Ah, food. Glorious, glorious food. There’s nothing more we’d rather travel around the country for. Almost every state, city and even town in Australia has its own foodie festival, bringing together the best chefs, farmers, producers and suppliers.
Our Sydney Food & Drink Editor, Avril Treasure, raves about Orange F.O.O.D Week, our Melbourne Editor, Lauren Dinse, loves Pinot Palooza, and our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, dreams of experiencing Darwin International Laksa Festival. So, whether you’re a wine wanker, a seafood seeker, a beer buff or a truffle hunter, here are the best food and drink festivals in Australia worth travelling for.
Where: Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth
When: May, July and August
This wildly popular hybrid event sees Australia's ultimate cheese festival, Mould, go back-to-back with the nation's biggest pinot party, Pinot Palooza, in one unmatched foodie tour. You’ll get to sample more than 50 world-class Australian artisan cheeses – from the creamiest to the stinkiest (and always the tastiest, of course) – all matched with some of the finest pinot noir in the land.
Where: Sydney, NSW
When: May 23 – June 14, 2025
Every year, Sydney becomes a sparkly city on steroids as the Southern Hemisphere's largest multi-platform festival lights up the sky for 23 nights in winter. While Vivid initially began as a light show, over the last few years, it’s transformed into so much more, with the introduction of Vivid Food. The 2025 line-up sees the triumphant return of the excellent, flame-fuelled Vivid Fire Kitchen, dreamy chef collabs, laneway parties and even a retro diner next to a pop-up rollerskating rink.
Where: Noosa, QLD
When: May 29 – June 1, 2025
Experience the best of this jewel of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast at Noosa’s annual eating and drinking festival. It’s been a firm Noosa favourite for more than 20 years, bringing some of Australia’s favourite celebrity chefs to the beachside town, including Josh Emett, Hayden Quinn, Warren Mendes and Reece Hignell. Local restaurants collaborate on the signature Long Lunch, which stretches end-to-end along Noosa Junction’s Arcadia Street. Meanwhile, rock star Aussie and international chefs put on a series of exclusive beach parties and sundowner sessions. The Festival Village buzzes day and night with live entertainment, so don’t forget your dancing shoes.
When: June 1–30, 2025
From the small country village of Beechmont to the secluded hinterlands of Tamborine Mountain, this month-long food fiesta hosts more than 100 delicious events. It’s backed by some of the biggest names in the local hospo scene, who will cook up stellar paddock-to-plate experiences, including long lunches, guest chef degustations, food tours, farm adventures and growers’ markets. Get in quick if you want to attend the famous Kalfresh Carrot Day in Australia’s carrot-growing capital. The carrot ice cream from Moffatt’s Fresh Produce is a must-try.
Where: Sunshine Coast, QLD
When: July 25 – August 3, 2025
The Sunshine Coast is good for more than just glittering beaches and tropical rainforests. It’s the stage for one of Queensland’s premier culinary festivals, The Curated Plate, which dishes up 90 food and drink events over ten days. The main courses for 2025 include a long table lunch hosted by Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival, a night food market at Matso's brewery, a First Nations cultural seafood experience on board Saltwater Eco Tour, a family-friendly picnic with Bluey and Bingo, and the return of the ever-popular Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival.
Where: Fleurieu Peninsula
When: August 1-31, 2025
Just a 40-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD, the Fleurieu Peninsula is an epicurean wonderland famed for its exceptional wine regions, fresh-caught seafood and wholesome local farmers’ markets. You can sip and savour your way through it all during this month-long food festival, which offers more than 60 exclusively curated events. From wine, gin and coffee tastings to cheesemaking workshops, paddock-to-plate long lunches, vineyard feasts and intimate meet-the-maker sessions, this is the best way to immerse yourself in the coastal culinary region.
Where: Port Douglas, QLD
When: August 7-10, 2025
Four days of feasting by the beach with some of Australia’s leading celebrity chefs? Sounds like our type of holiday. For almost a decade, Taste Port Douglas has brought its foodie festivities from Port Douglas to Cairns with masterclasses, long seaside luncheons, cocktail soirees and tropical parties, all backdropped by the reefs and the rainforests of tropical Far North Queensland. The hottest ticket in town is always for ‘A Night of Fire’, which takes place under the flickering candlelights at Flames of the Forest, Australia’s only rainforest dining experience.
Where: Darwin, NT
When: August 7-24, 2026
We can’t think of a better time to be in the Top End than during Darwin Festival. While it’s Australia’s only tropical arts festival, it’s also well worth visiting for Taste of Darwin – the festival’s award-winning culinary program. The food fest will double in size in 2026, featuring the return of legendary chef Jimmy Shu of Hanuman, arguably the NT’s most celebrated restaurant, plus the debut of Flora’s Temper Mexicantina, the city’s hottest new eatery. Expect the unexpected with bar-hopping adventures, moody banquet dinners and lots more.
