As if we needed more excuses to head north and chase the sun, Carnarvon – the truest living definition of a fruit salad bowl – will become an even more delicious destination as part of the Gascoyne Food Festival.
The laidback coastal town will yet again be the hub for Australia’s biggest regional foodie event, the Gascoyne Food Festival, running now until September 18.
The annual gastronomic event is a pleasure-seeking paradise in both locale and unique foodie experiences, with this year’s festival featuring 11 epicurean events hosted across the Gascoyne region.
Be a well-nourished castaway morning, noon and night at Dirk Hartog’s Island Life Festival. Make your way through conversations and courses at the celebrated Long Table Dinner along the gorgeously lush Gascoyne River. Savour a snag at Australia’s Biggest BBQ with Mount Augustus as a rocking backdrop. Whatever the choice, the Gascoyne Food Festival has plenty of scrumptious happenings to suit your holiday mood.
So, expect to arrive at Carnarvon and leave as a connoisseur of the region as we highlight the festival’s events that are simply too tasty (and fun) to miss.
In and around Carnarvon
Carnarvon Pop-up Food Market (Free)
Indecisive when it comes to food? This market won’t help you in that department, but it will surely tempt you to try it all!
This hawker-style pop-up event will feature specially created street eats for this night edition of the Carnarvon Food Market. Purchase a few knick-knacks and enjoy a picnic along Carnarvon’s gorgeous palm-tree laden foreshore only moments away.
When: August 5, 5pm – 9pm
Location: Carnarvon Civic Centre, 21 Robinson Street, Carnarvon WA 6701
Long Table Dinner
Chat, eat and repeat at the festival’s biggest scenic supper event.
The Long Table Dinner event is set along the tropical green banks of the Gascoyne River at Bentwaters Plantation, the perfect backdrop to exhibit horticultural country.
Make new friends as you sip and dine on a medley of fresh produce sourced locally and thoughtfully prepared by some of Perth’s most renowned chefs with a tapas-style menu. From feasting to forging new friendships, this will be a wholesome evening.
When: Aug 6, 5pm – 10pm
Location: Bentwaters Plantation, 99 North River Road, North Plantations WA 6701
Book: Long Table Dinner
Chilli Festival & Gascoyne Growers Market (Free)
Make sure to have the water on standby as this is literally the hottest event on the calendar.
For those brave souls game enough, the Chilli Festival is a celebration of the world’s hottest chillies – and grown in Carnarvon too.
No stranger to feeling the heat, Dingo sauce maker Leigh Nash will host a sauce making class to blow your mind (and possibly tastebuds) with how to up your condiment game. There will also be a chilli eating competition, and everything hot and spicy in between.
To cool off, have a stroll around the Gascoyne Growers Market in search of a local treat to give your tongue some respite.
When: Aug 8, 8am – 2pm
Location: Carnarvon Civic Centre, 21 Robinson Street, Carnarvon WA 6701
Feast on the Beach
There is nothing like appreciating a good feed than being surrounded by untamed natural beauty.
The Coral Coast’s remote, pristine paradise, Red Bluff, is the spectacular backdrop for the popular sundowner event, Feast on the Beach. It’s a true celebration of all things WA, with Shark Bay seafood paella or a veggie alternative, salads paired with local beverages. True blue bliss.
When: Aug 14, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Red Bluff (135km north of Carnarvon), Gnaraloo Road, Macleod WA 6701
Book: Feast on the Beach
Canapes on the Gascoyne
Enjoy a smorgasbord of flavours at Canapes on the Gascoyne, a gourmet ten-canape menu by chef Sophie Budd.
Set at Brickhouse Station, the event will focus on the finer, small bites in life, with delicious tangs at large.
When: Sep 10, 6pm – 10pm
Location: Brickhouse Station, Unnamed Road, Inggarda WA 6701
Book: Canapes on the Gascoyne
Around the Gascoyne
Black Tie at The Bone
All you can eat pizza and smoked meats? Check. Perfectly chilled boutique beers? Check. Starry nights and fairy lights? Check. Funky beats played live from Freo’s 8-piece groove-band Bambuseae Rhythm Section? Sweet as.
