A Gourmet Guide To Spring In Australia

Fall into step with the flavours of the season. From breezy beachside bars to sun-dappled vineyards and places to stock up your picnic basket, here’s where to get your foodie fix this spring.

The forecast is sunny this spring with vibrant wining and dining experiences that shrug off the grey of winter and make the most of the season.

Pretty-as cafes

Cafe dining is a national pastime in Australia and springtime makes the proposition of embracing an early morning outing all the more inviting.

Hazelhurst Cafe

Hazelhurst Cafe screams spring, with bunches of blooms, pots of upturned paint and trailing plants setting the scene for the colourful cafe, an offshoot of Hazelhurst arts centre, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.

Sit on a lipstick-pink table on the terrace to enjoy a light lunch of crispy duck salad, spritzer on the side.

an al fresco dining setup at Hazelhurst Cafe — Hazelhurst Cafe has a chic and airy al fresco dining setup.

Little Bay

Beguiling from every angle, Little Bay is a light, bright cafe that is all swing chairs and sunshine just metres away from Perth’s Watermans Bay. Fill your keep cup at the coffee window and sit with your toes in the sand, or settle in for Turkish eggs and peach bellinis.

Laneway Specialty Coffee

Laneway Specialty Coffee is a microcosm of modern Darwin, with its motley mix of sunburned backpackers and laid-back locals. Much like Darwin itself, the cafe in Parap is surrounded by jungle-green foliage. Order the smashed avo on sourdough.

Gourmet restaurants

Springtime fare will be taking centre stage on menus around the country and now is the perfect time to try somewhere new.

Ippin Japanese Dining

Ippin Japanese Dining is the new 140-seater oasis in West Village in Brisbane’s bustling West End.

This temple to traditional Japanese fare overlooks lush gardens in a space that is as beautifully conceived as its bento boxes and sashimi platters.

a hand holding sashimi using chopsticks — Dine authentic Japanese cuisine at Ippin Japanese Dining.

The Source

Lunch or dinner at Mona’s swish restaurant The Source is as immersive as a visit to the museum itself.

There are living table runners made from moss and herbs, cutlery and chairs worth coveting and dreamy views over Hobart’s River Derwent. Best for dishes such as wallaby tartare and crab risotto that celebrate Tassie’s terroir.

a plate of food at The Source — Feast on healthy dishes at The Source. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Loulou Bistro

Join Lavender Bay locals at neighbourhood bistro Loulou to fantasise about your next visit to France over quiche du jour, salade frisée and a glass of rosé.

You can also procure provisions from the boulangerie (bakery) and traiteur (deli) for a chic-nic in nearby Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden.

the bar interior at Loulou Bistro — Pull up a chair at Loulou Bistro. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Restaurants with rooms

Once spring arrives the desire to hit the road and explore dials up a notch. Pair your dining with your accommodation and make it an even more memorable spring getaway at any of these restaurants with rooms.

Bangalay Dining

Visit Bundanon art museum (also home to Arthur Boyd’s Studio) on the NSW South Coast and then slow down on your way back to Sydney with a stay at Bangalay luxury villas.

Enjoy a set menu curated by executive chef Simon Evans at hatted restaurant Bangalay Dining or order a gourmet pasta pack.

a table-top view of Bangalay Dining — Bangalay Dining is a firm Shoalhaven fave.

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

The Wild Flower Bar & Dining

The abundant kitchen garden at Bells at Killcare informs the menu made up of ‘food of the sun’ at The Wild Flower Bar & Dining. Stick to the seasonal theme with a post-prandial walk to see the wildflowers in nearby Bouddi National Park.

Cocktails on the menu at Wild Flower Bar + Dining, Killcare — The cocktails are fresh and pack a punch at Wild Flower Bar & Dining. (Image: Nikki To)

Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel

See what degustation Robin Wickens and team rustle up from their kitchen garden’s spring harvest at Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel. Sleep well in one of the Dunkeld property’s luxe rooms or cottages at the foothills of Victoria’s Grampians/Gariwerd.

Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel — Dine at Wickens in the Royal Mail Hotel for a memorable meal this spring. (Image: Emily Weaving)

Beachside bars

Sundowners and warm spring nights are a match made in heaven which makes these beachside bars the perfect sunset setting.

Pavilion Mooloolaba

The framed views of Mooloolaba Beach make a bigger statement than any artwork at the Pavilion Mooloolaba. It’s the perfect place to perch and people-watch over cocktails at Sunset Hour (weekdays from 3–5pm).

55 North

Manly Pacific engaged Luchetti Krelle to mix things up in Manly with 55 North, the coolest new cocktail lounge on the east coast.

Bunker down in a banquette in the marvellously maximalist space, which is all soft mauves, terrazzo tiling and toast and terracotta tones.

the bar interior of 55 North at Manly Pacific — 55 North in Manly is the new beachside bar of our dreams.

The Shorehouse

It’s all seagulls and salty air at The Shorehouse, one of the best places for a bevvy in Perth. The Swanbourne locale gets kudos for its award-winning wine list and an in-between menu of small bites such as salted cod and potato croquettes. It’s a great place to bend the elbow while watching the sunset.

