Dining with an Australian taste

Hot air ballooning, scenic helicopter flights and the Outback's night sky are memorable experiences on their own. But add a three course meal and you've got a unique Australian dining experience.

Eating outdoors has unlimited potential in Australia and at least one outdoor dining experience should be on every visitor's itinerary.

The award winning Sounds of Silence Dinner in Northern Territory is a gourmet bush barbecue under the stars. Visitors travel to a private setting in the desert and dine on a feast of Australian delicacies – kangaroo, emu, crocodile and bush salads. A resident astronomer is on hand to assist with post dinner star gazing over coffee.

Cruising Australian harbours is even more impressive over a meal. Various cruises offer a wide range of meals from buffet lunches with fresh salads and fruits and barbecues featuring traditional Australian tucker to three course dinners.

Paddlewheelers of yesteryear are a unique way to dine outside while experiencing Brisbane city by night. Visitors on the night cruise can enjoy a succulent selection of hot and cold Queensland seafoods and fresh fruit.

And for those who prefer to dine on land, water taxis in Sydney offer transfers from any waterfront location to restaurants or beachside hideaways. Lobster, fresh prawns and crab with a cold bottle of champagne on a secluded beach is an ideal way to experience Sydney's harbourside beaches.

Some say ballooning is the only way to enjoy champagne – but the journey across Australian skies will be remembered long after the last sip. The continent offers unlimited ballooning opportunities, transporting passengers to a champagne breakfast at a private location.

For those preferring more solid surrounds while flying, helicopter tours take visitors to even the most remote countryside for a secluded dinner or group celebration. Visitors can enjoy a Nature at Night flight into Kuranda Rainforest where they are served a traditional Aussie barbecue. Traditionally seaplane flights over the Whitsunday Islands to the Great Barrier Reef are concluded with a delicious champagne picnic in this National Park paradise.

For wine enthusiasts, Australian wineries offer the perfect location for an outdoor meal. Many have outdoor restaurants where visitors can enjoy Australian food and a wide range of quality Australian wines.

And for those who also have an interest in music, Melbourne holds an annual Jazz in the Vines festival featuring some of Australia's masters. Visitors sit outside and enjoy the music as well as indulging in fine wines and exquisite cuisine from local award-winning restaurants.

* To learn more about Australia visit www.australia.com, featuring over 10,000 pages of information to help you plan your holiday.

Make sure you join the Aussie Travel Club when you visit the site. Club members receive regular e-mails bulletins on new and exciting travel ideas and the latest deals to Australia including some great off-the-beaten-track packages.