Cooloola Farmer’s Trail is on again! So if you are travelling or not far from the Gympie or Sunshine Coast regions, September 10-11, make the most of it. You can spend a weekend or see it in a day trip – just bring an empty belly – there is good eating and good camping to be had.Â
This trail was on my priority trips, last year. So I can vouch for quite a few of these personally – and we enjoyed lunch just this month, at the newest of them all!
On the way, there is a little country market at Goomborian, only held the second Saturday of the month, 7am – noon.
I will add these first three ones to our list – Noosa Black Coffee is in Kin Kin – the only coffee plantation in the Noosa Hinterland. Cherries are harvested each winter. Yum. By the way, The Black Ant Cafe has loads of appeal. It is across the road from budget and pet friendly, Kin Kin Oval. Three day maximum, beautiful and green, plus still next door to the Country Life Hotel!Â
If you are back here on the first Sunday of the month, Kin Kin Market is 8am-1pm.
How do gourmet mushrooms sound? Previously a dairy and also near Kin Kin, Eastwell Farms practice regenerative farming and as well as mushrooms, supplies grass fed beef. Both a perfect combination for their artisan pies.Â
Wolvi is another pretty area where you will find 10 000 vine, Beenham Valley Passions. As well as growing passionfruit from seed; you’ll find ginger, turmeric, pumpkins and for this weekend only – pick your own (PYO) snowpeas. Yum!
Make sure you do pop into a local’s favourite, Cooloola Berries, because Jason and Kim certainly do operate a delicious farm, open 9-4pm. The licensed cafe is set amongst lavender, try Paella in the Paddock, berry ciders and berry ice cream. My favourite was the local cheese board with strawberries! PYO is available in season, too. And the grounds are super family friendly. I’ll be back to try the ploughmans share plate, or a Devonshire Tea or chocolate tapas sounds good, too…Â
Conveniently, budget priced Wolvi Grove is located right next door – and a central farm stay for self contained camping, for all of the Farmer’s Trail. It is pet friendly, and a 40 acre avocado farm – so another to add to your list for fresh produce when in season, April – August.Â
Check out Zelda’s native essential oils and superfoods at Purity Essential Oils, just down the road from your strawberry and avo farms. She has farm tours, tastings, herbal tea and soap making demonstrations.Â
We also visited Rossmount Fruit Tree Nursery – there were so many different varieties of edibles! The stalls were interesting, learning about nature walks in the region and other eco initiatives. As well as grafting and propagating demonstrations, there is a little platypus walk you can do. No sightings for us, though.Â
The newest addition to the trail is Fraser Grill.Â
Although it was overcast, we still found a spot out of the drizzle – and we were glad we did. The burgers really were scrumptious, and the team were friendly! We rated the chips, too. I’ll be back to sample their breakfast, and perhaps one of the special event nights. Situated halfway between Gympie and Rainbow Beach, it really is a convenient place to stop for a meal.Â
Just a little further east you can camp at Standown Park – a caravan park with loads of space, powered and unpowered sites. Plus there is more camping, food, music and limes at Sublime Brewery in Kia Ora.Â
Also look out for Lindols’ yummy macadamias along the way! Although the cafe is now closed, we visited on our last trail and they were the BEST maccas I have ever tasted. Freshly picked, roasted low and slow in their shell. You can buy their flavoured nuts from Cooloola Berries.Â
So whether you are visiting for the Farmer’s Trail or not, the Cooloola Region between the coast and Gympie is full of places to explore, delicious food and even some wineries. As well as council approving more free sites, there has been a huge growth in private campsites over the last four years we have owned CAMPS – another camp was listed just last month. Find many more campsites in our Camps Australia Wide App and guides.Â
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