Unconventional food experiences in Australia
Image adapted from @___dxj___, @darenbergwine & @thelouisebarossa
Did a trip to Australia really take place if you didn’t go cafe-hopping? That said, there comes a point where you’ve sipped one too many cuppas and need a refreshing change in scenery from the usual industrial-chic cafe settings.
Instead, here are 8 unconventional food experiences in South Australia so you can dine amidst kangaroos, within a glass Rubik’s cube or from the top of a peninsula plateau overlooking the sea.
1. d’Arenberg Cube – visit a cube house with built-in museum and fine-dining restaurant
Image credit: @overlandtravellers
Talk about admiring artwork from within a building that looks like a work of art itself. The d’Arenberg Cube (AUD$10 entry fee, approx. SGD$9.60) is a restaurant, winery and art gallery all-in-one.
Fun fact: d’Arenberg Cube is the first restaurant in Australia to use a 3D food printer.
Image adapted from @thecuberestaurant: left & right
Forget everything you know about snooty museum experiences, though. d’Arenberg’s Alternate Realities Museum is an interactive exhibit where you can make use of your smartphone’s technology to embark on multi-sensory journeys such as a “virtual fermenter” and “wine aroma zone”.
Image credit: @darenbergwine
The glass windows enable panoramic views of the region while you eat, drink and be merry in their special Tasting Room – complimentary wine-sampling included! If you want to take the sight-seeing one step further, they even offer private helicopter tours complete with an 8-course meal and wine degustation. Privately hosted Premium Wine Flights can also be booked for AUD$40 (approx. SGD$38.20) per person.
Address: 58 Osborn Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171, Australia
Opening hours: 10AM – 5PM daily
Telephone: +61 8 8329 4888
2. Off Piste Tours – have a scenic lunch overlooking an entire peninsula
If chowing down while facing city skylines has gotten stale for you, switch things up with a meal accompanied by crystal clear, unblocked views of Mother Nature’s flawlessly crafted landscapes instead.
Image credit: Off Piste Tours
Off Piste Tours offers the chance for you to cruise to picture-perfect locations in the comfort and terrain versatility of a four-wheel drive. A knowledgeable chauffeur will be dishing out fascinating tales of Aussie history along the journey, including Aboriginal folklore rich in cultural heritage.
Image credit: Off Piste Tours
Starting from AUD$299 per person (approx. SGD$290), choose from a multitude of tours based on what sort of sights tickle your fancy – including mountaintops, desert plateaus and oceansides. Food and beverages aren’t the only extensive menu here!
Address: 4 High St, Willunga SA 5172, Australia
Tour bookings: info@offpistetours.com.au
Telephone: +61 (0) 423 725 409
3. Barossa – enjoy breakfast among friendly kangaroos
Anyone who’s been on a road trip down rural Australia would have had the pleasure of spotting many a cute kanga from within the car. If you’re after a more up-close encounter, however, mark your calendars for a trip between now till mid-May, and again from mid-September onwards.
Image credit: The Louise
Other than the winter off-season from June to August, 5-star luxury lodge The Louise offers a Breakfast With Kangaroos tour for guests on the daily. Get ferried from your luxury room to a conservation park nearby, brimming with native flora and fauna.
Image credit: @thelouisebarossa
Your friendly chauffeur will then proceed to lay out a picnic breakfast as you find company among the families of kangaroos frolicking in the vicinity. Fairytale vibes as you enjoy a sumptuous meal while surrounded by nature and wildlife are sure to ensue.
Address: 375 Seppeltsfield Rd, Marananga SA 5355, Australia
Tour bookings: stay@thelouise.com.au
Telephone: +61 8 8562 2722
4. Coffin Bay – shuck your own oysters while chilling in the sea
With its unique texture and strong flavours, oysters are certainly an acquired taste. If you belong in the camp of diehard oyster aficionados though, this experience will bring you straight to the source.
Image credit: @storyunheard
These pristine waters are home to rows upon rows of oyster farms. For AUD$145 per person (approx. SGD$140), you’ll get 3 hours of freedom to explore the bay, shuck your own oysters and enjoy them fresh out of the sea.
Image credit: @nashi_tashi_
Your tour guide will be none other than the farmers of Coffin Bay, ever-ready to share fascinating tidbits of info about the area as well as insider tips on oyster rearing…and consumption!
Address: 9 Martindale St, Coffin Bay SA 5607, Australia
Tour bookings: info@coffinbayoysters.com.au
Telephone: +61 428 261 806
5. Beerenberg Farm – go strawberry-picking and reward yourself with berry ice cream
Occurring seasonally from November to April every year, berry-picking is a whimsical activity that’s universally enjoyed regardless of age. You get to channel your inner Harvest Moon farmer persona, go scavenging for the plumpest and most vibrant strawberries and undoubtedly the best part? Scarfing down the juicy rewards of your hard work afterwards.
The highly Instagrammable strawberry fields are a definite plus point!
