✦ Private Cooking Experiences: Spirit House Yandina · Hinterland chef days · Groups 2–12 by arrangement  Enquire →
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Cooee Tours
Australia's East Coast Specialists
0409 661 342 Enquire
✦ Private Group Experience · By Arrangement Only

Sunshine Coast
Cooking Classes

Hands-on cooking with award-winning chefs — book a 4.5-hour Thai class at Spirit House Yandina (the Coast's most-awarded cooking school) or arrange a bespoke private chef experience using Maleny and Eumundi produce. Groups of 2–12 by arrangement.

4.9 · 624 reviews
ATAS Accredited
Brisbane locals since 1989
2–12
Group size
POA
Tailored quote
4.5hr
Spirit House class
2–3 wk
Lead time
Enquire for a Quote See Scheduled Tours
Cooee Tours acknowledges the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) and Jinibara peoples as Traditional Custodians of the Sunshine Coast and hinterland Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
Overview

How Cooking Class Days Work

Cooking classes are not part of our scheduled day-tour programme — they're available as a private group experience by arrangement. You enquire with your interests (Thai, hinterland-produce, market-to-table, corporate team-building), we design a bespoke itinerary that combines a hands-on cooking session with other Sunshine Coast highlights, and we provide door-to-door transport and a driver-guide for the full day.

We partner with established cooking schools and chefs — most notably Spirit House at Yandina, the Sunshine Coast's most-awarded Asian/Thai cooking school. Sessions typically run 2–4.5 hours and involve preparing and sharing a multi-course meal using fresh produce from local farms, markets, and the chef's preferred suppliers.

This is not a scheduled product. Pricing, availability, and itinerary depend on group size, preferred dates, and which cooking school or chef you choose. Contact us with your preferences and we'll provide a tailored quote within 24 hours. Spirit House classes are direct-priced; private chef experiences vary.
Featured Cooking School

Spirit House Cooking School

The anchor for most of our cooking-class itineraries is Spirit House at Yandina. It's the Sunshine Coast's most-awarded Asian/Thai restaurant and cooking school, set in tropical gardens with bamboo, palms, and a tranquil pond.

Daily classes · Yandina

Spirit House Cooking School

"A tropical film set that takes your breath away. Like the setting, the Thai-inspired cuisine is breathtaking." — Gourmet Traveller Magazine

Daily hands-on classes in a purpose-built cooking school. Sample courses include Asian Alfresco Entertaining, Fast Fab Thai, One Bowl Wonders (beginner-friendly), and Sizzling BBQ Seafood. Classes run approximately 4.5 hours and include lunch or dinner with wine or beer. All aprons, knives, and utensils provided — bring nothing but yourself (closed-in shoes required for safety).

Location20 Ninderry Rd, Yandina
Duration~4.5 hours
BookingMonths ahead in peak
DietaryGF & vegetarian catered
Itinerary Ideas

Sample Day Ideas

Every private cooking experience is built around your group's interests. These are starting points — we tailor the day to your dates, dietary needs, and preferred add-ons.

~7 hours · Most popular

Spirit House & Hinterland

Morning hinterland drive past Glass House Mountains, an extended 4.5-hour hands-on class at Spirit House Yandina with shared lunch (wine/beer included), then afternoon village time at Maleny or Montville on the way back.

~8 hours · Wed/Sat only

Market-to-Table

Morning at Eumundi Markets (600+ stalls since 1979, Wed/Sat) sourcing ingredients, then a hands-on cooking session at a hinterland kitchen using what you've bought. Finish with a shared meal overlooking the Blackall Range.

~8 hours · Produce-focused

Hinterland Producer Day

Visit Maleny Cheese (Bucher family Swiss-tradition since 2004), pick up local honey and seasonal fruit, then cook a hinterland-inspired lunch with a private chef using what you've gathered. Village stops in Maleny and Montville.

~7 hours · Groups 6–12

Corporate Team Building

A cooking challenge using local ingredients, facilitated by a professional chef. Works well for incentive trips, team off-sites, and supplier-relations days. Combine with a scenic hinterland drive, lookout morning tea, and group debrief over dinner.

