It’s a view that never tires, the crashing waves, the aqua water, the bronzed bodies on Bondi beach. And it’s a restaurant that always feels fresh and fun, despite being a stalwart on the Sydney scene. Chef Monty Koludrovic’s elegant, modern-Italian food is as pleasing as the blue view out the window, delivered by attentive waiters, most with an Italian accent to keep that holiday feeling alive. 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach, Sydney; idrb.com.

They landed on the scene with their impressive selection of vermouths, but it’s an equal tie for first place between the drinks, the moreish tamarind butter prawn dish and the chic alfresco setting at Barangaroo – Sydney’s hottest new waterfront dining precinct. Chef Hamish Ingham made his mark at Bar H in Surry Hills for his inspired mash-up of Asian and Australian native ingredients, and that mastery continues at Banksii with pretty plates designed to share. 11/33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, Sydney; banksii.sydney

Seemingly floating above the Brisbane River, the lofty open-plan restaurant is effortlessly modern and sophisticated, while maintaining a quintessentially relaxed Queensland vibe. Chef Richard Ousby’s menu reads like a line-up of the freshest local produce – tuna ceviche from Walker Seafoods on the Sunshine Coast glistening with a ruby grapefruit dressing, daily market fish, or Moreton Bay bug salad with green mango and sorrel. This is upmarket dining, Queensland-style. Brisbane River, Sidon Street, South Bank; stokehouseq.com.au.

Voted number one in the latest Delicious. 100 Victoria, Pt Leo Estate, a $50 million winery-cum-modern sculpture park on the Westernport-side of the Mornington Peninsula, redefines the art of dining. The view from the dramatic property sweeps across the rolling vines and art installations to Western Port and the ocean beyond. Hungry? Pull up a seat at Pt Leo Restaurant or the more refined 45-seater Laura, both under the capable hands of chef Phil Wood, who ran Sydney’s Rockpool kitchen before moving to Victoria. 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks; tleoestate.com.au.

When you’re recognised among the best restaurants in the world, the view shouldn’t matter that much, but the rolling Victorian countryside around Birregurra completes the picture at chef Dan Hunter’s rural fine-diner Brae. Hunter’s passion for local produce and finding new ways with Australian native ingredients, along with his eye for detail and extraordinary creative capabilities, make Brae one for the bucket list. 4285 Cape Otway Road, Birregurra; braerestaurant.com.

While the front-row ocean view is nothing short of dramatic, the laid-back atmosphere at this Burleigh Heads icon is enough to make you want to kick your shoes off. Start with something from the raw bar, kingfish sashimi perhaps, or their signature fried Moreton Bay bug roll, before rolling into a feast of pan-Asian flavours and Aussie seafood. 3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads; rickshores.com.au.

The only thing to stay the same at Sydney’s new-look Quay restaurant is that view of Sydney Harbour, punctuated by the Opera House at one end and the Harbour Bridge on the other. Chef Peter Gilmore has a new menu to match the new (tablecloth-free) interior at this fine-dining institution. While we mourn his iconic snow egg, we welcome his new ‘White Coral’ dessert: “The dish is a very light white chocolate ganache that has been super aerated under vacuum and then frozen with liquid nitrogen. The effect is a light, porous structure that resembles an organic piece of white coral. This is served on a feijoa ice cream with a coconut cream. The white coral is shattered with a spoon by the diner and the flavours of feijoa, coconut and white chocolate harmonise in a light and refreshing, yet intense way,” says Gilmore.

