If you love discovering great food on the road, the drive from Noosa through the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Hinterland is one of Queensland’s tastiest day trips. This scenic hinterland route winds past farm gates, artisan producers, country cafés and small-town gems, turning an easy drive into a delicious food trail where every stop offers something local, fresh and worth pulling over for. Take your cooler and fill it with roadside produce, pastured eggs, local beef and seasonal fruit.
Route Planning: Noosa & Sunshine Coast Hinterland Food Trail Loop
This scenic Sunshine Coast and Noosa Hinterland food trail works beautifully as a relaxed day trip, looping from Noosa through the hinterland villages before returning to the coast. Allow a full day so you can enjoy each stop without rushing.
Start & Finish: Noosa
Total Driving Time: Approx. 2–2.5 hours driving
Recommended Duration: Full day with food and tasting stops
Suggested Driving Loop
Noosa → Boreen Point → Kin Kin → Cooran → Pomona → Cooroy → Noosaville → Noosa
Stop-by-stop route guide
Noosa → Boreen Point (Lake Cootharaba)
Head north from Noosa to Boreen Point for breakfast at the CootharaBAR & bistro is located at Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp. Stop for a look, or a cheeky drink at the historic Apollonian Hotel, overlooking Lake Cootharaba and enjoy the wide verandahs and lake breezes.
Boreen Point → Kin Kin
Drive inland through farmland and forest to Kin Kin for coffee or a second breakfast stop at the much-loved Kin Kin General Store café.
Kin Kin → Twin Hills View Lookout
A short detour rewards you with sweeping countryside views across the Noosa Hinterland, often with eagles gliding overhead.
Twin Hills → Cooran
Roll into Cooran and settle in at Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co. for a relaxed lunch featuring local produce and craft beer.
Cooran → Pomona
Next stop Pomona for gin tasting at Pomona Distilling Co., one of the hinterland’s favourite small-batch producers.
Pomona → Cooroy
Continue south to Cooroy, where Copperhead Brewery makes a good final tasting stop or afternoon refreshment break.
Cooroy → Noosaville → Noosa
Cruise back via Noosaville and along the river before returning to Noosa, ideally timing your arrival for sunset drinks or dinner.
Planning tip
This is a wander-and-discover drive, so allow extra time for roadside farm stalls, bakeries and unexpected country-town finds along the way.
Driving tip: Allow time for spontaneous stops. Many of the best finds are roadside stalls, bakeries or small producers you’ll spot along the way.
Link to the Google Maps route below.
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Where to Stay
Get ready for some stunning country vistas on this drive that goes deep into the coastal fringe north of Noosa. It is a comfortable Noosa day trip that will take you about two hours on a round trip, one day or two, if you go slow and stop to make the most of the journey. There are many fabulous places to stay in the region, but if you are looking for somewhere that’s perfect for your pup as well as your family,
I stayed at Noosa Country Cottage’s Magnolia Cottage.
This is the view you wake up to at Magnolia Cottage
Plan Your Trip
The Noosa and Sunshine Coast Hinterland food trail sits just inland from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, an easy drive north of Brisbane. The route loops through small hinterland towns including Boreen Point, Kin Kin, Cooran, Pomona and Cooroy, all within comfortable day-trip distance of Noosa’s beaches.
Blending lake views, rolling farmland and forested ranges, this hinterland drive offers a refreshing contrast to the coast, making it perfect for visitors wanting to combine Noosa’s seaside lifestyle with country hospitality and local food discoveries in one easy trip.
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Stop at Boreen Point Noosa Country Drive
Noosa Hinterland Food Trail Day Trip: Best Sunshine Coast Hinterland Stops from Noosa
Starting your Noosa Hinterland food trail in Noosa, head first to Lake Cootharaba for breakfast at CootharaBAR & Bistro, located within Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp. Set among 65 acres of National Park, the bistro offers sweeping views across the lake and surrounding bushland, making it a memorable way to begin your Sunshine Coast Hinterland food trail.
The extensive menu highlights fresh, locally sourced produce, delivering a relaxed paddock-to-plate experience with both indoor and alfresco dining options. Open seven days a week to both guests and day visitors, it’s an ideal first stop before heading further inland.
From there, continue to nearby Boreen Point and the historic Apollonian Hotel, first licensed in 1868 and one of the last surviving timber music hall hotels built in the 1870s. Constructed from local cedar and hoop pine, the hotel still showcases its original character, complete with wide, cool verandahs and a sweeping front lawn overlooking Lake Cootharaba.
Relocated from Gympie to Boreen Point in the late 1980s, the Apollonian continues its long tradition of serving good food and lively entertainment, making it another worthwhile stop on your Sunshine Coast Hinterland food trail before continuing inland.
From Boreen Point, continue inland through the rolling hinterland to Kin Kin, where your browsing destination is the quirky and much-enjoyed Kin Kin Depot. This eclectic little store is perfect for a wander, with interesting local products, artisan goods and unique finds that capture the creative spirit of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. It’s a delightful alternative to a regular café stop, and a great way to soak in the relaxed rural vibe of the hinterland.
