Maleny Dairies — Local services in Sunshine Coast Regional

I’ve always loved the products and the tour price seemed reasonable, so we decided to go. On arriving 20 minutes before our tour, we decided to order coffee… rude, unwelcoming staff and unacceptably slow service. The woman making my coffee, chatted to colleagues about removing Xmas decorations and did anything but make my coffee…. this was done in my full view, with absolutely no concern for how unprofessional and rude it was. Management must find it hard to get and retain staff, because this woman seemed very confident in keeping her job. As I waited, 15 minutes passed and her expression and drifting off onto la la land demeanour suggested she’d forgotten she even had coffees to make, so I asked and she rudely snapped back “yeah it’s coming”, before waltzing off to find milk and make a start after all that time!! She then took another customers order, before starting my coffee and upon hearing him say he was there for the same tour I was joining, she said to him “coffee is done… your tour starts soon and no good or drinks are permitted on the tour”! I was not informed of this when ordering (probably because I was there 20 minutes prior), so by the time I got my coffee with zero apology (such arrogance), I had to rush it, before the tour began. Not impressed!!. The tour guide was polite, however no questions asked by anyone on the tour, were able to be answered. His response was unashamedly “I don’t know”… and none were complex questions. It is unacceptable to take customers money for a tour and staff it with people who clearly are untrained. Not good enough on managements part and I see reading reviews now that they are well aware and have been for years.. clearly to tired to give a damn what paying customers think. I didn’t enjoy being closed into a shipping container with people on the tour, to watch a video and being subject to a number of them sick and constantly coughing. Anyone sick in this covid climate needs to be prohibited from entry in the interests of...

Firstly, Noah, the young guy who was our guide, should be more self-confident. His knowledge of every aspect of the farm, the dairy, the production and processes as well as dairy farming broadly, was obvious. He was an exemplary host and worthy of recognition within the Maleny Dairy team (in our humble opinion).

Ok, that said, this is a “must see” aspect of any SC Hinterland visit. If you are going to see the birds and the gardens, take the time to visit here.

We did the tour at 2.30pm on a Saturday and apparently this coincides with the daily milking routine (5am and 2.30pm) so this is a handy tip. We also saw a calf being born while we were there (not part of the tour and out in the paddock, so don’t count on it, it was a just a happy coincidence).

We can’t remember exactly how much we paid per ticket (we think $15) - it was sensational value for money - young Noah was with us for over 90 minutes AND we got samples.

This would be a perfect place for a school excursion. A magnificent look into both traditional family farming and an entrepreneurial approach to the challenges of primary production in the modern economy.

My family are converts - we were contemplating a steak dinner but. after staring into those soulful eyes, we are now considering vegetarianism (it won’t last but it’s real today). More so, we will be buying Maleny Dairy products as a first preference from here on in. We are also going to make enquires about a farm stay mentioned in the intro video.

Totally worth the time - with or without kids - but with kids it’s magical.

Good on you, Noah, you have a solid future ahead of you, drive forward with warranted confidence. Oh, can someone let Noah drive that tractor in the kids area too - it’s on his “bucket...

Look as a distant family relation i was considering pulling some strings and going for free(like i can do that!). But because i actually like when people make money we paid for the guide.

The tour was pure nostalgia. I grew up on a dairy farm and it is very similar to 30 years ago. But.... But the difference is this Hopper family stoped getting sucked dry by the big supermarkets and set up there own processing plant. And that's where you have to admire what they have done.

For a family farm to take a risk as expensive as this is bold. But i love it.

The tour was exactly as i expected and would say honestly better than the Bundy soft drinks tour. Sam was our guide he was young but he was actually proud of where he worked. He was more than happy to be there.

Negatives- I think the video on the tour could be done with a walk through at your own pace like bundy rum tour. Youtube has changed our standard of video and personal view that its old school.

Only other fault is the older lady working at the milk bar, (being a hopper myself) i didn't really love her over the top convo about "The Hoppers" and slaging of the place and people you work for o and we know you got a new watch we all heard.

Improvements. Its a working farm, keep it that way, Online i may have missed it but if the cows are milked on the 2:30 tour i would of loved to know prior to booking.

P.s. you don't have to reply to the one star reviews on google i have read then all and there people who i'd say didn't know they were going to a Dairy farm not some Yuppie gallery.

Good job hoppers and my family...