It's a tough ask to upstage a view like that of Bondi Promenade's new Greek eatery, Etheus. But the menu of Executive Chef Chris Benedet and Head Chef Stav Stavrou manages just that, with food is as fresh as the breeze that wafts in through the front window. Our highlights? The crisp, firm tomatoes carry the traditional Village Salad from commonplace to highlight and the kaitaifi-wrapped King prawns which prove just how juicy these crustaceans can be when cooked to perfection.

Can’t score a reservation at one of the hottest tickets in the Derwent Valley, west of Hobart? A recently added weekends-only (Friday to Sunday) kiosk means you can commandeer a picnic table or bring your own blanket for a casual feast of savoury and sweet treats made with top local produce.

Are you perched above south Melbourne’s Oakleigh Market or on the terrace of a taverna in the Greek Islands? It’s hard to tell at Olympia wine bar, which lures sun-seekers with its balcony of Hellenic-style whitewashed walls and mature olive trees. Although the retractable roof makes it a dependable year-round drinking spot, the space and menu lend themselves perfectly to warmer weather. Greek-inspired share plates of taramasalata with Yarra Valley caviar and golden saganaki croquettes are offset by gin and strawberry cocktails that nod to the fresh flavours of the Aegean Sea.

Sydney sunsets are optimised at the Eastern Suburbs waterfront Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, with the city’s famous skyline silhouette across the harbour. Grab a table and up the seasonal ante with a generous seafood platter of WA lobster and scallop ceviche.

The Med-style refresh of The Bristol’s rooftop in Sydney’s CBD breathes new life into the heritage bones of this 129-year-old venue. Three terraces crown the five-level hotel, adorned with pastel-hued umbrellas that shade the crowds as they spill into the sunshine, Cherry & Mint Bramble (a gin, sour cherry and mint confection) in hand. The Euro-chic overhaul extends to the menu, with fetta-stuffed green olives and baby calamari with aïoli and lemon salt; both delicious matches for any one of the 20-ish wines (many by the glass) on offer.

There are few better spots to take in views of the Brisbane River than the terrace at Wet Deck, and no better accompaniment to sunset than a margarita (or two) and snacks such as Moreton Bay bug sliders and freshly shucked oysters.

You’ll have captivating 270-degree vistas from the hills to the coast at this ninth-floor city hangout, alongside a delicious cocktail list (limoncello and passionfruit). The glam rooftop bar adjacent to the indoor restaurant also sports a proudly South Australian-focused wine list.

Five floors up in the 1903 Pacific House building on buzzy Lonsdale Street, Her Rooftop delivers sweeping views along with smooth, smoky drinks such as the Charred Pineapple Margarita topped with palm sugar and lime. Watch the sun set over the city while knocking back chilli-spiked oysters – if you’re there late, don’t miss the Thai chicken roll with spicy mayonnaise.

A lofty terrace above the Eagle Street Pier precinct, overlooking the Story Bridge and boats moored below, brings the waterfront razzle to Madame Wu’s dining dazzle. The glamorous pan-Asian restaurant is a high achiever, with standout dishes such as rice-crusted market fish and its signature violet-hued cocktail.

Nestled in Sydney’s north, 300-seater Rafi features a range of options – from intimate dining rooms to an outdoor area peppered with peach umbrellas, lush greenery and timber furnishings. Expect plates such as grilled scallops with umami butter as well as fun cocktails such as the Fragola Fizz – featuring vodka, yuzu liqueur, Aperol, strawberry, agave and citrus – served short and carbonated.

Unhurried brunches on the elevated deck or picnics on the lawn are best followed by a visit to the resident alpacas and Highland cows at this easygoing and elegant restaurant in the coastal playground of Eagle Bay, near Dunsborough. Later, take the bush track from the backyard to the beach.

With its cascading water feature, the palm-shaded open-air dining area at Fino is a vision of Spain’s sprawling Moorish palace of Alhambra, while the locavore menu grounds you in the heart of Barossa wine country. Linger over a long lunch after a tasting at the estate’s cellar door.

Enveloped by tropical gardens, open-air dining pavilions ring a waterlily-filled lagoon that will whisk you straight to Thailand – so, too, the fire-and-spice menu of this Sunshine Coast Hinterland favourite, just 30 minutes from Noosa. After dinner, retire to the moodily beautiful Hong Sa bar for an Asian-themed cocktail.

Come to gaze at the glittering expanse of the yacht-dotted harbour 26 floors below Crown Sydney’s rooftop bar. Stay for the sophisticated mix of on-trend cocktails, extravagant bubbles and luxe nibbles, including caviar service (be sure to arrive early to grab a table on the outdoor terrace).

Across the road from Cottlesloe Beach, an outdoor table here puts you ringside for people-watching at Perth’s famous stretch of sand. The pasta-focused Italian menu is simpatico with the vast blue of the Indian Ocean, while lazy afternoons were made for another glass of wine from the list you judged one of Australia’s best.

