Queensland's Most Exciting Food & Wine Destination
The Sunshine Coast has quietly become one of Australia's most dynamic food and wine regions, and the hinterland is its beating heart. Rich volcanic soil on the Blackall Range, a maritime climate moderated by ocean breezes, and a patchwork of microclimates — from the cool escarpment around Maleny and Montville to warmer coastal valleys at Eumundi and Traveston — support an impressive range of grape varieties including Shiraz, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. In June 2022 the Sunshine Coast was declared a UNESCO Biosphere, lending international recognition to both the ecology and the terroir of this emerging wine region.
The drinks story extends far beyond wine. The Sunshine Coast is now Australia's craft beer capital — more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the country. Twenty-four-plus independent breweries stretch from Caloundra's beachfront Moffat Beach Brewing Co (Champion Small Australian Brewer) to Maleny's beloved Brouhaha, famous for its Strawberry Rhubarb Sour made with Maleny Dairies yoghurt. New distilleries are arriving every year: Sunshine & Sons at Woombye produces award-winning gin and volcanic rock-filtered vodka, while Fortune Distillery, Diablo Co, and FortiFied round out a growing spirits scene.
Layer in nationally acclaimed restaurants like Spirit House Yandina, artisan creameries and dairies at Maleny and Kenilworth, the annual Noosa Food and Wine Festival, and a farm-gate culture where the produce was picked that morning — and you have a food destination that rivals regions many times its size, with Glass House Mountain views as a bonus.
Boutique Vineyards of the Blackall Range
Ten cellar doors span the Sunshine Coast wine region — from the cool-climate Blackall Range to the warmer Traveston and Kenilworth valleys. Estate-grown wines, paddock-to-plate dining, and Glass House Mountain views at every turn.
Flame Hill Vineyard, Montville
The Sunshine Coast's premier winery experience. Estate-grown wines from rich volcanic soil, an award-winning paddock-to-plate restaurant, and sweeping views past vines to the ocean. The Deck & Terrace is the hinterland's finest dining destination. Two farmhouse cottages for overnight stays. Cellar door open daily.
Maleny Mountain Wines
An icon of the hinterland — a cellar door built inside a giant wine barrel set among breathtaking scenery. Chambourcin grapes planted in 1999 in volcanic soil. Extensive range from sweet to fortified. Weekend lunches, local produce, and artworks for sale. Group tastings and bus tours welcome.
Clouds Vineyard, Maleny
The Barrel at Clouds features the best wines from South East Queensland with a different featured winery each month. Cheese and meat platters, craft beer on tap, and stunning Blackall Range views. A relaxed destination for an afternoon tasting session.
Dingo Creek Vineyard, Traveston
Tucked away 40 minutes from Noosa in the peaceful Traveston valley. Friendly, laidback owners and an excellent range including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and a popular Honey Mead. Open weekends for tastings and lunch.
Australia's Craft Beer Capital
More craft breweries per capita than anywhere else in Australia — 24+ from the beachfront to deep hinterland. Award-winning sours, hazy IPAs, lagers, and stouts brewed with local ingredients. Guided brewery trail tours run daily.
Brouhaha Brewery
Award-winning Strawberry Rhubarb Sour (made with Maleny Dairies yoghurt), Apricot Sour (two AIBA golds). Cosy brewpub in Maleny + 16-tap production facility in Baringa with food trucks. Spent grain feeds Maleny Wagyu cattle — full circle.
Moffat Beach Brewing Co
Australia's only beachfront brewery. Champion Small Brewer at the Indies. Trilogy IPA, Moff's Summer Ale. Ocean views, the brewery in full public view, live comedy and bogan bingo. The Sunshine Coast's most awarded brewery 2018–2025.
Land & Sea Brewery
Gold-winning Japanese Rice Lager at the Indies. Juicebox Hazy IPA bursting with mango and lychee. Beachy Noosaville setting with ales, IPAs, lagers, well-priced meals, and eco-friendly packaging. Laid-back river vibes.
Copperhead Brewery
Hidden gem in the Noosa hinterland. Small-batch bespoke brews — seven on tap plus rotating experimentals. Stunning venue with a la carte restaurant, local seafood, and share plates. Also runs O-Ren Brewhouse in Sunshine Beach.
Your Mates Brewing Co
The Coast's largest craft brewery. Larry Pale Ale (GABS Hottest 100), Eddie XPA. Massive warehouse venue. Also runs Crackerjack — moody Asian dining meets lawn bowls. Golden Hour $6.50 beers weekdays 3–5pm.
10 Toes Brewery
Family-owned indie brewery on Sugar Road. Award-winning Pipeline Pale Ale — tropical fruit explosion balanced by clean malt. Full tap list, indoor and outdoor seating. The laid-back Sunshine Coast lifestyle in a glass.
Eumundi Brewery
Revived at the heritage Imperial Hotel by Dr Chuck Hahn. Fresh Eumundi Lager and Pale Ale brewed on site. Vibrant beer garden, live music. Steps from the famous Eumundi Markets.
Heads of Noosa
Clean, crisp, and perfect — the Japanese Lager is the afternoon knock-off beer on Hastings Street. Lager-focused brewery in Noosaville for the purists. Every local points visitors here first.
Craft Spirits Rising
The craft distillery scene is booming alongside the breweries. Sunshine & Sons at Woombye (Big Pineapple precinct) produces award-winning gin — Gold and Best in Class for Matured Gin at the Australian Gin Awards — plus volcanic rock-filtered vodka and coastal-inspired spirits.
Fortune Distillery, Diablo Co, and FortiFied join a growing lineup offering everything from small-batch botanical gin to barrel-aged rum. Several guided tours now combine brewery and distillery visits in a single memorable day.
