Milton is really the little NSW South Coast town that could. Sydneysiders who missed the boat when it comes to making that long-talked-about sea change may find solace with a visit to Milk Haus, the eatery housed in a former cheese factory. Culinary nomads should also factor in a visit to Small Town Provisions to learn about local artisan producers such as Duro pasta. The Milton Hotel and restaurant Nomah are also driving tourism to the Shoalhaven region. The acclaimed Cupitt’s Estate is just a 10-minute detour from the main street of Milton. Book a wine-tasting tour followed by dinner at the onsite restaurant and a weekend stay in one of the luxury pods.

Bowral is on our radar for its gardens and antique shops, but foodie landmarks should also be the focus of a visit to this town in the Southern Highlands just 90-minutes from Sydney. The best places for a bite in Bowral lean into the country charm: pinball from coffee at Nick’s to breakfast at light-filled café The Press Shop to a wine tasting in the barrel room at Centennial Vineyards. Bendooley Estate is worth a visit for lunch amid its cosy book barn, built early last century. Your itinerary will continue to improve after checking into the Berida Hotel and enjoying dinner in the elegant Bistro Sociale dining room.

Orange will always squeeze in to a list of best towns in Australia for eating and drinking as its role in the nation’s regional food and wine renaissance cannot be underestimated. Pull on your Blundstones so you look the part when you stop by Ferment, where the list of local wines has been condensed for your convenience and available in DIY dispensers. Visit Philip Shaw for a traditional tasting flight, then nab a table at Agrestic Grocer or the raucous Mr Lim. Head off the highway to Printhie Wines just outside town in Nashvale for hyperlocal eats. And take an hour-long detour to enjoy lunch at the charming Rockley Pub – revived by celebrity chef Matt Moran. Schedule a return visit during Orange F.O.O.D. Week combined with a stay at Oriana Orange.

Eating and drinking your way around Mudgee is made easy due to the compact nature of the town. Agrotourism is on the rise in the region as a number of great wineries also have rustic restaurants with refined offerings of food and wine. There’s Lowe Family Wine Co’s acclaimed Zin House, Robert Stein Winery’s Pipeclay Pumphouse and the Cellar by Gilbert Family Wines. The Barn at Blue Wren Farm and Roth’s Wine Bar should also be on your radar while in the region. Pick up a bottle of wine to take back to your adults-only glamping tent at Sierra Escape, where you will find a bathtub under the stars.

Bellingen has a bit of Byron Bay energy before it went boom. And we dare you to find a better regional town in northern NSW for eating and drinking. Just because your road trip is centred around surfing doesn’t mean you can’t take time out to explore the boho village of Bello. It’s here you’ll find bars bursting with character, a strong live music scene and venues purpose-built for people watching. Grab a pastry and browse the homewares at HYDE Bellingen. Dine on hyperlocal fare at Three Blue Ducks Bellingen. Sip on a craft brew at Bellingen Brewing Co. Leave the salt from the sea in your hair as you make your way to Wednesday arvo Bellingen Farmers & Producers Market.

Richmond is well known for its Georgian architecture. But those embarking on the ultimate Tassie road trip will also find the village has a vibrant eating and drinking scene, with many of its elegant buildings reimagined as cafes, teahouses and bakeries. Grab a loaf of woodfired bread from Richmond Bakery. Sample a glass of pinot noir at picturesque Pooley Wines. Pick up some pantry staples from larder & vin. And sip on a handcrafted single malt whisky from the boutique Killara Distillery. The charming town of Richmond, Tasmania, offers easy access to many of the Coal River Valley’s cellar doors such as Riversdale Estate where you can stay overnight in a French provincial cottage. Ooh la-la.

It may be touristy but who cares? It’s 100 per cent compulsory to get your claws into a lobster roll at Lobster Shack Tasmania, one of the best stops to make on a road trip along Tassie’s East Coast. You’ll feel a sense of camaraderie in the car park where locals and visitors queue for the coveted delicacy stuffed with fresh-off-the-boat lobster, chives and lettuce on a milk bun slathered with sauce. Before leaving Bicheno stop by the Waubs Harbour Distillery where you can sample whisky with ocean views. Bicheno also harbours a few other gems: the Bicheno Brewing and Farm Shed East Coast Wine Centre where you can taste wines from 24 local vineyards and tailor a charcuterie board to your taste.

You won’t need to worry about the jitters from caffeine withdrawal when burning down the highway toward Bright. Fuel your alpine adventures in Victoria’s High Country with coffee and cake at The Riverdeck Kitchen located on a crook of the Ovens River. Hire a bike and ride the length of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail all the way down to Bright so you can enjoy the food, fire, ferment philosophy that underpins the dining experience at Koji Bird by Reed & Co. Distillery. You can also bury your nose in a big, bold red at Basils Bar & Eatery paired with a stellar steak. Unwind by the fire at the end of the day at your accommodation at The Alpine Hotel where you can enjoy a game of pool and pizza.

