Kosher Australia

The Travellers' Guide lists the availability of Kosher food & Orthodox services in Australia, New Zealand and other nearby communities. It is provided for the convenience of travellers but is by no means comprehensive and the inclusion or omission of any establishment does not reflect the approval or otherwise of Kosher Australia.  For more information about other countries, visit www.kosherdelight.com or www.kashrut.com.

The Supervising Authority of each establishment, where applicable, has been noted. Enquiries as to supervision standards of all authorities listed, other than those of Kosher Australia, such as whether the product/s is of Mehadrin standard should be addressed to the appropriate authority listed in that city's / state's Community Services. Kosher Australia does not accept responsibility for any goods or services other than those under its own supervision.

Kosher for the Kosher Traveller

When travelling within Australia, the Kosher Australia Food Guide (subscription required) will prove useful as it is tailored for use at supermarkets and food retailers.

Sourcing Kosher food overseas, particularly in Asia where the Jewish population may be sparse, may prove more challenging. Though many Australian and US Kosher products are carried in Asian supermarkets, as a precaution it is wise to bring some Kosher non-perishables with you just in case.

Before taking food overseas, check the limitations on liquids covered under the new security measures for Liquids, Aerosols and Gels – see travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au. Also, some countries prohibit the import of certain foods – see www.daffa.gov.au/aqis/export.

Please note that in general, the leniency of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein with respect to dairy products may be relied upon in Australia, New Zealand, North America, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Rabbi Levy of Zürich has advised us that the Swiss Jewish community does not rely on this ruling in Switzerland.

If you stay at a hotel or motel with cooking facilities and wish to use non-Kosher ovens to reheat food, you may double wrap the meal in aluminium foil and place it within the oven. For microwaves, place the meal preferably in two plastic bags.

Kosher airline meals should be ordered in advance. As these meals are also heated in non-kosher ovens, the airline staff is instructed to heat these meals in the same manner that they were received; totally wrapped in double foil with the caterer's seal and the Rabbinic certification seal intact. These instructions should be prominently displayed on the meal. The traveller can therefore check that the seals are intact and the meal has not been tampered with. If the meal is not properly sealed it should not be eaten. The kosher certification only applies to the food in the sealed package.

Any other food (rolls, wines or liqueurs, cheeses, and coffee creamers or snacks) served loose are not included in the kosher endorsement, unless it is sealed and bears its own separate endorsement.

Hot water served on planes is considered not mehadrin as the kettles are washed together with non-Kosher utensils. Similarly, unless you can identify the juices served, consume water or known soft drinks that are served in their original cans.