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There’s a lot to love about sunny Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, but if you head inland to the nearby inland hills, there’s a whole new world of delicacies to discover, at a slightly slower pace.
Starting just 90 minutes north of Brisbane and spanning the Glass House Mountains and beyond, the interior covers a lot of ground.
With tons of hills, forests, and waterfalls to explore and cute towns to discover, it’s up to you how to travel, but from burgers to tastings, mountain climbing to cocktails, there is something for everyone.
Now, with direct flights between Canberra and Maroochydore, it’s even easier to get to the Sunshine Coast, putting annoying border restrictions aside. And it turns out that the outback is as much a foodie’s paradise as its larger cousin, Noosa, with a host of farmers and producers producing quality dishes and with some of the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast.
Here is a small sample of what is on offer.
Eat and drink
The rich volcanic soils of the interior of the country are a delight for food producers, as evidenced by the variety of quality dishes on offer and the rich history of dairy farming in the area.
You can explore on your own or join one of the many food discovery tours on offer, featuring cheeses from local dairies, chocolates, distilleries, wineries, and more.
Look out for great craft breweries like the award-winning Brouhaha in Maleny or the Copperhead Brewery in Cooroy, which take local beers to a whole new level with great food as a side or the new boutique Eumundi Distillers (anyone want gin?) Joining the ranks. Eumundi brewery in the grand old Imperial Hotel.
Wild rocket at Misty’s house
Wild rocket. Author’s own photo.
The quirky historic building that houses Wild Rocket in Montville, the artisan heart of the backcountry, draws locals and visitors alike for hearty meals and good times.
Once the town’s general store, it is now home to chef / owner Peter Brettell and his wife Belinda, who have been scouring the region for 10 years in search of the best local produce and organic meat to transform into treats of all kinds. .
The extensive traditional menu offers generous dishes from around the world, from glazed duck to fragrant curry, with an occasional nod to Peter’s English roots such as sausage and mash.
Beer lovers can sample small-batch beers from the on-site microbrewery and linger in the beer garden on sunny days, which is most of them in Queensland.
Main Street 142, Montville | wildrocketfood.com.au
The long apron
Located in the perfect Clovelly Estate, part of the Spicers collection of luxury retreats across Australia, the Long Apron, with two hats, offers a fine dining experience that will be long remembered.
Refined yet relaxed, it draws inspiration from French classics to create a feast for the senses: crab with hibiscus; Organic beef cheek with dark chocolate, macadamia granita with citrus salad.
New Chef Andy Birsch’s menu echoes the retreat’s commitment to sustainability with a focus on local produce, complemented by the property’s garden and bees.
Wine lovers will delight in the wine list that crosses France and Australia recognizing old and new, with champagne of course.
Choose lunch or dinner, but don’t doubt yourself, just go on the tasting adventure. There are no time limits here – this is an experience to be savored.
Spicers Clovelly Estate, 38-68 Balmoral Road Montville | Spicersretreats.com/restaurants/the-long-apron-restaurant
Spirit House cooking school and restaurant
The small town of Yandina is home to a Sunshine Coast culinary icon. Overlooking a tranquil lake in a wonderful garden of verdant greens and bamboo, Spirit House (main image) has been delighting guests with modern Asian flavors since 1997.
Now in the capable hands of the children of the founders, it continues to serve signature dishes like its famous coconut soup with lemongrass and smoked salmon or whole fish with crispy skin and tamarind sauce that has been on the menu from day one.
To discover some of its culinary secrets, join one of the famous four-hour cooking classes that take place seven days a week. Book in advance to ensure a seat in the restaurant, but if you miss it, shared dishes and cocktails at the hotel’s Hong Sa Bar are a good alternative.
Ninderry Rd 20, Yandina | spirithouse.com.au
rick’s garage
For some retro fun and an abundance of automotive memorabilia, head to Rick’s Garage, ex-mech repair and now diner, in Palmwoods for good service from American restaurant culture.
We’re talking wings, burgers, and fries (pretty great fries) with some frozen donuts for good measure. As evidenced by the variety of motorcycles out front, this lively restaurant is a favorite with cyclists exploring the surrounding hills on wheels and is constantly packed with people and live entertainment.
There are beers galore, including local ales, and a whiskey bar to boot. Tip for young players: Consider opting for the kid-size shake, as the adult variety is a meal unto itself.
Margaret Street 14-16, Palmwoods | ricksgarage.com.au
Play
The ceramic studio
Discover the mysteries of pottery and unleash your inner artist with a fun class at The Pottery Studio in Nambour.
With expert classes available, this little studio on the outskirts of town offers a variety of workshops – try a wheel toss class or explore hand-building, or there’s a clay and wine (or coffee) option for some more fun.
Even if you don’t create a masterpiece, it’s an opportunity to let go of stress and live in the moment. Do not use your good equipment and keep in mind that the teachers are quite finished. Ghost references and some of them haven’t even seen the movie.