Consume your body weight in brie from Milawa Cheese Company before expending some more energy along the Pedal to Produce trail in Milawa. Join the dots between pioneering producers such as Sam Miranda Wines, Milawa Mustards, and the iconic Brown Brothers. The Pedal to Produce trail also loops in Lancemore Milawa, the luxury boutique hotel that is known for its food and wine. Ava should also be on your itinerary as the family-run restaurant is one of the bona fide hidden gems in the region, one of the most beautiful towns in Australia. Eat, Drink, Cycle, Repeat.

Dunkeld is one of the fairest of them all when it comes to regional towns for eating and drinking in Australia. Take your time over dinner at Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel where chef Robin Wickens designs a degustation menu using produce grown in the kitchen garden. Hike the Grampians at dawn before indulging in a low-key lunch at Parker St Project, the hotel’s more casual bistro. Take it down another gear with a pie from Dunkeld Old Bakery, which has been operating in the same location since 1887 and is one of the best bakeries in regional Victoria. Stay at Deluxe Mt Sturgeon One Bedroom Cottages at the foot of Mt Sturgeon or in a deluxe Royal Mail Hotel room with views of the Grampians.

Want the recipe for a nourishing escape? Visit the heritage town of Heathcote in the Victorian Goldfields, which has some serious food and wine chops. You can treat the many wineries in the region (Three Dams Estate, Sanguine Estate and Heathcote Winery) like places to pop into for a cheeky vino. Or book in for a proper sit-down lunch at a contemporary cellar door like Silver Spoon Estate which is 100 per cent off-grid. The hallmark of great eating and drinking experiences in regional Australia might be about approaching lunch time with a sense of spontaneity. But we recommend you don’t chance a booking at Chauncy. Reservations are recommended. Stay at Hill House in the heart of Heathcote.

Daylesford is not exactly under the radar when it comes to a guide to the best regional towns in Australia for eating and drinking. In fact, Alla Wolf-Tasker has been blazing a trail with regards to destination dining for more than three decades. Lunch at the Lake House is like stepping into a dream. Sampling small-batch wines from nearby cellar doors and visiting the bustling Sunday markets are also a must in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges. Head to the ‘DH’ (Daylesford Hotel) at the stroke of midday to enjoy elevated pub grub. Coffee and cake at Cliffy’s Emporium is also a thing. Stay at Wolf-Tasker’s Dairy Flat Farm, where the children can milk a cow and you can enjoy a long lunch amid the rambling gardens.

You’ve probably heard of Hahndorf, the charming South Australian village straight out of the pages of a German fairytale book. Stirling is a mere stone’s throw away in the Adelaide Hills and a hotbed of hospitality. Settled in 1854, the town has attracted the inevitable wave of artisans, makers and growers drawn by the grand buildings, leafy streets and wide, open spaces. It’s likely they fell in love with Red Cacao, the kind of home-style chocolate shop we all wish we lived around the corner from as kids. Then there’s the Sticky Rice Cooking School, which has three luxury villas and is a favourite with foodie couples. The Stirling Hotel is the ultimate exemplar of what a contemporary Aussie pub looks like with dining, accommodation and a patisserie.

All roads lead to the Barossa when navigating South Australia’s culinary landscape. Marananga is one of the best regional towns in Australia for eating and drinking with a through line that is all about sybaritic pleasure. Start with a table for two at Appellation Restaurant at The Louise. The degustation bears influence from the bounty of the Barossa and executive chef Joel Grudnoff pushes the boundaries of what contemporary Australian cuisine can be. staġuni (which means seasons in Maltese) is another stellar local option, with chef Clare Falzon showcasing her Maltese heritage at the rustic restaurant housed in a 1922 schoolhouse. Bunker down at The Louise or Kingsford at the Barossa.

Be the friend who books a girlie weekend away at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort over winter. Whether it’s the dose of vitamin D talking or the warmth and ambience at Harrison’s led by London-born chef Spencer Patrick, a trip to Tropical North Queensland resort is one to cherish. Time your visit to coincide with the annual Taste Port Douglas festival. Or lap up all there is to entertain on either side. Jungle Fowl is one place you’ll want to squawk about with its share-plate philosophy and seasonal produce as local as it gets. There’s also the feel-good factor of perching on a stool at the Courtie (The Court House Hotel) shooting the breeze with a few salty old sea dogs. It’s the nexus point of town and will do nothing to quell your sea change fantasies. For more on where to eat and drink in Port Douglas, here’s our full guide to the seaside town.