The stunning water views are not the only things in common between the Otto outposts in Brisbane and Sydney. Impeccable Italian food rooted in tradition is also a hallmark of a long lunch at either location of this breezy fine-diner. An Aperol Spritz to start and silky handmade Moreton Bay blue swimmer crab and mascarpone ravioli are a highlight, whether you are overlooking the Brisbane River or Sydney Harbour. ottoristorante.com.au

Go for the lobster pasta and the leafy outlook over Sydney’s Pittwater. Merivale’s most northerly outpost is a lesson in 1930s European brasserie dining intermixed with the laidback vibe of Sydney’s northern beaches. Want to make that view last a little longer? Why not take a seaplane home? 2 Kalinya Street, Newport; merivale.com/venues/berts

The swaying palm trees, the full moon reflected in the Coral Sea, the refreshing breeze dancing between the beachfront tables – it’s hard to picture a more idyllic spot to dine than Nu Nu at Palm Cove in Northern Queensland, and we haven’t even got to the menu yet. Tropical igredients convey the sensual surrounds, perhaps in a corn and pumpkin rice porridge studded with tiger prawns, or a pork belly curry of wild ginger, pineapple, turmeric and coconut. 1 Veivers Road, Palm Cove; nunu.com.au

Whether you are looking at the mesmerising James Turrell artworks in the vast dining room, or the activity on the River Derwent beyond, MONA’s new restaurant Faro is a unique dining experience. The restaurant is part of a new addition to Hobart’s most famous attraction and is encased in a 13-metre-high glass tepee on the river’s edge. The food is as much a feature – beautifully plated share plates with a modern Spanish accent. There’s sangria and a variety of Spanish sherries to sip at the bar or your table with plates of oily jamon Iberico and smoked mozzarella empanadas. 655 Main Road, Berriedale; mona.net.au/eat-drink/faro

Catching the sunset over the ocean at Freemantle’s Bib & Tucker is a Perth dining highlight. Whether you’re on the deck or inside the all-glass open-plan restaurant, you’ll be bathed in golden light as the sun sets over Leighton Beach. The menu applies global inspiration to local WA produce, from Shark Bay whiting tacos to Freemantle octopus with nduja and chimichurri. It’s relaxed mod-Oz all the way when it comes to the daily breakfast offering, which is the perfect post-swim sustenance in the form of healthy green goddess bowls, house-baked banana and coconut loaf, and rhubarb Bircher muesli. 18 Leighton Beach Boulevard, North Fremantle; bibandtucker.net.au

The restaurant at Vasse Felix winery in the Margaret River is hailed as one of the best in the region and is the spot for a long lunch. Take in the sweeping views of the oldest vines in the area as you enjoy new executive chef Brendan Pratt’s modern fine-dining menu, which could include kingfish with cucumber and endive served with a refreshing Vasse Felix Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, or dry-aged duck with umeboshi, brassica and duck broth paired with an estate shiraz. After lunch, check out the art gallery or take a stroll through the sculpture walk that winds through the vines. Caves Road and Tom Cullity Drive, Margaret River; vassefelix.com.au.

Southern Ocean Lodge, perched on the craggy cliffs of Australia’s ‘Galapagos’, aka Kangaroo Island, is as close to the edge of the earth as you can get. This luxe eco-resort has all-inclusive stays that include accommodation, activities, dining and endless views of ocean and wilderness in abundance. Executive Chef Asher Blackford’s daily changing tasting menu puts the island’s bounty on your plate, showcasing local, sustainable produce as the mighty Southern Ocean crashes on the seal-covered rocks below. Hanson Bay Road, Kingscote; southernoceanlodge.com.au

Hobart’s Aloft is more than just a room with a (stunning) view. The pared-back, Scandi-esque dining room sits at the end of Brooke Street Pier and has magnificent views of Sullivans Cove and beyond, but it’ll be the delicate, innovative Asian-inspired plates from co-owners, chefs Christian Ryan and Glenn Byrnes you’ll quickly focus on. From oysters and posh master stock pigs’ ear beer snacks to have with an Umeshu spritz or glass of orange wine, to beef tartare with yuzu, XO mussels and fragrant Indonesian fish curry, there’s an understated sophistication from start to finish. Pier one, Brooke St, Hobart; aloftrestaurant.com.