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Join Wild Harvest Seafood Festival at Mallacoota on 26 to 28 April 2024

A homage to the rich diversity and plentiful bounty of seafood found in East Gippsland, paying tribute to the Indigenous guardians who have nurtured this land for millennia.

By news@gippsland - 9th March 2024 - Back to News

The Wild Harvest Seafood Festival offers succulent seafood and sunset cruises, a lively seafood market, bush food walks, fishing workshops, rockpool rambles, exhibitions and kids' entertainment. This reel of nautically-themed events culminate in a celebration of the usual suspects (think prawns, abalone and oysters) as well as lesser-known delicacies like whelks, periwinkles, sea urchins and samphire.

Wild Harvest Seafood Festival 2024 is a weekend of maritime-themed festivities, honouring the deep bond between this serene coastal village and the vast ocean that embraces it

Seafood festival fun

This is your excuse to escape to the easternmost pocket of Victoria to the much-loved village of Mallacoota. Nestled on rocky shores and surrounded by a bountiful ocean, seafood is life here and has been for thousands of years.

The weekend kicks off with a Twilight Walk and Talk, from Casuarina Walk to Betka, complete with refreshments and wildlife spotting. The Seafood and Sunset Lake Cruise is not to be missed. Hop on board for a relaxing boat ride around the lake, sipping on bubbles, local beer and sampling fresh seafood.

Saturday's Seafood Market is a hub of activity, with a collection of vendors offering up the freshest seafood, as well as live music and kids' activities. Throughout the festival there will be fishing workshops, bush food walks, rockpool rambles and a massive festival vibe coming from this small town with a big spirit.

Mallacoota boasts tranquil inlets ideal for swimming, canoeing, and boating. Numerous rental services provide equipment for water activities. Abalone and prized flathead abundant; black bream plentiful in Top Lakes

Program highlights

Seafood and Sunset Lake Cruise

• Sat 27 Apr 4pm - 6pm
• Enjoy a 2 hour cruise with a glass of bubbles, local beer and seafood as the sun sets on the sparkling waters of Mallacoota

Wild Harvest Seafood Market

• Sat 27 Apr 8:30am - 2:30pm
• Food vans, craft stalls, live music, information about Mallacoota and its ocean environment, kids activities, and of course, all the freshest seafood on offer

Bush Foods Walk with Noel Butler

• Sat 27 Apr 3:30pm - 5pm
• Join Noel Butler, Budawang Elder from the Yuin Nation, for a gentle walk around Mallacoota and learn more about the vastness and depth of Indigenous culture

Fishing Workshops with FishCare

• Sat 27 - Sun 28 Apr, various times
• Never tried fishing before or have a kiddo who would like to have a go? Come along and join the team from FishCare and learn the 'tricks of the trade'

Kids' programs

• Sat 27 - Sun 28 Apr, various times
• There is plenty of fun for the kids to enjoy, from tea towel dyeing to a lantern parade and beach fossicking

Mallacoota's coastal charms

The commercial fishing village of Mallacoota has plenty more to offer beyond the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival. Start your day right at Origami Coffee, a popular coffee shack with loads of seating in the garden, serving up coffee with a side of happiness from skilled baristas. Next door, you'll find Alf's Pizza slinging laidback morning coffee and breakfast focaccias, followed up with delicious wood fired Neapolitan pizzas for dinner.

Overlooking the lake, s.u.n.dayss offers up a healthy range of juices, smoothie bowls and Wild Rye ciabatta toasties. Pop into the Lakeside Studio Gallery for paintings, sculptures, printmaking, and photography or the Mallacoota Arts Space which displays the work of local artists.

The coast of Mallacoota is lined with unique rock formations, and sparkles with turquoise water. Pick a sunny day to go beach hopping, and you're likely to have a patch of sand all to yourself:

• Quarry Beach, parading its stunning ribbons of colour along the rocks formed by sandstone sediment, making for excellent photo opportunities
• Betka Beach boasts surf to play in, rock formations to climb, fishing spots and river access, at the mouth of the Betka River
• Don't miss the hidden sea cave at Secret Beach

Gabo Island is perfect for day trips or longer stays, accessible via water taxi or charter boat for a remote adventure

Explore Gabo Island

Just off Mallacoota's east coast is the pink granite outcrop of Gabo Island which is a great spot for a day trip or picnic. Featuring clear waters, a sandy beach and rock pools along the shoreline, the island is simply beautiful.

Meanwhile, the Genoa Peak Walk is not for the faint hearted and well worth it, with breathtaking scenery and great bird life. Reaching the summit lifts you from the shaded track into the open, giving you space to absorb the jaw-dropping panoramic views.

A visit to nearby Croajingolong National Park is quite unlike any other experience and definitely worth the drive. It is one of the country's most beautiful and ecologically significant places, and the stuff of dreams for keen hikers. The park is listed by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve and it lays claim to over 70 native wildflower, 52 mammal and 250 bird species.

