Australia❜s Must-Visit Cheese Destinations For Cheese Lovers

Gooey, rindy, smelly, and even mouldy, yep – Australian’s are certainly not prejudiced when it comes to our love affair with cheese, and how can we be when the land down under produces some of the best cheeses in the world. From artisan cheese makers to quaint cafes, and renowned cheese-making regions, these are some the best spots in Australia to go on a cheese-tasting adventure and maybe take home a wheel or two.

NSW

The Artisan Cheese Room, Manly

This hole-in-the-wall shop might seem discreet at first glance but their selection of cheeses is anything but. The Artisan Cheese Room in Manly boasts over 50 types of cheeses from around the world and even hosts their own cheese club! They’re conveniently located a few steps from Manly’s Ferry Wharf so there’s no excuse to not stop in for a taste.

Location: 1/40 East Esplanade, Manly

Jannei Artisan Cheese Makers, Blue Mountains

If you’ve got a hankering for fresh, handmade goat’s cheese, stop off at Jannei Artisan Cheese Makers in the Blue Mountains. This hidden gem is one of the Blue Mountains’ top boutique cheese markers and continually wins awards for their wide selection of goat’s cheese (or chèvre, s'il vous plait!) varieties. Visitors are welcome at Jannei year-round and will receive a free cheese tasting on arrival!

Location: 11 View Street, Lidsdale

Bega Cheese Heritage Centre

Mention the word cheese and Bega should spring to mind, well if you grew up in Australia it should. As one of Australia’s oldest cheese brands, Bega cheese has been a part of many Aussie childhoods and chances are you still have it in your fridge today. A stop off at the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre in Bega will give you an inside look at how the dairy industry shaped the future of Bega Valley and get to sample as many Bega cheese varieties as you wish. There’s also a cafe on site.

Location: 11-13 Lagoon Street, Bega

Hunter Valley Cheese Factory

If you love cheese but know little about it, the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory will show you the stringy mozzarella ropes. Let the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory’s trained cheese specialists guide you around the working cheese factory as you ogle at and sample their smorgasbord of cheese varieties including fromage blanc, feta, brie, washed rind, natural rind, cheddar, tommes, blue vein and more.

Location: 447 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin

Victoria

Milawa Cheese Company

Since 1988, Milawa Cheese Company has been churning out some of the best preservative-free cheeses around and continues to wow all cheese lovers who stop in at the factory for a taste. All cow and goat’s milk cheese wheels are made, turned, and washed by hand at the Milawa Cheese Company, so you know you’re in for real-deal authentic cheeses here. Their adjoining cafe serves cheese and antipasto platters as well as handmade pizzas – yum!

Location: 17 Factory Road, Milawa  

Prom Country Cheese

If blue cheese is your weakness, Prom Country Cheese has some of the smelliest and most delicious around. Nestled on lush acreage in Moyarra in South Gippsland, Prom Country Cheese is run by cheesemakers Burke and Bronwyn Brandon, who are involved in the entire paddock-to-plate process of their handcrafted and award-winning cheeses. While Prom Country’s soft curd, washed rind, soft bries, and aged cheeses are seriously palatable, it’s their Venus Blue blue vein cheese that continues to win all the awards and draw in all the crowds of visitors.

Location: 275 Andersons Inlet Road, Moyarra

That’s Amore Cheese

Although they only opened their doors in 2008, Giorgio Linguanti’s That’s Amore Cheese has managed to grow into one of the top cheese manufacturers in Victoria and produces award-winning cheeses to boot. Specialising in Italian-style cheeses made only using traditional processes, That’s Amore Cheese is worth a visit if you want to taste authentic Italian cheeses and maybe a scoop of their equally as tasty housemade gelato.     

Location: 66 Latitude Boulevard, Thomastown

Tasmania

King Island Dairy

For cheese tasting a bit further afield (or further afloat!), King Island Dairy on King Island is a must-visit for cheese lovers. Located between Victoria and Tasmania in Bass Strait, King Island is the home of King Island cheese and has been since the early 1900s. The island is one of only a few areas in the world where cows graze year-round, making King Island cow’s milk highly desirable for cheese production and the reason why their white, blue, and cheddar cheeses are some of the best in the world. The King Island Cheese Store is open year-round for visitors to come and nibble on award-winning cheeses and learn all about their paddock-to-plate process.

Location: 869 North Road, Loorana

Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Co.

If you’re visiting the south of Tasmania and have a yearning for cheese tasting with a nice coldie, Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Co. know how to pair cheese and beers to perfection. All products at the Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Co. from their craft beers to their hard, soft, and pinot-infused cheeses are made from scratch on the premises and available for the public to stop in and taste.  

Location: 1807 Bruny Island Main Road, Great Bay

Pyengana Dairy Company

Pyengana Dairy Company presents prestigious cheese making at its finest. The heritage establishment has been producing ethical cheese products for over 130 years in Tasmania’s northeast corner, and their cloth-bound cheddar is one of the most awarded cheddars in Australia. An idyllic country abode awaits when visiting Pyengana Dairy Company where you can see cheese being made in the factory and then while away the afternoon grazing on gourmet cheese platters and perfectly paired wines at the Pyengana Farm Gate Cafe.

Location: St Columba Falls Road, Pyengana

Is your favourite cheese destination not on our list? Let us know in the comments!

Other Cheesy Delights To Check Out

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