100 Gourmet Experiences: AT Staff Picks

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The Australian Traveller team couldn’t agree on the Top 100, so they took it upon themselves to give their favourite from the final list, as well as the ones they wish could have made it. Who do you side with? Log on and let us know if we all missed one too . . .

Greg Barton

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

The Great Aussie BBQ. It’s something that will always be an iconic Australian experience, but it doesn’t limit itself to being a “basic" or “non-gourmet". Yes, you can stick to the script of sausages, beer, more sausages and more beer, but if you fancy yourself as more of a Matt Moran type, there’s nothing to prevent you from barbequing a nice piece of fish and bringing it to that Masterchef level with a few more sophisticated accompaniments. For that reason alone, it’s the great social equaliser. Something that can bring all Australians together.

One That Got Away

I was quietly devastated when Eating a Pie and Sauce at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG didn’t make the Final 100. Again, it can be a simple Four’n’Twenty or dolled up to something more gourmet. I have vivid memories of bonding with my Dad as he showed me how to get that sauce onto your pie with one hand, while leaving the other hand free to drink a beer (soft drink for me at that age), all while keeping one eye on the batsmen at the crease. I hope some day to teach my son how to do the exact same thing.

Quentin Long

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

Sorry, but anything that’s two days of nose-to-tail cooking of an entire pig where you learn butchery, cooking, vegetable cultivation and more cooking is just too good to be true – it has to be The Agrarian Kitchen.

One That Got Away:

Clairault Margaret River. A fabulous lunchtime restaurant in Margaret River wine country that is everything the Margaret River needs to be.

Nigel Herbert

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

Taste of Tasmania. It’s the best way to spend the New Year in Australia. Full stop. If I had a magical transporter machine, I would have New Year’s in Sydney, staying at the Four Seasons, then I would roll out of bed on New Year’s Day and be magically whisked to Constitution Dock in Hobart. Where I could sit in the sun, nurse my hangover while listening to Jazz and watching the boats form the Sydney to Hobart roll in. All the while eating the world’s best oysters, matched with great wine. This is the best-known hangover recuperation session on the planet.

One That Got Away:

BBQ King in Chinatown. It’s not the best duck but it has that brutal Chinese efficiency. I think the soup nazi in Seinfeld was modelled on these guys. It’s an experience. And it is the best way to end a Friday night in Sydney.

Lisa Perkovic

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

Sunnybrae Restaurant and Cooking School – George Biron wins you over with his passion for Australian produce, teaching and a good meal.

One That Got Away:

Jannei Goat Dairy – these Lithgow cheesemakers live and breathe for their produce and it shows. The goat curd is divine.

Jane Abma

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

The Turkish-gourmand delight of Ottoman Cuisine in Canberra. On my last visit there, I gave three of my senses the evening off so I could fully appreciate what was a truly orgasmic fusion of taste and smell – a sensory adventure I will never forget.

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One That Got Away:

I would have to say the Fort Denison Cheese & Wine Experience – I have already given personal reviews to certain cheese-loving comrades encouraging them to do it before the year is out because it really is fascinating.

Alex Barnett

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

MoVida, because it was Great Food and an all round fantastic venue and when Nigel asked the waiter would that be enough he made a smug laugh and said “You’ll see" . . . needless to say what followed was not enough for such amazing food.

One That Got Away:

Won Ton Noodle Soup with Extra Won Tons and Egg Noodle From Cafe China in Cairns or Happy Chef on Sussex. A Sunday tradition for the past two years, it’s just great food.

Megan Russell

Favourite from the 100 Greatest Australian Gourmet Experiences:

Nothing beats The Great Aussie BBQ during summer!

One That Got Away:

Enjoying a Sunday pub lunch – it’s gotta be a pint and parma at your favourite local pub.

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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

    Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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    Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

    Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford, the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

    1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

    Hanging Rock Summit Walk
    Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

    Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

    2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

    Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout
    Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

    The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

    3. Mount Alexander Traverse

    Mount Alexander Traverse
    Take in the serenity.

    Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

    4. Murmuring Walk

    Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes
    Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

    Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

    5. La Gerche Forest Walk

    La Gerche Forest Walk
    Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

    Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

    6. Sailors Falls Loop

    Sailors Falls Loop
    See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

    7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

    Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

    8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

    Mount Franklin Summit Walk
    Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

    An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

    The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.