A Guide to the Most Unique Dining Experiences in Australia

Enjoying some fine dining is one thing, enjoying it alongside spectacular scenery is quite another. A breathtaking backdrop can help turn your typical dining affair into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Australia is spoilt with beautiful outlooks playing host to countless restaurants and delicious gourmet events.

So, for the foodies out there, we’ve tasted our way across the country to bring you our pick of the most unique dining experiences in Australia to add to your foodie bucket list, pronto. 

Mandurah Wild Seafood Experience

Eat, Drink, Stay & Play at Brae, Victoria

The very definition of farm-to-plate, Brae has retained its three chef hats and has been awarded Vittoria Restaurant of the Year. Sitting on 30 acres with vegetable plots and an established grove of over 100 trees, Brae uses fresh produce from its farm as well as that of local producers and growers, to shape its ever-changing menu.

As well as crafting life-changing farm-fresh cuisine, Brae offers six luxury guest suites that are a lesson in effortless, modern chic. Recycled red brick, corrugated iron and pale timber create a setting that’s arrestingly beautiful in its simplicity.

4285 Cape Otway Road, Birregurra, Victoria

Truffle Hunt at Truffle Paddock, Victoria

Surrounded by old indigenous trees and home to more than forty species of native birds, Grantville’s Truffle Paddock is one of only a handful of Australian truffieres producing both the French black winter truffle and the small Italian bianchetto truffle.

Grab a coffee with Truffle Melbourne founder Nigel Wood before setting out to find those prized black and white gems in the heart of Victoria’s truffle country alongside resident truffle dogs. After the hunt, enjoy truffle scrambled eggs, a glass of champagne and truffle talk by the fireside.

Sundays throughout June - August

Glen Alvie Road, Grantville, Victoria

Yarra Valley Hot Air Ballooning & Breakfast

What do you get when you combine a hot air balloon ride with a Champagne breakfast and an overnight stay at a beautiful winery? An unforgettable experience, that’s what.

Balgownie Estate in Victoria’s stunning Yarra Valley provides a magical morning where you’ll float across the sky and over the top of the unique landscapes of Australia's most famous wine region, before finishing your journey with a delicious Champagne breakfast. You’ll (literally) be floating on cloud nine.

Balgownie Estate, 1309 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen, Victoria

Eureka 89, Melbourne

Located on the top floor of Eureka Tower in Southbank, dining at Eureka 89 will have you on top of the world (or at the very least, on top of Melbourne).

Boasting a breathtaking view in the city, there’s an option to enjoy a five or seven-course degustation menu. The restaurant suggests allowing between 2.5 to 3.5 hours for this dining experience, but with views like this, you won't want to leave!

Level 89, Eureka Tower, 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank Victoria

Wine and Dine Aboard The Ghan

Step aboard The Ghan and be transported back to the golden age of travel, when service was impeccable, and life was as much about the journey as the destination.

A quintessentially Australian experience that combines luxury travel with exquisite food and awe-inspiring landscapes, this renowned expedition promises access to parts of the country that remain unspoiled.

Taking you deep into the heart of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide, guests will be equally as inspired by what’s coming out of the kitchen. Rivalling the country’s best restaurants, indulge in sumptuous, regionally inspired cuisine, fine wines, and local delicacies.

Passengers can also look forward to dinner beneath the stars at Alice Springs' historic Telegraph Station. Sit back, sip chilled sparking and savour every bite while the stunning landscapes pass you by.

Departures from Darwin and Adelaide

3 Salloo Street, East Arm, Northern Territory

Sounds of Silence, Uluru

Forming part of the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, the Uluru ‘Sounds of Silence’ will transport you into the outback for a magical four-hour dining experience underneath the stars.

Start the evening with bubbles and canapés, followed by a three-course bush tucker-inspired buffet, all of which will be accompanied by a live Didgeridoo soundtrack playing softly in the background.

Sit back and listen to the signs of the zodiac with a guided tour of the southern night sky, whilst the iconic sight of Uluru sets the scene as your breathtaking backdrop.

