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    Food & Wine Getaways

    NSW has plenty of destinations where food can shape the whole trip, from coastal restaurants and oyster farms to country bakeries, cellar doors and long lunches.

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    Your guide to the best food and wine getaways

    These destinations pair standout dining with good places to stay and enough beaches, walks, shopping or galleries to round out a weekend away. Each destination guide includes activities, dining and accommodation recommendations to help you shape the perfect stay.

    If you’d rather link a few stops together than settle on just one, skip to the end for road trip suggestions built around food and wine.

    Next Escape is your guide to real places and real experiences, with practical, independent travel advice based on first-hand visits: the places we’ve explored, the restaurants we’ve eaten at and the walks we’ve done. This page may contain affiliate links; if you book or buy through them, Next Escape may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Popular Guides
    Berida Hotel, Bowral

    Bowral Travel Guide

    French restaurants, nearby wineries and gorgeous country cafes.

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    Bells at Killcare

    Killcare Travel Guide

    Perfect for a food and wine focussed weekend with boutique coastal dining.

    GET THE GUIDE →

    NSW Central Coast

    The Central Coast is an easy place to start for a food-focused weekend, with coastal villages, beach walks, boutique stays and dining close to the water.

    • Killcare

      Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours

      Killcare suits food and wine weekends built around Wild Flower Bar & Dining at Bells, pastries from Bells Bakery & Larder, lunch at The Anchor and Bouddi National Park walks between bookings.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Killcare
      Killcare, NSW

    • Terrigal

      Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours

      Terrigal works well for a coastal dining weekend, with Spanish plates and sunset views at Amarilla, cocktails at Meribella, pizza and share plates at Four Hands, and beach walks to The Skillion.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Terrigal
      Terrigal

    NSW South Coast

    The NSW South Coast suits longer food-led breaks, linking beach towns with cafés, restaurants, seafood, coastal walks and relaxed accommodation.

    • Kiama

      Drive time from Sydney: 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours

      Kiama works for an easy South Coast food weekend, with long lunches at Silica, Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda, cocktails at Little Betty’s and coastal walks between meals.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Kiama
      Kiama, NSW

    • Mollymook

      Drive time from Sydney: 3 to 3.5 hours

      Mollymook is the South Coast pick for seafood at Rick Stein at Bannisters, cocktails at Bannisters Pavilion, GWYLO’s Asian street eats and Milton café stops a short drive inland.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Mollymook
      Mollymook

    Country NSW and Southern Highlands

    For country dining, these destinations bring together village cafés, cool-climate restaurants, wineries, bakeries and regional-city food scenes.

    • Albury

      Drive time from Sydney: 5.5 to 6 hours

      Albury brings regional-city variety, from Mediterranean share plates at Aida and wine at Level One to wood-fired dining at Yardbird, craft beers at Albury Brewhouse and river walks between meals.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Albury
      Albury, NSW

    • Berry

      Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours

      Berry leans into country-town eating, with South on Albany for a set-menu dinner, Milkwood Bakery for pastries and picnic supplies, Il Locale for lunch, and nearby wineries for an easy afternoon drive.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Berry
      Berry main visual

    • Bowral

      Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours

      Bowral is a Southern Highlands food and wine base, with Bistro Sociale and Lucette for European dining, Harry’s on Green Lane for garden lunches, Franquette for crêpes and Bendooley Estate nearby for wine and books.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Bowral
      Bowral

    • Milton

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 3 hours

      Milton combines a heritage main street with excellent food and wine, from Cupitt's Estate's vineyard views to Milk Haus's garden-to-plate menu, Harvest's cocktails and pub meals at The Milton Hotel.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Milton
      Milton

    Hunter Region and the North Coast

    Across the Hunter Region and North Coast, these destinations pair regional food and wine moments with beaches, wildlife, marina stays and cellar-door weekends.

    • Hunter Valley

      Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours

      Hunter Valley is the obvious food and wine getaway for Sydneysiders, with over 150 cellar doors, long lunches in vineyard restaurants, and cheese stops at Binnorie Dairy.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Hunter Valley
      Hunter Valley

    • Nelson Bay, Port Stephens

      Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours and 30 minutes

      Combine freshly shucked oysters, waterfront lunch at Little Beach Boathouse, marina-side cocktails at Moby’s Bar, Rick Stein at Bannisters and Tomaree Head walks.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
      Nelson Bay, Port Stephens

    • Newcastle

      Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours and 15 minutes

      Newcastle pairs beaches and ocean baths with a serious food weekend, from panini and pastries at Arno's Deli to house-made pasta at Humbug, dinner at Jana and harbour views from the QT Rooftop Bar.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Newcastle
      Newcastle NSW

    Road Trips

    For a trip built around restaurant bookings rather than one base, these itineraries link coastal restaurants, wineries, stays and easy things to do between meals.