With 100 km of pristine beaches, lush tropical rainforests and breathtaking mountain ranges, it’s impossible to experience everything the Sunshine Coast has to offer in a mere weekend. If that’s all you’ve got, however, we’ve put together an itinerary that will ensure those 48 hours are filled with a little (and literal) taste of the best the region has to offer. Ahead of the coast’s annual culinary celebration, The Curated Plate, join us as we embark on a food-lovers journey of the Sunshine Coast.
DAY ONE – MORNING
Hit the road early and make your way up the Bruce Highway, headed north. As the hum of the city disappears behind you and the rows of pine trees start to appear, you can let out a sigh of relief – your getaway has officially begun. Your first stop is Woombye, home of the iconic Big Pineapple. But it’s not tropical fruit you seek – you’re venturing further inland in the pursuit of cheese. And not just any cheese, this is officially Australia’s best. Up an unassuming driveway you’ll discover Woombye Cheese Company, where owner and cheesemaker Beth O’Leary crafts her award-winning delights. From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every Saturday, you can visit the Woombye Cheese Company cellar door to sample your way through its six decadent cheeses. The selection includes triple-cream brie, camembert, ash brie, truffle triple-cream brie, vintage cheddar and the multi-award-winning Blackall Gold washed rind, which took out the title of Australia’s Best Cheese in 2023 and received a silver medal at the World Cheese Awards in Wisconsin in 2024. After your tasting, you can stock up on your favourites (to snack on across the weekend, of course), as well as locally made accompaniments such as pickles, quince paste and crackers. We also picked up a new blanket for impromptu picnics while we were there!
DAY ONE – LUNCH
The Sunshine Coast is home to more than 900 producers and has been dubbed Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry, so cheese is just the beginning of your food-filled adventure. To get a true taste of the local produce, make your way to the picturesque town of Mapleton. Here you will find Mapleton Public House, a 113-year-old classic Queensland pub overlooking the misty hinterland. The pub takes an authentic paddock-to-plate approach – its owners, Ben Johnston and Jess Huddart, also own The Falls Farm positioned just down the road, which supplies the restaurant with much of its daily produce. Lauded local chef Cameron Matthews works his magic in the kitchen, creating plates such as Falls Farm heirloom beetroots with black sesame dressing and ‘things from the farm’, oven-baked Shark Bay scallops with ‘nduja cream, and wagyu eye fillet with house-made mushroom sauce. You’ll also find elevated pub classics like the Not Your Average Parmy, featuring buttermilk fried chicken, buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto, topped with a tried-and-tested Country Women’s Association sauce and rocket. If choice is too hard, opt for the chefs selection – we did!
DAY ONE – AFTERNOON
After all of that eating, you might need a little walk. Witness the lush rainforest canopy and spectacular views over the Obi Obi Valley with a visit to Mapleton Falls, or head towards Maleny to discover Gardners Falls or Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. Alternatively, head straight to Maleny’s vibrant Maple Street, where you will discover a thriving local art scene, buzzing cafes, quaint bookstores and boutiques, and local providores. Although the idea of the walk was to take a break from eating, we can’t guarantee that you won’t be tempted to stop for a gelato, wine or afternoon tea – Maleny is the food and dairy capital of the Sunshine Coast, after all. We couldn’t resist dropping into Maleny Food Co and Spill Wine to seek out extra weekend provisions.
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With a full esky and full belly, it’s time to head to your home for the weekend in Beerwah. The Sunshine Coast is home to an array of idyllic farm stays – the perfect way to immerse yourself in hinterland life. After a picturesque drive through tiny towns, rugged bushland and dense rainforest, you’ll come across an expansive paddock sprinkled with purple flowers, where horses, cows and a donkey named Peanut graze against the backdrop of the Glass House Mountains. Sprawled across 34 acres, Seven Peaks Farm Stay is the ideal countryside retreat. We timed our arrival to coincide with feeding time, joining hosts Graham and Jenny on a tour of the property to meet, feed and pat the animals that call Seven Peaks home. The property is full of hidden treasures – in addition to hosting a flock of Indian Runner ducks, mango-leaf-loving sheep and goats, chickens and the aforementioned horses, cows and donkey, there’s a fruit orchard, flourishing herb and veggie garden and a dam with an elusive platypus.
Six luxury private cabins are dotted along the top end of the property, offering breathtaking views of seven peaks of the Glass House Mountains. Our cosy digs had all of the makings of a dreamy country escape – plush bed, fireplace and even a private outdoor spa on the back verandah. A breakfast hamper filled with local produce and fresh farm pickings meant we started each day on a high note, and a stash of marshmallows ensured our late-night sweet cravings were sated by the firepit.
DAY ONE – EVENING
Surely it’s time to eat again? After a big day, we suggest you dine locally in Beerwah to experience Warrior Restaurant & Bar. Nestled amongst the bushland at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, Warrior offers a unique dining experience. A mob of kangaroos greeted us on arrival, while inside two magnificent snakes showed off their scales in the entry hall – the restaurant is right next to Australia Zoo, after all! The dining room overlooks a native wildlife habitat, home to koalas, kangaroos and more, who munch on eucalyptus while you peruse the food offering. The culinary team has crafted a menu that champions local Sunshine Coast produce and pays homage to time-honoured First Nations ingredients and techniques. Expect dishes such as local goats cheese with black-garlic honey vinaigrette, roasted tomato, fennel jam and salt bush, K’gari (Fraser Island) crab linguine with mirin butter, fermented chilli (harvested from Australia Zoo’s Elephantasia) and garlic, chives and lemon, and homegrown warrigal greens with broccolini, confit garlic oil and fried shallots. We couldn’t leave without dessert – the salted-peanut ice-cream sandwich with toasted meringue, coffee jelly and peanut brittle is a must-try!
