Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Margarita Daze, Umina BeachCredit: Destination NSW
Delicious meals on available at Margarita Daze, Umina Beach.
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This small region punches above its weight when it comes to dining out, with a wealth of excellent cafes and restaurants as well as many passionate producers, partly due to the influx in recent years of ex-big city hospitality pros looking for a better work-life balance. Just an hour north of Sydney (or a 30-minute ferry ride from Palm Beach), the Central Coast makes a convenient weekend destination, where you can sip and snack your way through cruisy seaside towns and the buzzy centre of Gosford. From a garden distillery to bright seaside diners, here’s where to dine on the Central Coast.
The Box on the Water, Ettalong Beach
For a memorable meal, have lunch at Ettalong Beach’s restaurant The Box on the Water – with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sea breeze in on warm days as you dine, you’ll feel relaxed immediately. Have a picnic on the sand with an egg and bacon roll or fish and chips from the beach kiosk or dine at the light-filled restaurant for Sydney rock oysters followed by Goan fish curry or Thai-flavoured black mussels, all while enjoying panoramic views of idyllic Broken Bay. Watch the water turn slowly golden on Fridays to Sundays between 3pm and 5.30pm with happy hour drinks and a box of prawns or a cheese plate.
The Boathouse Patonga Hotel
Catch the ferry from Palm Beach and a sea of white umbrellas beckons you as you approach Patonga Wharf. Overlooking the postcard-worthy sleepy bay, Boathouse Patonga Hotel houses a laidback pub serving classics as well as prawn linguine with lumpfish caviar, tiger prawns and oysters – the perfect place to kill a sunny afternoon. If you’re passing through, grab a simple breakfast or takeaway fish and chips from the kiosk, but staying the night is highly recommended. The chic boutique apartments nod to the town’s fishing history with tasteful nautical touches and in-room dining.
The BOX on the Water, Ettalong Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying evening drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.
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The BOX on the Water, Ettalong Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying evening drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.
Patonga Wharf, Patonga Credit: Destination Central Coast
Aerial overlooking Paronga Wharf, Patonga.
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Patonga Wharf, Patonga Credit: Destination Central Coast
Aerial overlooking Paronga Wharf, Patonga.
Distillery Botanica, Erina
Tucked away in a bushy pocket of Erina, a 10-minute drive from Gosford, Distillery Botanica is the birthplace of Moore’s Dry Gin (the first Australian gin to win gold at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition) and Mr Black coffee liqueur, creations of herbalist and distiller Philip Moore. Pop in for a tasting or join a garden and distillery tour that takes you through the unique plants and botanicals grown on site. Stick around for lunch in the onsite cocktail bar, Bar Botanica (there’s live jazz on the weekend) and leave room for a Mr Goaty Gelato, which is churned on site, or an affogato using housemade liqueurs.
Six String Brewing Co, Erina
In walking distance from Distillery Botanica, find independent brewery Six String Brewing Co, a culmination of the owners’ two loves: beer and rock’n’roll. As well as a core range of six ales, lagers and IPAs, Six String produces seasonal one-offs, as well as hard lemonade. Tours are run every Saturday at 11am (bookings essential) where you can get into the nitty gritty of brewing and sample the beers. Beer needs hearty bar food, and the kitchen delivers: burgers are made with wagyu beef and snacks include a basket of wings or loaded fries.
Distillery Botanica, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying ice-creams at Distillery Botanica, Erina.
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Distillery Botanica, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying ice-creams at Distillery Botanica, Erina.
Six String Brewing Company, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beer tastings at the Six String Brewing Company brewery in Erina.
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Six String Brewing Company, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beer tastings at the Six String Brewing Company brewery in Erina.
Lago Cucina, Budgewoi
Located on level one of the Budgewoi Hotel, Lago Cucina is a chic addition to the sleepy lakeside town. With terrazzo counters, rattan chairs and whitewashed walls, this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is Italian at its best. Try dishes that let produce sing such as handmade burrata with cherry tomatoes, zucchini flowers, truffle and mushroom raviolo, and sample local seafood through dishes including crab linguine and calamari fritti. With a selection of woodfired pizzas, a kid’s menu and a bespoke cocktail list, it ticks all the boxes, whether you’re meeting up with friends or bringing the whole family.
Burnt Honey Bakery, Copacabana and Long Jetty
First opening in 2019 in Copacabana, Burnt Honey Bakery quickly gained a cult following due to its wide range of sourdough bread, perfect croissants and community-minded approach. That popularity led them to open Burnt Honey Bakers Pantry at Long Jetty, which sells a curated selection of cookbooks, specialised baking ingredients, tools and pantry goods alongside pastries. Try one of their famous brown sugar cinnamon buns with burnt butter glaze and take home a few loaves of sourdough and a jar of sour cherry and almond biscotti. Keep an eye on their website for pastry masterclasses so you can recreate these delectable treats at home.
Burnt Honey, Copacabana Credit: Nikki To
Fresh pastries available from Burnt Honey cafe, Copacobana on the Central Coast.
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Burnt Honey, Copacabana Credit: Nikki To
Fresh pastries available from Burnt Honey cafe, Copacobana on the Central Coast.