Heart of Country
Albury and Surrounds The iconic Murray River winds through Albury in a lush river valley.
Armidale and Surrounds Armidale is a city of culture and learning, with a wonderful heritage...
Balranald - The gateway to the World Heritage listed Mungo National Park...
Bathurst and Surrounds One of Australia’s oldest inland settlements, now a...
Canberra One of the world's greatest examples of urban planning and ...
Cowra and Surrounds Famous for its wineries and wartime history
Deniliquin and Surrounds The "ute capital of the world" is set on the Edward River
Dubbo and Surrounds Worth a visit for its wonderful Western Plains Zoo alone.
Glen Innes, Inverell and Surrounds The area's Celtic origins are commemorated by the Australian Standing Stones.
Goulburn and Surrounds A colourful past that includes explorers, gold-diggers and bushrangers.
Griffith and Surrounds A blend of cuisine, culture and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Moree, Narrabri and Surrounds One of the country's richest agricultural areas, with natural hot springs.
Mudgee and Surrounds The area around Mudgee boasts about 50 wineries.
Orange and Surrounds A beautiful area with a growing reputation for its produce and cool-climate wines.
Parkes and Surrounds Home of the Parkes Observatory's radio telescope, where the film The Dish was made.
Queanbeyan and Surrounds Historic villages, colonial architecture, great food and wine.
Tamworth and Surrounds Best known for its annual country music festival in January.
Upper Hunter Endowed with rolling plains and rugged mountains, the Upper Hunter has a taste for the good life.
Wagga Wagga and Surrounds On the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga has a thriving arts community.
Warrumbungle and Surrounds The ancient spires of Warrumbungle National Park bear witness to a history of volcanic eruptions.
Wentworth and Surrounds At the confluence of the Murray and Darling rivers, a launching pad...
Yass and Surrounds With its landscaped streets and restored heritage, Yass is a charming town.
Young and Surrounds Rich in history, Young is centrally located in the Hilltops wine and food region.
Food and Wine in the Riverina
Fast facts
- One of Australia’s tastiest regions, a multi-faceted agricultural zone based around the cities of Griffith and Wagga Wagga
- Distinct food and wine culture due largely to Italian migrants who have imported their own regional cuisine
- Wagga Wagga is 470 kms south-west of Sydney, Griffith is 570 kms
Why go there
Griffith is the heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, a vast scheme that has repainted what was once a sun-seared landscape of clay pans and saltbush with a green brush.
The state’s largest inland city, Wagga Wagga, brings sophoistication and a taste for the finer things in life to the country food and wine experience.
The Griffith region produces about 15 per cent of Australia’s wine, and many of its most celebrated wineries are open to the public including De Bortoli Wines, Casella and McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate.
Things to do
- Take a guided tour of the Catania Fruit Salad Farm in Hanwood and discover the workings of the irrigation system as well as sampling its bounty.
- Book in for dinner at Michelin, which brings the big-city, modern Australian dining experience to the heart of downtown Griffith.
- Call at the Griffith Visitors Centre for a map of local vineyards and head out on a self-guided winery tour.
- Sample some of the products at Riverina Grove, Griffith, which began as an olive business and now produces a vast arrray of preserved vegetables and sauces.
Events
- Wagga Wagga Food and Wine Festival in March is a showcase for this diverse region, from dairy products to stone fruits to the fermented fruits of the vine.
- Unwined in the Riverina in June is a chance to visit the premium wineries of the Griffith region with tutored tastings, lazy lunches and a feast of music along the way.
Don’t miss
- Pick your own peaches, carobs, figs, persimmons and pistacchios at Catania Fruit Salad Farm
- A take-home bottle of De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon, Australia’s benchmark dessert wine
- Macadamia nougat from Bertoldo's Bakery in Griffith
- Picnic in the shady gardens of the McWilliams Estate Winery.
