As people are becoming more conscious of their health and the environment, we are seeing a rise in plant-based eating. In fact, almost 3.8 million Australians follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, and the rise of the nation’s interest in meat-free dishes shows no signs of slowing down with Aussies making a whopping 1,453,440 searches on average each year on the subject. As such, towns and cities across the country are beginning to adapt to meet this demand, offering a broader range of meat-free alternatives within their restaurants. But which places stand out as Australia’s top destinations for vegan and vegetarian dining?
To find out, our team at Gozney has analysed 48 of Australia’s most populated locations. We ranked them based on the number of restaurants offering vegan and vegetarian options, including pizza restaurants and those rated four stars and above. Additionally, we examined Google search volumes for vegan and vegetarian-related terms, from restaurants to pizza recipes.
Australia’s Vegan and Vegetarian Capitals
1. Port Macquarie
Best known for its natural beauty and picturesque beaches, Port Macquarie takes the crown for the most vegan and vegetarian-friendly destination in Australia. Although it is a smaller town with a population of just 41,491, Port Macquarie boasts an impressive 1,405 restaurants offering vegan and vegetarian options - that’s a staggering 338.6 per capita. The vibrant Clarence Street is the ultimate hotspot for vegan and veggie options in town, with over 15 restaurants around this street alone including Reyhana and Town Green Buffet and Bar. Plant-based pizza lovers are especially spoiled for choice in this town, with 113 restaurants serving up vegan and vegetarian-friendly slices such as Enzo Woodfired Pizza.
Port Macquarie’s abundance of options is a rare treat for those looking for meat-alternatives, ensuring plenty of variety and choice. Whatever they choose to eat, diners are unlikely to be disappointed, with over 80% of these restaurants being rated four stars or higher. Plus, plant-based pizza lovers are especially spoilt for choice, with 113 restaurants serving up vegan and vegetarian-friendly slices.
“With more than one million searches made yearly on average around vegan and vegetarian terms in Australia, the shift towards meat-free alternatives is increasing across the nation, even among those who aren’t strictly vegan or vegetarian. For anyone looking for a quick and easy meat-free option, a versatile dish like pizza is a great place to start,” said Christian Pohio, Gozney Australia’s General Manager.
2. Caloundra
Caloundra, another charming coastal town, ranks second, despite an even smaller population of just 38,706. This town offers a plethora of options for those seeking a meat-free meal; Bulcock Street, just a short stroll from the scenic Happy Valley, is the best place to head when looking for vegan and vegetarian dishes. With 83% of its 1,021 vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants being rated four stars and above, Caloundra is sure to impress with its meat-free meals.
3. Albury
Nestled on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, Albury takes third place with an impressive 1,057 vegan and vegetarian-friendly spots. Dean Street, the city’s main shopping street, is the go-to destination for diners seeking a meat-free feast after a day out.
Top-rated 2640 Restaurant and Bar delivers a five-star experience with its Australian-inspired dishes, while Downtown Pizzeria, famous for its wood-fired pizza ovens, ranks high with contemporary pizzas that satisfy all palates and diets.
4. Blacktown
Blacktown, a vibrant suburb in Sydney's west, secures the fourth spot as an emerging hotspot for vegan and vegetarian dining. Here, curiosity for this way of eating is booming, with locals frequently turning to Google for meat-free meal inspiration. With the highest number of annual searches for vegan and vegetarian-related terms (an average of 3,385 annual searches per capita), and nearly 1,000 searches per capita for both “vegan recipes” and “vegetarian recipes”, which is almost double that of the second spot Werribee Victoria, it’s clear that Blacktown’s residents are eager to get creative in the kitchen.
When it comes to letting someone else do the cooking, Blacktown provides a humble, but high-quality selection of dining options. Over 85% of its restaurants offer vegan and vegetarian options in a diverse range of cuisines. One popular choice is Zeko, which offers pizza and Mediterranean cuisine and boasts an impressive 4.5 stars.
5. Hervey Bay
Located along the bright blue waters of the Coral Sea, Hervey Bay is not only an incredible location to spot humpback whales, but is also making waves as a great spot for vegan and vegetarian dining. The Esplanade, running along the scenic beachfront, acts as a hub for some of the best meat-free meals that taste as good as the scenery looks. Odyssey Bistro is a top pick, perfectly rated 5 stars.
From Orange to Wagga Wagga, the top 6 - 10 cities also offer their own unique vegan and vegetarian food scenes
Rounding off the top ten, Orange, Frankston, Werribee, Adelaide Hills, and Wagga Wagga also have a lot to offer vegan and vegetarian diners.
