Narooma Oyster Festival 2025

Tickets on sale 10am Wednesday, February 5.

Join growers, chefs, and shuckers to celebrate the unique, rare, and oh-so-tasty Rock Oyster from May 2 to 4, with Rock Oyster Week from April 26.

A true symphony of merroir, season, cultivation, exceptional produce, the Narooma Oyster Festival brings the best of New South Wales to the shores of Wagonga Inlet - the heart of Rock Oyster Country. It's also the home of the Australian Oyster Shucking Championships and Australia's Biggest Oyster Competition!

The Festival begins on Friday, May 2. From 4pm, gather around the MG Stage at Quota Park to feast at the oyster and liquor bars, with gourmet plates and snacks from the market. Bask in live music on the Main Stage, watch the River of Art and Bioluminescence light shows along the boulevard and get ready for the annual fireworks show over the Inlet. Picnic blankets welcome!

Saturday, the main event, draws everyone back to Quota Park. Farmers bring their best harvest straight from the estuaries to Oyster Farmers Alley and Australia’s Biggest Oyster competition - and their best knives for the Australian Oyster Shucking Championships. Chefs elevate the finest local produce, turning the foreshore into a feast for the senses. Enjoy cosmopolitan and Indigenous cooking demonstrations, markets, more live music, and roving performers - all accompanied by a selection of 20 or more celebrated winemakers, brewers, and distillers.

Heard of merroir? Discover it with all your senses in the Ultimate Oyster Experience, a masterclass like no other. For even more indulgence, book a spot in the Rock Oyster Lounge, board a Champagne Oyster Cruise or settle in for a Gin, Bubbles or Beer Masterclass. Watch cooking demonstrations with host Courtney Roulston (Farm to Fork), joined by guest chefs Analiese Gregory (SBS Girl's Guide to Hunting Fishing and Wild Cooking) from Tasmania, Al Brown (Depot Eatery) from New Zealand, Frank Camorra (MoVida Melbourne/Singapore), Narooma’s own Al Newbold (Mr Bold) and more to come.

Sunday morning will see Narooma’s Biggest Breakfast with Narooma’s community legends at Quota Park and it's free entry for everyone!

Leave the car at home and take the free shuttle bus around town or book a seat on festival coaches travel from Batemans Bay, Merimbula and Bermagui.

Rock Oyster Week Program coming soon!

Friday, May 2

General Admission: 4pm - 8.45pm at Quota Park

Join us at Quota Park as we gather for a night of oysters, live music and art on the eve of the festival’s biggest day.

Feast from the oyster bars and food stalls and as the sun sets over Wagonga Inlet, see the Bioluminescence Project and River of Art come to life before the Whale Coast Realty Fireworks show at 8.30pm.

Plan to leave the car at home, there’s a free shuttle bus around Narooma.

Inclusions:

• Narooma Rocks Champagne Oyster Bar
• Narooma Rocks Oyster Bar
• Borrowed Cuttings Festival Bar
• Selected food stalls
• Bioluminescence Project & River of Art
• Live music on the MG Stage
• Roving performers
• Whale Coast Realty Fireworks show at 8.30pm

Please note:

• Main Gate entry only. The festival's main gate and shuttle bus stop is on the corner of Riverside Drive and Lynch Street.
• Pets are prohibited
• Children under 16 require a free ticket
• Free shuttle bus around Narooma
• This event is cashless, there are no ATMs on site. Some stallholders may accept cash at their discretion.

Saturday, May 3

10am - 5.30pm at Quota Park

A huge day of tastings, oyster competitions and exploring the foreshore festivities.

Taste oysters fresh from leading farmers and estuaries across Rock Oyster Country. Cheer the farmers on in the Australian Oyster Shucking Championships and Australia’s Biggest Oyster Competition supported by Australia’s Oyster Coast.

Expand your culinary skills in Betta Home Living Cooking Demonstrations with local and visiting chefs, explore the markets and groove to live tunes at the MG Main Stage. We're excited to present culinary greats Frank Camorra (MoVida Melbourne/New Zealand/Singapore), Tasmania’s Analiese Gregory (How Wild Things Are), New Zealand’s Al Brown (Depot Eatery) Narooma’s own Al Newbold (Mr Bold) in the cooking demonstration marquee, with the festival’s much loved host Courtney Roulston (farm to Fork) returning for her third year.

