Australia

Food, drink, activities and accommodation in Australia (filter by category and price). Personally chosen from experience, not sponsored.

Categories

• Activities£££

  Two Nights on K'gari

  Fraser Island · Queensland

  Sleep on the sand, swim in Lake McKenzie, share a fire with strangers.

• Activities£££

  Reef Day With Passions of Paradise

  Cairns · Queensland

  Smaller boat, better crew. The one I'd book again.

• Food££

  Shaffa

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Modern Middle Eastern small plates a block from the beach.

• Food££

  Chin Chin

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Loud, fun, Southeast Asian sharing plates — go hungry.

• Food££

  Totti's

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Wood-fired bread, Italian classics, an evergreen Sydney institution.

• Food£

  Eat Thai

  Sydney · Haymarket · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  No-frills Thai in Chinatown — fast, cheap, the real deal.

• Food££

  The Butler

  Sydney · Potts Point · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Latin-American small plates with one of the best skyline views in the city.

• Food££

  Pocket

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Brunch

  Tucked-away corner cafe — order the eggs, take the window seat.

• Food££

  Bartiga

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Hand-rolled pasta and natural wine on Crown Street.

• Food££

  Munchies Sushi

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Hand rolls and sashimi platters built for sharing.

• Food££

  Blackwood

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Brunch

  All-day cafe doing the brunch classics properly.

• Food£

  Humble Bakery

  Sydney · Marrickville · New South Wales · Bakery

  Sourdough loaves, croissants and pastries worth queueing for.

• Food£

  Shadow Baking

  Sydney · Marrickville · New South Wales · Bakery

  Cult inner-west bakery — get there before the pretzels go.

• Food£££

  Fred's

  Sydney · Paddington · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Merivale's farmhouse-luxe diner — open kitchen, hearth-cooked everything.

• Food££

  Bobby's

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Casual coastal Italian — pasta, spritzes, salty air.

• Food££

  Society

  Sydney · CBD · New South Wales · Brunch

  Light-filled CBD cafe doing brunch-meets-lunch with style.

• Food££

  Coogee Pavilion

  Sydney · Coogee · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Three floors of food, drink and rooftop opposite the beach.

• Food£

  Sunday's

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Brunch

  Tiny, plant-forward brunch spot — go early, no bookings.

• Food££

  LODE

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Bakery

  Pies, pastries and a sourdough programme worth the detour.

• Food££

  Reuben Hills

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Brunch

  Latin-leaning brunch and some of the best coffee in the city.

• Food££

  A.P Bakery

  Sydney · Newtown · New South Wales · Bakery

  Wood-fired bread and laminated pastries from the Acme team.

• Food£

  It's Recess

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Brunch

  Small, scrappy, brilliant — pull up a stool for an egg sando.

• Food££

  Cafe Margaret

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Brunch

  Bright, beachy brunch menu that actually rewards getting out of bed.

• Food£

  Balance Thai

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Cheap, reliable Thai — the local-takeaway you'd want on speed dial.

• Food£££

  Zushi

  Sydney · Barangaroo · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Sleek harbour-side sushi — go for the omakase counter.

• Food£

  Don't Tell Aunty

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Modern Indian with a sense of humour — order the butter chicken.

• Food£

  Viet Senses

  Sydney · CBD · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Fast, fresh Vietnamese — phở and bún bowls under $20.

• Food£££

  Tokyo Bird

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Hidden yakitori den with a whisky list to match.

• Food££

  Holy Duck!

  Sydney · Chippendale · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Cantonese roast duck pancakes done right at Central Park.

• Food£££

  Bert's

  Sydney · Newport · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Northern beaches grand dame — long lunches, ocean view, dress up.

• Food£

  La Pharmacie

  Sydney · Annandale · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Inner-west pizza and natural wine in a former chemist.

• Food££

  Table Manners

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Brunch

  All-day spot where brunch slides into wine-and-snacks territory.

• Food££

  Bangkok Bites

  Sydney · CBD · New South Wales · Lunch/Dinner

  Quick, punchy Thai — the lunchtime fix that ruins the others.

• Drink££

  Bibo Wine Bar

  Sydney · Double Bay · New South Wales · Wine Bar

  Old-world wine list, leather banquettes, low lighting.

• Drink£

  The Waratah

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Pub

  Local boozer with cold schooners and zero pretence.

• Drink££

  Caterpillar Club

  Sydney · CBD · New South Wales · Cocktail Bar

  Speakeasy below the Stitch — long, dark, properly mixed drinks.

• Drink££

  Piccolo Bar

  Sydney · Kings Cross · New South Wales · Cocktail Bar

  Tiny Cross institution — espresso by day, negronis by night.

• Drink££

  Bar St Eloise

  Sydney · Potts Point · New South Wales · Wine Bar

  Mediterranean wine bar — order the focaccia, stay for one more.

• Drink£££

  Palmer & Co.

