Barramundi Farm
Barramundi Farm
4.5
About
Barramundi and hydroponic vegetable farm tour, largest producer in NSW of barramundi with year round production, this is award winning indoor facility, see the production cycle of the fish growing process,fish from 40mm to 800mm, opportunity to feed and play with the fish in the front pond surrounding the family restaurant is free, guided tours @ 11am & 2pm daily $10 for adults $5 for Children.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.5
78 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
22
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
4
Coeliac Cruz on the road 🌾
Sydney, Australia104 contributions
Oct 2020
We went for the farm tour and lunch over the long weekend. It’s a real shame that most of the explanations are done inside where the noise from machinery and water makes it almost impossible to follow. Group size also was too big and forced us to spread out so I just could not hear for more than half of the tour. The gentleman giving explanation in the garden was brilliant and very informative.
Food was good (tried the poached barramundi soup) although service was a bit sloppy with 4 waiters looking over tables from behind the bar for more than 10 minutes and nobody that would actually come to take an order...
The venue is nice and breezy on the deck.
Overall ok but could have been better.
Food was good (tried the poached barramundi soup) although service was a bit sloppy with 4 waiters looking over tables from behind the bar for more than 10 minutes and nobody that would actually come to take an order...
The venue is nice and breezy on the deck.
Overall ok but could have been better.
Written 5 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue H
Sydney, Aust3,807 contributions
Apr 2021
If you want to do the farm tour, I would recommend that you book. It can fill up as the spots are limited. The cost of the tour was $10 and took about 45 minutes. We first walked out to where they grow veg hydroponically. It was explained how they're grown and that these veg get used in their restaurant. The tour guide was very interesting to listen to and explained the process very well. After that he handed us over to a younger man that took us inside where the Barramundi get farmed. The young man that did our tour in there spoke VERY fast, so it was hard to understand what he was saying. I was very interested in what I was seeing, I walked out of there not understanding the barramundi farming process.
Written 23 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John A
Sydney, Australia132 contributions
Nov 2020
Nick Arena the owner and founder of the Barramundi Farm has come an awful long way from the Electrician / Builder who first developed sustainable Barramundi farming over 20 yrs ago. You have to be impressed by his knowledge of fish farming and the impressive facility he has developed.
But like all farming ventures the proof of the pudding is in the eating and lunch at Cookaburra Restaurant was fantastic !! Try the Barramundi Spring rolls which were very tasty. I’m a simple man though and the real test fir me was the Barramundi and Chips !!!The fish couldn’t be fresher, the batter crispy but light !!! Each bite melts in the mouth. An absolute triumph !! Well done Nick and the team !!!
But like all farming ventures the proof of the pudding is in the eating and lunch at Cookaburra Restaurant was fantastic !! Try the Barramundi Spring rolls which were very tasty. I’m a simple man though and the real test fir me was the Barramundi and Chips !!!The fish couldn’t be fresher, the batter crispy but light !!! Each bite melts in the mouth. An absolute triumph !! Well done Nick and the team !!!
Written 13 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aussieallan
Sydney, Australia44 contributions
Jan 2021 • Friends
Kookabarra restaurant features an extensive menu obviously featuring barramundi. Meals were substantial, fresh and delivered quickly. Staff were. Friendly, professional and very obliging. Advisable to book your table as it has become a very popular lunch venue. Added interest is a very informative chance to learn more about Barramundi.
Written 6 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary J
1 contribution
Apr 2022
A very entertaining and informative tour. Our guide was passionate about the program and had a excellent sense of humour. Our queries were answered expertly and a few tricks and questions thrown in had us on our toes. Nothing was too much trouble to ensure a very enjoyable experience. We followed the tour with refreshments and some delicious barramundi spring rolls.
Written 1 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B_and_N_Byrne
Port Macquarie, Australia14 contributions
Aug 2021
We did not take the tour and so this review is for the restaurant only. The food can only be described as poor quality pub food. The fish portions were small, poorly presented, and over=priced. The location is pleasant but definitely not recommended for anyone who is looking for interesting, quality food...
Written 8 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert R
Brisbane, Australia8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Second time I have visited and completed the tour over the past four years.
Tour is worth while to gain an understanding of land based Barra farming.
Barra from the restaurant was beautiful and good value for money.
Restaurant presented well thou the upkeep and presentation around the rest of the farm could do with some improvement. With some good marketing will continue to be a great tourist spot
Tour is worth while to gain an understanding of land based Barra farming.
Barra from the restaurant was beautiful and good value for money.
