The 5 best cooking schools in Australia

Looking to hone your prowess in the kitchen or expand your weekly repertoire? Cook away from it all at these beautiful schools with serious culinary chops. From masterclasses with notable chefs to getting your hands dirty in Tasmania, there’s something for every level.

1. The Agrarian Kitchen, Lachlan, Tasmania – for the serious home cook

This truly paddock-to-plate experience is full of roll-your-sleeves-up activity from foraging to cooking and eating.

Run by the former food editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller, Rodney Dunn, the classes begin outdoors on the sustainable farm in the picturesque Derwent Valley and migrate into a 19th-century school house.

There’s everything from charcuterie and baking classes to two-day Secrets of Sourdough and The Whole Hog courses at The Agrarian Kitchen .

While you can’t rest your head at the Agrarian Kitchen, the town of New Norfolk is just minutes away.

2. A Tavola at Pizzini Wines, Vic – for the inner-nonna

Katrina Pizzini slips on the apron to teach four-hour classes at the family winery in Victoria’s King Valley.

Classes at Pizzini range from traditional pasta and risotto-making, and salting and curing meats, to more focused tuition such as the Single & Loving It and Blokes & Barrels.

There’s a cottage adjacent to the cellar door, where you can flop after a class and dabble in a few tastings of the family wines.

3. Sticky Rice Cooking School, Adelaide Hills, SA – for a break from wine-tasting

There’s a little bit of Asia nestled in the Adelaide Hills and it can be found at this exceptional cooking school.

While you can pop in for a class and not stay, we highly recommend you book one of the three beautiful villas onsite so you can retreat post-class with a good bottle of local vino.

As for the classes, Sticky Rice offers everything from Vietnamese to everyday Thai, Spanish tapas and Moroccan.

Private classes are available and guest chefs drop in once in a while, such as Luke Nguyen, David Thompson and Tetsuya Wakuda.

4. Lake House, Daylesford, Vic – for the weekend dabbler

Set at one of the most idyllic locales for a relaxing break it’s easy to do nothing here but serenely gaze upon the lake from your room, but if you’re in the mood for a side of culinary knowledge with your mini escape, the cooking school at Lake House has you covered.

With guest chefs of the likes of Mitch Orr and Adriano Zumbo regularly popping in for masterclasses, it’s easy to tee up a weekend away with your favourite cook at the Lake House.

Be sure to book ahead, they fill up fast. We already have our eye on the Summer Masterclass for a pre-Christmas break in December.

5. Cape Lodge, Margaret River, WA – for city escapees

Shouldered by wineries and just three kilometres to the beach, Cape Lodge provides harassed Perthites with a place to escape and indulge in a little luxe country charm.

Once a few deep breaths have been taken and the local vines explored, calm may be restored enough to embark on one of the lodge’s cooking classes with executive chef Michael Elfwing.

Classes cover everything from The Art of Souffle to Cooking with Truffles and, one that piqued our curiosity, Modern Lasagnes.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .