Taste sunny Queensland

Brought to you by Visit Sunshine Coast

Everyone has a story to tell about a time they ate something truly delicious.

We're talking about that handmade pie you picked up from an unassuming bakery in a country town that was so good you haven't stopped raving about it since you got home.

Or that little restaurant by the foreshore where the seafood was so fresh you could literally taste the ocean.

And if good food is what you're after, you'll find it on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Discover why this slice of Queensland coastline is punching above its weight when it comes to quality produce, and how a local food movement is shaping the way people eat.

When it comes to seafood, you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere that does it better than the Sunshine Coast.

Here the year-round warm waters are teeming with Mooloolaba prawns, spanner crabs, snapper and export grade tuna, with fleets of trawlers bringing in boatloads of fresh seafood to Mooloolaba wharf each morning.

But it's what the locals do - and don't do - with this quality produce that has captured the attention of foodies.

Here the emphasis is on celebrating seafood in its purest form, which is why on any given day you'll find the fish markets at The Spit overflowing with foodies snapping up kilos of fresh Mooloolaba prawns to eat right there on the beach - a squeeze of lemon the preferred garnish.

Local restaurants are following suit, with venues like See Restaurant at The Wharf serving seafood sourced from the very water it overlooks - no frills attached.

Take a stroll along Mooloolaba's bustling esplanade of an evening and take your pick of seaside restaurants that celebrate the seafood the town is famous for.

Just make sure to order the Mooloolaba prawns - which are famous for their deliciously sweet flavour profile - and truly a staple around these parts.

While seafood and the Sunshine Coast go hand in hand, you'll quickly find that the sub-tropical temperatures here provide the perfect climate for growing sun-ripened produce.

A short drive west to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland will take you on a culinary journey through fertile rich volcanic soils that can grow just about anything, but are famous for their pineapples, macadamia nuts, ginger and finger limes.

This is the kind of place where roadside produce stalls are still a preferred way to shop for groceries, so make sure to keep some cash handy to drop in the honesty box in exchange for pots of golden honey and bags of avocados.

Local farmers are taking advantage of the region's perfect growing conditions, including The Falls Farm in Mapleton which has won numerous awards for their organic produce.

Not content with supplying some of the best restaurants across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane with their vegies and leafy greens, the owners behind The Falls Farm bought the 113-year-old pub down the road with the intent of creating a true paddock-to-plate experience.

Expertly led by head chef Cameron Matthews, Mapleton Public House takes foodies on a culinary journey of local produce that will have you raving about the Crumbed Free Range Chicken long after you devour the last bite.

It's not just fisherman and farmers making their mark on the Sunshine Coast.

In a move that has trumped any inner-city brewery scene, the Sunshine Coast is officially Australia's Craft Beer Capital, with more breweries per capita than any state or territory in Australia.

At 22 breweries and counting, you'll not only find some of Australia's most popular beers here but some of Australia's best breweries, with venues like Your Mates Brewing Co and Moffat Beach Brewing setting the standard for liquid gold.

If you're wondering how the Sunshine Coast found itself at the epicentre of Australia's craft beer scene, the local food movement is a good place to start.

Here brewers are finding inspiration in their surroundings and using local produce like Hinterland dairy, plump strawberries and locally grown tropical fruits to brew their beer.

And the proof is in the pint, with Sunshine Coast craft brewers consistently innovating and evolving to set the industry standard.

The Sunshine Coast's food and drink scene is celebrated annually at the region's biggest food festival The Curated Plate, held from 28 July to 6 August.

The event brings together local producers, suppliers and businesses to tell their stories not only through food, but through experiences.

For more Sunshine Coast inspiration, head to visitsunshinecoast.com.

A food lover's guide to your next Sunshine Coast culinary adventure.

Sunshine Coast Airport is serviced by direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide by Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar.

Bonza has its base on the Sunshine Coast with direct flights from Melbourne as well as many regional hubs in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Sleep in a restored heritage church on rich farmland at Glass House Mountains Eco Lodge who, among other things, grow their own coffee on site. Go to glasshouseecolodge.com.

Stay at The Falls Farm in their onsite accommodation Smith House - the oldest house in Mapleton - for a true farm stay. Go to instagram.com/smithhouse_tff.