Cheese, Dairy & Chocolate
Maleny Food Co is renowned for its artisan cheese and gelato — a must-stop on every hinterland food tour. Kenilworth Cheese Factory has been crafting cheese in the Mary Valley for decades. Maleny Dairies produces fresh milk from grass-fed cows on the Blackall Range.
Add the Maleny Chocolate Factory, The Ginger Factory in Yandina (free entry, ginger tastings, heritage train), and dozens of farm-gate producers, and you have a food scene deeply connected to the land it grows from.
Farm-to-Table & Fine Dining
From nationally celebrated Thai fine dining in a tropical garden to paddock-to-plate vineyard restaurants and Noosa's legendary Hastings Street dining strip.
Spirit House, Yandina
One of Queensland's most celebrated restaurants — nationally acclaimed Thai fine dining set in a stunning tropical garden with lakes and stone sculptures. On-site cooking school. Booking well in advance is essential.
Spicers Tamarind, Maleny
Award-winning Asian-inspired dining at a luxury rainforest retreat on the Blackall Range. Degustations, cooking classes, and stunning accommodation. Sources from local producers and the retreat's own kitchen gardens.
Flame Hill Deck & Terrace
The ultimate paddock-to-plate experience — grass-fed Angus from the farm, herbs from the kitchen garden, and estate wines poured alongside. Views over vines to the coastline. Head Chef Tony Tierney's menus are both elegant and deeply local.
Hastings Street, Noosa
Noosa's nationally renowned dining strip — Bistro C, Locale, Sails, and dozens more. Beachfront fine dining, rooftop cocktails, and the annual Noosa Food & Wine Festival each May. The Coast's culinary heartbeat.
Taste the Hinterland
Everything You Need to Know
Guided Tasting Tours
Several operators run daily small-group wine, beer, and food tours with hotel pickup from Noosa, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, and Caloundra. No designated driver needed. Typical duration 6–8 hours. Private and luxury options available. Cooee Tours offers customisable hinterland food and wine tours.
Self-Drive
Cellar doors and breweries are clustered 10–15 minutes apart along the Blackall Range. Designate a driver or stay overnight in Montville, Maleny, or Noosa. From the coast, the hinterland is 30 minutes via Nambour Connection Road.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. Winter (Jun–Aug) is ideal for wine tasting with cosy log fires and crisp mountain air. Summer is perfect for brewery hopping. The Noosa Food & Wine Festival (May) is the annual highlight — book early as it sells out.
Suggested Wine Day
Flame Hill cellar door & restaurant lunch → Maleny Mountain Wines → Clouds tasting room → Maleny Food Co cheese & gelato → Montville village browse. Allow a full day at relaxed pace. Most stops are 10–15 minutes apart.
Suggested Beer Day
Brouhaha Maleny (sours & lunch) → Copperhead Cooroy (bespoke brews & seafood) → Heads of Noosa (Japanese Lager) → Land & Sea Noosaville (Hazy IPA) → Moffat Beach Brewing (ocean sunset). A guided brewery tour is the safest and most fun way.
Stay Overnight
Flame Hill vineyard cottages with ocean views. Spicers Tamarind luxury rainforest retreat. Brouhaha's Bedhaha Airbnbs next to the Maleny brewpub. Montville and Maleny have charming B&Bs for a full hinterland immersion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most full-day tours include multiple cellar door or brewery tastings, a gourmet lunch or platter, at least one artisan producer visit (cheese, chocolate, or distillery), scenic hinterland lookout stops, and return hotel transfers. Private tours can be fully customised. Tours typically run 6–8 hours.
Yes — Sunshine Coast hinterland food and wine tours operate throughout the year. Winter is especially popular for cellar door visits with cosy log fires and crisp mountain air. Summer is ideal for brewery hopping with cold craft beers and ocean-view taprooms. The Noosa Food & Wine Festival in May is the annual highlight.
Absolutely. Food-focused experiences can be arranged on most guided tours. Spirit House cooking school, Maleny Food Co cheese and gelato, Kenilworth Cheese Factory, The Ginger Factory, and hinterland farm-gate visits are all excellent experiences without a glass in hand.
Most operators offer hotel pickup from Noosa, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, and Caloundra. Some also pick up from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Cooee Tours offers customisable tours with flexible pickup arrangements. Contact us for specific pickup locations and times.
Flame Hill Vineyard near Montville is widely considered the premier experience — estate-grown wines, an award-winning paddock-to-plate restaurant, vineyard accommodation, and panoramic views. Maleny Mountain Wines offers a charming barrel-shaped cellar door. Clouds in Maleny rotates featured wineries monthly. Dingo Creek at Traveston is a peaceful hidden gem for a relaxed weekend tasting.
Held each May, it's one of Australia's most acclaimed food festivals, attracting top chefs, winemakers, and food lovers from across the country. Events range from beachside long-table dinners and winemaker masterclasses to cooking demonstrations and brewery showcases. Tickets for headline events sell out well in advance.
The Sunshine Coast is home to 24+ independent craft breweries — the highest per-capita concentration in Australia. They range from tiny microbreweries to large-scale operations like Your Mates and Brouhaha. Highlights include Moffat Beach Brewing (most awarded), Brouhaha (hinterland sours), Copperhead (Cooroy), Land & Sea (Noosaville), and 10 Toes (Alex Headland). Guided brewery trail tours are available daily.
More Sunshine Coast Adventures
Raise a Glass to the Hinterland
Boutique cellar doors, Australia's craft beer capital, award-winning distilleries, and farm-to-table dining among rolling green hills — the hardest part is choosing where to start.