest Seafood Festival - Mallacoota, VIC - April

Get ready to dive into Mallacoota's Wild Harvest Seafood Festival in Victoria, where the ocean's freshest delights await. Celebrate the land and sea's bounty, honouring the Indigenous custodians who've been connected with this land for thousands of years.

Nestled on the rocky shores near Croajingolong National Park, Mallacoota is firmly rooted in seafood, and the festival shines a light on the unique abundance and variety found in this corner of the world. Enjoy succulent seafood feasts, oyster and champagne cruises, lively seafood markets, bush tucker walks, fishing workshops and more.

Be sure to bring an empty esky so you can fill it with fresh local produce and seafood plucked from the nearby shores. It's a celebration of good food, good people and good times!

Grampians Grape Escape - Grampians/Gariwerd, VIC - May

If you’re after a weekend of delectable delights with a stunning mountain backdrop, look no further than the Grampians Grape Escape. Rug up – it will be chilly – and get warm by feasting on the finest food and wine the Grampians region produces. Sample local produce, sip local wines, see cooking demonstrations and dance to live tunes. It seems barely conceivable you can fit it all in a weekend. But you can — just.

Tasmania's Taste of Summer - Hobart, TAS - December-January

Image: Alastair Betts via Tourism Tasmania

The tiniest Australian state offers some of the most amazing produce, cheese, seafood, wine, beer, whisky (and much more!) and Tasmania’s Taste of Summer is the place to be if you want to try it all.

Replacing the long-running Taste of Tasmania festival, Taste of Summer is held over the week between Christmas and into the New Year on Princes Wharf No.1 in Hobart’s historic Salamanca. Just a breezy five-minute stroll from the CBD, you can sample some of Tasmania’s finest produce and craft brews — from cider and seafood to Huon Valley treats, crepes and gelato.
* Updated by K. Hastings for YHA