Quintessentially Aussie @ Fairfield Park Boathouse, Melbourne

When we first moved to Melbourne in May, and I told my Melburnian cousins where we live, one of them asked if we had been to the Fairfield Park Boathouse. The same boathouse came up again in topic with a Melburnian friend, who used to work in the same area, and she again affirmed that it was worth a visit, though for her it was more for the scenery than the food. We fell in love with the place the first time we visited, and hubby describes it as "quintessentially Aussie". We have visited the Boathouse several times since, usually with out-of-town relatives and friends. The boathouse overlooks the Yarra River, and there are rowing boats, kayaks and canoes for hire to explore the Yarra River. The casual outdoor setting is great for those with restless and energetic children, and there are even 40-cent-kiddy-rides with the option of riding a horse, a giraffe, a zebra or a car!

Beyond the entrance are the first area of outdoor tables, the tearoom (where orders are placed), and a set of stairs down to the boat hire shop and more tables:

Down the flight of stairs is usually where we sit ourselves:

Beaut view of the Yarra River:

There's plenty of food on the menu to suit all tastebuds and appetites. Orders are placed at the tearoom, and then a buzzer is given to notify that the food is ready for pick up. There is a long wait for the food, and the price is relatively high compared to the cafes on Station Street in Fairfield, but we love the beautiful scenery and the food is delicious, so we don't mind the wait and cost too much for an occasional treat.

The Devonshire Scones with Jam and Cream ($11.50):

Beer Battered Fish and Chips with garden salad, lemon wedge and aioli ($26.50):

Boathouse Beef Burger with bacon, onion jam, crisp lettuce, cheese, mustard aioli, and chips ($26):

Lightly Fried Calamari with rocket, herb aioli, Spanish red onion, shaved parmesan, balsamic vinegar & lemon ($25):

Pork Belly with pumpkin mash, apple sauce, crispy pumpkin skin and water cress ($27):

Pulled Pork Roll - 10 hour slow cooked spiced pork shoulder with coleslaw, Carolina rub, barbeque sauce & chips ($25.50):

Fairfield Park Boathouse & Tea Gardens
Fairfield Park Dr
Fairfield VIC 3078
Tel. +61 9486 1501