Discover
the flavours of the SUNSHINE COAST A natural food bowl, the Sunshine Coast is one of Australia’s favourite taste destinations. With its distinctive coast and country geography, the region delights with an appetising variety of producers, waterfront and hinterland restaurants, wineries, breweries, food festivals, cooking schools and farmers markets.
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Homegrown heaven The warm climate, rich soil and abundant oceans ensure the Sunshine Coast is suitable for producing an array of goods, such as avocados, ginger, pineapples, strawberries, feijoas, macadamia nuts, tomatoes, passionfruit, lychees, lemon myrtle, beef and dairy products.
Innovative food Alejandro Cancino, former executive chef of multi-awarding winning Brisbane restaurant Urbane, has recently relocated to the Sunshine Coast with his family. Alejandro creates his own vegan products through his company ‘Fenn Foods’, sold throughout delis across south-east Queensland. He also has plans to open a vegan café in Kuluin near Maroochydore, later this year.
“I’ve always wanted to connect with local and organic Sunshine Coast producers and continue to make healthy, wholesome and delicious vegan products in a way that is as environmentally friendly as possible. There is a large and ever-growing vegan community on the Coast. I love the place and the people, and it feels like the region’s food scene is on the cusp of something big, and I wanted to be a part of that.” Alejandro Cancino, Director Fenn Foods and Sunshine Coast Ambassador
Fresh seafood Mooloolaba is the biggest swordfish port in Australia and is one of the busiest seafood ports on the eastern seaboard. The wharf is a hive of daily activity with trawlers bringing in boatloads of swordfish, the famous Mooloolaba prawns, lobsters and spanner crabs.
Food festivals Indulge in award-winning wines and mouth-watering food cooked by celebrity chefs on Noosa’s Main Beach at the Noosa Food and Wine Festival. Beer connoisseurs can taste ice-cold international and domestic beers and ciders on tap at the Sunshine Coast Craft Beer and Cider Festival. And wine lovers, celebrate the local grape harvest at the annual Grape Stomp at Flame Hill Vineyard. Other annual events include the Ginger Flower and Food Festival, Noosa Craft Beer Festival, Kenilworth Cheese and Wine Festival and the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival.
Best breweries Now considered amongst the best in Australia, the Coast’s craft breweries, found in picturesque locations along the coast and in the hinterland, have become attractions in their own right. The region now boasts 12 innovators who brew on site including the award-winning Moffat Beach Brewing Co, Brouhaha Brewery, Macleod Brewing Co and Sunshine Coast Brewery. The coast’s brewers have built close relationships with local farmers, recycling spent grain for cattle, and sourcing local fruit and produce for distinctive seasonal beers.
Flavours for every palate From funky cafés to award-winning restaurants, degustation menus and good old-fashioned country pubs, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to seasonal fare and vibrant food culture. The Sunshine Coast is home to some of the country’s most awarded restaurants including The Long Apron, Wasabi, Locale, Spice Bar, Ricky’s River Bar, Noosa Boathouse, Tides Waterfront Dining, The Tamarind, Noosa Beach House Peter Kuruvita and the Spirit House.
“Most of my inspiration comes from the landscape – both the physical and food landscape of the Sunshine Coast region where we have access to the most extraordinary produce, fishers and makers… abundance certainly abounds. It is truly an edible oasis.” Cameron Matthews, Group Consulting Executive Chef, Spicers Luxury Retreats Qld & NSW and Sunshine Coast Ambassador, Regional Flavours 2018
Cook up a feast If you’re feeling inspired by the great food in the area, grab an apron and become a cuisine master at one of the region’s many award-winning cooking schools. Learn from the masters of Japanese, French and contemporary South East Asian cuisine, and be sure to impress at your next dinner party.
Market GUIDE Discover fresh local produce, homemade treats, funky jewellery, handmade clothing and talented buskers at markets right across the Sunshine Coast. As you wander around the region’s markets, it won’t take you long to realise why the Sunshine Coast ranks as one of the top ‘market’ destinations in Australia. Wednesday Eumundi Markets Thursday Cooroy Community Market Nambour Village Square Market Friday Marcoola Market, Marcoola (night) Nights on Ocean, Maroochydore (2nd) Noosa Junction Twilight Markets (3rd) Timari Village Markets, Pacific Paradise (2nd) Saturday Big Pineapple Markets Crystal Organics Farmers Market, Palmwoods Dagun Growers Market Havana Nights Twilight Markets, Peregian Springs (4th) Eumundi Markets Hinterland Harvest Market Kawana Waters Artisans and Farmers Markets Pomona Country Markets (2nd and 4th) Yandina Plant and Produce Market Sunday Buderim Sunday Markets (2nd and 4th) Caloundra Country & Farmers Markets, Currimundi Caloundra Street Fair Cotton Tree Markets Eumundi Collectables Market Fishermans Road Markets, Maroochydore Gympie Museum Markets (1st, 3rd, 5th) Gympie Southside Markets (2nd and 4th) Imbil Country Markets Kin Kin Creations Markets (1st) Maleny Art, Craft & Collectables Markets Mooloolaba Beach Markets (2nd and 4th) Noosa Farmers Markets Noosa Marina Markets Peachester Markets Peregian Beach Markets (1st, 3rd, 5th) Sunshine Coast Collective Markets, Coolum Beach (4th)
visitsunshinecoast.com/markets
A foodie’s
haven
with over
400
experiences CREATE MY TRAIL
Create your own food trail From coastal day trips to gourmet foodie tours, road trips are the best way to discover all the hidden gems on the Sunshine Coast. Create your own food adventure by using our easy mapping tool.
visitsunshinecoast.com/foodtrails