Spend balmy weekend afternoons in Grevillea Park on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, where The Boat House’s award-winning chefs plate up dishes designed to be shared, including pork loin with burnt honey mustard. Stationed right on the river’s edge, even the indoor seats feel as if they’re floating on water.

Dining in the tropics should always be like this: fans twirling lazily overhead, waves lapping just metres away and a menu that channels the location with fresh seafood and bold flavours. Time your visit to Darwin’s premier special-occasion restaurant to see the sun setting over Fannie Bay.

You’ll find a fusion of Catalonian cuisine and local produce at The Black Footed Pig’s harbourside digs at the MACq 01 Hotel in Hobart. Settle in at a table on the deck and choose from tapas that include brioche with whipped ricotta and Pedro Ximénez honey as well as an octopus pincho with fennel. Just don’t skip the burnt Basque cheesecake.

Dedicate a whole day to this food and drink empire in inner-city Sydney, where historic industrial buildings sit among beautiful gardens. Covering all bases – from coffee to cocktails and baked goods to barbecue – it’s a food-lover’s fantasy land complete with friendly farm animals.

The views over Carlton’s rooftops to the city skyscrapers beyond are pure Melbourne but there’s an infectious Amalfi Coast atmosphere at this Lygon Street institution. Olive trees and orange umbrellas ensure the King and Godfree precinct’s high-level bar is on-theme for spritzes and Italian-accented snacks.

Balmy afternoons are made for the rooftop bar at this old-school pub in The Rocks, with the Opera House and Circular Quay as a backdrop. Live it up with DJ sets, crisp rosé and mod-Oz riffs on pub classics.

You’ll feel enveloped by the bright lights of the big city at this fifth-floor Lonsdale Street haunt, boasting some of the best views in town. The rooftop party version of the Bomba restaurant downstairs delivers the same Spanish mindset with a tapas menu (the bone marrow with Wagyu cecina will pique anyone’s interest) and free-flowing sangria.

Built over the Brisbane River, this indoor-outdoor bar is the jewel in the crown of the Howard Smith Wharves precinct. Rub shoulders on the deck and enjoy sunset vibes and vistas with a side of prawn rolls and blush-coloured drinks.

Characterful outdoor spaces and a pups-welcome policy have sent this venue near St Kilda Road to the top of the alfresco pops. From the exclusive Rose Garden (book ahead to commandeer a wicker lounge suite) to the easygoing garden party of The Conservatory, it’s a sprawling vision of European style

A seat on the terrace with the water lapping below is a winning move at this classic in Sydney’s east. The maritime décor – hundreds of glass buoys suspended in fishing nets from the ceiling and an unabashed use of shell art – matches seafood-focused menus at the lower-floor café and its crowning restaurant.

Brunch takes a bucolic turn at the café offshoot of Daylesford’s luxurious Lake House. Nestled in the town’s glorious botanic gardens, the venue’s outdoor seating is surrounded by the kitchen garden and heritage-listed trees, while the regionally minded menu features treats from the artisanal bakery at the owners’ nearby Dairy Flat Farm.

Turn up the dial by booking a private cabana at this chic rooftop bar – there’s room for you and 11 friends, and dedicated waitstaff add to the A-list vibes. DJs play as views of Government House and the Adelaide Oval dissolve into the night.

The Three Blue Ducks café crew hit its locally sourced and seasonal stride on this 32-hectare working farm in Byron Bay. Wander the grounds and visit the animals before taking a seat on the patio or terrace to sample a slow-cooked veg salad or flame-grilled seafood from the menu.

With a beer garden, outdoor terraces and a dog-friendly front bar, this three-level oasis in Perth’s Highgate is reinventing the traditional pub. Explore the venue with a tequila-based Tommy’s (complete with agave and dehydrated lime) in hand and soak up views of the city from the rooftop over a chicken parmigiana and beer.

It’s as essential to the Gold Coast as the theme parks and beaches, with its sriracha-spiked fried bug rolls and Chilli Margaritas ferried on loop to the crowds taking in sea-level views of surfers and sunbakers on Burleigh Beach. Those in the know take a towel.

Perched above the green swathe of the Lebrina Valley outside Launceston, Clover Hill winery’s spectacular terrace is decked out with beanbags and picnic tables. All you have to do is book ahead for a tasting of the sparkling specialist’s acclaimed wines matched with seasonal nibbles.

This vision of Palm Springs sitting on a platform in the middle of the Yarra River all but demands you wear white linen. The chic terrazzo-topped tables and olive-green banquettes are matched by fun-loving cocktails and a snacky menu of pizzas and more. Access is via the hidden staircase halfway across the Evan Walker Bridge.

5 Luxurious Experiences to Have on the Gold Coast