Australia’s 10 best food and wine festivals

Unleash your inner epicurean and plan your travel around Australia based on some of our best food and wine festivals.

By Carolyn Tate

Are there any better bedfellows than travel, food, and wine? 

If you love to sample the latest wares from local artisans, try cellar door tastings, and learn about where your food comes from - all with a healthy helping of entertainment and masterclasses - there are food and wine festivals dotted across our fair nation, and across the calendar, to keep you happy and well-fed all year.

You may not have to travel, of course. If you’re lucky, you might find one on your doorstep. Here are 10 of our favourites from around the country.

1. Good Food and Wine Show, Sydney, New South Wales

If flavour, flair, and fun are your thing, the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show is definitely going to tick your boxes. You’ll find the latest trends, new products and emerging producers, all along with cooking demonstrations, masterclasses, and a good amount of wine tasting.

When: June

Where: ICC Sydney

More info: Good Food and Wine Show

2. Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Victoria

We all know that Melbourne is one of Australia’s culinary capitals, and there is no bigger event on the foodie calendar here than the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. The festival features all that is best about trends and new products, but the flagship event is the World’s Longest Lunch, which hosts up to 1800 guests at the King’s Domain for a three-course lunch by a range of legendary local chefs.

When: March

Where: Federation Square is the hub, but activities happen all over Melbourne

More info: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 

3. Wild Harvest Seafood Festival, Mallacoota, Victoria

Join the locals and loyal visitors among Croajingolong National Park for succulent seafood feasts, oyster and champagne cruises, a lively seafood market, bush food walks, and fishing workshops. The vibe is decidedly laid-back, with nautical-themed events, and a wide range of seafood to try and learn new tricks with. Mallacoota was devastated by bushfires in 2019/20, and the Seafood Festival is one way the town comes together to celebrate its recovery and community spirit. Be sure to book a few extra nights to show your support and take in the pristine beaches and national park.

When: April

Where: Various sites around Mallacota

More info: Wild Harvest Seafood Festival

4. Canberra Beer and Cider Festival, Australian Capital Territory

If beer and cider are more your thing, you can’t go past this opportunity to sample from up to 250 craft beers, ciders, spirits and wine (pro tip: don’t try them all!). You’ll also find live entertainment, gourmet food stalls and trucks, and fun games and giveaways.

When: March

Where: Batman St, Gooreen St, and the carpark of the Mercure Hotel

More info: Canberra Beer and Cider Festival

5. The Curated Plate, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Take 10 delicious days to celebrate the Sunshine Coast’s local producers, restaurants, experiences, chefs, and unique natural assets from the sea to the hinterland - or choose the events that appeal to you. The calendar always includes plenty of opportunity to immerse yourself in the flavours of the region and connect with growers, producers, and chefs through a range of memorable experiences.

When: July/August

Where: Various sites along the Sunshine Coast

More info: The Curated Plate 

6. Feast of the Senses, Innisfail, Queensland

North Queensland’s premier tropical food experience, Feast of the Senses showcases the Cassowary Coast’s impressive variety of rare and exotic fruits, along with an impressive range of local produce including meat, seafoods, herbs, spices and wine. This is truly a unique food festival experience, which goes beyond just the food - it’s also a celebration of this vibrant and multicultural community, and the home of the Guiness World Record-certified world’s longest banana split.

When: March

Where: Edith St

More info: Feast of the Senses

7. Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu (Taste of Kakadu), Northern Territory

This cultural food festival likes to say it’s been 65,000 years in the making, and it provides a sensational program of events that invite you to immerse yourself in a stimulating journey of the senses. Set within World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, Taste of Kakadu offers a bush food experience that is second to none, as well as a range of concerts, demonstrations, cultural activities and workshops, where you can learn traditional cooking techniques, spear making, painting, dancing.

When: May

Where: Kakadu National Park

More info: Parks Australia

8. Mid-Winter Festival, Huon Valley, Tasmania

If you like your food festivals with a medieval touch, head to Huon Valley for Morris dancing, pot and pan banging, and a ceremonial Burning Man. The Mid-Winter Festival is a celebration of the region’s rich apple picking history, and at its core (pun intended) is the wassail: the ages-old tradition of scaring evil spirits from the orchard to encourage a bumper crop. You’ll also see Tassie’s best folk-funk bands, a pagan costume competition, and some of the best storytellers around.

When: July

Where: Willie’s Apple Shed, 2064 Huon Highway

More info: Huon Valley Tas

9. Taste of Summer, Hobart, Tasmania

Tasmania is no slouch when it comes to top quality produce, and Taste of Summer is a great opportunity to experience it all in the one place. Think Tasmanian Oyster Co, Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Co, Gillespie’s ginger beer, Plenty Cider, Shambles Brewery, and Fork It Farm - and that’s just the beginning. You can also enjoy meals from some of the Apple Isle’s favourite restaurateurs and enjoy live entertainment - all along the stunning Hobart waterfront.

When: December/January

Where: Salamanca waterfront

More info: Taste of Summer

10. Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival, Western Australia

We love it when a festival niches down, and what better niche than truffles? This new kid on the festival block just started in 2023, but it promises to become a fast favourite on the scene. Come along to experience the magic of truffles, while tasting some of the finest truffle cuisine in the world - paired with the best local wines, naturally. This festival brings together the best truffle producers, winemakers and chefs for a weekend of delicious food and wine, including degustation dinners, truffles by twilight, and cellar door tastings.

When: June

Where: Manjimup, Pemberton, Northcliffe, Nannup and surrounding areas

More info: Manjimup Truffle and Wine Festival