Home to a spectacular coastline and towering timbers, the region is also one of Western Australia’s most important food bowls. Our second largest agricultural producer, the Great Southern brings us everything from canola to poultry, barley to vegetables. It has also understandably seen serious growth as a destination for travellers seeking fabulous food and drink. Here are just a few of the many reasons we love this corner of WA.
Platters of Albany Rock Oysters
Few things capture the Great Southern’s special relationship with the sea quite like Albany Rock Oysters. Grown by Leeuwin Coast in the cool, pristine waters of Oyster Bay, these beauties have rightfully earned a devoted following across the country.
Available from November to April, their rich flavour profile is unique to the region. They are fed by nutrients from the river catchment that flows into the estuary, resulting in a gentle briny taste with grassy undertones. Such high-quality produce needs little embellishment, but if you do like to dress up your oysters, these simple Albany Rock Oyster recipes will impress your oyster-loving guests.
For those hankering for a broader catch, Great Southern Seafoods has you covered, from King George Whiting and Southern Bluefin Tuna to scallops, blue swimmer crabs and octopus, and so much more. The family wholesale and retail business has been supplying local seafood to restaurants and fish and chip shops throughout WA and interstate for more than 30 years. Dedicated to quality and sustainability, they are proud to bring the best of the region’s celebrated seafood to our doorstep.
All types of truffle treats
The region may have been later to the starting gate than neighbouring Southern Forests, but the Great Southern is gaining a reputation as a premium producer of so-called “black gold”. The earthy truffle is a truly giving ingredient, with a little going a long way to lifting so many dishes. It also pairs beautifully with so much other produce.
Great Southern Truffles has captured this versatility perfectly with a range of products showcasing the fungi’s flavour, from truffle-infused oils and honey to sauces and salsas that you will want to make pantry staples. They even partnered with Brownes Dairy to create a moreish cheese – the Truffle Club Cheddar proved so popular at its launch in 2025, the dairy producer had to restrict numbers. Thankfully, you can now find it in your favourite supermarket or grocer. Never tasted truffles? Try one of these suggested recipes from Great Southern Truffles.
Awesome olive oils
The region’s temperate climate and rich soils have also proved fertile ground for olives and, of course, olive oil, with producers punching above their weight in a market blessed with many high-quality local oils.
Great Southern Groves spreads the love across groves in Frankland, Mount Barker and Albany, producing the finest frantoio, leccino and coratina olives for premium olive oil and table olives. Their Tuscan varieties have a lovely fruity character with a light peppery finish – drizzle over a salad or pasta to appreciate the full flavour. Chefs clearly agree, voting them Producer of the Year at the 2025 WA Good Food Guide Awards.
Jingilli has also earned a reputation for quality olive oil, one forged over almost 30 years of delivering the finest extra virgin olive oil to restaurants, supermarkets and gourmet food outlets. While they have since expanded into the Wheatbelt, the family behind this beloved brand planted the first 100,000 trees in the Frankland River sub-region of the Great Southern almost 30 years ago. They press the olives on site as little as two hours after harvesting, ensuring the freshest flavour.
Fabulous free range (pork, chicken & eggs)
Anyone who spends time with farmers and growers knows how much respect they have for the land and their animals. You can see it in practice as you wander the Great Southern.
Colin and Beau Ford, from Albany Farm Fresh Foods, believe in creating an environment to suit animals, rather than the other way around. They keep their numbers small to ensure their animals get the highest standard of care, which includes constant access to fresh air, clean water and sun protection. You can taste the difference in their Frankland River Pork and Albany Farm Fresh Eggs. Visit the farm shop in Albany and find out for yourself.
Then there is Mt Barker Chicken, a name synonymous with free-range farming in Western Australia. Chickens roam freely on the family farms, pecking as they wish amid the grapevines and green pastures, with access to shade and specially designed play areas. It’s all about maintaining strict welfare conditions, which also happen to deliver the best-tasting chicken. Try a heartwarming chicken and barley soup or serve with some local olives in this tasty chicken tagine with olives and lemon.
Farmers markets & artisanal flavours
If you’ve been lucky enough to spend time in any regional area, you will know the environment seems to foster ingenuity and creativity. Maybe it’s all that fresh air. Or the wide open skies. Not only do the regions grow premium produce, but they also use those ingredients to create a wondrous array of preserves, relishes, sauces and oils, drinks and so much more for our enjoyment.
Be sure to call into local providores and swing by farmgate stalls wherever you go in the Great Southern. And find out if there is a local farmers market while you’re there. Albany Farmers Market, for example, is held every Saturday morning in the heart of the CBD. Showcasing local producers, it’s a great place to pick up fresh supplies and meet the artisans behind everything from homemade jam to premium pickles. Anyone hungry?
We love all Western Australia’s remarkable regions, from the Great Southern coastline to the top of the Kimberley. Read about some of our favourite South West food, and stay tuned as we spread the love throughout the State over the coming months.
*Photo of Porongurup National Park courtesy Tourism Western Australia