7 Griffith restaurants leading the way in farm-to-table dining

From paddock to plate, Griffith and the Riverina are at the forefront of the sustainable food movement.

Griffith restaurants have always been one of Australia’s most important food-producing areas. It creates more wine, citrus and poultry products than any other region in Australia, and its incredible agricultural output is only matched by the strong cultural and culinary legacies of its residents, with the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any local government area in Australia.

Stop by Piccolo Family Farm to see local produce at its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

With a bounty of quality produce available, as well as the culinary heritage to know how to use it, it’s no surprise that Griffith’s restaurants have championed the paddock-to-plate movement. Here, chefs are using the freshest sustainably produced, locally grown and sourced ingredients in their meals, products, wines and whiskies to create truly unforgettable dining experiences.

Here are seven of the best farm-to-table venues to visit in the western Riverina region.

1. Zecca Handmade Italian

Set in the iconic Rural Bank building in Griffith, Zecca Handmade Italian prepares fresh, seasonal Italian cuisine made with local ingredients.

The restaurant’s specialty is artisanal obscure pasta shapes and styles, handmade with durum wheat semolina grown and milled locally in the Riverina region. They also cure their own salami, preserve fruit and vegetables, and bottle their own passata from local tomatoes. The restaurant offers a daily changing menu, and packets of their handmade pasta are available in-store.

Zecca Italian, Griffith — Stop in for seasonal Italian cuisine made with local ingredients at Zecca Italian. (Image: DNSW)

2. Bull & Bell Steakhouse

With a menu limited to a 300-kilometre produce range, and a commitment to showcasing regional partners, Bull & Bell Steakhouse , part of the Gem Hotel , made a culinary splash when it was ranked one of the world’s 101 best steak restaurants .

The menu includes detailed information about the farms that supply their produce, the growing processes, and the beef programs used by the cattle farmers.

A highlight is the Stanbroke Signature Tasting Plate, which allows diners to try three types of beef (dry-aged, Angus and grass-fed). True to the area’s roots, guests can also enjoy an Italian-style bistecca alla fiorentina served sanguinoso (rare) with a dash of extra virgin olive oil, salt and rosemary.

Bull & Bell Steakhouse, Griffith restaurants — Treat yourself to one of the world’s best steak restaurants. (Image: Destination Riverina Murray)

3. Limone

Book a table at Limone for a true farm-to-table dining experience (and a few recipes influenced by Nonna). Chef Luke Piccolo serves meals made with produce gathered from his family’s property, Piccolo Family Farm , including house-made lamb sausages with caponata, zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, potato and herbs, and a margarita pizza served with 24-hour fermented dough, passata grown and made on the farm, fresh basil and traditional buffalo mozzarella.

The enthusiastic farming family have even planted a vineyard featuring Italian varietals to serve in the restaurant.

Limone has a strong no-waste ethos, which extends well beyond the menu; even the building was constructed with almost entirely recycled materials salvaged from around Griffith, right down to the charcoal grill made from reclaimed farm equipment.

Limone Dining, Griffith restaurants — Taste dishes made with fresh ingredients gathered from the chef’s family’s property. (Image: DNSW)

4. Yarran Wines

Hosting paired tastings with local produce, as well as special events celebrating regional producers, Yarran Wines has carved a niche as one of the best wine destinations in Griffith, earning accolades for its cellar door experience.

The family-owned vineyard, located in Yenda, offers organically certified, small-batch wines focusing on lesser-known varieties. The vineyard also regularly hosts Live in the Vines , featuring live music, picnic boxes with goods from local producers, pizza and bountiful cups of wine.

During A Taste of Italy Griffith festival , held every August, the vineyard hosts paired food and wine events, where they serve up olives grown, picked and cured in-house.

Stop into Yarran Wines for a paired tasting with local produce. (Image: Destination Riverina Murray)

5. Whitton Malt House

A short drive from Griffith, Whitton Malt House champions the farm-to-plate experience not just in their restaurant, but also in their on-farm malting facility.

The distillery produces small-batch, hand-crafted artisanal malts made from locally grown and regionally sourced Riverina grains, and guests can take part in daily whisky tastings. The restaurant serves locally sourced dishes including Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod croquette with smoked cod, jalapeno and bechamel sauce, and Grunt Pork Smokehouse pork belly with roasted cauliflower puree, jus and apple jam.

Whitton Malt House, Griffith — Stop into Whitton Malt House for food and drinks made with local ingredients. (Image: Visit Griffith)

6. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod

Griffith isn’t just known for its farm-to-fork ethos, as it also offers a unique pond-to-plate experience. Despite being 550 kilometres inland, the Riverina is home to one of the country’s most successful aquaculture companies, Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod .

The sustainably farmed fish is exported internationally, featured on fine dining menus across the country, and is showcased on the menu in most of Griffith’s restaurants (including Whitton Malt House, Bull & Bell Steakhouse, Zecca Handmade Italian and Limone). In town, visitors can buy direct from the processing plant.

Aquan — Discover Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod in the dishes of several Riverina restaurants.

7. Naturally Dried Prunes

Forget the fork, forgo the plate: at Naturally Dried Prunes you can pick fruit straight from the trees on limited dates over the summer months.

This innovative family-friendly farm at Yenda boasts the first automated sustainable solar drying system in Australia; using new technology, the farm has reduced its carbon footprint by 95 per cent.

Each summer, the farm opens its gates to the public, inviting them onto the farm for tours of the orchard, demonstrations of the drying equipment and, most importantly, taste tests of their prepacked chocolate-covered prunes. In mid-summer, the orchard also opens for guests to pick their own sugar plums.

