Visit Eumundi: More Than Just the Markets

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The cute little town of Eumundi in the Sunshine Coast is famous for its markets, but there is more to this town than that. It is a great stop on the way north to places like Noosa, Gympie and beyond, and well worth a visit whether it is market day or not. Here is a quick guide to the attractions of Eumundi.



About Eumundi

Originally called Eerwah, they changed their name to Eumundi in 1890 when blocks of land were officially divided up to avoid confusion with the town of Beerwah. The railway arrived in 1891. Nothing really defines Eumundi historically as a town, as its fortunes have come and gone as various industries were established, flourished then foundered, only to see a new industry established to replace the old one. But the markets that it is most famous for these days were established in 1979 and it is what brings most people into town.



The Eumundi Markets

In 1979 the markets had 3 stalls and apparently did a total of $30 of business. Which is actually close to $600 in today's money, which wasn't a bad start for a market that now has 600 stalls and attracts over a million visitors annually.



When people think of Eumundi today, they think of the markets which are on every Wednesday and Saturday from 7:30 am to 2pm. Most products tend to be high-end artisan products. While food stalls include a range of standard and innovative items and can be cheap through to your more expensive food truck/stall prices. Overall it is a nice place to wander, maybe buy something, have breakfast, lunch or a snack, and continue on your journey.

Eumundi Square

The reason that the Eumundi Markets brands itself as the Original Eumundi Markets is because of the establishment of Eumundi Square. This permanent market-style area opens on Wednesday and Saturday, just like the Eumundi Markets, and at the same time as the original Eumundi Markets, but they also open on Fridays from 8:30 am to 1 pm.



Shops here tend to focus on clothes and there is a limited number of places to eat. So it really is not that interesting and only attracts a few people to walk across the road to the Square. It is nice to have it there if you are stopping in Eumundi on a Friday when there is no market. Overall, worth visiting if you are in town, but not as good as the original markets.

Eumundi Museum

Regional museums can be worth popping in to see what they have. The one in Eumundi has a focus on major items and artefacts, though they are planning to expand the museum to include further exhibition space that I believe will have more personally focused items.



Eating & Drinking

If you are going to Eumundi on market days, then the variety of food available there means most people will grab some food from the markets. There is limited seating space though, but there are green spaces at either end of the markets where you can sit on the grass under a tree and eat.



If you want a sit-down meal or a nice drink, then Matso's and the Imperial Hotel both have breweries and also have pub-style food, with Matso's menu also drifting towards upscale pub fare as well. If you just want something light, then Berkelouw Cafe or the Bake House may be where you need to head.



Parks & Green Spaces

In town, there are 2 green spaces at either end of the markets. Dick Caplick Park is a small spot with some limited seating and picnic tables. I prefer the Eumundi Amphitheatre at the other end, which just feels more open. But both are nice spots to sit and relax under the shade of a tree to avoid the crush of a busy market day.



Eumundi Conservation Park

Nearby is the Eumundi Conservation Park. The hillly well-forested area includes creeks, gullies and shared paths for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders. It is around 10 kms from the north to south ends of the park, with multiple tracks and circuits within the park.

Cooroy Mountain

Mt Cooroy is on private land, but the owners open it up to the public once a year in August during the Cooroy Mountain Spring Festival. For people who want to tick peaks in the area off their list, this is a must-do event.



Staying

Eumundi Accommodation is generally pretty upmarket. There are plenty of nice places to stay around Eumundi, including the Eumundi Yacht Club (which is not by the seaside, in case you were wondering) and other great B&Bs in the area. In the town itself it is either a matter of staying at the Imperial Hotel, which has boutique accommodation behind the hotel, or the Eumundi Cottages in Town. These are all fairly pricey, but there are a couple of caravan parks just north of Eumundi.

Getting There

Eumundi is a straight drive up the Bruce Highway from Brisbane and is just off the highway and on the way to Noosa. I think a lot of people either visit from Noosa or the Sunshine Coast or they are heading north to Noosa or somewhere like Gympie.

There are also great public transport links to Eumundi, with the commuter train that runs from Brisbane to Gympie stopping at Eumundi. Though often to arrive in a timely manner you need to change to a bus at Nambour Station. These buses also link Nambour to Noosa.



Beyond Eumundi

Eumundi can be a trip on its own, especially for people staying in the area. But many people stop there on the way to other locations. The most common would probably be Noosa, but other people are heading north to Gympie, Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach, Hervey Bay or further north. It is also not far from some places like Gheerulla Valley.



Overall

Eumundi is worth visiting even if it isn't a market day for the food, drink, historical locations and nearby nature. The town is even better when the market is open. Overall it is a nice stop on the way north from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast and worth popping in on any day.

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