Residents of Orange eager to explore their meat-free palate will be pleased to find 185 restaurants offering vegan and vegetarian options - 113 per capita.
In Frankston and Werribee, residents seem keen to explore meat-free cuisine, generating the second and third highest search volumes for vegan and vegetarian-related terms in Australia. With 1,463 annual searches in Frankston and 1,781 in Werribee, locals are actively looking to explore this way of eating. With a more modest selection of 52 per capita, Frankston has the highest percentage of four-star and above ratings (89%), meaning the eateries here are serving up high quality plant-based dishes.
Completing the top ten, Adelaide Hills and Wagga Wagga offer 346 and 185 restaurants with meat-free options - 57 and 39 per capita.
Where do the major cities rank?
Surprisingly, Australia’s major cities don't lead the way in the vegan and vegetarian dining scene. Although each capital offers a wide range of options, the number of restaurants offering meat-free dishes is relatively limited when compared to the size of their populations. Canberra, the nation’s capital, ranks highest among them but only manages to land in 20th place. Despite their bustling populations, cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth have relatively few meat-free dining options relative to their population, with less than 0.5 vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants per capita. While Canberra offers a broader selection of 4.2 per capita, it is still far from a paradise for non meat-eaters.
However, interest in vegan and vegetarian cuisine is far from lacking in these major cities. Melbourne’s residents alone search for vegan and vegetarian-related terms around 237,360 times per year (559 times per capita), whilst those in Sydney search 217,920 (471 times per capita). These per capita figures are comparable to those in much higher ranking locations, like Port Macquarie and Caloundra. With fewer dining options available, many city residents are relying on their own culinary skills, searching for ‘vegan recipes’ and ‘vegetarian recipes’ to whip up their own plant-based creations.
The best states and territories for plant-based eaterse
New South Wales
Whilst it is best known for its capital city, Sydney, and its stunning golden beaches, New South Wales is also a haven for vegan and vegetarian foodies. Two of the top-ranking cities on our list - Port Macquarie and Albury - call this state home, offering a diverse range of meat-free options. With an impressive 80% of its restaurants boasting four-star ratings or higher, NSW is a prime destination for those looking to indulge in delicious and high-quality vegan and vegetarian meals.
Queensland
In second place is Queensland, home to vibrant Brisbane and the famous Gold Coast. Whilst it has almost half the vegan and vegetarian options that NSW has to offer (around 420 per capita), Queensland still impresses with its quality - 83% of its restaurants offering meat-free options are rated four stars and above.
Pizza remains a popular choice here amongst those enjoying a veggie-focused diet, with over 40,500 monthly Google searches for vegan and vegetarian pizza recipes and restaurants. However, with around 36 vegan and vegetarian pizza options per capita, the selection is limited. But, with good weather all year round, why not take matters into your own hands? Investing in your own outdoor pizza oven means you can create your own Italian dishes whilst enjoying the beautiful weather.
Victoria
Taking third place is Victoria, offering fewer options for vegetarian and vegan diners than Queensland. However, Victorians still clearly show a keen appetite for a plant-based diet, driving the highest yearly searches for vegan and vegetarian-related terms of any state with an average of over 751 related searches daily.
Although Victoria’s per capita offering stands at 165 restaurants catering to vegan and vegetarian diners, the state makes up for it with quality. With a massive 83% of restaurants rated four stars and above, Victoria definitely still delivers an excellent dining experience for vegan and vegetarian enthusiasts.
The best way to start eating meat-free meals at home
“Pizza is one of the most versatile dishes around, serving as a blank canvas for any dietary preference. The beauty of vegan pizza lies in its simplicity - it’s an easy dish to customise, allowing you to tailor it perfectly to your own taste. Whether you’re piling on the fresh veggies or experimenting with plant-based meats, pizza-making is a great way to unleash your creativity with meat-free cooking,” said Pohio.
Sources and Methodology
To find out which location in Australia is the best for vegans and vegetarians, we put together a seedlist of the 48 most populated locations in the country. We then ranked these locations based on:
- Average monthly search volume for vegan and vegetarian-related terms per 10,000 people (Google Keyword Planner)
- The number of restaurants with vegan and vegetarian options per 10,000 people (TripAdvisor)
- The number of restaurants with vegan and vegetarian options rated 4 stars or above per 10,000 people (TripAdvisor)
- The number of pizza restaurants with vegan and vegetarian options per 10,000 people (TripAdvisor)
