Sunshine Coast & Noosa are ahead of the game when it comes to food, and we grow it all here so we know it has been ethically and sustainably sourced.
With growing and soil conditions near perfect, bountiful supplies of fresh ingredients are raised from the ground to be sold at roadside stalls, local markets, supermarkets or make their way into the skilled hands of chefs in the kitchens of some of the finest restaurants and cafes around.
Not only that, we also encourage visitors to try their hand at creating culinary masterpieces in any of a number of cooking schools throughout the Coast and Hinterland.
A host of cooking schools offer the chance of becoming a gourmet chef for the day, or at least part of a day. Whether it is a spice-blending master class in Caloundra, cooking Thai in a relaxed garden setting near Yandina or Cheese making in Cooran, our skilled professionals are only to happy to share their skills and love of food.
Fresh is best, and our local farmers markets and roadside stalls are a foodies haven, the perfect place to find fresh healthy vital ingredients. Of course it is not just fresh fruit, nuts, herbs and vegetables; we also raise some of the nicest meat here as well.
Having the freshest ingredients has become such a passion that several of our restaurants have their own farms growing and raising all of their own ingredients for the perfect paddock-to-plate dining experience. Of course you would need to here all year around to fully appreciate the seasonal change in their menus’.
Can you imagine standing on the farm and having a taste right at the source? Some of our farmers imagined the same, wanting you to know what food really tastes like, as a result a number have opened their farms to the public so that you can do that very thing, and in some cases pick your own.
So when you want a break from the beaches and are wondering what are some sunshine things to do today, places like Maleny Dairy, Kenilworth Dairies, Noosa Reds, Cooloola Berries, Hinterland Feijoas (to name a few) offer great chances to see and taste our farmers produce (Check for opening days / times).
If you cannot make it to any of these places, then any one of the local farmers markets will connect you with our fresh produce as well.
It is not just our farms, markets and restaurants where you can taste the best of the Coast and Hinterland. There has been increased interest in craft brewing with a number of craft breweries now dotted around the area, many coupled with onsite dining options.
Like the humble barbeque, beer is a part of our culture here too and although our brewing practices are still in their relative infancy when compared to other parts of the world, we still hold our ground with taste and quality in this region.
A trip to the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and surrounds would not be complete without a visit to one of the many local breweries for a taste. From Caloundra through to Cooran and up at Maleny too, you’ll be sure to find a craft brew ‘or two’ with a taste that’s just right for you.
When it comes to locally brewed we don’t just stop at beer, and although not part of the traditional wine growing regions of Australia, Queensland has a wine history that dates back to the 1860’s with the Sunshine Coast regarded as one of its fastest growing and most diverse wine regions.
A small but dedicated band of wine makers give a modern edge to the time honoured tradition of winemaking to produce an enviable selection of excellent wines. The area comprises vineyards situated high up in the cooler climates of the Blackall Range, Kenilworth and Traveston through to the milder climates in the valleys closer to the coast.
A wide variety of grapes are grown in the region due to diverse microclimates. A few of the vineyards where you can taste some of our excellent wines include Flame Hill Vineyard, Maleny Mountain Wines, and Dingo Creek Vineyard.
COFFEE – It’s not just the food, wine and the beer that stand out; it’s the coffee as well. Locally grown beans are roasted and sold in a number of retail outlets across the region and small boutique coffee roasters are a welcome presence for those with even the slightest caffeine addiction.
Finding its home in Yandina across from the Ginger Factory and a neighbour to Nutworks, Pioneer Coffee is one such roaster that host’s onsite roasting demonstrations and makes coffee that surpasses expectations when it comes to quality and taste.
HIGH TEA – If it is something lighter that you are looking for then indulge yourself in a sumptuous High Tea; from the delights of Flaxton Gardens to The Silva Spoon in Cotton Tree, know that a little decadence goes a long way towards making any occasion special.
Maleny Food Co. is one of our favourite stops on the Scenic Food & Wine Tour, they are an artisan food producer located in the beautiful surrounds of Maleny, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Queensland.
Grown in the sun-drenched fields of Queensland Australia, plump fresh ginger is selected for processing at the peak of the growing season. Visit the Ginger Factory on our Rainforest, Views and Montville tour.
Our Noosa in a Day Tour takes you to Pier 11 – Bistro, Restaurant & Functions which is spectacularly located at the Noosa Marina overlooking the Noosa River. Specialising in modern Australian cuisine
Book our most popular Scenic Food & Wine Tour and visit The Barrel at Clouds Vineyard in the picturesque Sunshine Coast Hinterland. The friendly cellar door staff offer wine tastings and will guide you through their wine range.
