5 of our favourite ways to eat local on the Sunshine Coast

When you’re visiting Queensland’s premium foodie destination, eating local means so much more than simply good food.

It’s time to experience our region at its most authentic level, and to enjoy a taste of the Sunshine Coast’s rich, fertile heart that keeps bringing us all back for more. From the sea to the hinterland, eating local has never been easier, or more delicious.

To get you started, we’ve foraged five great spots where you can support local produce on the Sunshine Coast.

1. Mooloolah River Fisheries

Basket of fresh prawns caught off Mooloolaba Beach. Credit: Tourism & Events Queensland

Spectacular seafood is synonymous with the Sunshine Coast – after all, when we’ve got more than 100 kilometres of coastline and the Pacific Ocean as our backyard, fishing trawler treasures will always be on the menu. For your fix of local seafood, we recommend checking out Mooloolah River Fisheries! Experience and high-quality produce are on their side; they’ve been operating on the Sunshine Coast for over 20 years and are one of the industry’s leading Australian fishing operators. Enjoy some local prawns on the beach (the food miles do not get much lower than this!) and soak up the sun for a perfect, simple lunch or dinner. If you’d prefer to leave the cooking to the experts, there’s always the option of dining in at The Deck on Parkyn – Mooloolah River Fisheries’ fully licensed restaurant – where you can enjoy everything from spice-dusted calamari strips to Mooloolaba prawn cocktails.

2. Kandanga Farm Store

What if locally sourced dining met organic agriculture solutions and an array of farming supplies? The result is Kandanga Farm Store! Located in the Mary Valley (just 25 minutes-drive from Gympie), the store offers a range of agricultural products, from grain to livestock tags, all the way through to certified organic corned beef. If you’re more interested in Kandanga’s food offerings (and who isn’t?), you’re certainly not going to go away hungry! Everything (including their famous sausage rolls) is made from local and/or organic produce, with familiar favourites like Barambah organic milk, Montville fair trade organic coffee and K2 Organic Beef making up the supply list. With plenty to do in the Mary Valley and Gympie region, visiting Kandanga Farm Store is the perfect local inclusion on your day trip or holiday.

3. Maleny Food Co

Gelato at Maleny Food Co

If your dreams are made of dairy, then it’s time to visit Maleny Food Co. Here, cheese and gelato are stars of the show! Their award-winning gelato is made using artisan techniques and fresh Guernsey milk – locally sourced from a nearby family farm. With over 100 flavours to choose from, including hazelnut, blood orange, and cherry ripe, this is the ultimate gelato-lover's paradise. One of the best parts about Maleny Food Co’s gelato is its focus on traditional methods (like small batches and churning the base, instead of whipping) to produce a high-quality product – the best of the best.

Located in the heart of Maleny’s main street, Maleny Food Co also offers the opportunity to dine in at its cosy café, where the menu stars several local favourites like Walker Farm eggs, Kenilworth cheddar and 10 Acres sourdough.

4. Wild Barrel

Once you’ve tasted your way around the Sunshine Coast, it’s time to wash everything down with a beer. New kid on the block Wild Barrel can be found in the lush Noosa hinterland area of Black Mountain, near Cooroy. Here, you’ll be in for a treat of 100% barrel-aged beer that has been lovingly produced with locally sourced, organic ingredients and culture. The unique barrel-ageing process (which relies on wild fermentation) is a fun point of difference that owners Scott Frew and Shane Kent use to create their distinctive brews. You can order their beers online – be sure to keep an eye on their social media page for the latest updates around supply and new releases.

5. Mapleton Public House

Mapleton Public House

This family-owned establishment represents everything wonderful about eating local on the Sunshine Coast. Nestled high up along the scenic Flaxton Drive in the hinterland town of Mapleton, the 112-year-old pub has recently come under new ownership – paving the way for a beautiful makeover in the process.

Mapleton Public House thrives on local produce, with most of its fruit and vegetables being grown less than 3km down the road, at the regenerative Falls Farm. Everything else is sourced locally, or from Qld family-owned suppliers, setting the stage for a fresh and community-driven dining experience.