Restaurant presented well thou the upkeep and presentation around the rest of the farm could do with some improvement. With some good marketing will continue to be a great tourist spot
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond T
Sydney, Australia443 contributions
June 2020 • Family
1 hour excursion starting at 11am on how barramundi is farmed, followed by a good hearty meal of barramundi in different styles and other food including pizzas. At time of visit, excursion times are 11a.m and 2p.m but best to call beforehand.
The excursion provided a great insight. This is a Barramundi farm so the fish is probably the freshest ever. Barramundi cooked well and without the earthly smell. Highly recommended in spending 2.5 to 3 hours here.
The excursion provided a great insight. This is a Barramundi farm so the fish is probably the freshest ever. Barramundi cooked well and without the earthly smell. Highly recommended in spending 2.5 to 3 hours here.
Written 13 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avocado
7 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We are big seafood eaters and I love cooking so trust my comments. When you deep fry fish or prawns, you use relatively not-so-fresh seafood to get rid of the fishy taste.
We came here twice for our short stay in Nelson Bay. We had the poached fish in veg seafood soup for the first time. It was so fresh and the soup flavour was just perfect. I think they used fish bone to make the stock. Fish meat was just soft and juicy. And the peppery spice was a nice surprise.
We went back tossing between having the same dish or try a different one. For sure I won’t go for baked fish coz I’m not confident in the texture outcome. (Personally I don’t like how bistro grill fish fillets. They are dry like rubber. Deep fry probably can retain the moist better.) Hence we give Thai whole barramundi a go. It’s deep fried. Would it be as fresh?. It turned out to be as amazing as the poached barramundi if not more. I’m not good with chilli hot not a big fan of rice, but the chilli sauce was so good that I almost finished the rice.. the veg used was just the right ones for Thai sauce... Shanghai cabbage, parsley, celery, carrot and loads of onion and capsicums. Mind you the veg is also grown in the barramundi farm. The fish meat was moist wrapped with thin crispy skin (not heavily battered).
Don’t forget to try the prawn and ginger dumplings as entree. It’s not a mix of prawn and pork mince like those yum cha dumplings. Purely mince prawns and the pastry was the right thickness dipped in chilli soy. Umm.. yum yum! I could have 2 plates all to myself.
The young lad was very friendly, resourceful and knowledgeable. We couldn’t guess he was that young!
We came here twice for our short stay in Nelson Bay. We had the poached fish in veg seafood soup for the first time. It was so fresh and the soup flavour was just perfect. I think they used fish bone to make the stock. Fish meat was just soft and juicy. And the peppery spice was a nice surprise.
We went back tossing between having the same dish or try a different one. For sure I won’t go for baked fish coz I’m not confident in the texture outcome. (Personally I don’t like how bistro grill fish fillets. They are dry like rubber. Deep fry probably can retain the moist better.) Hence we give Thai whole barramundi a go. It’s deep fried. Would it be as fresh?. It turned out to be as amazing as the poached barramundi if not more. I’m not good with chilli hot not a big fan of rice, but the chilli sauce was so good that I almost finished the rice.. the veg used was just the right ones for Thai sauce... Shanghai cabbage, parsley, celery, carrot and loads of onion and capsicums. Mind you the veg is also grown in the barramundi farm. The fish meat was moist wrapped with thin crispy skin (not heavily battered).
Don’t forget to try the prawn and ginger dumplings as entree. It’s not a mix of prawn and pork mince like those yum cha dumplings. Purely mince prawns and the pastry was the right thickness dipped in chilli soy. Umm.. yum yum! I could have 2 plates all to myself.
The young lad was very friendly, resourceful and knowledgeable. We couldn’t guess he was that young!
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denise P
Woy Woy, Australia46 contributions
Feb 2021
The food was great, the fish, delicious. The service was fast and the girls were very friendly and helpful. This is a wonderful place to take disabled people, there is wheelchair access and a disabled bathroom. There is also heaps of room to maneuver a wheelchair around. We did not get to the farm tour, but I would have liked to have been able to attend. We went to the restaurant twice. I would recommend this place for a lovely lunch. It is also a great place for a larger group of people as there is so much room.
Written 24 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’m have group of 11 people. Can I book an group tour and table for lunch on the 23/12/20??
Written 22 December 2020
lisa h
New South Wales, Australia
Just wondering what time thee barramundi farm opens?
Written 15 February 2018
09.30 and you can do tours before or after lunch. I would always ring to ensure they have someone available to take the tours, as they take a lot of group bookings.
Written 15 February 2018
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