Unleash your inner gourmand in the New South Wales Riverina, a foodie's nirvana with vibrant food festivals and a cornucopia of fresh produce and fine wines to try. Sample the gourmet offerings of the food bowl of NSW on a mouth-watering road trip taking in Griffith, Wagga Wagga and Junee — just three delicious destinations worth a visit in the region.

Uncover gourmet delights in Griffith

Feel the anticipation build as you make your way to Griffith, a six-hour drive west from Sydney, where rich Riverina soils produce an abundance of citrus, grapes, hazelnuts and olives. Get your first taste on a tour of Catania Fruit Salad Farm hosted in a quirky bus, sampling seasonal fruits and nuts plucked straight from the trees.

Be regaled by the storied history of Calabria Family Wines as you sip chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and other fine wines at its Tuscan-style cellar door. Delight in the De Bortoli family's long history of winemaking, dating back to 1928, in nearby Bilbul. Put your nose to the test as you compare vintages in Yenda, where Yarran Wines and Berton Vineyards both host memorable cellar door experiences.

Taste the freshness of the region's produce in every local meal. Embrace Griffith's Italian roots at Limone, where produce is plucked from the family farm, and at Zecca, which specialises in cucina regionale (regional Italian dishes). Follow your nose to fourth-generation bakery Bertoldo's Pasticceria for moreish oven-fresh bread, biscotti and gelato. And curate the picnic basket of your foodie dreams with gourmet cured meats from Codemo Smallgoods; olives, relishes, pesto and other tasty condiments from Riverina Grove; and premium, pond-grown smoked (or fresh) cod from Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod at the company's retail outlet in Griffith.

Not sure where to start? Book a food and wine tour with Bella Vita Riverina Tours and relax as a knowledgeable local guide shows you the best the region has to offer.

Make the most of the central location of The Gem, a slick, recently renovated hotel with plush pillow top mattresses and its own onsite farm-to-table restaurant, Bull and Bell, featuring produce sourced within 300km of Griffith. Or head an hour's west of Griffith to get a taste of outback life at Corynnia Station, where you can lodge at The Barracks, a characterful two-bedroom cottage with a queen and a twin room.

Time your visit for October to marvel at more than 50 larger-than-life sculptures created with over 100,000 oranges and grapefruit along Banna Avenue during Griffith's annual Spring Fest.

Whet your appetite in Wagga Wagga

Dive into the rich food culture of Wagga Wagga, around five hours south-west of Sydney, or two hours south-east of Griffith, at the Riverina Producers Market, held each Thursday afternoon at the Wagga Wagga Showground. Sip orange juice freshly squeezed from locally grown navel and Valencia oranges and connect with local farmers as you browse a bounty of fresh produce, from fresh peaches to juicy cuts of lamb and beef perfect for a barbecue. Top up your shopping basket with artisan cheeses, local jerky and more at Knights deli, and award-winning olive oils and table olives at Wollundry Grove Olives.

Feel empowered to cook up local produce like a pro after taking a cooking class with Food I Am. Or kick back and leave the chef work to the experts at the likes of the Oakroom, which focuses on premium local ingredients, or Magpies Nest, where contemporary dishes and regional wines are served in a beautiful stone stables with sweeping views across olive groves.

Soak up the history of The Houston, an 11-suite boutique hotel created inside the neo-Gothic 1868 Belmore House, an easy stroll from cafes and restaurants. Or enjoy the convenience of falling into bed at boutique hotel The Charles after treating yourself to a decadent five-or-seven-course degustation at its sophisticated Dining Room.

Fuel up for another day of foodie fun with a warming coffee at the Trail Street Coffee Shop, which brews coffee by Wagga Wagga's Full Circle Coffee Roasters. Then head out to sip and savour local boutique wineries including Eunonyhareenyha Winery, Borambola Wines and Cottontail Wines. 

Find foodie joy in Junee

Settle in for the next leg of your culinary adventure, taking the scenic route to Junee via historic Coolamon. Learn how to make your own cheese at a workshop with expert cheesemaker Jenn Nestor at Coolamon Cheese, or pick up some artisan cheeses for a picnic.

Be dazzled by fields of canary-yellow canola flowers during spring on the 30-minute drive from Coolamon to Junee. Upon your arrival, treat you inner (or actual) child to a sweet surprise at the famous Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, housed in a four-storey 1930s flour mill. Watch organic licorice and chocolate being made before your eyes on a guided tour before indulging in a hot chocolate at the Millroom restaurant.

Have a giggle meeting the alpacas at Gryphon Lodge, a cosy B&B just outside Junee, with two bedrooms, a lounge with an open fireplace and farm-fresh eggs to elevate your breakfast.

If you're visiting on the first Sunday of the month, drop by the Junee Rotary Sunday Market to stock up on a tantalising array of fresh goods from the eastern Riverina region; reliving the memories of your trip as you cook up your haul back at home.

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