Dine at Spicers and take a cooking class at The Long Apron
There is a very good reason that Spicers is ranked in the top 100 restaurants in Australia – it’s damn delicious. With a menu bursting with ingenious flavour combinations created using fresh, local produce, it’s worth a visit all on its own. You could just relax over a tasting menu degustation or a two, three or five course meal from the a la carte menu, but if you’re feel like something a bit more hands on, try a cooking class at the The Long Apron and learn how to cook something that will impress the pants off your next dinner guests.
Eat all the cheese you like!
With 19 varieties of brie, feta, cheddar and camembert to sample your way through at Maleny Cheese, all produced right there in the rolling green hills it’s safe to say there’s going to be a few wine and cheese nights after your trip if you stop in for a bite at their café and store.
Hungry for more? Who are we to disa-brie? With over 250 cheeses, as well as gourmet cured meats and fresh organic pâtés – if it’s cheese you’re chasing you need to wheel your way to Maleny Food Co! After you’ve stocked up on lacteeze, grab a fresh blood orange gelato and pray they work fast, it’s worth it.
Go wine tasting
Make your way to Montville (for the love of god have a DD), and to the picture-perfect Flame Hill Winery. Perched overlooking the Montville hills, sample fianos, tempranillos and their famous Kondalilla sparkling whilst snacking on a tasting plate from the restaurant.
You’ve got to see it to beer-lieve it!
Check out these cans! The team from Brouhaha make a fuss about their beer, and we can see why. The independent brewery is a great place to sink some pints of New Zealand Pale Ale over duck liver and Brouhaha IPA pate and Maleny Wagyu and milk stout sausages.
After you’ve fuelled up make your way to Misties Micro Brewery and treat yourself to a Pilsner, Black Jack Stout and Alfies Pale Ale. If you’re still feeling pecking, dine out on crispy duck leg with mash, red cabbage and raisin salad or go all out with ‘The Pastie Pom’, Ploughmans Lunch – hand carved ham, pork pie, Kennilworth cheese, pickled onions and toasted ciabatta.
Shop ‘til you drop at the Markets
If you happen to make your trip on the second Saturday of the month, make sure you head to the Village Hall between 7:30am and 12pm and check out the Montville markets. With local foods and crafts on offer, these quirky stalls are the perfect place to pick up fruit, vegetables and herbs.
Less about shopping for produce and more for eating RIGHT NOW? Head to the Maleny Village Artisan Markets. You’ll find the eclectic mix of coffee and street food stalls just off the main street. Get stuck into a tandoori naan burger (hey now, hey now, this is what dreams are made of) or find your inner zen with masala dosa before checking out the Pallet Gallery.
Sweat it out, then have a splash at Kondalilla.
All this eating, drinking and shopping has sure worked up a sweat! Head to Kondalilla Falls for an experience that’s as beautiful as it is totally refreshing. Take a picnic from Maleny Food Co with you and watch tourists splash around, or get in for a dip yourself. It’ll take your breath away in more ways than one!
Pack your overnight bag and flip your neighbour the finger, we’re getting out of Brisbane!