Inclusions

What's Included

Details vary by itinerary, but a typical private cooking day with Cooee Tours includes the following.

Standard inclusions:
  • Door-to-door pickup and return from Sunshine Coast accommodation or Brisbane CBD
  • Air-conditioned vehicle and driver-guide for the full day (max 12 guests)
  • 2-4.5 hour hands-on cooking session with a local chef or at Spirit House
  • All cooking equipment provided (aprons, knives, utensils, ingredients)
  • Shared meal — the food you cook, served as lunch or dinner
  • Wine or beer with the meal at Spirit House (varies for private chef experiences)
  • Additional stops as agreed — Eumundi Markets, Maleny Cheese, hinterland villages, lookouts
  • Recipe cards to take home (most chefs provide)

Enquire About a Cooking Experience

Tell us your group size, preferred class style (Thai at Spirit House / hinterland produce / market-to-table / corporate team-building), preferred dates, and any dietary needs — we'll design a bespoke day and provide a quote within 24 hours.

Enquire Now Call 0409 661 342
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Minimum 2 guests, maximum 12. Pricing is per group, so the cost per person decreases with larger groups. Spirit House Yandina accommodates larger groups in their purpose-built cooking school; smaller private chef experiences are typically 2–8 guests. Corporate groups beyond 12 — contact us for split-vehicle arrangements.

No. Sessions are designed for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to confident home cooks. The chef guides you through every step. At Spirit House Yandina, classes range from One Bowl Wonders (beginner-friendly Thai) to Asian Alfresco Entertaining for more advanced cooks who want to plate up for dinner parties at home.

Spirit House at Yandina (20 Ninderry Rd) is the Sunshine Coast's most-awarded Thai cooking school — daily hands-on classes in their purpose-built facility set in tropical gardens. Gourmet Traveller described it as "a tropical film set that takes your breath away". We also coordinate private chef experiences in the Maleny-Montville hinterland for bespoke menus using local produce — including chefs who specialise in Italian, Australian native ingredients, and farm-to-plate cuisine.

Yes. Spirit House caters for gluten-free and vegetarian diets — their soy sauce and oyster sauce used in class are gluten-free, and you can purchase them to take home. For private chef experiences, let us know your dietary needs when enquiring (vegan, nut allergies, religious requirements, low-FODMAP, etc.) and we'll match you with a chef and menu that works for your group.

At Spirit House: ~4.5-hour class with all aprons, knives, utensils, and ingredients provided; lunch or dinner with wine or beer included; you bring nothing but yourself (closed-in shoes required for kitchen safety). For Cooee Tours private chef itineraries: door-to-door pickup, vehicle and driver-guide for the full day, the cooking session, ingredients, shared meal, plus add-ons like market visits or hinterland touring as arranged.

At least 2–3 weeks is recommended. Spirit House classes book out months in advance during summer and Queensland July school holidays — aim for 6–8 weeks ahead for peak periods. Smaller private chef experiences in the hinterland typically need 2–3 weeks notice to coordinate the chef, transport, and any add-on producer visits.

Yes — that's the whole idea. We build a full day around the cooking session, combining it with Eumundi Markets, Maleny Cheese or farm visits, hinterland villages (Maleny, Montville), or even Noosa beach time. You tell us what interests your group and we design the itinerary.

Pricing on application (POA). Cost depends on group size (2–12), the cooking school or chef chosen (Spirit House publishes its rates direct; private chefs vary by experience and ingredients), and the full day's itinerary including transport, add-on stops, and any extras. Contact us with your preferences for a tailored quote within 24 hours. Larger groups (8–12) bring the per-person cost down significantly.

Related

Related Pages

Food & Wine Hub

The full guide to the Sunshine Coast's food and wine scene — guides, scheduled tours, and private experiences.

Eumundi Markets Guide

Over 600 stalls every Wednesday and Saturday — the perfect morning before a cooking class.

Farm & Producer Visits

Private group farm-gate and producer tours by arrangement — Maleny Cheese, honey apiaries, macadamias.