From farm gates to food tours and freshly caught seafood, the hinterland’s food scene is rich in its diversity.

You can meet the makers and hear their stories, pick your own produce, sample award-winning cheese and take cooking classes from the best. Visit Sunshine Coast invites you to explore the Sunshine Coast through food this winter with these delicious dining experiences. 

Visit Sunshine Coast recommends checking with each operator in relation to opening times and terms and conditions. It is also advisable to book ahead with attractions/tours and dining venues due to limited capacities and to avoid disappointment. Go to visitsunshinecoast.com.

Go Farm to Fork 

As you drive up the winding range of the hinterland you’ll spot farmgate stalls by the roadside offering everything from pineapples to avocados and fresh honey. But what is the story behind the produce? 

In a true paddock to plate experience, Creative Tours and Events will take you behind the scenes to meet the makers and hear their stories on their Farm to Fork Hinterland Tour, followed by a lunch of local produce. Stops include The Falls Farm, Montville Coffee and Brouhaha Brewery.

Get hands on with local produce at a cooking school

With an abundance of fresh local produce available, it’s little wonder the Sunshine Coast is home to a number of leading cooking schools. Set in lush tropical gardens in the hinterland town of Yandina is Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School, whose focus on Asian cuisine makes them one of Australia’s best food experiences. At their cooking school they offer classes such as ‘Feast From the East’ and ‘Quick and Easy Thai – With a Twist’ to name a few. Local ingredients such as finger limes feature on the menu.

Meet the makers 

The team at People, Plates and Places offer a truly unique food experience with their ‘plate to paddock’ ethos. Held in different locations across the Sunshine Coast, People, Plates and Places hold pop-up events on working farms and orchards that bring diners to where the food is grown. 

Foodies will hear from the producers themselves as they sample everything from grass-fed beef to organic tomatoes at their restaurant without walls. The next event will be held in Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland on 25 July and feature a multi-course menu with paired wines.

Enjoy canapes with camels on an organic dairy farm

Set against the iconic Glasshouse Mountains on the southern end of the Sunshine Coast is Australia’s premium supplier of certified organic camel milk, QCamel. The family-run dairy invites foodies behind the scenes on their farmgate ‘Camel Cuddles’ tour that includes sampling camel-milk products. 

Together with local producers the QCamel team offer creamy camel milk fetta, camel milk chocolates and smoothies, as well as camel milk itself which has a number of health benefits. 

The tour also invites you to meet the camels, who are more than willing to pose for a selfie and lean in for a camel cuddle. Camel tours can be done direct through QCamel or including transfers with Design It Tours.