Queensland Coastal, Queensland

The Queensland Coastal region is made up of golden sands and turquoise waters, also now dappled with a strew of young vineyards further inland. 

The Queensland Coastal zone is a beacon for beach-lovers and sun-seekers alike, yet now includes an additional anchor for wine lovers with a host of boutique cellar doors. The wine community is increasingly gaining attention for the refined, quality wines. The Sunshine Coast and Brisbane specialise in chardonnay, with plantings of shiraz also on the rise, and vines are thriving in the rich volcanic soils. 

Whether you’re after an unhurried seaside or vinous getaway, the Queensland Coastal region provides ample opportunity to unwind. For artisan shops, eateries, vineyards and pristine beaches, explore this popular stretch of coastline. 

James Halliday on the Queensland Coast

Gold Coast and Hinterland

Arguably the most beautiful of the burgeoning areas, the Gold Coast and Hinterland takes in the rainforest beauty of Mount Tamborine, and the evergreen countryside of Albert River and Canungra. Mount Tamborine and Springbrook have slightly cooler climates, Albert River and Canungra Valley slightly warmer. As is the case with the other regions near Brisbane or the coast, winery restaurants and cafés abound, as do cheese platters, gourmet picnics and – above all else – distractions to keep children happily occupied while the business of wine tasting proceeds.

Sunshine Coast and Hinterland

The flavour of Queensland is encapsulated in the names of some of the 15 or so wineries in these localities, including the Little Morgue Winery at Yandina and Dingo Creek at South Gympie. Particularly in the hinterland, viticulture has proved viable, but the businesses are heavily dependent on tourists from the Sunshine Coast proper and from Brisbane.  

Brisbane and Scenic Run

While the modern viticultural history of the South Burnett region dates back only to 1993, vines were first planted in the early 1900s, and wine for home consumption was made from some of these vines. Sue Crane’s (of Crane Winery) great-grandfather planted shiraz in 1898, the vineyard remaining in production until 1970. As in the Granite Belt, table grapes were used both for winemaking and eating, and a small table grape industry has continued in existence since that time.