  Sydney · CBD · New South Wales · Cocktail Bar

  Prohibition-era cellar bar tucked down Abercrombie Lane.

• Drink£

  Arm's Length

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Wine Bar

  Pocket-sized wine bar, big personality, walk-ins only.

• Drink££

  Jam Gallery & Bar

  Sydney · Bondi Junction · New South Wales · Cocktail Bar

  Live music, late nights, easy crowd.

• Drink££

  Watsons Bay Hotel

  Sydney · Watsons Bay · New South Wales · Pub

  Ferry over, beer garden by the harbour — pure Sydney summer.

• Drink££

  The Beekeeper

  Sydney · Newtown · New South Wales · Cocktail Bar

  Hidden cocktail bar above a Thai restaurant — honey-based drinks.

• Drink£

  Bikini Bar

  Sydney · Bondi · New South Wales · Beach Bar

  Sand, spritzes, sundown — keep it simple.

• Activities£££

  BridgeClimb Sydney

  Sydney · The Rocks · New South Wales · Iconic

  Climb the arch of the Harbour Bridge — sunrise or twilight is the move.

  Best time

  Year-round (clearer skies Mar–May, Sep–Nov)

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $308 (≈ £160)

• Activities££

  Blue Mountains Day Trip

  Sydney · Katoomba · New South Wales · Day Trip

  Three Sisters lookout, eucalyptus haze, Wentworth Falls hike.

  Best time

  Sep–Nov & Mar–May

  Avg. cost

  Tours from AUD $150 (≈ £80)

• Activities££

  Whale Watching Cruise

  Sydney · Circular Quay · New South Wales · Wildlife

  Humpbacks breach right past the heads on the migration north and south.

  Best time

  Late May – November

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $89 (≈ £47)

• Activities£

  Royal National Park Coast Track

  Sydney · Royal NP · New South Wales · Hike

  Eleven-km cliff-edge walk from Bundeena to Wattamolla.

  Best time

  Apr–Oct (cooler, drier)

  Avg. cost

  Park entry AUD $12 per car

• Activities£

  Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk

  Sydney · Palm Beach · New South Wales · Hike

  Short, steep climb to the lighthouse and the best northern beaches view.

  Best time

  Sep–May

  Avg. cost

  Free

• Activities£

  Moonlight Cinema

  Sydney · Centennial Park · New South Wales · Evening

  BYO picnic and rug — outdoor films under the fig trees.

  Best time

  December – March

  Avg. cost

  Tickets from AUD $25 (≈ £13)

• Activities££

  Sip & Paint Session

  Sydney · Surry Hills · New South Wales · Creative

  Two hours, two glasses, one canvas — better than it sounds.

  Best time

  Year-round

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $65 (≈ £34)

• Activities££

  Pottery Class at Crokd

  Sydney · Marrickville · New South Wales · Creative

  Wheel-throwing class with the friendliest studio in the inner west.

  Best time

  Year-round

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $95 (≈ £50)

• Activities££

  Cooking Class at VIVE

  Sydney · CBD · New South Wales · Food Experience

  Hands-on small group classes — Thai, Italian, dumplings, take your pick.

  Best time

  Year-round

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $120 (≈ £63)

• Activities££

  Oyster Shucking Class

  Sydney · Sydney Fish Market · New South Wales · Food Experience

  Learn to shuck, then eat your work with a glass of something cold.

  Best time

  Year-round (oysters best May–Aug)

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $85 (≈ £45)

• Activities££

  Sunrise Harbour Kayak

  Sydney · Lavender Bay · New South Wales · On Water

  Paddle under the bridge as the city wakes up — bring a dry bag.

  Best time

  Oct–Apr

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $99 (≈ £52)

• Activities£££

  Gin Distilling Masterclass

  Sydney · Brookvale · New South Wales · Creative

  Blend your own bottle of gin at Manly Spirits — botanicals, tastings, take it home.

  Best time

  Year-round

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $189 (≈ £100)

• Food££

  Shelter Co. Brewing

  Margaret River · Western Australia · Lunch/Dinner

  Wood-fired pizza and small-batch beers in a barn-style brewery.

• Food£

  Riversmith

  Margaret River · Western Australia · Brunch

  All-day cafe by the river — bowls, toasties, and a strong flat white.

• Food£

  Southern Roasting Co.

  Albany · Western Australia · Brunch

  Small-batch roaster doing the best coffee on the south coast.

• Food£

  Raven Coffee

  Albany · Western Australia · Brunch

  Tiny corner cafe with serious coffee and warm banana bread.

• Food££

  Pawprint Chocolate

  Albany · Western Australia · Brunch

  Bean-to-bar chocolate cafe — hot chocolate flights and brownies.

• Food£

  Fredericks Cafe

  Perth · Mount Lawley · Western Australia · Brunch

  Bright neighbourhood brunch spot — eggs done properly, pastries on the counter.

• Food££

  Bread & Butter Bar

  Margaret River · Western Australia · Lunch/Dinner

  Sourdough-led wine bar — share plates, natural wine, easy crowd.