Plan to leave the car at home, there’s a free shuttle bus around Narooma and ticketed coaches operating between Batemans Bay, Bermagui and Merimbula.

Pack a picnic blanket and leave room for market treats! 

Inclusions:

• Oyster Farmers Alley
• Australian Oyster Shucking Championships*
• Australia's Biggest Oyster*
• Betta Home Living Cooking Demonstrations
• Narooma Rocks Champagne Oyster Bar
• Narooma Rocks Oyster Bar
• Borrowed Cuttings Festival Bar
• Brewers, distillers and wine makers
• Yuin Cultural Markets & Bushtucker
• Producers, food vendors and markets
• MG live music Stage
• Roving performers and kids entertainment

*supported by Australia’s Oyster Coast

Elevate your experience:

• Rock Oyster Lounge (GA included)
• Champagne Oyster Cruise
• Sydney Royal Ultimate Oyster Experience
• Champagne Bureau Australia Oyster Masterclasses
• Gin Lovers Masterclass with Rock Oysters
• Crafty Brews Masterclass with Rock Oysters

Please note:

• Pets are prohibited
• Children under 16 require a free ticket
• Free shuttle bus around Narooma
• Coaches from Batemans Bay, Bermagui and Merimbula
• This event is cashless, no ATMs on site. Some stallholders may accept cash at their discretion.

Sunday, May 4

Narooma's Biggest Breakfast, Quota Park

Entry is free with this complimentary ticket, and by joining us for breakfast, you’ll be supporting the local groups who volunteer their time and expertise to make Narooma such a great place to live. This breakfast is more than eggs and bacon and great coffee!

The Narooma Rocks Oyster Bar will be serving up freshly shucked and whole Rock Oysters, served with a side of live music and plenty of great vibes. Plus, we’ll be drawing the car raffle winner of the brand-new 2024 MG ZS Excite!

There will be plenty of family fun and some limited seating under cover. Bring a picnic blanket and your coffee cup, and settle in for a morning of fantastic food and local hospitality.

ELEVATED EXPERIENCES

*Please note these experiences are designed for people aged 18 and over and are not suitable for children.

Seared & Salty, supported by Olsson's Salt

Friday evening, May 2 | 5.30pm to 8.45pm

An intimate twilight feast where fire, flavour, and the finest local produce take centre stage.

As the sun sets over Wagonga Inlet, gather for an exclusive waterfront dining experience, where the bounty of Narooma and the South Coast is seasoned, smoked, and seared over coals. Prepared by Charly Pretet of Terra Firma Dining and fire pit master Marco, this culinary experience is a celebration of elemental cooking at its finest.

Start the evening with a glass of Sparkling and indulge in an exquisite Rock Oyster tasting, curated by Appellation Oysters. As the night unfolds, enjoy a fire-cooked feast paired with exceptional wines, before the Festival’s opening night closes with fireworks over the inlet and a perfectly sweet finale.

Proudly supported by Olsson's Salt, the oldest family owned and operated sea salt maker in Australia.

Please note, this event is not suitable for children under 18 years of age.

Inclusions:

• Friday General Admission
• All food and drinks
• Exclusive waterfront indoor & outdoor dining
• Live music
• VIP Amenities

Sydney Royal Ultimate Oyster Experience

Saturday, May 3 | 10.30am, 11.45am, 1pm

Narooma Oyster Festival's signature experience, an Ultimate Oyster Experience is a transformative tasting with the best oysters from the South Coast and the Sydney Royal Fine Food Aquaculture Competition.

It is a rare opportunity to dive deep into the merroir, or the 'taste of place' with leading Australian seafood authority John Susman, Sydney Royal Aquaculture Chair of Judges. Matched with celebrated wines, bread and butter, by the end you’ll be an expert in rock, angasi and pacific oyster gastronomy and understand the importance of fresh shucked oysters - it's a culinary necessity! 

Please note:

• Session run for 45 minutes
• Includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and matched wine or craft beer during the tasting
• This event does not include Saturday General Admission, please purchase this ticket separately
• This experience is not suitable for children under 18

Rock Oyster Lounge, supported by Mystery Bay Cottages

Saturday, May 3 | 11am to 4pm

An exclusive retreat for those seeking a sophisticated, indulgent experience amidst the festival buzz.

Set on the grassy shore of the Inlet, yet close to the heart of the action, the Rock Oyster Lounge blends comfort,exclusivity, indulgence and culinary craftmanship.

