Taste the flavours of Australia

Australia beckons with a tempting line-up for food and wine lovers that promises to satisfy every palate.

Explore the wine regions of New South Wales where you'll have the opportunity to experience true country hospitality, and enjoy free cellar door tastings of many award winning wines. Wine regions such as the Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Orange and the Riverina offer a rich variety of wines, as well as an array of fresh produce.

Dining out in Sydney is an occasion not to be missed. Enjoy fresh seafood at your table overlooking the harbour. Buy directly from one of the many fresh produce markets around the city, or sit back in one of the sidewalk cafes and enjoy the sights, choosing from an endless choice of multi-cultural cuisine. Top food precincts in the city include East Circular Quay, The Rocks, Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour.

For a more relaxing culinary experience, let the food and wine trails of South Australia lead you through historic villages and towns. Renowned for its famous regions like the Coonawarra and the Clare Valley, South Australia is home to more than 200 cellar doors. Visitors are offered the opportunity to discover the famous vineyards of the Barossa Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula and South Australia's newest wine region, the Adelaide Hills.

In the Barossa, you can experience the "Butcher, Baker and Winemaker Trail" or, in the Clare Valley, follow the "Riesling Trail" between Clare and Auburn. Both trails offer visitors an eclectic mix of picturesque countryside and the chance to stop and sample the regions' finest fare.

Tasmania's spectacular landscape is home to more than 100 vineyards located in six distinct regions, Hobart and the Coal River, Huon/Channel, East Coast, Pipers Brook, the Tamar Valley and North West. Experience Hobart's Taste of Tasmania festival in January, where the rich diversity of each region is celebrated - from gleaming wines and fresh produce, to friendly people and magnificent backdrops.

When travelling through Tasmania, experience the sweet orchard fruit from the Huon region and indulge in the flavours of plump oysters, freshly-caught salmon, crayfish and special delicacies like pickled Tasman Peninsula octopus.

Victoria offers an array of more than 220 wineries in 21 different regions. Enjoy the area's unique cuisine incorporating multi-cultural influences from Victoria's history. The annual Melbourne Wine and Food Festival showcases Victoria's top restaurants, wineries and specialty food producers.

Boasting stunning scenery, home to more than 100 vineyards, 40 cellars and an extensive range of cafes and restaurants, Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula offers something for every travel menu. Alternatively, take a tour of the spectacular Yarra Valley, home to some of Australia's most magnificent wines and boutique restaurants.

For further information, visit www.australia.com.

Make sure you join the OZ e-Travel Club when you visit the site. Club members receive monthly e-mail bulletins on new and exciting travel ideas and the latest deals to Australia.

* For those who love good food, several Australian chefs and wine makers will be serving up a taste of Australia for visitors to the Australian stand at The Food Show on 22- 24 June 2001, New Zealand Expo Centre, Greenlane, Auckland.