Destination NSW has partnered with Southern Pictures on its upcoming TV series featuring chef and author Rick Stein.

Filmed entirely in NSW across six one-hour episodes, Rick Stein’s Australia follows the world-renowned chef as he retraces his early travels across the state on a 5000km road trip.

Destination NSW hosted a media preview with Stein at his eponymous Coogee Beach restaurant on 25 March 2026.

Rick Stein’s Australia sees him meet chefs, producers, artists and local communities who reveal how migration, First Nations knowledge, heritage and place shape modern Australian food.

The series starts on the iconic Sydney Harbour and follows Rick’s journey to the Central Coast and further afield to NSW’s sparkling North Coast, before heading through the iconic NSW outback, onto the produce-rich Riverina region and finishing the journey at Rick’s “home away from home” on the NSW South Coast.

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “Culinary tourism is a key contributor to the state’s visitor economy and NSW is home to incredible experiences for visitors, from the streets of the CBD to the food bowl of the Riverina.

"Rick Stein’s deep dive into NSW’s rich and colourful food story will show global audiences the breadth and depth of experiences on offer and bolster NSW’s reputation as a culinary destination."

Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones said: “Rick’s journey is a celebration of NSW – its coastlines, country towns and communities – and the way food can bring together culture, storytelling and experience.

"From Sydney’s multicultural dining scene to regional producers, First Nations custodians and sustainable seafood experiences on the Sapphire Coast, this is a series that will inspire audiences to plan their own NSW road trip."

Rick Stein said: “I first came to Australia at 19-years-old, and what I found here changed me. It was the beginning of my love affair with the people, the places and the food.

"Travelling around NSW for this series reminded me how much there is to discover – from the incredible diversity of Sydney to the beauty of the coast and the character of the inland. I hope audiences enjoy the journey as much as I did”

SBS Acting Head of Network Programming Natalie Edgar said: “Rick Stein is beloved by SBS audiences for bringing out the heart of every community and cuisine. We’re thrilled to premiere Rick Stein’s Australia, which sees Rick retrace his steps from his first visit to NSW and rediscover the extraordinary food, people and stories along the way.

"The series is a celebration of Australian cuisine in all its richness - from First Nations knowledge to its diverse cultural influences and contemporary expressions. We can’t wait for audiences to join Rick on this journey.”

Rick Stein with chef Mark Olive

NSW destinations and experiences featured in Rick Stein’s Australia

Episode 1 – Sydney

Rick returns to Sydney Harbour and explores the city’s evolving culinary identity, from dining and cooking with leading local chefs to discovering Chinatown’s influence, visiting Sydney’s Flemington Markets, and learning about native ingredients and modern Australian cuisine at one of Sydney Opera House’s restaurants.

Episode 2 – The Central Coast and Hawkesbury River

Travelling north of Sydney, Rick immerses himself in the region’s river, bush and ocean lifestyle, including experiences on the Hawkesbury River, an off-grid riverside cook-up in Spencer, ocean swimming at Umina Beach near Woy Woy, and foraging on Lake Macquarie.

Episode 3 – The North Coast

Rick journeys up the NSW North Coast through beach towns and hinterland communities on the way to Byron Bay, meeting multicultural communities, sampling local market fare, tracking down a classic meat pie stop, and exploring paddock-to-plate dining in Byron Bay.

Episode 4 – The Outback (Moree and Bourke)

Leaving the coast behind, Rick travels inland through the wide plains and huge skies of Moree and Bourke, experiencing the Moree Show, learning local social history, meeting First Nations leaders working with native grains, and visiting outback station life at the “gateway to the outback”.

Episode 5 – The Riverina

In the state’s food bowl, Rick explores the Riverina’s reinvention story through farming innovation, Italian migrant heritage, iconic local dishes and world-renowned wines – including a visit with the De Bortoli family – before revisiting classic Australian food discoveries along the way.

Episode 6 – The Sapphire Coast

In the final episode, Rick introduces viewers to the Sapphire Coast, his “home away from home”, travelling through the high country to the NSW South Coast, fishing with locals, kayaking on Pambula Lake, harvesting rock oysters and sea urchins, and exploring the future of sustainable seafood.

Rick Stein’s Australia will premiere on Thursday, 30 April 2026 at 7.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand.