Maleny Cheese, Maleny
As you make your way up the winding roads of the Blackall Range you’ll spot some clues by the roadside as to what lays ahead.
Tables of golden pineapples, pots of honey, organic fruit and leafy greens can be found dotted along the way, an honesty box the preferred method of payment.
Any foodie worth their salt knows of the incredible produce grown in the rich volcanic soils of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Their dairy is some of the best in Australia, their produce sought after by hatted restaurants and we haven’t even mentioned their penchant for craft beer, wine and spirits.
It’s a true gourmet paradise, and here we’ve put together our very own Sunshine Coast Hinterland food trail so you can eat - and drink - your way around the region.
Maleny
If you love dairy - think creamy gelato, chocolate, yoghurts and cheese - Maleny should be the first stop on your Hinterland culinary adventure.
On your way into town make sure to visit Maleny Cheese and sample their handcrafted cheese and yoghurts. Here award-winning brie, feta and cheddar is served with a side of happily grazing cows and impossibly green rolling hills, a true paddock to plate experience.
From there head into Maleny’s Maple St and make a beeline for the walk-in deli and fromagerie (seriously, it’s walk in!) at Maleny Food Co. The fromagerie stocks more than 250 types of cheese, making it the perfect place to stop for coffee and stock up on goodies. And if it’s ice cream that makes your heart sing, this little gem is also home to artisan gelato and sorbet made daily from fresh local milk, cream, fruits and produce.
Maleny Food Co., Maleny
It’s in Maleny that you’ll also find Maleny Chocolate Co, where you can not only stock up on sweet treats, but try your hand at making them too with a chocolate class.
Of course, there’s more to Maleny than dairy, with the town home to an enticing mix of cafes and restaurants.
Visit King Ludwig’s German Restaurant and Bar for a hearty taste of Bavaria (and a 40 strong German beer list), or the Chef hatted restaurant The Tamarind, where sweet, sour and spicy flavours are combined to create exquisite modern Asian cuisine.
Spicers Tamarind, Maleny
And of course, no trip to Maleny is complete without a visit to Brouhaha Brewery, whose Strawberry Rhubarb Sour is the stuff of legends and their craft beer list one of Australia’s best.
Montville
Fair warning, with its distinctly European feel, Montville’s charm will have you longing for a tree change well before you start exploring their foodie scene.
Here art galleries, cosy coffee shops and boutique stores line the Main Street inviting exploration and indulgence.
Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland
For those with a sweet tooth, Fudgyboombahs specialises in, you guessed it, fudge. Mrs Fudgyboombah whips up literally hundreds of kilos of fabulous fudge in-store. With ultra-delicious flavours like custard tart, butterscotch vanilla and chocolate honeycomb, it’s almost impossible to stop at just one.
But there’s more to Montville than sweets, with Flame Hill Vineyard a must-visit for lovers of a good drop. Located 420m above sea level, this cellar door and restaurant offers 100% estate grown wines. Stop in for a tasting, or while away the afternoon with lunch overlooking the vineyard.
Montville is also home to its own craft brewery: Wild Rocket @ Misty’s. As well as good beer you can expect good food, with everything made on site using the freshest local produce, this hand-made beef sausages, bread and even the jam and chutneys.
But no foodie can leave Montville without a meal at its very own hatted restaurant: The Long Apron. Located on the picturesque Spicers Clovelly Estate this French-inspired restaurant will take you on a gastronomic journey guided by their talented hands of Head Chef Andrew Birse.
Palmwoods & Woombye
As you begin to descend the winding Hinterland roads to the coast, remember to stop into the hidden gems that is Woombye. Traditionally known as the home of the iconic Big Pineapple, the giant golden fruit now stands tall as a symbol of the local produce the region is renowned for.
Sunshine and Sons, Woombye
Within the grounds of the Big Pineapple precinct you’ll find a number of makers of good food and drink, including CAVU Distilling, the makers of Sunshine & Sons gin and vodka and Nil Desperandum rum.
Sunshine & Sons has achieved the incredible feat of bottling the essence of the sparkling ocean and lush hills of the region in their Original Dry Gin and Vodka, which is filtered through Sunshine Coast volcanic rock. Their Pineapple Parfait Gin pays homage to the region’s roots while their rum, launched in February 2022, promises to be Australia’s finest.
It’s also within the Big Pineapple precinct that you’ll find Diablo Co, who produce 100% Queensland made Ginger Beer and spirits, and COYO, the makers of award-winning coconut yoghurt.
While you’re there make sure to visit the neighbouring town of Palmwoods, where foodies will love the newly opened Piggyback restaurant (a true celebration of Asian cuisine), and Rick’s Garage’s which has made headlines for its larger than life burgers.
Kenilworth
No Hinterland foodie adventure is complete without a stop into Kenilworth, made famous for its dairy and donuts.
Kenilworth Dairies is a must-visit for lovers of all things cheese and yoghurt. Owned by sixth-generation dairy farmers and using milk produced from nearby farms in the Mary Valley, it’s a true taste of the region.
Nearby Kenilworth Country Bakery has also made its mark on this small Hinterland town in a big way – by introducing a 1kg donut challenge. Taking on, and achieving, this incredible foodie feat will see you make their Bakery hall of fame, but the real stars of the show are their stuffed donuts and savoury treats.
Even the local pub, the Kenilworth Hotel, has made its mark in more ways than one, with a micro-brewery on site for lovers of a cold one.
With so much to eat (and drink!) in the Hinterland, we guarantee you’ll be coming back for seconds.