After exploring Kin Kin Depot, take the short detour to Twin Hills View Lookout for sweeping views across the Noosa Hinterland countryside, where wedge-tailed eagles often soar above rolling farmland. Continue via Cooran and settle in at Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co. for a relaxed lunch, pairing a Ploughman’s platter with locally-crafted beer, a perfect taste of the region’s artisan produce.
Look out for Kin Kin Depot on your Noosa Country Food Trail
Kin Kin Depot
Make sure your Noosa Country Food Trail includes time for a browse through the amazing Kin Kin Depot store. This is a treasure trove of wonderful things with vintage mixed with new works from local artists. It’s a very good wander and, if you are lucky, you might even meet the friendly store cat.What’s inside Kin Kin Depot?
Optional Farm Stop: Connect with the Land at Eastwell Farms, Kin Kin
If you’d like to add a deeper paddock-to-plate experience to your Noosa Hinterland food trail, consider a stop at Eastwell Farms near Kin Kin, where visitors can gain a genuine connection to the land while learning about regenerative farming practices.
Run by Bryant, Susie and Alex, Eastwell Farms has been in the family since 1969, when it originally operated as a dairy farm. Over decades, the focus has shifted toward improving soil health and restoring the landscape through sustainable, regenerative farming methods that work with nature rather than against it.
When tours or open farm experiences are available, visitors can see firsthand how the property is managed and learn how responsible farming practices help produce high-quality food while protecting the environment for future generations.
In the meantime, you can still enjoy the farm’s produce at home, with their popular mushrooms, premium beef, sausages, pies and hamburger patties available for delivery. Keep an eye out for upcoming farm tours, open days held every second month, and plans for a future farm gate shop.
Kerry and Cara toast the tasting paddle at Noosa Hinterland Brewing
Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co
Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co has been delighting beer lovers with their distinctive brews for about 18 months in the little village of Cooran. It’s a classic story of a home brewer following his passion and a couple finding a new life in a treescape to Noosa Country. Much like the owner Cara, Noosa Hinterland Brewing is warm and welcoming. Located in an old joinery building, its strong, honest frame resonates with a long history. All brewing takes place in an open area behind the bar so you can see all the tanks. Judging from the regulars, Noosa Hinterland Brewing is popular with locals of all ages. There’s a father playing Uno with his children, a trio of older folk sipping on a beer and wine (they offer Dingo Creek wines for non-beer drinkers). We are told that visitors from Noosa are regular day trippers. We start with two tasting paddles of four which cover the whole brew range. Bluegrass music has my foot tapping as we sample. K2 likes the Pilsner, and they can’t convert him to the Stout. I’m keen on the pale ale, which is their most popular line. The Ploughman’s Platter arrives overflowing with fresh local produce and a still-warm bread roll. There is smoked Kenniworth cheese, pickled onions and cucumbers, house-made relish, and thick slices of moist ham from the local butcher. I’m in heaven. Cooran is a small village that punches above its weight with the brewery and a local venue, Hinterland Restaurant, specialising in nose-to-tail cuisine. Checking their menu in the window, I see they have an interesting mains lineup and a good selection of pizzas. The owners run their own farm where they have a permaculture vegetable garden, and stock heritage breed pigs and cattle.The Ploughman’s Platter at Noosa Hinterland Brewing
Stop at Pomona Distilling on your Noosa Country Drive.
Pomona Distilling Co.
The country town of Pomona was named after the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards. It has been home to the Gubbi Gubbi people for thousands of years. Fires devastated the town in 1939 and 1942 which has resulted in a predominance of Art Deco architecture in the town. What lies behind the shopfront at Pomona Distilling Co is a real surprise. Décor at the small-batch boutique distillery is inspired by the region’s heritage with a glorious arbour made from recycled bridge timbers. The cellar is positioned in the original Pomona Bakery, which dates from the early 1900s and repurposed shipping containers turned into a small art gallery.
Pick your Pomona gin by its colour
Copperhead Brewery
Located in downtown Cooroy on the main drag towards Noosa, this is a new, purpose-built brewery with a strong focus on food. The expansive dining area is warm and inviting with exposed brick pillars, a fireplace and atmospheric lighting. tall fiddle leaf figs curve haphazardly around the room giving me ideas for my figs at home. I’m tempted by the Orange Blossom Lager or the Strawberry & Lime Sour just because I can, but it’s the 3.8% Ginger Beer that has hints of ginger and malt that wins on the day.
Cruise around Pomona on your Noosa Country Food Trail to find this street art outside the IGA.
Add to your Noosa Food Trail
There are many ways to extend your Noosa Food Trail.
- Rainbow Beach and Carlo Sandblow is a 1-hour drive through Toolara State Forest and Great Sandy National Park
- Take a ride on the Mary Valley Rattler
- Explore these 10 top things to do in Noosa.
- Find your Fortune at this Noosa Heads distillery
The hinterland behind Noosa and the Sunshine Coast are really the hidden gems of the region. Great article!