Travel for food, and is Australia the place we think of? No. You think of America and its fast food chains, Italy for its cheese and carbs and Vietnam for healthy and filling street food and pho. Don’t be fooled though, Australia has more to offer than a hot climate, it has good food and wine.

Australia’s valleys have given it a thriving wine scene, and its food has been inspired by multiculturalism and groups that have settled in Australia. The wine scene has over 2,400 wineries apparently, and the climate of Australia means it is easy to grow grapes and ferment them. There are wine tours of all types across Australia, private tastings, group tours, themed ones and blind wine tastings.

Adelaide in South Australia is one of Australia’s wine regions, popular thanks to the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. New South Wales also has many wine regions, Hunter Valley and Mudgee, and Swan Valley in the popular Swan District, north of Perth.

The Swan District is one of Australia’s oldest wine-producing regions and is an expert on sweet wines. The best exports that Swan Valley and that area have are Port and Muscat. Also in the Western Australian Region and popular for its wine tours, craft beer and scenery is Margaret River. Margaret River is also close to Perth and here they produce Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

It does produce wine and in Margaret Valley, there are also wine tours available, the Wines For Dudes Tours Of Margaret River covers most of the region and is close to the town of Margaret River. It may not be hidden up the hills like Swan Valley, but it’s still a hotspot for wine lovers and is accessible to those travelling from Perth, a mere three hours away.

Australia’s wine is an export they love to boast about, but sometimes its food goes under the radar. When visiting Down Under, you should take time to look at their food, not just their drink!

1.   Lamingtons

A lamington is a sweet treat to try when visiting Australia. A hot drink and a lamington go well together as an afternoon snack if you fancy it.

Lamingtons are sponge cakes dipped in chocolate and then once covered they are covered again with desiccated coconut pieces. They were invented in Queensland in the 20th century by a chef of Lord Lamington, the 8th governor of the state. Lamingtons even have a national holiday on July 21st, National Lamington Day.

The best places to get lamingtons in Australia are usually the cafes or the bakeries, but anywhere in Queensland is a safe bet for an authentic one.

2.   Meat Pies

Britain already has their version of a meat pie, a steak and ale pie, but an Australian meat pie might have it beat. Shortcrust pastry is filled with slow-cooked beef and topped with gravy. It sometimes has onion added for flavour, but the star of the show is the pastry and the meat is the supporting actor!

The recipe for a meat pie is nice and simple and it is sold across Australia. The meat pie was introduced to Australia by British settlers. However, the first Australian meat pie was produced by L.T. McClure in a bakery in Bendigo, Melbourne. In Melbourne, the best cafes in the city will sell meat pies, so keep an eye out if you go there!

3.   Kangaroo Steak

Kangaroo steak is a native dish to Australia, meat made from different cuts and served like beef steak in restaurants.

The sausages are the funniest part of kangaroo meat being sold in Aussieland. Kangaroo sausages are nicknamed ‘Kanga Bangas’. They’re a gym bro’s heaven because the meat is lean and lower in calories than a regular steak which is good news if you’re trying to build muscle.

Kanga Banga recipes usually involve pairing meat with mashed potatoes or other vegetables. People who are not big meat eaters can still enjoy kangaroo steaks because they aren’t heavy and are healthy for you. A little weird, but healthy.

Other ways that kangaroo meat is eaten in Australia include in a burger, grilled like a steak, in a stew and even in a salad for those missing the leaves!

4.   Tim Tams

A chocolate biscuit made from malted biscuit and filled with chocolate, Tim Tams goes way back to the 1950s. Tim Tams are made by food manufacturer Arnott’s and one of their employees invented them.

Tim Tams are mostly considered a snack, a late afternoon pick-me-up or something to have with your hot drink, but you can pair them with anything and they still taste amazing.

If that won’t convince you to try them, Kim Kardashian once said she loves Tim Tams as a snack and when she was on a trip to Australia, her fans gave her dozens of them!