Where: Moreton Bay, QLD
When: August 22-24, 2025
As one of the closest beaches to Brisbane, Moreton Bay offers more than just a day of sun, surf and sand. For seven years, this waterfront region has hosted a mega food and wine festival, featuring almost 150 exhibitors. Festivalgoers can sip their way through Australia’s top wine regions, catch celebrity chef masterclasses, enjoy golden hour concerts and stock up on the best local produce from Moreton Bay’s food bowl. A visit to The Dessert Corner is a must – just prepare to lose all self-control.
Where: Darwin, NT
When: October 1-31, 2025
If there’s one dish Darwin is famous for, it’s a steaming bowl of laksa. This might seem odd given the Territory’s year-round temperatures sit in the mid-30s, but the locals love it so much that they’ve dedicated an entire month to celebrating this spicy noodle soup. During the festival, you can slurp your way around the city, sampling everything from classic bowls of varying spice levels to laksa-flavoured ice cream, bagels, sausages, burgers and cocktails. The fiery festivities culminate at the Festival Finale, where awards for The Golden Bowl and Regional Best Laksa are handed out, alongside the People’s Choice awards, voted on by the locals themselves.
When: November 20-23, 2025
Set amidst the rolling vineyards of WA’s coastal wine region, Pair’d is a ‘wine first’ event, which uncorked its first festival in 2024. The boozy four-day affair showcases the South West’s world-class wines, paired with incredible culinary, music and cultural experiences. Vinophiles can sip wine in the sun at long table lunches, sample the region’s top wines and brush shoulders with Michelin-star chefs.
Where: Hobart, TAS
When: December 27, 2025 – January 3, 2026
It seems everyone’s talking about Tasmania these days. One way to get amongst the best of the Apple Isle is by attending the much-lauded (and free!) Taste of Summer festival, which takes over the Hobart waterfront each year. More than 100,000 visitors eat, drink and dance their way around the event, which is the oldest and largest food and drink festival in all of Oz. Along with fine dining events, cooking demos and masterclasses, there are also more than 100 market stalls showcasing 100 per cent Tasmanian delicacies like seafood, mushrooms, cheese, cool-climate wines and craft beers.
Where: Melbourne and regional Victoria
When: March, 2025
Need a good excuse for a culinary road trip? Mark your calendar for this ten-day celebration of all things food and drink, which causes a stir in Melbourne and regional Victoria every March. Featuring a star-studded line-up of international chefs and local food heroes, the 2025 iteration offered a smorgasbord of 200 events, including the festival’s signature World’s Longest Lunch hosted by Curtis Stone, World's Longest Brunch hosted by Julia Busuttil Nishimura, a Global Dining Series featuring exciting international chefs, regional action, and even a rooftop chocolate garden at the MCG.
Where: Orange, NSW
When: March 20-29, 2026
With its country charm, cool climate and boutique winemakers, Orange has risen through the ranks to claim its place as a go-to wine destination. Time your trip to coincide with one of the region’s popular events, Orange F.O.O.D Week. which is also Australia’s longest-running regional food festival. More than 10,000 meals are enjoyed and 6,000 bottles of wine are popped across 100 events each year, including at the Sampson Street Long Lunch, a four-kilometre forage to the most well-known Orange vineyards and F.O.O.D Week Night market.
Where: Newcastle, NSW
When: April 1–30, 2026
The idyllic coastal city of Newcastle comes alive in April each year for this epic month-long food and drink festival, with events and shenanigans happening every day of the week. From cheese and wine pairings to live gigs and schmick dinners held in secret locations, the line-up features events for food and wine lovers at all price points (and hunger levels). More than 70 feature events come to life throughout the festival, from fun-loving street parties to boozy long lunches, as well as 50 plate dates. Not sure what we’re on about? Plate date is where Newcastle’s cafés, restaurants and bars put their best foot forward, offering brekkie, lunch or dinner and a drink for $30. It’s a fab way to tick off the places on your hit list and revisit the OGs, all while doing a food tour of Newcastle.
Where: North and North West Tasmania
When: April 2026
North West Tasmania’s famous self-drive food and drink trail launched a brand-new weekend-long feast in 2025 – and thanks to its roaring success, it's set to return in 2026. TrailGraze is basically like a treasure hunt for your taste buds, taking you beyond the farm gate to sample some of the state’s finest cheese, chocolate, seafood, confectionery, wine, beer, spirits, cider and more. While the trail is self-guided, you can join fellow foodies at the Friday night Gala Dinner (it sold out in 2025!), or take part in producer-led tastings, tours and workshops fit for the whole family.
Where: Geraldton, WA
When: April, 2026
If you’re a foodie with a passion for the deep blue, then add Shore Leave to your travel bucket list. Taking place in Geraldton, this ultimate seafood festival celebrates all things ocean and adventure, with more than 30 events hosted across five jam-packed days. From the iconic Abrolhos Island long table lunch and Mid-West Paddock to Plate culinary experience, to tours, markets and music, there’s almost too much to see, eat and do.
