As you make your way up the winding roads of the Blackall Range you’ll spot some clues by the roadside as to what lies ahead. Tables of golden pineapples, pots of honey, organic fruit, and leafy greens can be found dotted along the way, with an honesty box the preferred method of payment. These farm-fresh delights are merely a taste of what lies ahead across our Hinterland countryside. Let us show you around!
Maleny
Maleny Cheese, Maleny
If you love all things dairy, 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 yogurts. Here, award-winning brie, feta, and cheddar are served with a side of happily grazing cows and lush rolling hills: a true paddock-to-plate experience.
From there, head into Maleny’s Maple St and make a beeline for the deli and fromagerie (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. 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. It’s in Maleny that you’ll also find Maleny Chocolate Co, where you can not only indulge your cravings with their small-batch chocolate creations, but try your hand at making them too.
Maleny Food Co, Credit: TEQ
For something beyond the world of cream, 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. No trip to Maleny is also 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
Main street, Montville
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. A must-stop for dessert-lovers is Fudgyboombahs, which whips up an extensive array of fabulous fudge in-store. With ultra-delicious flavours like custard tart, butterscotch vanilla and chocolate honeycomb on offer, it’s almost impossible to stop at just one.
The Long Apron, Restaurant in Montville, Sunshine Coast
There’s more to Montville than sweets, though, and Flame Hill Vineyard is 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. Wrap the day up with dinner at one of the Sunshine Coast's most acclaimed hatted restaurants: The Long Apron. Located on the picturesque Spicers Clovelly Estate, this French-inspired restaurant will take you on a flavoursome gastronomic journey.
Palmwoods & Woombye
Sunshine & Sons
As you begin to descend the winding Hinterland roads to the coast, remember to stop into 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. 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.
Dry gin by Sunshine and Sons
Sunshine & Sons has achieved the incredible feat of bottling the essence of the sparkling ocean and lush hills of the region into their Original Dry Gin and Vodka, which is filtered through Sunshine Coast volcanic rock. Their Pineapple Parfait Gin also pays homage to our region’s roots, while their rum, launched in February 2022, promises to be one of 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.
Be sure to further drop by the neighbouring town of Palmwoods, where foodies will love the newly opened Piggyback restaurant (a true celebration of Asian cuisine), and Rick’s Garage, which has made headlines for its larger-than-life burgers and diner-style cuisine.
Kenilworth
1kg donut at Kenilworth Country Bakery, 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.
