Where to eat while exploring Australia’s Nature Coast Drive

Nothing can work up an appetite quite like an adventure. Take Australia’s Nature Coast Drive for instance, a scenic foray that winds its way through the Sunshine Coast, on through the Fraser Coast and up to the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

En route you’ll have ample time to get out and explore a bounty of natural wonders, Indigenous experiences and wildlife encounters, but you’ll need fuel for the journey - satisfy your hunger pangs with the following guide on where to eat and drink along the Nature Coast Drive.

Sunshine Coast Hinterland

When it comes to where to eat while exploring Australia’s Nature Coast Drive, you’ll find plenty of options in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

The Spirit House in luscious Yandina is a local institution, a property transformed into a piece of Asia, with a gathering of traditional Thai dwellings (cooking school included) within tropical gardens that serve up Thai cuisine. Or there’s the suave Spicer Clovelly Estate, where The Long Apron sits, an award-winning eatery focused around French cuisine.

If you’re after something a little more casual, Brouhaha is considered one of the Sunshine Coast’s best craft breweries. Spend the afternoon sipping on the tasting paddle available, accompanied by the venue’s farm-to-table take on pub grub.

Sunshine Coast

On the southern end of the Sunshine Coast sits Mooloolaba and a cluster of places where you should eat and drink on the Nature Coast Drive. It’s in Mooloolaba where a handful of fishing trawlers orbit, with some of the best seafood to be found here - keep an eye out for the casual Mooloolaba Fish Market, and the upscale Fish on Parkyn. Waterfront drinking hole The Dock specialises in smoked meats and charcoal grill, while modern Asian street food space Rice Boi proves that pan-Asian is fast becoming a specialty of the Sunshine State.

A half hour north in Noosa sit some of the Sunshine Coast’s most famous restaurants - treat yourself to a night out at Sum Yung Guys, a place as vibrant in its menu as it is in its interiors. There’s the iconic Bistro C on the beachfront, or the equally adored Noosa Heads Surf Club where cold beers are the specialty. A little further afield lies the Noosa Boathouse, CootharaBAR at Noosa, and the historic Appollonian in Boreen Point. Though early birds may prefer a traipse around the Noosa Farmers Market, held weekly on Sundays.

Rainbow Beach

Quench your thirst while exploring the 4WD favouring town of Rainbow Beach, a place famous for its access to the Carlo Sandblow, with a visit to the Rainbow Beach Surf Club. Catering to the handful of permanent residents and droves of tourists that visit year-round, you’ll find family-friendly classics are the specialty of this menu, with all day offerings including pancake stacks, schnitzel and Caesar salad.

Hervey Bay

Some of the best places to eat and drink while along Nature Coast Drive sit within the whale capital of Australia, Hervey Bay. A natural bay wedged between the mainland and World Heritage-listed K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), this idyllic stretch forms a safe place to spend some time for whales and their young calves each birthing season.

It’s also a destination ideal for families to spend some time relaxing - while in Hervey Bay make sure you drop by Eat at Dan and Steph’s, a spot that’s become a local institution thanks to its creative dishes like Reece’s Pieces hotcakes, or the bacon cheeseburger omelette. Though you can also choose to sink into sunset at Enzo's on the Beach on the Hervey Bay Esplanade.

K'gari

Working your way up along the picturesque Fraser Coast you’ll find yourself inching towards the world’s largest sand island, K'gari. Aside from exploring its treasure trove of natural wonders, like Lake McKenzie, Champagne Pools, and the S.S.Maheno, you’ll find a number of places that you can grab a bite to eat.

Quite a few reside all in the one place - Kingfisher Bay Resort. It’s here that you’ll find Seabelle Restaurant, a fine dining establishment with a focus on Modern Australian cuisine, as well as the Sunset Bar, perched in the pool area. If you’re after something completely different, and with an Indigenous edge, take part in the Bush Tucker Talk & Taste Tours, where you’ll be introduced to native ingredients grown nearby, and how to use them.