The Illawarra Edible Garden Trail is a self-guided tour, so grab some friends, map out your route and make a weekend of it. Photo: Food Fairness Illawarra.
As the weather warms up the Illawarra comes to life with outdoor adventure for people of all ages.
Become a nature champion for a session or two as you help local scientists and naturalists discover and record the fauna of Croome Reserve, or pack the family into the car (or plan a public transport route) to explore the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail.
Do not miss the inaugural Eco Eats and Beats Street Festival, set to bring Warilla town centre to life with family fun.
There’s also an abundance of live music (including a concert from hand selected First Nations youth from the South Coast) and fascinating educational workshops covering everything from romance novel writing to bee hotel making.
Here are nine awesome things to do this week in our beautiful region.
All Weekend
Curious to find out who (what) calls Croome Reserve home? Image: Shellharbour City Council.
Bio Blitz at Croom 2024
When: Friday 8 and Saturday 9 November, 10 am
Where: Croome Road, Albion Park Rail
Cost: Free | Book via eventbrite.
Interested in plants, birds or what comes out after dark? Then this is the opportunity for you. Partner with Sustainable Shellharbour and local council, scientists and naturalists to record as many species as possible during BioBlitz 2024. Using the iNaturalist app (downloadable on the Apple Store and Google Play) you’ll take and upload photos to help identify, record and quantify as many different species as possible over eight sessions across the two-day BioBlitz.
Choose your session/s, book your free ticket/s, don your protective clothing and shoes, sunscreen and a hat and get ready to collect meaningful data on the fauna of Croome Reserve.
In partnership with Food Fairness Illawarra with the generous support of Gilly’s Kitchen Garden, the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail is back. Photo: Food fairness Illawarra.
Illawarra Edible Garden Trail
When: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Various venues between Otford and Dapto
Cost: Adult weekend $25 | Concession Weekend $15 | Adult Garden Visit $5 | Under 16s Free | Pay what you can option available | Book via Humanitix.
This November, the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail returns for its second annual event, transforming the region into a vibrant showcase of backyard and community gardens focused on sustainable, local food. From lush private backyards and balcony setups to school and community plots, this unique event offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the real-life diversity of edible gardening. For folks new to gardening or new to the Illawarra, the trail is an opportunity to meet locals growing food in their backyard and find out what grows well in their neck of the woods.
Friday
The Illawarra stop of the Yuin Nation South Coast Tour is in Gerringong. Image: MusicNSW.
Yuin Nation South Coast Tour
When: Friday 8 November, 6 to 8:30 pm
Where: Crooked River Estate, 11 Willowvale Road, Gerringong
Cost: Free | Book via Humanitix.
MusicNSW has selected 14 artists from across regional NSW to participate in a touring opportunity, which includes professional development as well as performance opportunities at venues and festivals from Wilcannia to Eltham. Selected for the South Coast region are Ron Callaghan, Chelsy Atkins and Richard Luland to form The Yuin Nation South Coast Tour. In its inaugural year, this event highlights the incredible talents of local First Nations musicians, celebrating their artistry and culture.
Saturday
Find out what all the buzz is about at The Tinkerage this Saturday. Image: The Tinkerage.
Build A Native Bee Hotel
When: Saturday 9 November, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: The Tinkerage Shellharbour, Reviva Dunmore/Shellharbour, 44 Buckleys Road, Dunmore
Cost: Shellharbour Residents Free | General $40 | Book via eventbrite.
Join teacher and bee guru Alison Mellor for a fun and educational workshop where you can learn how to build your own native bee hotel. Discover facts about the many kinds of native bees in your garden and, using recycled materials, learn how to make little homes to encourage these little pollinators into your garden. Note: Participants should BYO safety glasses and ear protection and wear enclosed shoes.
Sunday
The inaugural Eco Eats and Beats Street Festival has arrived. Image: Shellharbour City Council.
Eco Eats and Beats Street Festival
When: Sunday 10 November, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Beverley Avenue, Warilla
Cost: Free | Book via Humanitix.
Warilla Town Centre is about to come alive with an exciting array of activations including food trucks and long table dining, live music, live art making (including the creation of a mural in front of your very eyes), roving entertainment, an upcycled market and more. A series of engaging, eco-friendly workshops will take place throughout the day, covering everything from eco tie-dying, paper beaded jewellery, bee inspired nature craft, boomerang painting and visible clothes mending.
Meet Burra this weekend, the lovely little locomotive who’s ready to take you and your family on a ride through yesteryear this Sunday. Photo: Illawarra Light Railway Museum.
Tramways | Steam Train Rides Family Fun Day
When: Sunday 10 November, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Illawarra Light Railway Museum, 48 Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail
Cost: Adults $18 | Children/Concessions $12.50 | Under 3s Free | Family $64.13 | Book via Illawarra Light Railway Museum.
This Sunday, the Illawarra Light Railway Museum volunteers are busting out Burra – a cool little steam train that recently turned 100. Ride with Burra and roll back in time to the Tramways, and hitch a ride on the Miniature Train as well. Food and plenty of picnic space on the bushland grounds, a playground, locomotive shed tours and a rail museum make for a fun day out for all the family.
Tuesday
Learn to bring emotions to life in your romance novel at this workshop. Image: Kiama Library.
Karen Deen: Evoking emotions in romance readers
When: Tuesday 12 November, 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Where: Kiama Library, 7 Railway Parade, Kiama
Cost: General $25 | Concession $20 | Book via Trybooking.
A reader loves a romance novel because of how it makes them feel, but as a writer, how can you bring that love off the page? In the next instalment of the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) series of workshops, author Karen Deen will share secrets of writing romance novels that will make readers lose themselves in the story and evoke emotions that will stay with them longer after the turn of the final page.
Get set to sing, learn, giggle and watch little minds get blown by seeing this dynamic duo in the flesh (and fur). Image: Cub Club.
Pevan & Sarah in Concert
When: Tuesday 12 November, 10:30 to 11:20 am
Where: IMB Theatre, IPAC, 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: $22 | Book via Merrigong Box Office.
Tickets are selling fast for this live “edutainment extravaganza” that’s bursting at the seams with your favourite Pevan & Sarah bangers. Littlies will be delighted with music, laughter and pure joy as the big friendly tiger and his spirited sidekick ignite the stage. Created by teachers, this interactive performance skillfully weaves through the literacy and numeracy curriculum, sprinkling in a healthy dose of teamwork, social skills and emotional wellbeing.
Country, rhythm and blues with Rick Price’s signature pop influence will be on show when this album tour stops in Wollongong. Photo: Supplied.
Rick Price – Hometown Album Tour
When: Thursday 14 November, 6:30 to 10:30 pm
Where: Sorrento Room, Centro CBD, 28 Stewart Street, Wollongong
Cost: Dinner & Show $70 | Show Only $$39 | Book via TryBooking.
Rick Price’s 12th album Hometown is his first original material since Tennessee Sky released almost a decade ago. It takes you on a journey of Rick’s childhood days growing up in country Queensland, Australia to present-day life in Nashville Tennessee. Steeped in country, rhythm and blues, punctuated by the ever-present pop influence of Price’s songwriting, expect everything from soul-stirring ballads to smokey deep grooves. Doors open at 6:30 pm, dining begins at 7:15 pm and the show starts at 8 pm.
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