Image credit: @___dxj___
For the low price of AUD$4 per person (approx. SGD$3.90), Beerenberg Farm lets you run wild and free throughout their strawberry patch and pick fresh berries to your heart’s content. Kids aged 12 and under can do so for free!
Image credit: @arintmt.things
Proceed to the farm shop where your cartons will be charged at an affordable AUD$10.95 per kilogram (approx. SGD$10.60). Pick up some delicious homemade Strawberry Ice Cream (AUD$5.95, approx. SGD$5.80) while you’re there, a refreshing sweet treat to beat the heat.
Their best sellers other than Strawberry Jam include Chilli & Lime Dressing, Balsamic Beetroot Relish and Tangy Lemon Curd. Is your mouth watering yet?
Image credit: @beerenbergfarm
Don’t fret if your Aussie vacation’s not in the Summer, though. The Beerenberg Farm Shop is open year-round to serve up hefty doses of high-quality jams, chutneys and sauces all made with love.
You’re likely to be spoilt for choice, so don’t miss out on their Tasting Tour complete with a gift bag of Beerenberg goodies to bring home.
Address: 2106 Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf SA 5245, Australia
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM daily
Telephone: +61 8 8388 7272
6. Jacob’s Creek – blend your own signature wine and sip it on a gourmet picnic
It’s one thing to love wine, but if you’re particularly picky about every subtle taste and aroma there is in your tipple, it might be worth blending your very own signature concoction.
Image credit: @jacobscreekwine
An established brand not only in its native land but as an international export we enjoy in local stores as well, Jacob’s Creek needs no introduction. Swing by their Barossa Valley visitor centre and be treated to a tour of their thriving vineyards, where all the magic comes from.
Chris Hemsworth having a go at wine-making. That’s right, it’s Thor with his hammer!
Image credit: @jacobscreekwine
For just AUD$65 per person (approx SGD$62), try your hand at blending a signature wine complete with a personalised bottle. It makes for an ideal gift, a memorable souvenir, or just something out of the ordinary to display for maximum braggings rights. An exclusive, original “me” flavour? Yes, please!
Address: 2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat SA 5352, Australia
Opening hours: 10AM – 5PM daily
Telephone: +61 8 8521 3000
7. Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop – feast your way through a quaint orchard house
True-blue Aussies recognise Maggie Beer as a brand name synonymous with gourmet and artisanal offerings. Their products are rapidly snapped up and the woman behind it all – Maggie Beer herself – is lauded as a culinary queen.
Image credit: @jiekhang_
Her Instagram page is a steady stream of drool-worthy dishes and, thanks to the Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, you can realise those food fantasies after many a hunger-inducing scroll.
Image credit: @ryel_moments
The idyllic scenery and quaint farmhouse setting certainly adds to the gastronomical experience! Indulge in world-class concoctions – like this house-baked bread with stracciatella di bufala (buffalo cheese with grilled eggplant, crisp buckwheat, cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar) as you marvel at the stunning Barossa Valley sights.
Address: 50 Pheasant Farm Rd, Nuriootpa SA 5355, Australia
Opening hours: 10.30AM – 5PM daily
Telephone: +61 8 8562 4477
8. Adelaide Central Market – shop a farmers’ market in the middle of the city
You can fly a Singaporean out of the country, but you can’t take the Lion City out of them. The Adelaide Central Market is a must-visit for city slickers yearning for good ol’ farmers’ market vibes without having to trudge all the way to rural outskirts.
Image credit: @lakshanh
Support humble family businesses peddling farm-fresh produce and ocean catches, as well as lovingly baked pastries and hipster delights without the hefty cafe price tag.
Image adapted from: The City Lane
Nestled in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD, the highly accessible space is an eclectic blend of quaint stalls plus new-age retailers. It’s also the go-to spot to stock up on non-tacky souvenirs that your friends will actually love.
Fair warning, yummy distractions line the market’s perimeter in the form of irresistible street-style snacks.
Image credit: @adelcentralmarket
For those stumped on where to even begin, we recommend a guided Market Tour encompassing insider tips from the locals, must-visit hotspots and even the history of the establishment.
Price points range from AUD$35 to AUD$350 (approx. SGD$33.50 to SGD$334.80) so you’re sure to find something that matches your interests as well as your budget.
Address: 44-60 Gouger St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Opening hours: Tue 7AM – 5.30PM | Wed & Thur 9AM – 5.30PM | Fri 7AM – 9PM | Sat 7AM – 3PM | Closed on Sun & Mon
Telephone: +61 8 8203 7494
South Australia food experiences
If your tummy’s rumbling by now and you’re itching to hop on a plane headed Down Under, you’d be pleased to know that you can tick all these activities off your itinerary conveniently in one state.
On top of being a wildlife paradise, South Australia is home to food experiences that take your standard three-meals-a-day routine and kicks things up several notches.
For foodie travellers whose idea of a perfect vacation is to “eat, chill, and eat a little more” endlessly throughout the trip, ditch those run-of-the-mill plans and elevate your dining adventures today.
Explore more of what South Australia has to offer here
This post was brought to you by Tourism Australia.