There is another studio in Maroochydore that also offers classes for children. It may well whet your appetite for more.
4/20 Brookes St, Nambour | thepotterystudio.com.au
High tea at Flaxton Gardens
In the small town of Flaxton, one of the most beautiful settlements in the mountains, you will find the great Flaxton Gardens on top of a hill.
Beginning life as a vineyard and a pottery, it has become a dazzling wedding and event venue and home to special occasion snacks. With colonial splendor, manicured gardens, and sandstone for days, it’s a perfect setting for a place for fine dining and fine china.
Options abound: perhaps a tapas affair from zucchini tempura and grilled chicken brioche to macarons and lemon myrtle panna cotta, a seafood pasta (High Seas!) Or a smoky stack of grilled delicacies, and not a bun in sight!
Morning or afternoon sessions are available Wednesday through Sunday. Allow time to wander the grounds and take in the spectacular views inland all the way down to the coast.
313 Flaxton Drive, Flaxton | flaxtongardens.com.au
Eumundi Markets
No trip to the Sunshine Coast is truly complete without a visit to the famous Eumundi markets, which are over 40 years old and constantly evolving. It is Australia’s largest arts and crafts market, but it still has a village atmosphere with live music and entertainment.
There’s a dizzying variety of home-made goods, all made, baked, made, grown, or sewn, and the chance to meet the creators. Rain, hail or shine, the markets are held every Wednesday (from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and on Saturday mornings (from 7 a.m.).
Go on an empty belly and get there early for a good street park or pay $ 6 at the ECCO parking lot on Napier Road if you miss it. Don’t you dare buy something.
80 Memorial Street, Eumundi | eumundimarkets.com.au
Spa voucher
It’s the little things that make a spa day special, like the pomegranate iced tea on arrival or a glass of bubbles, or maybe the big things, like the surrounding acres of lush tropical gardens, or maybe both. .
Tucked away in quiet Doonan, 10 minutes from Noosa, Ikatan Spa is a slice of Balinese paradise and loads of pampering. Maximizing privacy, the wooden treatment villas are scattered along winding stone walkways or you can take a head or foot treatment in the common garden room to soak up the greenery.
Offering an unusual treatment menu, Ikatan also allows guests to stay longer with tasting dishes or snacks before or after treatments.
Don’t miss the Asian head massage, created by owner Katrina Thorpe by combining techniques from five cultures.
46 Grays Road, Doonan, ikatanspa.com
To stay
Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat
This secluded retreat beyond Montville may have been hailed as the most romantic getaway in the world (yes, the world!) By Tripadvisor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t escape there with your best friend or three.
With just six private villas nestled amongst the subtropical rainforest, it’s all about relaxing in nature with an abundance of luxury. The resident owners, Ali and Xochi, have thought of everything to make your stay special: hammock on the veranda, overflowing breakfast basket, freshly baked croissants, a heavenly bed, champagne, local organic toiletries, and your very own walk on the beach. nature around a stream to start with.
There is even a log fire as it can get a bit chilly in the hills. Minutes from Lake Boreen and Kondalilla National Park, it is perfectly located for further exploration. You will wake up to the song of the birds and you will leave refreshed.
78 Narrow Road, Montville | narrowescape.com.au
The Lodge at Hunchy
The Lodge at Hunchy. Image of the author.
Along a quiet winding road in a secluded valley, true country hospitality and a bit of luxury await you at this modern Queensland farm in Hunchy, a small township in the foothills of the Blackall Range.
Hosted by tree changers Paul and Karin Orwin, this light-filled B&B offers two spacious suites, a vast tropical garden, and walks and waterfalls on your doorstep.
Bring your stretch pants for breakfast, a great three-course event showcasing Karin’s passion for cooking and homemade cakes.
Just minutes from Montville, you can dine in town or stay home with a full menu offered for everyone. Leave the curtains open for a chance to enjoy a spectacular inland sunrise over the mountain ranges without getting out of bed.
813 Hunchy Road, Hunchy | thecountryhouseathunchy.com.au
The Novotel Sunshine Beach Resort
The Novotel Sunshine Beach Resort. Author’s own photo.
If you want to explore inland but can’t stray from the coast, this newly renovated resort spread over 36 hectares (that really means huge) of gardens and bushland offers the best of both worlds.
Located in Twin Waters, it is a short walk to the beach and only 20 minutes to the hills. The large private lagoon with its sandy beach is the star of the show, where you can take part in the included water sports such as kayaking and catamaran sailing, or relax with a cocktail.
Choose from studio rooms, apartments, or overwater bungalows. Wake up early and you might just run into some of the icy resident kangaroos feasting on the lawn.
270 Ocean Drive, Twin Waters | novotelsunshinecoast.com.au
The writer was a guest of Visit Sunshine Coast. Featured Image: Author’s Own.