Where: Mallacoota, Victoria
When: April 2026
This fishy three-day festival invites visitors from all over Australia to discover and feast on the Gippsland region’s pristine seafood. At the heart of the biennial event is the free, open-air Wild Harvest Seafood Market, where you can feast on abalone, sea urchins, oysters and more, to a cruisy program of live music and entertaining events. Got a few little ones in tow? Younger sea lovers can engage in the popular Parks Victoria Junior Ranger program, which runs a range of free activities for kids curious about all things ocean.
Where: Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney
When: April and May
Real ale fanatic? Craft brew aficionado? GABS Festival will be your hoppy place. Australia’s most anticipated beer bash goes on a whirlwind tour around Australia every autumn – and in 2025, it outdid itself by building a 30-metre bar (the longest in Australia), pouring more than 500 brews. Expect weird and wonderful flavours, like peanut butter, Vegemite toast, gingerbread pastry and sour Warheads. Add in a chance to meet the brewers, take part in beer masterclasses, enjoy banging live music and feast on global street food (did someone say currywurst?), and this is a cracking festival you don’t want to miss.
Where: Adelaide (festival hub), with regional events across SA
When: May, 2026
Prepare your palates for the country’s longest-running eating and drinking festival, which returns to South Australia every May. This ultimate gastronomic paradise spotlights the nation’s favourite culinary stars and local producers across 150 events in all 12 regions. From full-day degustations to regional pop-ups and hands-on cooking classes, this festival will be one your taste buds won't forget.
Where: The Grampians, Victoria
When: May 1-3, 2026
Tucked in the foothills of surrounding mountain ranges, the Grampians Grape Escape takes over the beloved regional town of Halls Gap with a weekend of world-class wines, gourmet food and live music. It all kicks off with a 'feel-good Friday' session before the festival fully opens on Saturday, featuring more than 90 wineries, food trucks, creators and makers. The 2025 festival had cooking demos and masterclasses by guest chefs, like MasterChef Australia favourites Dani Venn and Justine Schofield, plus a wine auction (with funds donated to the region’s bushfire recovery efforts).
Where: Clare Valley, SA
When: May, 2026
Get to know one of the best vineyards in one of South Australia’s wine capitals at this boozy festival celebrating all things vinous. Running for more than 40 years, this is Australia's oldest food and wine festival, split across three stages. Taste the fanciest drops over the ‘Festival Weekend’ with gourmet wine lunches, meet the maker tasting sessions and cellar door degustations; partake in wine masterclasses, art classes and paddock-to-plate experiences during the ‘Breathe It In’ midweek program, and send it off in style on the final ‘Land of the Long Lunch’ weekend.
Where: Great Southern region of WA, including Albany and Denmark
When: May, 2026
Peppered over Western Australia’s Great Southern region, this premier regional foodie festival fuses incredible flavours, fine wines and otherworldly landscapes. Dive into more than 30 culinary experiences from 20 world-class chefs, spread across 11 glorious days, with everything from lavish long lunches and gourmet degustations to premium pairing events and bustling community markets.
Where: Kakadu, NT
When: May, 2025
Kakadu – home to the world’s oldest living culture – hosts the ultimate Indigenous bush foods and culture festival, which has been 65,000 years in the making. Bowali Visitor Centre transforms into a hub for the festival, packed with arts and craft stalls, entertainment, reptile encounters, cooking demos, bush tucker workshops and more. The star of the show is Taste of Kakadu's signature Kinhkinh: Dinner Under The Stars – a four-course degustation created by renowned bush-food chefs Paul Iskov of Fervor and Ben Tyler of Kakadu Kitchen, using seasonal ingredients foraged locally in Kakadu National Park. Prepare to sample new flavours, such as waterlilies, crocodile, bunya, cheeky yam, wild rosella and kakadu plum.
Where: Kununurra, WA
When: May, 2026
Located on the banks of the Ord River, Kununurra is the launch pad of a cultural experience distinct to WA’s precious Kimberley region. The annual Ord Valley Muster is the biggest festival in the region and celebrates the North West’s vast and dramatic landscapes with culinary, creative and cultural events. Rally the squad and adventure on down for comedy in the park, dinner under the stars, the top-end mustering rodeo, a yoga boat ride and more.
Where: Manjimup, WA
When: June, 2026
Celebrate winter's most delicious harvest at this three-day festival held in the heart of Australian truffle country, Manimup (a 3.5-hour drive south of Perth). Of course, truffles are at the centre of all weekend activities, including candlelit long table lunches laden with freshly harvested shavings of ‘black gold’, intimate fireside cooking masterclasses, truffle dog demonstrations and truffle hunts in orchards. However, the festival also celebrates 50 other kinds of the region's most prized produce with an undercover marketplace, free cooking demonstrations and wine tastings.
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