If you’ve been looking for an excuse to escape Brisbane for a weekend, consider this it. Just a couple of hours up the road, the Noosa Food & Wine Festival is returning this month, bringing four days of long lunches, waterfront feasts, beachside celebrations and some of Australia’s biggest culinary names to the Sunshine Coast.
Running from June 11 to 14, the festival is one of Queensland’s most anticipated food events, and for good reason. Where else can you spend the afternoon sampling dishes from top restaurants, watch celebrity chefs in action, then settle in for a collaborative dinner that may never be repeated?
We took a deep dive into this year’s lineup and rounded up the events we’ll be adding to our own calendars.
For the foodie who wants to taste a little of everything: Festival Village
If you’re only booking one thing, make it the Festival Village. Taking over the Noosa waterfront on Saturday, June 13, this is the heart of the festival and the easiest way to experience a huge slice of what Noosa Food & Wine is all about in a single afternoon.
More than 40 food and drink vendors will line the parklands, serving everything from gourmet bites to local wines, cocktails and craft beverages. Your ticket also includes canapés and a cocktail on arrival, making it one of the best-value events on the program. Add live demonstrations from chefs including Marion Grasby, Gino D’Acampo, Darren Robertson and Alessandro Pavoni, and you’ve got a very compelling case for making the drive north.
For fans of bold asian flavours: Sum Yung Guys x Marion Grasby
Few names generate excitement quite like Marion Grasby, and her collaboration with Noosa favourite Sum Yung Guys is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about events of the weekend.
Expect fresh ingredients, vibrant flavours and the kind of dishes that have made both Marion and the Sum Yung Guys team household names among Australian food lovers. If your ideal meal involves sharing plates and ordering “one of everything”, this one’s worth a closer look.
For the long lunch crowd: Peli’s Noosa x George Calombaris
A waterfront setting. Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Shared plates designed for lingering. This collaboration between Peli’s Noosa and George Calombaris feels tailor-made for anyone who believes lunch should never be rushed.
This promises to be a feast packed with sunshine-filled flavours and plenty of reasons to stay for just one more glass of wine.
For the Italian food lovers: Cibaria presents A Brescian Family Feast
The best Italian meals aren’t just about the food. They’re about gathering around the table, staying longer than planned and sharing stories between courses. That’s exactly the energy behind Cibaria’s Brescian Family Feast.
Led by acclaimed chef Alessandro Pavoni, the event celebrates the traditions of northern Italy with a menu centred around spiedo bresciano, a centuries-old roasting technique that transforms simple ingredients into something extraordinary. It sounds equal parts lunch and cultural experience, which is exactly our kind of event.
For the beachside dreamers: Le Bistro, La Plage
Noosa already knows how to do beachfront dining, but this event takes things up another level. Hosted directly on the sand, Le Bistro, La Plage brings together chef Ben Williamson and Bali’s Ben Cross for a French-inspired lunch that feels made for a Sunshine Coast winter afternoon.
Think coastal views, elegant dishes and a menu inspired by the flavours of France.
For the Hinterland escape: The Woodshed Kin Kin x Mac Forbes
One of the joys of the Noosa Food & Wine Festival is that it extends beyond the coastline. The Woodshed Kin Kin offers a chance to venture into the hinterland for an immersive dining experience set against rolling green surrounds. Spend the evening with one of Australia’s most celebrated winemakers Mac Forbes at The Woodshed Kin Kin, for an intimate evening of food, wine and conversation.
For anyone looking to combine great food and wine with a change of scenery, this feels like one of the festival’s hidden gems.
For the perfect Festival finale: The Festival Sundowner
If closing out a weekend with your toes in the sand sounds appealing, allow us to point you towards the Festival Sundowner beach party. Set on Noosa Main Beach, the event brings together continuous canapés from Light Years, drinks, music and plenty of festival atmosphere as the afternoon rolls into evening.
It’s exactly the kind of ending you’d hope for after a weekend dedicated to eating and drinking your way around one of Australia’s most beautiful destinations.
The beauty of Noosa Food & Wine is that it caters equally well to serious foodies and people who simply love a good meal in a great location.
For Brisbane locals, it also happens to be one of the easiest gourmet getaways you’ll find all year. A short road trip up the Bruce Highway can have you sipping wine by the waterfront before lunch, and wondering why you don’t visit Noosa more often. The only difficult part is deciding what to book first.
WHAT: Noosa Food & Wine Festival
WHEN: June 11-14.
TICKETS: Explore the full programs and secure tickets at: noosafoodandwine.com.au
To book your Noosa accommodation: visit https://noosafoodandwine.com.au/accommodation-specials
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