• Food££

  Taylor St Quarters

  Albany · Western Australia · Lunch/Dinner

  Heritage building, modern Australian menu — the south-coast lunch spot.

• Food£

  Ravy Country Kitchen

  Ravensthorpe · Western Australia · Brunch

  Honest country cafe — proper breakfasts and homemade pies on the Esperance run.

• Drink££

  White Star Hotel

  Albany · Western Australia · Pub

  Historic Albany pub — cold beer, schnitzels, live music on weekends.

• Activities£

  Fremantle Markets

  Fremantle · Western Australia

  Heritage market hall — produce, makers, food stalls, live buskers.

  Best time

  Fri–Sun, year-round

  Avg. cost

  Free entry

• Activities££

  Rottnest Island Day Trip

  Rottnest Island · Western Australia

  Hire a bike, find a quokka, swim at every other bay.

  Best time

  Sep–May

  Avg. cost

  Ferry from AUD $119 return (≈ £63)

• Activities££

  Margaret River Wine Tasting

  Margaret River · Western Australia

  Cabernet country — small-group tours hit four cellar doors and lunch.

  Best time

  Sep–May

  Avg. cost

  Tours from AUD $120 (≈ £63)

• Activities£££

  Orca Watching

  Bremer Bay · Western Australia

  The largest orca aggregation in the southern hemisphere — full-day offshore charter.

  Best time

  Mid-Jan – early April

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $385 (≈ £200)

• Activities£

  Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk

  Walpole · Western Australia

  Forty metres up in the tingle canopy — gentle, vertiginous, magic.

  Best time

  Year-round (best Sep–May)

  Avg. cost

  AUD $21 adult (≈ £11)

• Activities£

  Denmark Town & Coast

  Denmark · Western Australia

  Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks and a riverside town worth lingering in.

  Best time

  Nov–Apr

  Avg. cost

  Free

• Activities£

  Wave Rock

  Hyden · Western Australia

  A 15-metre granite wave 4 hours inland — strange, ancient, worth the drive.

  Best time

  Mar–Nov (cooler)

  Avg. cost

  AUD $15 per car

• Activities£

  Pilates on the Beach

  Esperance · Western Australia

  Sunrise mat class on white sand — bring a towel and your sense of humour.

  Best time

  Dec–Mar

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $25 (≈ £13)

• Activities££

  Historic Whaling Station

  Albany · Western Australia

  The last operating whaling station in the southern hemisphere — sobering, brilliantly done museum.

  Best time

  Year-round

  Avg. cost

  AUD $34 adult (≈ £18)

• Activities£

  Native Dog Beach

  Esperance · Western Australia

  Squeaky-white sand, turquoise water, almost always empty.

  Best time

  Nov–Apr

  Avg. cost

  Free

• Activities£

  Bremer Bay Beaches

  Bremer Bay · Western Australia

  Tiny south-coast town with some of the bluest water in Australia.

  Best time

  Dec–Apr

  Avg. cost

  Free

• Activities£

  Rotary Walk & Lookout

  Esperance · Western Australia

  Short climb above town for the full sweep of Esperance's coastline.

  Best time

  Year-round

  Avg. cost

  Free

• Activities£££

  Swim with Wild Dolphins

  Rockingham · Western Australia

  In-water encounter with the resident pod — small boat, marine biologists on board.

  Best time

  Sep–early June

  Avg. cost

  From AUD $235 (≈ £125)

• Accommodation££

  Bremer Bay Resort

  Bremer Bay · Western Australia

  Easy base for the orca season — pool, restaurant, walking distance to the beach.

• Accommodation£

  Hyden Hotel

  Hyden · Western Australia

  The pub-with-rooms next to Wave Rock — simple, friendly, exactly what you need.

• Accommodation£££

  Hilton Albany

  Albany · Western Australia

  Cliff-top hotel above Middleton Beach — sunrise from the balcony is the move.

• Accommodation££

  Hilton Garden Inn Busselton

  Busselton · Western Australia

  Walking distance to the iconic Busselton Jetty — modern, comfortable, well-priced.

• Accommodation£££

  The Adnate Perth

  Perth · Western Australia

  Art-led hotel wrapped in a Guido van Helten mural — rooftop pool, central location.

• Accommodation£££

  Black Barn Bowral

  Bowral · Southern Highlands · New South Wales

  Architectural barn-style stay in the Southern Highlands — fireplace, vineyards, weekend escape energy.

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• Accommodation££

  Escape 101

  Blue Mountains · New South Wales

  Cosy Blue Mountains cabin — bushwalks at the door, log fire when you get back.

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• Accommodation£££

  Binstay Darling Point

  Sydney · Darling Point · New South Wales

  Polished harbour-side apartment in one of Sydney's prettiest pockets.

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• Accommodation££

  Block Eight Estate

  Hunter Valley · New South Wales

  Vineyard stay in the Hunter — wine country mornings and long lazy lunches.

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