Victoria's wild coast, protected bays, calm lakes and big rivers amount to one culinary superstar: super-fresh seafood. From water to waiter, beachside and lakeside restaurants and eateries serve up all kinds of local seafood catch – squid, prawns, mussels and crayfish for starters – as well as plenty of fish, including snapper, whiting, kingfish and salmon.
Perch at a table on a jetty, high upon a cliff, or float on a converted ferry. Visit fishing cooperatives right on the pier as the day's haul comes in. Or, DIY at a trout farm and hand your catch straight to a chef for cooking.
If you're by the water, you're bound to find a fabulous seafood feast. Try a few of our favourites:
Gippsland
Dine on local seafood right on the jetty Wildfish in Port Albert, East Gippsland, or float on the lakes at Ferryman's Seafood Cafe, a converted ferry at Lakes Entrance (fresh take-home seafood also available).
Ferryman's Seafood Cafe
Middle Boat Harbour, The Esplanade
Lakes Entrance
Wildfish
Port Albert Jetty
Port Albert
Geelong and the Bellarine
For some of the country's best mussels, watch the haul at Portarlington Pier and try the tasting plate at Advance Mussel Supply's nearby farm gate. Mussel in on all the action at the Portarlington Mussel Festival each year on the second Saturday in January.
In Queenscliff, dine on local octopus and Port Phillip Bay snapper in grandeur in the Vue Grand's Grand Dining Room. At the waterfront floating restaurant Geelong Boat House, sit on the gangplank and take in views of Corio Bay with your local catch.
Advance Mussel Supply
230-250 Portarlington Queenscliff Road
Bellarine
Geelong Boat House
50-52 Western Foreshore Road
Geelong
Vue Grand
46 Hesse Street
Queenscliff