Pictures from Visit Gippsland website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• West Gippsland CMA’s annual report showcases environmental achievements from mountain headwaters to coastal waters
  West Gippsland CMA’s Annual Report highlights major 2024–25 achievements restoring rivers, wetlands and habitats, supporting communities, protecting wildlife, and strengthening catchment health from mountain headwaters to the coast.
• East Gippsland CMA protects Gippsland’s critically endangered Redgum Woodlands and seasonal herbaceous wetlands
  EGCMA and partners are restoring Gippsland’s Critically Endangered Redgum Woodlands and Wetlands, planting native species, improving habitats, and tackling threats across 15 key sites for long-term conservation.
• East Gippsland Shire Mayor, Cr Jodie Ashworth's Christmas message
  A Christmas message celebrating East Gippsland’s community spirit, kindness and connection, encouraging care for one another, support for local businesses, warm hospitality for visitors, gratitude for workers this season together.
• Danny O’Brien urges Gippsland communities to participate in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, 1 March 2026
  Danny O’Brien encourages Gippsland communities, schools, and groups to join Clean Up Australia Day on 1 March 2026, protecting beaches, waterways, and local areas while building on last year’s success.
• East Gippsland residents invited to author talk on Pearl Bradshaw - Princess of Hotham on 10 September 2025
  Author Stephen Whiteside will present Pearl Bradshaw - Princess of Hotham, sharing remarkable stories of resilience, adventure, and history at special East Gippsland library talks on Wednesday 10 September.
• East Gippsland Shire Council urges protect health and air quality, burn dry wood and maintain heaters to reduce smoke this winter
  Residents are urged to burn only dry, untreated wood, maintain heaters, and consider alternatives to reduce smoke, protecting health and improving air quality this winter.
• Gippsland Water appoints Sam Muir and Kellie O’Callaghan to the board, bringing experience, diversity and community focus
  Gippsland Water has appointed Sam Muir and Kellie O’Callaghan to its Board, bringing diverse experience, strong community engagement, and fresh perspectives, while outgoing directors Jo Benvenuti and Chris Badger are acknowledged.
• Enhancing farm dams: Learn from experts at Wilandra Farms Field Day in Clydebank on 26 November 2025
  Join WGCMA's free field day at Wilandra Farms, Clydebank, on 26 November to learn from ANU ecologists about enhancing farm dams for biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience.
• Have your say on East Gippsland public toilets review until 9 February 2026
  East Gippsland Shire Council invites residents and visitors to share feedback on Council-managed public toilets, helping improve cleanliness, accessibility, and maintenance through its Public Amenities Service Review, open until February 2026.
• Tim Bull encourages Gippsland East communities to apply for Victorian government’s Tiny Towns Fund Grants until 4 February 2026
  Tim Bull urges Gippsland East communities to apply for the Tiny Towns Fund, offering $5,000-$50,000 grants to support tourism, liveability, and local projects for towns under 5,000 residents.
• Tim Bull urges Gippsland East households to apply for $100 Power Saving Bonus amid rising costs
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull urges locals to apply for the $100 Power Saving Bonus, helping households manage rising costs. Eligible residents can seek assistance at his Bairnsdale office.
• Melina Bath urges East Gippsland cricket clubs, schools and community groups to apply for Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund grants by 27 March 2026
  Melina Bath encourages regional cricket clubs, schools, and community groups to apply for Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund grants supporting facility upgrades and inclusive participation opportunities. Applications close 27 March 2026.
• Seven students completed East Gippsland Water Vacation Student Program, gaining practical experience and development on skills
  Seven university students completed East Gippsland Water’s Vacation Student Program, gaining hands-on experience in engineering, communications, IT, and environmental planning, preparing them for future careers in the water industry.
• Season’s greetings to East Gippsland residents with wishes for a joyful Christmas and prosperous New Year
  Wishing East Gippsland residents a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, with gratitude to service workers, reminders for festive safety, and hopes for connection, kindness, and a prosperous 2026.
• Tracey Ah Sam named East Gippsland 2026 Citizen of the Year for exceptional service to Omeo community
  Tracey Ah Sam has been named East Gippsland’s 2026 Citizen of the Year for over 30 years’ dedicated service, leadership, and lasting impact on the Omeo community.
• Tim Bull says East Gippsland faces a housing crisis, with social homes declining despite population growth
  Victoria’s social housing crisis deepens as Labor policies drive rental providers away, reducing stock. Tim Bull warns record waiting lists and rising homelessness demand urgent government action.
• Jodie Ashworth elected Mayor of East Gippsland Shire Council, with Cr Tom Crook as Deputy Mayor
  Jodie Ashworth, first elected in 2024, has been elected Mayor of East Gippsland Shire Council, with Cr Tom Crook as Deputy Mayor, pledging strong, transparent, and future-focused leadership.
• Community feedback wanted on East Gippsland Draft Engagement Policy to strengthen participation in local decision-making
  East Gippsland Shire Council is seeking community feedback on its draft Community Engagement Policy, inviting input through surveys, drop-in sessions, and stakeholder consultation to strengthen participation in decision-making processes.
• Raise a glass to Gippsland's finest wines, brews, spirits and ciders at 'Eat Drink Play'
  EAT DRINK PLAY Gippsland serves up local wines, brews, spirits, and ciders. Festival-goers can enjoy tastings, community vibes, and unique creations from some of Gippsland's best makers.
• Eat Drink Play Gippsland celebrates local flavours, award-winning cheeses, and culinary creations from passionate regional makers
  Eat Drink Play Gippsland showcases top restaurants, award-winning cheeses, and artisanal delights. From snacks to gourmet dishes, the festival celebrates local flavours and passionate makers, offering something delicious for every palate.
• Over 350 attended Youth Agritech Expo, experiencing hands-on innovation and future opportunities in modern farming industry
  More than 350 people joined East Gippsland's Youth Agritech Expo, where students explored hands-on agricultural innovations, from drones to driverless tractors, sparking fresh excitement about farming's high-tech, diverse, and innovative future.