Yandina: Markets, Ginger Factory and Heritage Walk

Yandina is a small heritage town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, about 110 km north of Brisbane, known for its Saturday morning country markets, the Ginger Factory and a self-guided heritage trail through its main street. It was the first town surveyed in the Maroochy district, in 1870, and it is described as the oldest continuously inhabited town on the Sunshine Coast.

It is an easy half-day stop on the way up to Noosa or across to the hinterland: a wander down Stevens Street, a look at the old buildings, then the Ginger Factory on the edge of town.

Yandina Country Markets

The markets run every Saturday from 6 am to 12 noon at the Yandina Sports Ground on North Street. They started in July 1990 and are one of the older produce markets on the Sunshine Coast, with plants and flowers, fresh produce, bread, olives, spices, deli goods, second-hand items, trash and treasure, collectables and garden tools.

Go early for the best of the fruit, vegetables and plants. Parking at the sports ground is described as quite good, and the market is about 24 minutes from Montville and 36 minutes from Maleny by car.

If you are planning a market run, Eumundi Markets is only 12 minutes north by road, and our guide to the best markets in South East Queensland compares the options. You can also browse all markets.

The Yandina Heritage Trail

The town’s main street still has its heritage streetscape along Stevens Street, and the council’s Yandina Trail takes you around it. The trail has 26 numbered sites with short commentary on the town’s history, from the days when the district was called Native Dog Flat to the railway arriving in 1891.

Pick up the printed brochure at Yandina Historic House, 3 Pioneer Road, just off the Ginger Factory roundabout, or download it from Sunshine Coast Council. The house is also the visitor information centre, with a museum, an art gallery, a craft room and Devonshire teas and light lunches. It is open Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, with the museum open 10 am to 1 pm, and it is closed on weekends and public holidays. Entry is free.

The house is closed on Saturdays, so on market day collect the brochure from the council link or pick one up on a weekday visit.

The Ginger Factory, in brief

The Ginger Factory is at 50 Pioneer Road, on the edge of the town centre. Entry to the grounds is free and it is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm except Christmas Day. Paid extras include the Ginger Train ride, a factory tour, a boat ride and a bee show, and there are free gardens, a covered playground and a rainforest trail. For prices, rides and everything else, see our Ginger Factory guide or the official website.

Nutworks, a macadamia factory, is also in the town.

Is Yandina dog friendly?

Yes, on a leash. Sunshine Coast Council requires dogs to be on a leash in public areas unless the area is a designated off-leash park. Yandina has a fenced off-leash park at Tea Tree Park 1 off Pioneer Road, on the eastern side of town, with about 2,000 square metres of grass, a concrete path, seating, a dog tap and water bowls. Dogs are not allowed on sports fields or in playgrounds and picnic areas. Check signs on the day: council keeps its live dog-access map at pets.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Planning your visit

• How long: one to two hours for the main street and the markets; allow longer if you add the Ginger Factory.
• Best time: Saturday morning for the markets; Monday to Friday if you want Yandina Historic House open.
• Cost: free to walk the town, the trail and the Historic House. Market stalls and the Ginger Factory attractions cost extra.
• What to bring: a hat, comfortable shoes, cash or card for stalls, and bags for market produce.

Getting to Yandina and parking

By car, Yandina is about 110 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 90 minutes without traffic, and the Bruce Highway bypasses the town about a kilometre to the east. Nambour is about 10 minutes south by road and Eumundi about 12 minutes north.

By public transport, the Sunshine Coast line train runs to Nambour, and Translink route 631 (Noosa to Nambour via Cooroy and Eumundi) serves the Farrell Street stop near Stevens Street. Services are infrequent, so plan your return carefully in the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

For parking, the sports ground car park is the one for the Saturday markets and is described as quite good. No paid parking in the town centre has been confirmed. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Ginger Factory – the town’s biggest attraction, on Pioneer Road.
• Eumundi Markets – the famous Wednesday and Saturday markets, 12 minutes north.
• Maleny – hinterland town with views and farm stops.
• Montville – village of shops and cafes in the hills.
• Kondalilla Falls – a waterfall walk near Montville.
• Things to do on the Sunshine Coast – more ideas across the region.

Browse more Sunshine Coast places and farm gates and produce.

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