According to a new study, Australia is worth crossing oceans to enjoy our food alone.
Most of us are willing to go out of our way when it comes to good food. Walking an extra block for a perfect cup of coffee. Driving a little further to the takeaway we really love. Taking a trip to a ice creamery, even though there’s store-bought in the freezer. We welcome a little bit of inconvenience if it means securing a good bite. But what about when it comes to travelling long haul?
With one in six British travellers citing food as a factor when deciding where to holiday, vacation company Travel Bag has crunched the numbers and determined the best long-haul foodie destinations. Unsurprisingly, two Australian destinations have made the top 10, with one being crowned the number one foodie destination overall. The study decided the scores based on the number of cuisines, cost and social media metrics. Read on to find out which cities won.
In second place…
The runner-up Aussie destination and fourth on the list overall is Sydney. The Emerald City is known for its relaxed coastal dining, abundance of fresh seafood and variety of cuisines, with the study citing 85 different cuisines in total.
Great views, like those at Quay, are synonymous with fine dining in Sydney. (Image: Nikki To/Destination NSW)
We rounded up some of the city’s best restaurants for 2025, and it isn’t hard to see why Sydney’s food scene would attract people from far and wide. For example, Saint Peter, the renowned seafood restaurant by Josh Niland, was named on the World’s 50 Best longlist, the only Australian restaurant to be included. With world-renowned chefs, imaginative flavours, amazing produce and views to boot, it makes perfect sense that Sydney would rank near the top of the list.
Locally sourced seafood at Paddington restaurant, Saint Peter by celebrated chef Josh Niland. (Image: Christopher Pearce)
First place goes to…
The number one spot for food-most-worth-travelling for is Melbourne. The study ranked Melbourne first for its staggering amount of different cuisines (100 total!), as well as the comparative affordability of a decent meal out. The results highlighted the city’s Korean food offerings that have strongly shaped the dining scene, as well as the types of food on offer at Queen Victoria Night Markets.
The Queen Victoria Winter Night Market is known for its great variety of food. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Melbourne is well-established for its unparalleled coffee, and its restaurant offerings are at a similarly high standard. Indeed, when it comes to food here, the bar is set high in every way, from casual eats to fine dining. And it’s no wonder the city nabbed the top spot. We’ve rounded up the best Melbourne restaurants for 2025 – doing the tough job of narrowing down all the amazing diners to 56 standouts.
Amaru in Armadale is regarded as one of the best restaurants in Melbourne.
The full foodie list
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Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.
Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.
Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.
1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole
Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park, just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.
Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)
2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole
Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole, open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.
Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)
3. Tour the Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands, a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!
Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).
Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)
4. Dine in Darwin
Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets, Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets.
Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.
Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)
5. Up close with Uluṟu
The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.
There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.
Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)
6. Drive the Red Centre Way
From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.
Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.
Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)
7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa
Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa. This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).
Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.
Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)
8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges
Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen.
Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)
