Clay Cantina, Coolangatta: It’s just like the old proverb – give a man a taco, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to make tacos, you feed him for a lifetime, or something along those lines anyway. The point is, if you’ve always been drawn to the beautifully vibrant flavours of Mexican cuisine, then Clay Cantina’s cooking classes are for you. Hidden down an unassuming Coolangatta laneway, the hands-on classes are taught by Kristal Smith, who has spent more than 13 years travelling back and forth to Mexico, so suffice to say she knows her stuff! Kristal possesses an incredible love and deep-seated respect for the people of Latin America alongside the rich culinary traditions, and the unmistakable flavours and techniques of Mexican cooking and the cooking classes are her way of sharing her knowledge and experiences. There are two cooking classes held per month, a three-hour cooking social on a Tuesday night as well as a more extensive five-hour masterclass on a Sunday. Guests will gather around the island bench and learn the art of sensational salsas, mouth-watering marinades, grilling techniques and how to make tortillas from scratch. Keen? Jump over here to see when the next classes are.

Icon Cookery School, The Kitchens, Robina: A culinary school, inside a foodie playground – this means there’s lots of fun to be had! The Icon Cookery School is located upstairs at The Kitchens in Robina Town Centre and offers a jam-packed line-up of entertaining and informative cooking workshops, ranging from international cuisine to desserts, raw treats and vegetarian cooking classes. You’ll be under the guidance of the passionate chefs, you don’t have to do the washing up, and there is a dining room where you can sit and enjoy your masterpiece at the end. So, grab a group of friends and get cooking. Some of the upcoming classes include Vietnamese street food, gnocchi, and curries and spices from around the world. Sign us up to them all, please and thanks.

Salt, Meats, Cheese, Surfers Paradise: There is a real smug sense of satisfaction that comes when you create a dish from scratch. If you need to up-skill in the area of pizza, pasta, gnocchi and even cocktails, get yourself along to Salt Meats Cheese’s cooking classes to learn the art form for yourself. It’s a fun, hands-on class, and best of all, you get to devour your creation at the end. Take a peek at the upcoming classes here – just be sure to check the Surfers Paradise location unless you’re up for a drive!Double Zero, Robina: If you’re a pizza lover, then it’s time you got schooled on the art of pizza making. Honestly, this will give you a whole new level of appreciation when you bite into your next slice. This Italian gem nestled along The Promenade at Robina Town Centre is renowned for its authentic pizzas and Italian fare – and the secrets are revealed during its popular hands-on masterclasses which cover pizza, pasta and gnocchi. The Italian pizza chefs will guide you through the process of rolling, shaping, topping and baking in the two-hour session. Then, you can enjoy the fruits of your labour over a glass of Italian wine.

ClassBento, various locations and online: ClassBento offers thousands of fun, creative and artisan workshop experiences all around Australia. There are a couple of upcoming sessions you can book including a plant-based cooking class in Currumbin and a flaming cheese wheel and wine experience (yum!), however if there’s a group of you, you can book a private class from a host of mouth-watering selections. Take a peek at all of the upcoming classes here. Oh and if you’re more of a learn at home kinda person, ClassBento has you covered with a range of live streaming options that include all of the ingredients you need to learn authentic butter chicken, make hand-rolled pasta or Chinese dumplings.

Bhavana Organic Farm + Cooking School, Byron Bay Hinterland: If you’re keen to make a whole day of it, Bhavana Organic Farm + Cooking School is the perfect place to hone your skills. Pronounced Bhaa-vuh-naa, the folks here offer a holistic approach to cooking and food preparation. Health-conscious cooks will learn recipes to help improve their general well-being using ingredients grown on the organic farm followed by a seriously memorable sit-down lunch in the paddock overlooking rolling green hills. All classes are based on a group booking with a minimum of six to a maximum of 10 people in a group. The class topics range from gut and adrenal health to brain and heart health.