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DAY TWO – MORNING
After a leisurely farm breakfast on the verandah alongside your new bovine friends, head towards the sparkling waters of Mooloolaba. At The Wharf you’ll spy the ‘Spray of the Coral Coast’ – a beautifully restored 115-year-old traditional sailing vessel, crafted from Huon pine. The boat is the home of Saltwater Eco Tours, run by Sunshine Coast local Simon Thornalley. Drawing from his Torres Strait Islander heritage and passion for sailing, Simon has created a unique experience that fosters a deeper connection to Indigenous culture and the ocean. On a glorious clear winter day, we embarked on Saltwater Eco Tours’ signature Bushtucker Cruise. As Simon navigated us through the Mooloolaba waterways, we learned of the history and ecology of the local area, understanding how the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples – the Traditional Owners of the region – gathered food from the highly fertile soils and beaches, foraging everything from Davidson’s plum, finger lime and Bunya nuts to oysters, dugongs and saltwater fish. For the Bushtucker Cruise, you’re treated to a glass of champagne or beer alongside a set menu of delectable canapes, crafted to showcase fresh local produce and native bushtucker ingredients. If you prefer to sail later in the day, Saltwater Eco Tours also offers a sunset cruise with live music.
DAY TWO – AFTERNOON
Once back on land, it’s time to head back to the hinterland – and this time you are going to the Big Pineapple! After you’ve taken your token postcard pic in front of the spiky tropical wonder, venture a little further up the road to local distillery Sunshine & Sons. Nestled alongside a lush rainforest, this is the ideal spot to soak up the afternoon sun and sample some fine locally made spirits. Sunshine & Sons began as a passion project between friends, which has grown to see them produce the best botanical vodka in the world – the distillery’s Original Vodka was recently awarded the title of World’s Best at the World Drinks Awards in London. A tasting will take you through the history and process of creating each of Sunshine & Sons’ coveted sips, as well as, of course, a tasting of each spirit. You might want to draw straws for the designated driver at this one – you’ll sample gins (including the nostalgic Big Pineapple-inspired Pineapple Parfait Gin), vodka, cane spirit and coffee liqueur from the Sunshine & Sons range, as well as the range of certified-organic Nil Desperandum rum, made using wild fermented, locally sourced molasses, Woombye water, dunder and muck.
DAY TWO – EVENING
After another big day, an early dinner is definitely needed. Less than ten minutes from Sunshine & Sons you’ll find Piggyback, an Asian-fusion restaurant in the heart of Palmwoods. This unassuming eatery is a local favourite – and for good reason. The neon-pink sign and mouth-watering aromas floating from the kitchen will lure you in, and the menu of street-food delights will ensure you keep coming back with every visit to the area. The eatery is the brainchild of renowned Sunshine Coast restaurateur Tony Kelly, the chef behind Rice Boi, Giddy Geisha, Market Bistro and Bocca Italian, and is a guaranteed good time. Championing big Asian-flavours, the Piggyback menu features the likes of lamb rendang buns with galangal mayo, fried shallot, Thai basil, roasted coconut and wok-tossed pineapple sambal, crispy eggplant chips with Szechuan caramel, herbs, fried garlic and sesame, and tamarind-glazed beef short rib with watermelon kaffir lime salad, coconut, crispy shallot, red curry dressing and green chilli. We highly suggest indulging in a cocktail or two, as well!
DAY THREE – MORNING
Before you return to reality (and after farewelling your farmyard friends), you’ll need to fuel up for the drive home. Tucked away in the backstreets of Moffat Beach is One Block Back, an eatery serving up wholesome bites, top-notch coffee and a relaxing atmosphere to set you up for a calm journey home. The seasonally inspired all-day brunch menu will satisfy you, no matter what you’re craving. You’ll find everything from classic smashed avo and sweetcorn fritters with poached eggs, to okonomiyaki with ten-hour-braised pork belly, sushi salad bowls with popcorn chicken and a selection of decadent burgers and toasties. We couldn’t go past the Bacon Benny, stacked with double bacon, soft-poached eggs, house-made tomato maple jam, spinach, hollandaise and smoked bacon salt – and grabbed a couple of coffees and pastries for the ride home.
This itinerary is just a tiny taste of the deliciousness that the Sunshine Coast has to offer. If you’re feeling inspired to make tracks for our northern food bowl, mark July 26 to August 4 in your calendar. Over ten days, the region’s best produce will shine at The Curated Plate, the Sunshine Coast’s premier food and drink event. The program will showcase more than 90 delectable events, celebrating local produce and producers across the entire region. Your palette will be spoiled for choice with everything from farm tours and cooking classes, to degustations, long lunches, culinary cruises and more, featuring many of the local spots we visited. There are also three signature events – the popular Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival, Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry Live at The Station, and Chefs in Conversation with chefs Tom Hitchcock, Peter Kuravita, Cameron Matthews joining celebrity cook Hayden Quinn. Seems like the perfect time to visit if you ask us! For more information, head to The Curated Plate.
This experience was thanks to our good friends at Visit Sunshine Coast.
Images: Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland.