The Sunshine Coast's food scene is driven by proximity to producers. Subtropical climate, rich red volcanic soil in the hinterland, and a tradition of small-scale farming mean the region produces everything from macadamias and avocados to artisan cheese, honey, specialty coffee, and small-batch gin.
The result is a café culture and market scene that punches well above its weight — and five of our nine Sunshine Coast guided tours include food, market, or village stops as a central part of the day. This page is your guide to the region's culinary highlights and which tours take you there.
Eumundi Markets
Australia's Premier Artisan Market
Over 600 stalls every Wednesday and Saturday in the small hinterland town of Eumundi, inland from Noosa. The strict "make it, bake it, grow it, sew it" policy means every item is made by the person selling it — handmade jewellery, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, fresh produce, gourmet food, and live music in tree-shaded lanes since 1979.
Eat & Drink Your Way Through
Seasonal tropical fruit (mangoes Dec–Feb, lychees Jan, mandarins Jun–Aug), locally roasted coffee, artisan sourdough, macadamia products, bush honey, handmade pasta, hot sauces, ginger beer, and baked goods. Arrive early to beat the mid-morning crowds — your guide knows the best stalls and seasonal specialties.
Cheese, Fudge & Farm Gates
The Blackall Range villages of Maleny (population 3,959, elevation 425m) and Montville (population 1,092, elevation 400m) are the hinterland's culinary heart. The elevation creates a microclimate 5–8°C cooler than the coast that suits dairy farming, and the communities here have cultivated a strong local-food identity over decades. The Blackall Range itself was named in 1874 after Sir Samuel Blackall, Queensland Governor 1864–1871.
Maleny — Dairy Heartland Since 1904
Maleny's first butter factory opened in 1904 and the cooperative tradition continues with a cluster of producers within a few kilometres: the Maleny Cheese Factory producing rich cheeses (creamy brie, aged cheddar, washed-rind varieties, fresh ricotta from local milk), Maleny Dairies (paddock-to-bottle milk and yoghurt), Sweet Eden for organic café fare, local honey, and a weekly Sunday community market on the Maleny Showgrounds. The town's main street (Maple Street) is relaxed and walkable — your guide points out the best places to taste and buy.
Montville — Heritage Strip with Coastal Views
Montville's heritage-style main street is a concentrated strip of food experiences — handmade fudge shops (watch fudge being made in copper kettles), a chocolate factory, preserves, jams, local wine, the famous Poets Cafe, Misty's, and cafés with views that stretch to Moreton Island on a clear day. The village was originally called "Razorback" before being renamed in 1893 after Montville Connecticut. Ideal for browsing and tasting at your own pace.
Artisan Cheese & Dairy
Maleny's dairies produce creamy brie, aged cheddar, washed-rind varieties, and fresh ricotta from local milk on rich red volcanic soils. Several cellar-door-style tasting rooms let you try before you buy, and your guide explains what's in season. The Maleny Cheese Factory tasting room is a highlight — plus Maleny Dairies for paddock-to-bottle milk.
Fudge & Chocolate
Montville's fudge shops are a highlight — watch fudge being made in copper kettles, sample a dozen flavours, and pick up gifts. A handful of artisan chocolatiers also operate on the range, some incorporating native Australian ingredients (Davidson plum, finger lime, wattleseed, lemon myrtle).
- Hinterland & Waterfalls Adventure — Maleny, Montville, plus rainforest and waterfalls
- Hinterland Waterfalls (Swim) — Montville and Maleny with a swimming-hole focus (Gardners Falls, Buderim Forest Park)
- Sunshine Coast Paradise Tour — Maleny, Montville, Glass House Mountains, and Noosa
Boutique Cellar Doors
The Sunshine Coast is not one of Australia's major wine regions, but a small and growing cluster of boutique producers in the hinterland takes advantage of the volcanic soil, elevation, and cooler microclimate. The friable red volcanic soils once supported German settler vineyards in the late 1800s (with wine transported on horseback to the Landsborough hotel), and today's modern wineries continue the tradition.
Named Producers
The cluster includes Flame Hill (420m Western Avenue Montville, opens daily, Stomp festival Feb/Mar, sources fruit from Severn River and Kurrajong Granite Belt), Maleny Mountain Wines (Chambourcin planted 1999, "Barrel" cellar door built 2000, broad range from sweet to sparkling to fortified), Clouds Montville (Montville/Maleny boutique cellar door with on-site accommodation), Dingo Creek Vineyard (Traveston, 40 minutes from Noosa, weekends-only, famous Muscat and Honey Mead), and Mason Wines Montville (cellar door open daily). These are small-batch, family-run operations — the kind of places where the winemaker pours your tasting and tells you the story of each vintage.
Hastings Street, Mooloolaba & Beyond
Hastings Street, Noosa
Noosa's Hastings Street is the Sunshine Coast's fine-dining hub — a tree-lined avenue of restaurants, bars, and gelato shops opening directly onto Main Beach. The cuisine ranges from modern Australian and Japanese to Italian and French, with most menus emphasising local seafood and produce. Notable spots include Bistro C (modern Australian beachfront), Sails (fine dining), The Boathouse (fish and chips), Sum Yung Guys (modern Asian), Locale (Italian), Massimo's (gelato), and Noosa Chocolate Factory. Your guide recommends the best options for your tastes and budget. Several tours include Hastings Street free time for lunch at your own expense.
Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba's Wharf and esplanade restaurants offer excellent seafood in a more relaxed, family-friendly setting. Fish and chips on the esplanade, prawns straight from the trawler fleet, and casual waterfront dining are the go here. The Wharf precinct has been the heart of Sunshine Coast tourism since the 1970s — and is the launch point for whale watching tours from May to November (~40,000 east-coast humpbacks migrate annually). SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast is also at The Wharf.
Caloundra & the South
Kings Beach in Caloundra has a growing café strip with specialty coffee and brunch menus. The area is less touristed and more local — a good place for a quiet morning coffee and pastry before the day starts. The Caloundra precinct also has a thriving brewery and distillery scene (gin and craft beer) for those interested.
- Noosa & Coastal Explorer — Hastings Street free time for lunch after the 5.4km coastal walk
- Noosa Day Trip from Brisbane — Hastings Street + Eumundi Markets (Wed/Sat)
- Mooloolaba & Family Beaches — Mooloolaba esplanade fish-and-chips, Boardwalk strolls
When to Visit for What
The Sunshine Coast's subtropical climate delivers good produce year-round, but the highlights shift with the seasons. Here's a rough guide to what's at its peak.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Mangoes, lychees, pineapples, macadamias, passionfruit. Warm evenings (22–28°C). Eumundi Markets at their liveliest with live outdoor music. Peak seafood season — prawns, coral trout. Marine stinger advisories Oct–May.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Avocados, bananas, citrus begins. Mild weather ideal for hinterland café-hopping. Quieter markets, more room to browse. Maleny dairy farms at their lushest. Whales begin appearing late May.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Citrus at its peak — oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes. Leafy greens, herbs, root vegetables. Crisp hinterland mornings perfect for hearty café breakfasts. Peak whale-watching season from Mooloolaba Wharf and Noosa headlands. Hinterland 5–8°C cooler — plan layers.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Strawberries begin, stone fruit arrives late. Wildflowers across the Blackall Range. Warm but not hot — perfect weather for all-day tours. First mangoes appear in November. Eumundi Markets reopening to full summer trading.
Five Tours with Food & Market Stops
Five of our nine Sunshine Coast day tours include food, market, or village browsing as a core part of the experience. Here's the quick comparison.
Noosa Day Trip from Brisbane
Eumundi Markets (Wed/Sat), Hastings Street dining, Noosa River dolphins — the best food day from Brisbane. Under-5s FREE.
View tourHinterland & Waterfalls Adventure
Maleny cheese, Montville fudge, village cafés — plus waterfalls and Glass House Mountains lookouts.
View tourSunshine Coast Paradise Tour
Both worlds — Maleny & Montville village time, then Noosa Main Beach and Hastings Street. Coast and hinterland food in one day.
View tourNoosa & Coastal Explorer
Full 5.4km Noosa National Park coastal walk then Hastings Street free time for lunch. Your guide recommends the best restaurants.