As a Lounge guest, you’ll have the opportunity to watch and chat with chefs and shuckers as they prepare your next tasting. Terra Firma Dining’s fire-pit masters will serve up exquisite small bites, slow-roasted, grilled, smoked, and seared over the flames - celebrating the best of local seafood and produce.

Visit the Oyster Raw Bar, or meet our roving shuckers for a selection of dry-shucked Rock Oysters - the purest way to experience merroir, featuring premium selections from Oyster Smiths.

At the Liquor Bar, sip on a G&T crafted by award-winning artisanal distillers North of Eden, enjoy a Talisker ‘Made by the Sea’ single malt whisky cocktail, or choose from a selection of celebrated beer, wine, and bubbles.

Throughout the day, relax in this exclusive space, with access to a private lawn, cozy indoor areas, ample seating, and amenities - the perfect way to elevate your festival experience

Inclusions:

• Saturday General Admission
• Three complimentary drinks and one dozen freshly shucked oysters
• All day gourmet bites
• Exclusive waterfront indoor and outdoor area
• Live music
• Private bar to purchase additional drinks
• Private VIP amenities
• Please note this event is not suitable for children under 18 years of age.

Champagne & Oyster Masterclass

Saturday, May 3

Celebrate the relationship between the terroirs of Champagne and the merroir of Rock Oyster Country.

Join Champagne Bureau Australia director John Noble as he guides you through an exclusive tasting of five exceptional Vintage Champagnes, expertly matched with the finest oysters from the pristine waters of the heart of Rock Oyster Country.

Discover how these two unique environments shape exquisite flavours and create a harmonious tasting experience. This is a rare opportunity to explore Champagne’s diversity and its synergy with Australia’s finest oysters.

Please note:

• This session runs for 45 minutes
• Includes five Vintage Champagne with Rock Oyster tastings
• This event does not include Saturday General Admission, please purchase this ticket separately
• This experience is not suitable for children under 18.

Gin Lovers Masterclass with Oysters

Saturday, May 3 | 3.30pm

Explore the journey of this celebrated spirit from grain to glass in our new masterclass.

Hosted by the makers from Nine Circles Distillery and North of Eden Artisan Distillery and paired with a half a dozen Rock Oysters, this immersive 45-minute session features four gin tastings, showcasing their unique blends of botanicals and distillation techniques.

You will gain a greater understanding of distillation, tasting techniques, botanical profiling and why spirits of the South Coast are becoming so revered.

Please note:

• This session runs for 45 minutes
• Includes four gin tastings and half dozen Rock Oysters
• This event does not include Saturday General Admission, please purchase this ticket separately
• This experience is not suitable for children under 18

Crafty Brews Masterclass with Oysters

Saturday, May 3 | 4.45pm

Get ready to expand your beer knowledge and deepen your appreciation for the craftsmanship behind every pour in our new masterclass.

Hosted by Ryefield Hops, a Far South Coast NSW hop grower committed to sustainable and regenerative agriculture, this 45-minute session features four craft beer tastings presented by the brewers themselves, Big Niles Brewing Co (Dalmeny) and Breakwall Brewing Co (Narooma), paired with a half dozen Rock Oysters.

Meet these exciting and passionate brewers and be guided to a greater understanding of beer styles, tasting techniques, flavor and aroma profiling, and the essential role ingredients play in creating great beer.

Please note:

• This session runs for 45 minutes and concludes at 5.30pm
• Includes four craft beer tastings and half dozen Rock Oysters
• This event does not include Saturday General Admission, please purchase this ticket separately
• This experience is not suitable for children under 18.

Champagne Oyster Cruises

Saturday, May 3

Cruise the Wagonga Inlet from the festival fringe, with bubbles and Rock Oysters!

Wagonga Inlet is one of the largest producers of Rock Oysters and one of the most beautiful on the South Coast. Glide by the oyster leases while you delight in freshly shucked Rock Oysters and sip on bubbles or a craft beer.

Learn more about the fascinating world of oysters and the Wagonga Princess, a 1905 Huon Pine vessel steeped in old-world charm and equipped with solar electric engines. Cruises run for 50 minutes and depart from a jetty at the southern end of the Festival.

Please note:

• This event does not include Saturday General Admission, please purchase this ticket separately. 
• This experience is not suitable for children under 18.

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