Pick fruit straight from the trees at Naturally Dried Prunes.

Thredbo in summer is a nature lover’s dream of show-stopping alpine beauty, cool mountain air and magical moonlit adventure.

For many of us, Thredbo calls to mind shimmering slopes and snow-dusted gums, but come summer, this Alpine resort transforms into a playground of an entirely different kind. A cool mountain retreat despite the season, Thredbo summer hikes are astonishingly beautiful, criss-crossing over dramatic peaks, pristine glacial lakes and abundant flora and fauna.

From approachable tracks for novice walkers to more challenging hikes across the Main Range and even journeys under moonlight, Thredbo puts on an unforgettable show of natural splendour all summer. Lace up your walking boots and take the chairlift from Thredbo village to embark on a self-guided exploration or a tour of the Snowy Mountains’ most compelling landscapes.

These eight unforgettable hiking experiences are only available in summer and offer an alpine adventure like you’ve never experienced before.

1. Full Moon Hike to Mt Kosciuszko

There’s something almost mystical about hiking by the light of a full moon. This guided experience begins with a 15-minute chairlift ride, where you’ll admire the Thredbo Valley below, bathed in the fading sun.

Once at the top, you’ll pass rivers, alpine lakes and spot nocturnal wildlife on your way to the Kosciuszko Lookout and Lake Cootapatamba. By the time you reach the summit, sunset is well underway as you watch day give way to night and the alpine landscape magically illuminated by the lunar glow. Enjoy a hot chocolate here before following the path back to Eagles Nest, brightened by the night sky.

This 13-kilometre hike will take place on 3 January, 2 February, and 2 April in 2026.

2. Super Full Moon Hike

Super Full Moon Hike in thredbo — Take in the might of a super full moon.

The only thing that could level up the celestial beauty of a full moon hike would be a super full moon hike . Following the same route, you’ll meet the moon when it is largest and closest to Earth by ascending to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko at an elevation of 2228 metres. From such a height, it almost feels as though you could reach out and touch its glowing surface.

Given the rarity and splendour of the super full moon, limited spots fill up fast for this awe-inspiring hike, so be sure to book the 5 December in advance.

3. Lunar Eclipse Hike

Thredbo Lunar Eclipse Hike — See dazzling celestial displays.

What could be more extraordinary than witnessing a lunar eclipse from Australia’s highest peak? Whether you’re a keen astronomer or simply revel in nature’s beauty, this guided 13-kilometre hike will place you on top of Mount Kosciuszko just as Earth passes between the sun and moon, throwing shade over the lunar surface before transforming it with a deep-red hue.

It’s an epic place to witness one of our galaxy’s most spectacular and rare light shows. Apart from the dazzling celestial display, you’ll also enjoy walking through the moon-bathed landscape, an evening chairlift ride, and a hot chocolate at the summit.

Book now for 3 March.

4. New Moon Hike

New Moon Hike Mt Kosciuszko — Catch the changing skies of a new moon.

A stargazer’s delight, the darkness of a new moon gives the Milky Way full permission to dazzle with its shimmering display. Both astronomers and photographers will relish this opportunity to observe and capture the starry skyscape from the lofty height of Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko. Departing Thredbo Village at dusk and leaving its twinkling lights far below, you’ll arrive at the summit in time to see the sun slip away and the stars appear.

Catch this hike during the new moon lunar phase on 20 December, 19 January, 17 February, 19 March or 17 April.

5. Thredbo River Track

Embark on a gentle entry into the Snowy Mountain scenery with an amble along the Thredbo River. This self-guided hike hugs the river and wanders along the valley floor, revealing snow gum forests, swimming holes and little waterfalls that make for revitalising cold plunges in the summer heat.

6. Merritts Nature Track

Merritts Nature Track thredbo summer hikes — Stop at swimming holes along the way.

On warm summer days, venturing into the cooler air of Thredbo’s alpine tracks offers relief from the heat. Particularly if you set course for the four-kilometre Merritts Nature Track , where there are opportunities to take a refreshing dip in swimming holes along the way.

The two-to-three-hour self-guided hike meanders through towering ancient trees (dubbed the ‘Pixie Forest’ by locals), takes in stunning mountain vistas and is soundtracked by the melody of birdsong. Stop for a picnic and discover a hidden natural infinity pool, the location of which is given away by the roar of a cascading waterfall.

7. Mt Kosciuszko Summit Tour

Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko's summit. — Follow a guide along Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.

While you can easily steer yourself to Australia’s most iconic peak without a guide, following an expert guide to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko will colour your experience with a deeper knowledge of the landscape and its wild inhabitants. The 13-kilometre return trail puts the alpine scenery on display with 360-degree views from the highest spot in the country.

The walk begins at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift and takes around four to six hours to complete, but is gentle enough to be embarked upon by all ages.

8. Snowies Alpine Walk Experience

If you’re looking to truly untether from daily life and embark on a real immersion in Thredbo’s stunning alpine scenery, pack your hiking boots for the newest multi-day walk in the mountains. The Snowies Alpine Walk can be tackled over two or three days and includes nightly accommodation in the iconic Thredbo Alpine Hotel, daily buffet breakfast, packed lunch and dinner vouchers, plus daily transfers to and from trail heads in a brand-new Defender.

The two-day experience covers 24 kilometres, while the three-day experience almost doubles that at 44 kilometres. Along the way, explore barely trod landscapes, vast high-country plains and uplifting mountain horizons.

Discover the full offering of summer hikes in Thredbo at thredbo.com.au.