Weekend Food & Wine
The cellar doors, farm gates, and regional restaurants that justify a two-hour drive and an overnight stay. Independent producers and chefs working with what grows around them.
Central Coast Distilling Co
Unit 21/14 Kam Cl, Morisset NSW 2264, Australia
Wed–Thu 11am–3pm · Fri 12pm–7pm · Sat 12pm–6pm · Sun 12pm–5pm
From a unit in Morisset's industrial fringe, Central Coast Distilling runs grain-to-glass: base spirits mashed and fermented on-site from Australian-grown ingredients before the stills do their work. The range spans a Classic Dry Gin and a Chilli and Fingerlime variant through to Lemon Myrtle Liqueur and, for those paying attention, a Bourbon Project quietly underway. Distillery door open Wednesday to Sunday.
Cutler
55-57 Gertrude St
Wed–Sat 5:30pm– · Sun 12pm–
A refined and hospitable dining destination housed in a former metal works factory, Cutler offers an evolved approach to contemporary cuisine that reflects its Fitzroy neighbourhood. Open for dinner service Wednesday to Saturday, and all-day dining on Sunday, the venue welcomes both walk-in guests at the bar and reservations for the dining room.
Silky Oaks Lodge
Finlayvale Road
Set among the rainforest treetops on the Mossman River, this Daintree retreat neighbours the World Heritage wilderness of Daintree National Park. Forty treehouses are styled with contemporary furnishings and local timbers, looking out over river or rainforest. The open-air restaurant and bar serve contemporary Australian menus with Mediterranean and Asian influences, while the Healing Waters Spa holds six treatment rooms. First Nations Kuku Yalanji guides lead tours of the rainforest's 'natural supermarket'.
Code Black Coffee
150 Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Mon–Sun 7am–5pm
Code Black Coffee roasts with precision in their Brunswick East headquarters, focusing on transparency and traceability in every bag. Their clean, approachable roast style highlights the natural character of each origin.
Peninsula Farm Cafe
2c Johnson Road, Maylands WA 6051
Tue–Sun 8am–3pm
Gum trees, riverfront lawn, a National Trust homestead built on Wadjuk Noongar country — Peninsula Farm Cafe earns its setting. The menu leans organic and seasonal, the coffee is taken seriously, and on a good day half of Maylands seems to be eating outside on picnic blankets. Bookings advised; dogs welcome on the terrace.
Como The Treasury
1 Cathedral Avenue
A luxury hotel housed within Perths grand 19th-century State Buildings. Heritage architecture meets contemporary design in the heart of the city. Located in the Perth City region of Western Australia; nightly rates from $350 to $700; accommodating up to 2 guests across 1 bedroom; amenities include pool, spa, restaurant, gym; ideal for couples and city explorers.
The Vineyard Motel
42 Chardonnay Rd, Cowra NSW 2794, Australia
Mon–Sun 8am–7pm
Four rooms on Chardonnay Road, each stocked with local wines and beer. Owners M. Jackson runs the place with the energy of someone who genuinely means it — the sign at the front door reads *Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends*. Consistently awarded since 2009. A useful base: Bathurst an hour away, Canberra two.
Stilts Dining
147E Alice Street
Mon–Thu 11am–9:30pm · Fri–Sat 11am–10pm · Sun 11am–9:30pm
Sitting on the Kangaroo Point Bridge above the Brisbane River, Stilts does steak-and-seafood with an unobstructed view few city restaurants can match. The menu runs Wagyu, Angus and live lobster, all Queensland-sourced. The name references the timber stilts of the classic Queenslander house — a local architectural logic that earns its metaphor here.
Depot Beach Cabins
Depot Beach Road
Mon–Sun 12am–11:59pm
Timber cabins nestled between the Murramarang National Park and a pristine South Coast beach. Kangaroos graze on the lawns at sunset. nightly rates from $180 to $300; accommodating up to 6 guests across 3 bedrooms; amenities include kitchen, wifi, bbq, bushwalking; ideal for families and small groups and beach lovers.
Sample Coffee
118 Unwins Bridge Rd, St Peters NSW 2044
Mon–Fri 7am–2pm · Sat 8am–2pm
Started in Surry Hills in 2011 with a single espresso bar, Sample Coffee moved its roasting operation to St Peters in 2014. The focus hasn't shifted: a weekly-rotating list of traceable single origins, roasted for clarity rather than house style. B Corp certified, home-compostable packaging, and twenty cents from every bag going to nonprofits. Serious about coffee without being serious about itself.
