Traditional Australian fare, as eaten by the indigenous peoples, is often referred to as ‘bush tucker’. This consists of a variety of plants and animal foods and will include meats such as kangaroo. Over the years, as immigration to the country has increased, the cuisine has been very strongly influenced by other nations, such as the UK and Ireland.

Today, Australian cuisine caters for just about everybody. Specialist foods such as kosher products and vegetarian products are widely available. In addition the BBQ tradition is particularly strong in Australia, mainly due to the excellent climate and the penchant for outdoor living. Meats such as kangaroo are still popular although beef is a major part of the agriculture of the country.

The British traditions remain and many families enjoy a roast dinner on a Sunday. As Australia relies heavily on its own crops, vegetables are generally eaten in season and the use of fresh produce is very popular. Healthy cookery is a growing trend and low salt and low fat diets are particular favourites. There are several varieties of fruit which are native to Australian and these include a type of peach known as Quandong, Riberry and Wattleseed. Fruits that are more familiar to expats such as apples are also widely cultivated. Salads are often served at BBQs and other meals as a side dish.

As the vast majority of the Australian people live close to the sea, seafood and fish are a staple of most diets and there are many speciality restaurants. Salmon, tuna, lobsters and prawns feature heavily in Australian cuisine and there are many fish farms producing other fish such as barramundi and oysters. Fishing is one of the main forms of agriculture in the country and Australia has one of the largest fishing zones in the world.

Takeaways exist in almost every town and you can purchase anything from fish and chips to an Indian curry. Fast food chains can be found in the larger urban areas, but there is a growing fashion for haute cuisine restaurants. These are very popular in the cities and also feature different cuisines from around the world as well as traditional Australian foods. Other cuisines available include Greek, Italian, Turkish and Chinese.

In addition to national dishes and trends, each region has its own specialities. For example, the Barossa Valley has a cuisine with a German influence and is famous for foods that are preserved and smoked such as German sausage and breads. Wines produced in the region are among the country’s best sellers and the area has vast swathes of rich agricultural land.

Meals such as breakfast are similar across the country and are similar to those in the US and the UK, with cereal and toast the most popular options. The evening meal is still very much a sit-down tradition where the family spends time together. Meal times are very much as they are in the UK and the US with breakfast traditionally between 6.30 am and 8 am and the evening meal any time between 6 pm and 9 pm.

Expats who move to Australia will find that there are a number of foods which are unique to the country and which are very popular. Vegemite is similar to marmite and is used at breakfast time. A Chiko Roll is very similar to a spring roll and is served deep fried. Pavlova is considered to be a traditional Australian food although New Zealand also has a claim to its roots and the same applies to Anzac biscuits. For those who are out in the bush, ‘damper’ is a part of the traditional ‘bush tucker’. This is a type of soda bread which is used by travellers and is baked in the campfire coals.

Australia has a thriving wine industry and is one of the world’s largest exporters of the drink. Wine is often drunk with the evening meal in most homes and the majority of people will choose an Australian wine rather than a foreign brand. All states have vineyards although most of these are in the southern part of the country. Australia also has a beer industry and many brands are well known names around the world and have been for many years.