Melbourne’s culinary scene is worth every single second of that 16-plus hour plane ride. It’s eclectic, thanks to its many immigrant influences (Italian and Vietnamese are the standouts) and fresh, thanks to the region’s proliferous Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges (home of award-winning wine and cheeses, organic fruits and veggies, and flavorful free-range livestock). Not to mention the elevated culture of cafes and coffee: In a city of just over four million, three million cups of it are served each day. And there’s also Melbourne’s acclaimed Food & Wine Festival, an annual 17-day-long celebration of cuisine that brings together chefs, critics and food lovers from all over Australia and the rest of the world.
