If the seaside delicacy is not your cup of tea, look away! Because the annual Narooma Oyster Festival is back in town, and slinging back a few oysters is a given. Southern NSW’s largest food and wine festival, from 3 & 4 May, taste your way through the region with everything from oyster tastings, premium experiences, wine bars, cooking demonstrations, food stalls, and oyster shucking and the largest oyster competitions. Celebrating the heart of Rock Oyster Country and its 1500km coastline, join the passionate growers, chefs and shuckers on the Wagonga Inlet in Narooma. With clearly more ways than one to experience deliciously fresh oysters, check out the best events and ways to try seafood over the weekend.
Oyster Farmer’s Alley
Taste the difference from estuary to estuary at the festival’s Oyster Farmer’s Alley on Saturday. A unique tasting opportunity, try each grower’s oysters one by one from areas like Shoalhaven, Clyde River and Wapengo Lake, with each showcasing unique tasting notes and accompanied by a different dressing. With other food and beverage offerings, between each dozen, wander with a glass of bubbles and delicious seafood bites!
Rock Oyster Lounge
Elevate your festival experience and upgrade your Saturday festival tickets with access to the Rock Oyster Lounge. Attendees will be treated to three complimentary drinks, half a dozen freshly shucked rock oysters, all-day gourmet canapes, and a ‘meet the producer’ session amongst an exclusive waterfront area and private bar.
Champagne and Oyster Masterclass
Oysters and champagne? When you’re by the beach, it would be rude not to! Enjoy the iconic duo with a champagne and oyster masterclass on Saturday and upskill your knowledge as you’re guided through how the environmental conditions and cultivation techniques impart distinctive characteristics to each and create a taste sensation when paired. Terroir-driven, taste six champagne cuvées that represent a cross-section of the diversity of champagne wines and enjoy them with the 2024 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show Gold Medallist Rock Oysters from Wapengo Lake, Wallis Lake and Nelson Lagoon.
Sydney Royal Ultimate Oyster Experience
A transformative tasting experience, deep dive into the world of oysters at Saturday’s Sydney Royal Ultimate Oyster Experience. With the best oysters from the South Coast and the Sydney Royal Fine Food Aquaculture Competition, this rare opportunity will increase your knowledge in rock, pegasi and pacific oyster gastronomy and the importance of freshly shucked oysters.
The Sunset Social supported by Merivale
A Warm sunset by the water, a refreshing drink in hand and delicious seafood, The Sunset Social will be kicking off the weekend on Friday night. Celebrating the finest seafood and produce of the region, Merivale has created a bespoke menu complimented by the best oyster harvest (of course) from the South Coast.
Staying in one of the neighbouring coastal towns? The Narooma Oyster Festival also offers a bus service to and from Bateman’s Bay and Bermagui.
To see more events on the South Coast, visit our travel page.