Ayers Rock Resort, 170 Yulara Drive, Yulara, Northern Territory

Centennial Cellar, Seppeltsfield

In South Australia's famed Barossa Valley, the Centennial Cellar at Seppeltsfield stands out as a unique gem. It's a bucket list experience, tasting a wine that has patiently matured since the year you were born.

Seppeltsfield's commitment to maturing wines for a century creates an unparalleled journey through time. This isn't just your usual tipple; it's a sip of history, a living testament to Australian winemaking.

Barossa Valley, South Australia

Quay, Sydney Harbour

Quintessentially Sydney, dining at Quay is one of the most unique dining experiences in Australia, with a seat at the award-winning venue providing an unforgettable experience. 

The menu at Quay is described as “food inspired by nature”, with each dish intricately prepared and delicately balanced.

And let’s not forget the view, which thanks to its scenic location offers front-row seats of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks

Le Dîner en Blanc, Sydney

Once an intimate Parisian soirée, now a global culinary phenomenon, Le Dîner en Blanc’s annual food gathering is a spectacle of epic proportions.

Each year, thousands of people gather together in secret city locations all over the world – the location is revealed on the day of the event – all dressed in white, to indulge in an extravagant picnic-style communal spread under the stars.

Food can be served, or you can BYO – the perfect excuse to pop the bubbly. And if previous years are anything to go by, you’ll be treated to front-row seats at some of Sydney’s most iconic locations; past events have been held at the Opera House forecourt, on the sands of Bondi Beach, and Cockatoo Island. 

Date and location TBC.

Govindas

For an offbeat culinary escapade in Sydney, head to Govindas, a plant-based gem in Darlinghurst. This eatery has been dishing out a veg-centric feast that’s as ethical as it is unique for decades.

But Govindas offers more than just delectable bites, they add a unique twist to your evening with a bohemian-inspired cinema experience. Post-dinner, you can kick back, take off your shoes, and sink into their comfy cushions while you enjoy a movie. Talk about unique!

112 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, NSW

Private Helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef

Take date night up to The Bachelor level by booking a private helicopter tour to a secluded sandy beach on the Great Barrier Reef. Setting off from Cairns, couples will be treated to postcard-worthy views over the iconic Great Barrier Reef, before landing on Vlasoff Cay — a private and pristine sand cay in the middle of the reef.

You’ll be left for two hours where you can relax with a gourmet picnic hamper, picnic blanket and cushions, along with sparkling wine or beer. This package also comes with snorkelling gear and a beach umbrella, so everything is covered for your full enjoyment.

Departures from Cairns

Fresh Oysters, Saffire Freycinet

There’s enjoying fresh oysters, and then there’s shucking them straight from the ocean and eating them there. This Tasmanian dining experience is offered exclusively to guests staying at the luxury hotel, Saffire Freycinet.

Located in the calm waters of the Freycinet Peninsula, visitors will dine in a private table setting floating in the middle of the water, where they’ll learn about the region and how to shuck like a pro, all the while sampling the freshly caught ocean delights – a serving of fresh oysters and delicious steamed mussels.

2532 Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay Tasmania

Dinner in the Sky

One of the most unique dining experiences in Australia, Tassie locals know that Dinner in the Sky is a sky-high culinary adventure not to be missed. This high-flying experience takes dining to new heights – literally!

You and a crew of 22 are comfortably seated, safely strapped in, suspended up to 50 meters above the ground, and rotating gently while you indulge in delicious meals and beverages.

The kicker? You get to choose the backdrop. Whether it's overlooking a vineyard, the coastline, or a stunning golf course, Dinner in the Sky offers an exclusive and picturesque dining setting that's hard to beat.

While this sky-high feast is a rare opportunity globally, Tassie locals get a special treat with a two-week stint in Launceston every December. To snag a seat at this extraordinary table, keep an eye on their limited-time offerings or sign up for their email list.

Various locations across Australia

Filled with wanderlust after reading about the most unique dining experiences in Australia? Why not add a winery or fun road trip itinerary to the bucket list, too?