Agritourism

From farm-grown picnic hamper supplies to greenhouse production tours, agritourism is delivering fruit of the earth experiences that go down a treat come spring.

Upland Farm

Check into one of Upland Farm’s four serene cabins located on a working cattle farm in Western Australia’s emerging town of Denmark.

Order a picnic hamper, packed with goodies from local growers and producers, to enjoy under the property’s towering karri trees. Or roll out a blanket on the grass at nearby Singlefile Wines and graze over a wine tasting.

picnic at Upland Farm — Take advantage of the delicious product on offer. (Image: Rachel Claire)

The Agrarian Kitchen

Learn about no-dig methods, composting and greenhouse production during a tour of the walled garden at The Agrarian Kitchen, where patients at the former psychiatric hospital used to exercise. Enjoy the garden’s very ingredients harvested fresh for your lunch at this award-winning institution in the Tasmanian town of New Norfolk.

Finniss River Lodge

Time your visit to Finniss River Lodge to coincide with the start of peak barra-fishing season in September.

You can then enjoy a luxe stay on the working Top End cattle farm, which is defined by a gourmet dining experience overseen by head chef Lachlan Raineri.

a glass of cocktail on the table at Finniss River Lodge — Sip cocktails at Finniss River Lodge. (Image: Richard Lyons)

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Rooftop bars

Where else can you see spring bloom from above? Position yourself in one of the country’s top rooftop bars and see the city change season before your eyes.

Charlie’s of Darwin

Finding the hidden doorway to Charlie’s of Darwin is half the fun. The NT capital’s first gin bar takes visitors on a wild ride, with creative dishes such as croc dumplings providing a true taste of the Territory. Order Charlie’s margaritas to enjoy on the terrace festooned with colourful lanterns.

W Brisbane – WET Deck

It’s not technically on the rooftop. But WET Deck on level 4 of the W Brisbane deserves a big-up for its views over the serpentine Brisbane River, which is emblematic of the city’s ongoing revival.

Aster

Cocktails under an open sky are quintessential in Sydney over the springtime.

Aster is the sky-high bar set atop the InterContinental Sydney, which has undergone a multimillion-dollar refurbishment and boasts views over all the icons of Sydney Harbour.

Vineyard lunches

A winery lunch is always a good idea and it’s an even better one in springtime. Where else will you get such a specialised wine pairing to your meal? Sign us up!

T’Gallant Vineyard

T’Gallant Vineyard has reopened its doors on the Mornington Peninsula after a refurbishment.

hands reaching for the pizza at T'Gallant — The menu here is designed to share. (Image: Griffin Simm)

Enjoy rectangular slabs of wood-fired pizza paired with a crisp white in the sun-soaked La Barraca dining space overlooking rolling hills embroidered with vines.

a group of people dining at T’Gallant Vineyard — Bond over pizza at T’Gallant Vineyard. (Image: Griffin Simm)

Lowe Family Wine Co

Lunch at the Lowe Family Wine Co estate is a lavish yet low-key affair relying on ingredients sourced from the kitchen garden and wines produced at the Mudgee region vineyard. All The Zin House dishes pair perfectly with drops bearing the Lowe Family Wine Co label.

Nepenthe

The best seat in the house for a tasting is in the Barrel Room at the newly reimagined cellar door at Nepenthe wines in the Adelaide Hills. You can also opt for a self-guided tasting paired with a plate of charcuterie on the estate’s lovely manicured lawns.

Foodie trails

You can taste the flavours of the season at any number of markets, food festivals, and local foodie trails around the nation but if you need somewhere to start, we have three top tips for you…

Kiama Farmers Market

Start your food tour of the NSW South Coast with a visit to the Kiama Farmers Market, which has a cult following. Pick up some pantry staples at this one-stop-shop or go further afield to visit producers such as The Pines Pantry or Buena Vista Farm, which runs a roster of cooking classes.

Noosa Country Food Trail

Pack your picnic hamper with everything from farm-fresh eggs to local wood-smoked bacon, oyster mushrooms, goat’s cheese and ginger beer when you devise your own self-drive itinerary along the Noosa Country Food Trail route.

Tasting Trail Tasmania

Connect the dots between some of Tassie’s artisan producers while road-tripping around the north-west of the island state. The producers along the self-guided Tasting Trail range from truffle farms to cider houses, dairy doors and a raspberry farm.

Raspberry picking — Find fresh raspberries on Tasmania’s foodie trail.

With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).

As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.

And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.

Cable Beach upgrade foreshore redevelopment stage 1 — Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.

The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.

Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.

Morning colours

car on cable beach at sunrise — Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)

As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.

When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.

Afternoon adventures

camel train on cable beach in broome at sunset — Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)

When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.

Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.

Evening degustation

server at Cable Beach Club — Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)

As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.

While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.

For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.

Beyond the beach

Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.

Unmatched experiences

Shinju Matsuri Festival's popular Long Table Dinner on cable beach — Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)

Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.

Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.

And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.

Dining discoveries

Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.

For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.

Natural beauties

Gantheaume Point cabnle beach broome — Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)

Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.

Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.

Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.

For more on Cable Beach and Australia’s North West, visit australiasnorthwest.com.