8 Meneling Road, Batchelor, Northern Territory.
+61 8 8976 0199.
Prepare to be charmed by the happy hippie vibe at the Butterfly Farm, about 100km south of Darwin. Host Chris Horne, an ex-army cook and passionate butterfly breeder, will bowl you over with his ebullience as he welcomes you onto the broad, shady verandah. The menu is brief, with meat and vegetarian versions of basics such as curries, burgers and lasagne. Some dishes may be unorthodox – eggplant in your nasi goreng, anyone? – but the food is presented well and much of it (salad leaves, tomatoes and vegetables) is organically grown on-site. Even better, the chips come from actual potatoes instead of plastic bags. If you have children, allow time to meet the birds, butterflies, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Open: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Licensed. Mains $18-$24.WebsiteSource:
Qantas The Australian Way May 2008