Fresh seafood. Salty adventures. One unforgettable spring escape.
Mallacoota is serving up the ultimate spring escape when the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival returns from September 25-27, 2026.
For three delicious days, this spectacular coastal town serves up the freshest local seafood, live music, family adventures and unforgettable experiences celebrating the place where the ocean shapes everything – from the food on your plate to the stories of the people who call it home.
The festival’s beating heart is the Wild Harvest Market, where the catch is as fresh as it gets.
Wander from stall to stall tasting oysters, mussels, abalone and sea urchins harvested from the pristine waters of Bass Strait, meet local producers, browse handcrafted treasures and soak up the laid-back seaside atmosphere. Come hungry – you’ll want to try it all.
But Wild Harvest is about much more than great seafood.
It’s a celebration of Mallacoota’s deep connection to the sea.
Watch a beautifully produced short film sharing generations of local maritime stories, then step outside and experience the coastline for yourself.
Pull on your sneakers for a guided rockpool ramble, learn to cast a line at a family fishing clinic or roll up your sleeves for a community beach clean-up.
Across town, live music fills cafés, pubs and public spaces, while MA Space comes alive with exhibitions inspired by the coast.
East Gippsland Shire Council is proud to support the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival as a major sponsor, an event that delivers real economic benefits to Mallacoota and the wider region.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything our local seafood industry has to offer, from the incredible catch our divers and fishers bring in, to the generations of knowledge and stories they carry with them,” mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said.
“Events like the family fishing clinics are a brilliant way to get the next generation involved and excited about our local waters.
“Paired with live music echoing through cafés and pubs across town, it really captures what makes Mallacoota and the community such a special place to celebrate.”
Looking for something a little different? Climb aboard the historic M.V. Loch-Ard, dive into the legendary Divers Appreciation Dip, spread out a picnic rug for the relaxed Pizza Picnic, or discover why adventurous food lovers can’t get enough of fresh sea urchin tastings.
Every day brings a new reason to stay a little longer.
And when the festival winds down, the adventure is only just beginning.
Paddle the glassy waters of Mallacoota Inlet, wander secluded beaches, explore the ancient wilderness of Croajingolong National Park, spot kangaroos, seals and birdlife, or simply settle in for long lunches overlooking the water.
It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply and stay one more night.
Whether you’re chasing incredible seafood, planning a family getaway or rounding up friends for the ultimate coastal road trip, the Wild Harvest Seafood Festival is your invitation to discover one of Gippsland’s most unforgettable corners.
