5 Dining Destinations to Put the Holiday Into Your Next Meal

We all dream of a holiday…it’s been a long tough Winter with cost-of-living pressures and mortgage rates taking most of the fun out of everyday life.

Never fear – all it takes is to find the right destination to forget about stress for a while, whether it takes your taste buds to a different country, or the location sets the mood for fun and fine dining.

Here are five venues that transcend the ordinary and put the D in destination dining:

Those fortunate enough to find themselves on picturesque Hamilton Island take time to experience dining at Bommie restaurant. Residing within Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie boasts a prime waterfront location, offering a contemporary space styled with geometric-shaped tables set with sparkling glassware, high ceilings and ambient lighting, setting a moody tone.

An ideal venue to celebrate a special occasion in the private dining room or simply for a decadent night out, indulge in a Modern Australian menu created by Head Chef Alice James, designed to excite the palate. Dishes may present as starters of Tiger prawns, housemade farfalle, gremolata, capers and chilli, before mains such as seafood risotto with Moreton Bay bug, crab, lemon, fennel and fine-ripened tomato.

An exotic sensory feast awaits diners at multi-award-winning Tamarind, signature restaurant of Cairns’ Reef Hotel Casino. The journey begins with an ambient, low-lit dining room set with crisp white linen among warm timber walls and leads to a contemporary fusion of Eastern flavours and the finest regional produce. Changing regularly with the seasons,

Tamarind’s menu is complemented by an impressive Australian wine list, local and imported beers, spirits and innovative cocktails. Order à la carte with choices like pan-seared scallops, Champagne beurre blanc, chives and a Granny Smith crisp to start; before mains of lamb backstrap, charred eggplant and black garlic, pomegranate and green pea croquette, or Penang confit duck leg curry, with candied pumpkin, coriander, chilli, peanuts and scented rice.

Located on the banks of Lake Daylesford with exquisite water views from any vantage point, the Boathouse Restaurant on Leggatt Street offers a sophisticated dining venue for lunch and dinner. Take in stunning vistas from a warm and cosy indoor dining area for Winter catch-ups, or soak up the sun on the outdoor deck and seating area during warmer months; expect year-round comfort with stylish food and professional service as you enjoy a glass of wine with family and friends.

 

Dive in with entrées of smoked beetroot, goats’ cheese, popped quinoa and roasted walnut, follow on with dishes such as Moreton Bay bug, crustacean sauce, herb oil and polenta; for the main, think plates of Wagyu eye fillet, with potato gratin, mushroom, root vegetables and jus, or bouillabaisse with gnocchi, fish, mussels, Tiger prawns and calamari. 

Nestled in dense rainforest beside the rippling waters of Lake Baroon sits Dining on the Deck at Secrets on the Lake, a romantic spot on Narrows Road. Reflecting surrounding nature, Secrets stands strong, made from sanded logs in a lodge design, with a wide alfresco area providing a lush outlook and lake views - a place to celebrate special occasions or simply to treat yourself in a tranquil setting.

 

A menu crafted from locally sourced produce takes on popular Parisienne tastes; for breakfast, delve into Moroccan baked eggs, beans, chorizo, chickpeas, capsicum, chilli, tomato and toasted sourdough. Dine later on baked brie with red currant and apricot jam and grilled pita bread to begin, then delve into beef ribs in sticky black vinegar caramel, steamed jasmine rice, Siam salad, pickled ginger and crispy shallot.

Discover a welcoming space to rest, recharge and connect over delicious food at Millie Mae’s Pantry on Nat Thomas Street in Penneshaw. This Kangaroo Island garden café invites lingering alfresco on a cosy deck with your four-legged friend as they sip a pup cup and graze on a pup patty, while you peruse a menu to satisfy all tastes made with fresh local ingredients.

 

Whether you are craving a perfectly crafted panini, a comforting slice of housemade cake or a little peruse in the shop stocked with artisan KI products, Millie Mae’s delivers on all fronts. Join the breaky gang for eggs Florentine on toast, with sautéed spinach and housemade Hollandaise; stop in later for a smoked salmon toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese, red onion and garlic aioli, or a double cheeseburger on a soft damper roll with pickles, lettuce and tomato.