View tourMooloolaba & Family Beaches
Fish and chips on the esplanade, gelato, ice cream, and seafood restaurants. Casual coastal food for families.
View tourPlanning Tips
- Lunch: Day tours include water and a light morning snack. Lunch is at your own expense, giving you freedom to choose from your guide's recommendations. Budget $20–$45 per person for a casual to mid-range lunch.
- Dietary needs: Let us know when booking. Your guide can recommend suitable restaurants and help navigate market stalls for allergies, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free requirements. Both Maleny and Montville have dedicated GF and vegan venues.
- Market days: Eumundi Markets run Wednesday (8am–1:30pm) and Saturday (7am–2pm) only. If markets are a priority, book the Noosa Day Trip for a Wed/Sat departure.
- Spending money: Bring cash or card for lunch, market purchases, and artisan products. Most stalls and shops accept card, but smaller producers may be cash-only.
- Hinterland layers: The Blackall Range is 5–8°C cooler than the coast. Bring a light jacket for Maleny and Montville even in summer.
- Group size: All day tours run as small groups of up to 12 guests.
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.
About the Food
"The Eumundi Markets stop on the Noosa Day Trip was a highlight of our whole holiday — we spent over two hours there and could have stayed longer. The guide knew exactly which stalls to send us to for the best sourdough and local honey."
— Kate & David, Sydney
"Did the Hinterland Waterfalls tour and wasn't expecting the village food to be so good. The cheese in Maleny was incredible and the fudge in Montville was dangerous. We went back to both on our own the next day."
— James, Singapore
"Lunch at Hastings Street after the Noosa coastal walk was the perfect end to the day — the guide recommended a restaurant with local prawns and a great wine list. Wish we had another week."
— Mel & Chris, Melbourne
Frequently Asked Questions
Not as a scheduled tour. Our day tours combine food stops with coastal walks, hinterland scenery, and wildlife — which is what makes the Sunshine Coast special. However, if food is your main interest, we can arrange a private or corporate group tour with a tailored food-and-wine itinerary combining cellar doors, cheese tasting, market visits, and a hinterland lunch. Contact us for a bespoke quote.
For markets: the Noosa Day Trip from Brisbane (Eumundi + Hastings Street, Wed/Sat departures). For hinterland cheese, fudge, and village cafés: the Hinterland & Waterfalls Adventure. For a bit of both coast and hinterland food in one day: the Paradise Tour. For Hastings Street fine dining after a coastal walk: Noosa & Coastal Explorer. For family casual coastal dining: Mooloolaba & Family Beaches.
Day tours include bottled water and a light morning snack. Lunch is at your own expense (budget AUD $20–$45 per person) — this gives you freedom to choose from your guide's recommended restaurants and cafés. Your guide can recommend the best spots based on any dietary needs.
Yes. Let us know when booking and your guide will recommend suitable restaurants and help navigate market stalls for allergies, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other requirements. The Sunshine Coast's café scene is generally very accommodating — both Maleny and Montville have dedicated GF and vegan venues.
Wednesday approximately 8:00am to 1:30pm and Saturday approximately 7:00am to 2:00pm. Saturday is the larger market with more food vendors and live music. Markets have operated since 1979 with 600+ stalls and a strict "make it, bake it, grow it, sew it" policy meaning every item is made by the person selling it. Book the Noosa Day Trip on a Wed or Sat departure to include an Eumundi stop.
Yes — cellar-door visits can be included as part of a private or corporate group booking. The hinterland has a small but growing cluster of boutique wineries including Flame Hill (Montville, opens daily), Maleny Mountain Wines (Chambourcin since 1999), Clouds (Montville/Maleny boutique cellar door with accommodation), and Dingo Creek Vineyard (Traveston, weekends-only, famous Muscat and Honey Mead). Contact us for a tailored itinerary.
Yes. All ages welcome on all tours. The Mooloolaba & Family Beaches tour is specifically designed for families — including fish-and-chips, ice cream, gelato, and casual beach dining. Eumundi Markets is highly child-friendly with face painting, busking, and plenty of finger food options.
Click through to any tour page and use the Enquire & Book Now button, call us on 0409 661 342, or email contact@waggiegroup.com. Full payment at booking. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure; severe-weather adjustments qualify for a free date transfer.