Country Information

Seafood is an integral part of the cuisine scene in all its shelled and scaled forms. Production of organic foods is increasing and available in the cities and larger towns. There are fine dining restaurants throughout the larger cities, particularly Melbourne and Sydney, while regional food markets and increasing numbers of food festivals across the states are a great way to sample local produce.

'Bush tucker' is food from Australia's endemic flora and fauna and can be lean and quite delicious; kangaroo meat in particular is growing in popularity since being made legal to trade to eat only in the past two decades. Barbecues and outside dining in parks and public spaces are also popular dining options.

Things to know: Expect to come across both self-service eateries and restaurants with table service. Bistros, cafés, family-style restaurants and pub lunches offer good food at reasonable prices. Most restaurants and hotels are licensed to serve alcohol. Some restaurants allow guests to bring their own alcohol and are called ‘BYO' restaurants. Licensing hours in public bars are Mon-Sat 1000-2200, but most pubs are open until 2400; Sunday hours vary. Restaurants, clubs and hotel lounges have more flexible hours.

National specialities:
• Sydney rock oysters.
• Barramundi (freshwater fish).
• Moreton Bay bugs (a shellfish).
• Macadamia nuts.
• Kangaroo.

National drinks:
• Australian wine, especially Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Margaret River.
• Australian beer, including Coopers, Cascade, James Squire, Little Creatures and Matilda Bay.

The major vineyards (wineries) are outside Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide. The largest single wine-growing region is in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, two hours' drive from Adelaide, where high-quality red and white wines are produced. For further information, visit Australian Wine and Beer (www.australianwineandbeer.com).

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Not as common as it is in Europe and North America, nor is a service charge added to the bill in restaurants. In top-quality restaurants, 10% is usual for food and drink waiters, but is optional elsewhere. With taxis it is usual not to tip, but round up to the next Dollar.

Theatre and performance arts are especially good in Sydney and Melbourne; the Sydney Opera House (www.sydneyoperahouse.com) regularly hosts the country's top orchestras and opera companies. Melbourne is Australia's cultural city and has a nationwide reputation for its live music scene; venues range from premier music-hosting places such as The Forum (www.forummelbourne.com.au) to backstreet pubs in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond. Comedy is also popular in Melbourne. Adelaide, commonly regarded as the ‘Festival State', has a multitude of entertainment to choose from at the Adelaide Festival Centre (www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au).

Most cities have a healthy clubbing scene pulling top national and international DJs. Traditional pubs range from huge double-storey monoliths in Western and South Australia, to graceful Victorian edifices in Victoria and New South Wales. Trendy bars attracting the style-conscious are very popular nighttime venues. Melbourne's central business district is full of hole-in-the-wall bars.

In rural areas the pub is the standard venue for socialising. Local drinking holes off the beaten track tend to be very simple affairs and also very friendly.

Special purchases include excellent local wines; wool, clothing, leather and sheepskin products; precious or semi-precious stones; and modern art sculpture and paintings. Surfing products are also a big buy around coastal towns and resorts.

Indigenous artworks and artefacts are prolific in some parts of the country and paintings, boomerangs, didgeridoos and other objects are on view and for sale in Darwin, Alice Springs and the state capitals; many depict stories from Australian Aboriginal mythology. Ensure you are purchasing an authentic item, however, as much so-called Aboriginal art is fake, consisting of designs ripped off from the real artists. The best places to buy are outlets supported or owned by Aboriginal communities.

The country's national gemstone, the opal, makes beautiful jewellery and the best places to buy are at or near opal mining towns such as Coober Pedy in South Australia. Towns like Broome in Western Australia grew on the back of pearl diving, and cultured pearls are still sold in large quantities.

Shopping hours: Opening hours for most stores in the cities are Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1700. Late-night shopping is available on Friday to 2100 in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Darwin. Late-night shopping is available on Thursday at the same times in Sydney, Canberra and Perth. Major stores in some states are open Sun 1000-1600. Most supermarkets are open until 2000, and are sometimes 24-hour. Corner stores, restaurants and snack bars are open in most cities until well into the night.