Hinterland businesses shine among Coast awards finalists
HINTERLAND businesses are well represented among 133 finalists named in the 2026 Sunshine Coast Business Awards, with operators from Maleny, Nambour and surrounding districts featuring across a broad range of categories.
Blackall Terrace Dental, Wandi Nerida, Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat, Uptown Hair Studio, Fairhill Adventure Gardens, Canefields Distillery, ECOllaboration, Maleny Cheese, Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World, Scandi at Maleny, and RangeCare are among the businesses to progress to the finalist stage.
The finalists follow a strong year for the Awards, with 247 applications received - up from 239 in 2024 and building on the record 263 entries received during the Awards' milestone 30th anniversary in 2025. Winners will be announced at the Gala Celebration on Saturday 28 November.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Chair Jennifer Swaine congratulated all 133 finalists on reaching this stage of the program.
"Congratulations to every one of this year's finalists - reaching this stage is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work, resilience and ambition behind each business," Swaine said.
"One of the things we love most about the Awards is seeing so many new businesses come through the program each year. It's a real sign of the strength and constant renewal of the Sunshine Coast business community."
This year's program also introduced a new category, the Corporate Community Champion Award, recognising for-profit businesses that demonstrate a genuine and strategic commitment to supporting the community through structured and sustained initiatives.
"These are businesses that are embedding community contribution into their operations and culture, and playing a vital role in strengthening the social fabric of the Sunshine Coast," Swaine said.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Judging Chair Wallis Westbrook said the process remained rigorous, with written submissions and interviews with a panel of volunteer judges who donated hundreds of hours to assess entries across all categories.
"With 247 entries this year, our judging panel faced an incredibly difficult task narrowing the field down to finalists," Westbrook said.
"The standard across every category was exceptional, and it's a real credit to our volunteer judges, who gave up so much of their time to assess each entry so thoroughly."
Of the 247 entries received, just 133 businesses, around 54 per cent, progressed through to finalist stage, reflecting the high bar set across every category this year.
Export, Sustainability and Business of the Year along with Corporate Community Champion winners will be selected from category winners, with Advanced Aquarium Technologies, Sunny Rays Catering, Laguna Pest Control and Alex Surf Club also being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Finalists will now progress to the next stage of judging, presenting in person to the judging panel ahead of the Sunshine Coast Business Awards Gala Dinner, one of the Sunshine Coast's biggest nights on the business calendar, to be held at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre on Saturday 28 November.
Popular actor and comedian Shane Jacobson will return as Master of Ceremonies for another year, as the region prepares for what promises to be a standout celebration of business excellence on the Sunshine Coast.
2026 Sunshine Coast Business Awards Finalists:
Accommodation (Tourism)
• Bli Bli House Riverside Retreat
• Coastal Sunshine Resorts
• The Crocodile Hunter Lodge
• Mayan Farm
• Scandi at Maleny
• Thirlestane Farm
Advanced Technology
• Blue Seas AI Consulting
• Inform Ag
• Provectus Algae
• RAIDER Targetry
• Ravinn
• The Laundry Lady
Building, Construction & Engineering
• Bennett + Bennett Surveyors
• Black Cat Civil
• Campbell Construction Co
• Complex Consulting Group
• Infrex
• NEACH
• NorthLane Consulting Engineers
• Nyblad Construction
• RECOR
Business Services
• Copy Cred
• Crisp Marketing & Communications
• dtb! Advertising
• Efficiency Partners
• Entag
• Henzells Agency
• Mask Events Australia
• Secure Access I.T.
• Successful Grants
• Whitelight Communications
Corporate Community Champion
• DYFA Plumbing
• Ethical Brand Co
• Black Cat Civil
• Blue Seas AI Consulting
• Maleny Cheese
• Amrita Park Meadery
• Uptown Hair Studio
• Mask Events Australia
• Canefields Distillery
• Noosa Junction Chiropractic
• Transfers to Noosa
• Campbell Construction Co
• Secure Access I.T.
Creative Industries
• The Arrow Agency
• Innovate Media
• Pixel Co Creative & Marketing
• Empire Art Photography & Coaching
• Pluggas
Education & Training
• Australasian Leadership Academy
• Iconic Coaching
• NeuroLead
• Nikki Fogden-Moore – The Mojo Maker Group®
• Oncology Massage Training
• Queen of Hearts CPR & First Aid Training
• Real Life Skills Support Services
• Saircare Support
• Stepping Into You
• SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia
• Workplace Performance & Wellbeing Institute
Experiences
• By Earth and Ocean
• ecoTekk Electric Bikes Sunshine Coast
• Fairhill Adventure Gardens
• Laserzone Sunshine Coast
• Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World
• Saltwater Eco Tours
• The Pressure Project
• Transfers to Noosa
• Wharf Events
Export
• NeuroLead
• Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment
• Switch4Schools
• Land and Sea Advisory
• RAIDER Targetry
• The Crocodile Hunter Lodge
• TileNBreathe
• Australasian Leadership Academy
• Nikki Fogden-Moore – The Mojo Maker Group®
Food & Agribusiness
• Amrita Park Meadery
• BEACHTREE DISTILLING Co.
• Canefields Distillery
• Eastwell Farms
• Maleny Cheese
• Noosa Black Garlic
• Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS)
• Rocky Creek Mushrooms
• Slide Coffee Roasters
• Walker’s Tuna
• Zest Element
Health & Medical Services
• Aalto
• Avenue Dental
• Balance Orthopaedics
• Blackall Terrace Dental
• Coastal Cancer Care
• Collective Health Co
• Doctors of Tewantin
• EyeHub – Cataract & Laser Vision Specialists
• Noosa Junction Chiropractic
• Pearl Home Care Sunshine Coast
• Thompson Brain & Mind Healthcare
• Wandi Nerida
Hospitality
• Backstreet Cafe
• Ethos at Alsahwa Estate
• Maiori Pizzeria
• Sunshine Beach Surf Club
• The Beach Bars
• Urban Lamb
Manufacturing
• Airtec SmartOBM
• Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment
• Mineral Fox
• Taurus Mats
• TileNBreathe
Personal Fitness & Wellbeing
• CorePlus Kawana
• Switch4Schools
• Urban Tan, Lash & Beauty
Professional Services
• Animal Emergency Service Tanawha
• Argon Law
• Aura Veterinary Hospital
• Gregson & Weight Funeral Directors
• HTA
• Indepth Accounting
• Life Law Solutions
• Wardle Partners
Retail
• Boardstore
• Budd’s Butchers
• Capital Beauty
• Ethical Brand Co
• Fins Fangs Feathers & Fur
• Goodie Natural
• King IT
• Rosetta Books & Annie’s Books on Peregian
• Sky Gazer