Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry: A foodie’s guide to the ultimate Sunshine Coast weekend

You may have soaked in the sun-drenched beaches or spent time in the sleepiest towns, but have you ever tasted the Sunshine Coast?

Plonked right between three UNESCO Biosphere reserves, surrounded by active conservation and sustainable development, the region flows with nutrient-packed produce.

From its shores to paddocks, the affectionately titled Queensland Sunshine Pantry offers an abundance of culinary experiences. And as autumn ushers in a cooler climate, now is the time to sample non-stop flavour bombs.

Need some direction? Our three-day itinerary outlines every must-visit pit stop along the self-guided Sunshine Coast food trail, spanning cooking schools, foodie tours, organic farm stores and more.

Day one

Breakfast

Drive about 40 minutes inland from Sunshine Coast Airport to drop your bags at Montville’s Narrows Escape, a luxury retreat submerged in subtropical rainforest. The Hinterland hideaway is home to eight immaculate villas to help you live out those treehouse dreams. But first, coffee.

Head straight to The Long Apron in Montville where locally sourced masterpieces, splashed with French flair, roll out of the kitchen and onto an outdoor terrace. Slurp up your caffeine fix, as the likes of Maleny buffalo sausages and blue swimmer crab omelettes dress up picture-perfect white tablecloths.

With a full belly, it’s high time for a far-flung drive to Kandanga Farm Store in Mary Valley. The team is committed to showcasing the region’s best organic food producers and inside you’ll find seasonal produce, dairy products, top-notch chicken and beef and regeneratively farmed pork. Stock up knowing you’re supporting local farmers, and the planet.

Lunch

It’ll be tight but get to The Wharf in Mooloolaba by 11.30am when you’ll jump on board Saltwater Eco Tours’ Bushtucker Cruise. The two-hour journey through local canals will teach you everything you need to know about native ingredients and their flavour profiles. Expect dishes like native bush spice prawn skewers and smoked salmon with lemon myrtle cream, as expert commentary and a didgeridoo performance set an otherworldly scene.

Once you’re back, make tracks to the Sunshine and Sons distillery in Woombye. Home to quality spirits including the ‘Original Vodka’, named World’s Best Botanical Vodka at the 2024 World Vodka Awards, it’s the perfect spot for a sundowner before dinner. 

Dinner

Make sure you’re starving when you get to Pizzeria Sisily Bar and Dining at Golden Beach. Sink limoncello over pudgy wood-fired pizzas, seasonal antipasti, more-is-more pasta and authentic desserts. The flavours are sensational, and the after-dark vibes are electric so arrive for a meal but stay for the memories.

Day two

Breakfast

There’s only one place to be on a Saturday morning: the Eumundi Markets. Australia’s largest art and craft market, home to more than 350 stalls, attracts just as many foodies as it does creatives. Expect authentic international food, some of the region’s best coffee from Flying West Coffee Roasters, and densely delicious bagels from Bezel’s Bagels. Japanese pancakes, South Asian samosas, Spanish tapas and more are jazzed up to perfection using locally sourced ingredients.

Once you’ve snaked your way through it all, grab a reusable Eumundi Markets shopping bag and head to Woombye Cheese. The cellar door is open from 10am to 2pm and its all-too-tempting grasp on your taste buds makes it impossible to leave without bagging up some slices (or wheels, nobody’s judging). Don’t miss Blackall Gold Washed Rind, voted Australia’s Best Cheese in 2023, for pure unadulterated bliss.    

Lunch

Adored by locals when it spun culinary magic in Eumundi, Bask Restaurant is now the ultimate long lunch spot on Peregian Beach. You’ll soak up salty air from the comfort of your table (particularly if you score a seat on the deck) as the chic waterfront venue dishes up seasonal produce and exceptional seafood with lashings of flavour. 

Avoid lingering too long, Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry will beckon you to an interactive cooking class in Yandina by 4.30pm. Spirit House Restaurant is renowned for elegant Sunshine Coast fine dining but this weekend, you’ll be getting your hands dirty. Dive into one of the many cooking classes to shed light on Thai classics, Asian-inspired barbecues, traditional curries and more. You’ll get to eat what you’ve created, leaving you satisfied and brimming with dinner party inspiration.     

Dinner

It’s Saturday night — let’s get the party started. Get your pre-game on at Coolum’s Dacelo Distillery, open until 6pm. Yet another unmissable Sunshine Coast distillery, this place knocks together spirits using native ingredients like banksia and the gumbi gumbi plant. And if that wasn’t reason enough, four of their gins scooped up bronze medals in the 2023 Australian Gin Awards so you know it’s worth the drive.  

When they call last drinks at Dacelo, keep the good times rolling at Mapleton Public House. Sure, it’s a 112-year-old pub. But this place absolutely nails dinner o’clock through a masterful use of seasonal produce and bucketloads of love. The ‘Fillet O Fish’ on brioche is a sure-fire crowd pleaser while their buttermilk fried chicken and farm risotto also spark glee. Make a night of it and go the Chef’s Selection set menu to sample the absolute best.  

Day three

Breakfast

Wake up to another beautiful morning at Narrows Escape or switch up today’s homebase with a farm stay. Sixty6 Acres in Woombye is incredible, with luxury multi-bedroom villas and four-legged companions including donkeys, sheep and miniature cows. If you’re travelling with a group of up to eight, consider Mayan Luxe Villas too. The Kin Kin farm stay allows you to book out the entire property and is fitted with a pizza oven for DIY meals.      

Wherever you relocate, Kenilworth Bakery in either Kenilworth or Mooloolaba is an AM non-negotiable. Drop in for their most famous stroke of genius, the ‘coffee donut’ which is exactly what it sounds like - your steaming hot fix poured into a chubby, cream-filled pastry. They also do 1-kilogram donuts and 1-kilogram sausage rolls, so order in advance if your tribe’s hungry.   

Lunch

Roll back into your accommodation by about 9am, which is when a driver from Creative Tours will pick you up for a guided tour of the Sunshine Coast food trail. Choose from a bunch of options including the Hinterland Cheese and Wine Tour, the Brewery Tour and the Noosa Hinterland Drinks Tour or opt in for a private tour customised to your specific poison.

Save stomach space for a visit to Dingo Creek Vineyard’s cellar door, open until 5pm. Offering spectacular views across the Hinterland, the vineyard does a wine tasting of six of their finest, plus individual drops and a small menu of nibbles. 

Dinner

Saving one of the best for last, no trip to the Sunshine Coast is complete without sampling the wizardry at Warrior Restaurant and Bar. Serving dinner from 5pm, the acclaimed Sunshine Coast restaurant is located inside the Crocodile Hunter Lodge at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, so a memorable scene is set from the moment you walk in. Once seated, expect five-star service and always-fresh, mind-bending dishes that encompass everything the Sunshine Coast has to offer.

Looking for more food ideas on the Sunshine Coast? Taste your way through these restaurants.