Queensland is a bountiful land with high-quality seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables and dairy products.

On your holidays, sample delightful fresh food - buy local seafood and fruit at the market or dine at the world-class restaurants and cafes throughout the State.

Queensland exports produce to 100 countries including the US, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Not only is there a wide variety of seafood and premium meat, the State also grows sugar, tea and coffee, exotic fruits, game meats, award-winning cheeses and sugar. Strict regulations ensure high-quality water and food standards in the State.

As tourism is a major industry in Queensland, you'll find a wide array of cuisine suitable for cultural or religious requirements - with halal, kosher and vegetarian food as well as organic produce.

If you enjoy seafood, Queensland has world-class produce. Sample golden perch (yellowbelly), silver perch, Australian bass and barramundi or taste a reef fish such as coral trout. Bream is found from the Queensland border north to Fraser Island. You can enjoy fresh Barramundi from the Fraser Coast South Burnett region north. Mudcrabs are available across the State. Flathead can be fished off coastal estuaries. Other popular seafood includes snapper, whiting and local oysters, prawns and "Moreton Bay Bug" - a delicious crustacean.

While Queensland beef has won international acclaim, you can also taste some native game meat including buffalo, crocodile, emu and kangaroo. Try some bush tucker - native fruits and seeds that have been eaten by Aborigines for centuries. You can dine out in the Outback under the stars.


Dining

Dining out is a pleasure in Queensland. The State's warm temperatures and frequent sunny days means al fresco dining is popular in all regions. Visit a farmer's market (staged regularly in major towns), stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables from a produce stall or dine in elegance at literally thousands of restaurants throughout the State. Australian cuisine at its finest blends Asian and European expertise in a unique taste sensation. And international visitors will be amazed at the relatively low prices for high quality food. Australian hotels or "pubs" often offer hearty fare for lunch or dinner. Visitors to Tropical North Queensland can embark on a tropics food trail.


Cooking Schools

Try your hand at a cooking school - restaurants and facilities on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Whitsundays are some some of the regions offering this experience. Throughout the year, most regions in Queensland have food-based events and celebrations - from camp oven cooking competitions in the outback to beach front food festivals on the Gold Coast.


Wineries

Queensland's wineries are gaining a strong following. There are 20 wineries in the Southern Downs region with wine festivals and easy-driving wine trails. The Australian Small Winemakers Show is held at Stanthorpe. You can also explore a wine trail in the Gold Coast with facilities offering special jazz or outdoor dining functions. Other wineries are located close to Brisbane, the Fraser Coast South Burnett and Sunshine Coast regions, Western Downs (St George, Roma and Surat), and the Burnett region near Kingaroy, Nanango, Murgon and Tropical North Queensland's Atherton Tablelands. You can also sample liquers and tropical wines. And for beer lovers, visit boutique breweries or major breweries which offer tours.

Be aware that smoking regulations in the State prohibit smoking in confined venues or dining areas. Check with the venue directly. Alcohol is not sold to anyone aged under 18 years.