Best known for its massive beer garden, Exmouth’s favourite ‘beer in a shed’ Whalebone Brewing Company is fine-tuning things, hosting the Black Tie at the Bone.
New to the Gascoyne Food Festival lineup, the formal event is an excuse to dress up and put on the dancing shoes to have a merry ol’ time. Good vibes all around.
When: Aug 6, 6pm to late
Location: Whalebone Brewing Company, 27 Patterson Way, Exmouth WA 6707
Book: Black Tie at The Bone
Island Life Festival
Picture this, the most ideal Survivor scenario.
You’ll be ‘stranded on an island surrounded by the heavenly turquoise waters and raw wilderness of Shark Bay. There’s no catch to having this perfect island life either.
Instead of participating in gruelling activities or facing harsh conditions, the only challenge you’ll face is choosing not to over-indulge with freshly prepared meals or extraordinary outdoorsy experiences.
The Island Life Festival on Dirk Hartog Island is the food adventure many would dream of. Over four days, talented chefs will be flown in to create delightful dishes throughout your island getaway, combined with fun activities. It’s a multi-day eating escape worth ditching the mainland for.
When: Aug 26, 6am – Aug 30, 5pm
Location: Dirk Hartog Island, WA 6537
Book: Island Life Festival
Six Course Beergustation
Love a cold brew? Or six? Head to where the beers are pouring at Exmouth’s Froth Craft Brewery.
Conveniently located in the heart of town, the lively micro-brewery will be turning on the house taps to host the award-winning Six Course Beergustation, paired with top-shelf dining.
French-trained chef Ash Henry and head brewer co-owner Tyler Little will present each course to guide your taste buds for a feel-good time. The good food mood will be heightened by multi-instrumentalist Ken Young and folk/Americana artist Jimmy McGarth.
When: Aug 28, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Froth Craft Brewery, 5 Kennedy Street, Exmouth WA 6707
Book: Six Course Beergustation
Australia’s Biggest BBQ
There’s nothing more ‘Straya than having a bush barbie with an outback icon.
To have your scenic snag, head to Mount Augustus – the world’s biggest rock – where you join the masses celebrating, socialising and indulging in the country’s biggest flare-up.
Open fire pits will be ablaze in this ancient setting, with chefs cooking up outback beef and local produce. A rock-solid event not to miss.
When: Sep 4, 6:30pm – 10pm
Location: Mt Augustus Tourist Park, Mount Augustus, East Lyons River WA 6705
Book: Australia’s Biggest BBQ
Flavours of Shark Bay
Combine the best of both worlds – divine food with striking scenery – at the Flavours of Shark Bay event along the shores of Monkey Mia.
The beachfront festivity will highlight the freshest of the fresh with local produce sourced from Shark Bay and the Gascoyne region creatively prepared by award-winning chef Tony Howell.
When: Sep 18, 1pm – 2:30pm
Location: RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, 1 Monkey Mia Rd, Monkey Mia WA 6537
Book: Flavours of Shark Bay
Top Table Lunch
As if you don’t have to travel far in Coral Bay to see natural wonders, you now don’t have to travel far now either for a culinary journey.
Gaze and graze at the Top Table Lunch at RAC Ningaloo Reef Resort. Here you will be invited to taste the region by the forkful as the event will highlight the Gascoyne region’s fresh produce over four courses, paired with WA wines. The added sweetener? The idyllic setting opposite the Indian Ocean. Heaven.
When: Sep 18, 2:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: RAC Ningaloo Reef Resort (Coral Bay), 1 Robinson St, Coral Bay WA 6701
Book: Top Table Lunch
There’s more to Carnarvon than just its golden boomerangs, bananas. Check out our guide to what to see and do in Carnarvon.
For more information and to book your tickets visit the official events page on gascoynefoodfestival.com.au.
This is a sponsored post in support of City of Subiaco – endorsed by So Perth. We value your feedback so please contact us with any thoughts in regards to our sponsored post. Thank you for supporting So Perth and our sponsors.