The Apollo Bay Seafood Festival is making a much-anticipated return, bringing a celebration of the freshest marine produce from Victoria. Taking place at the picturesque Apollo Bay Harbour, the festival offers a diverse range of seafood, live music, and talks from renowned local speakers. The event features visiting chefs such as Dan Hunter, Paul West, Jerry Mai, and Jenna North, among others.
On Friday (17th February) night, the festival will kick off with a series of dinners presented by the best restaurants in Apollo Bay and the Otways, including a nine-course degustation menu at The Perch Lavers Hill, a five-course seafood dinner at The Birdhouse, and a three-course dinner inspired by traditional Italian dishes and local seafood at Casalingo.
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Harbour Day on Saturday will be bigger than ever, with pop-up restaurants, cooking demonstrations, and a seafood market offering a variety of seafood treats such as seafood dumplings, Southern Rock Lobster, abalone sashimi, and scallop pies. This year, cooking demonstrations will feature underutilized seafood and feature Peter Hilcke’s demonstration focused on abalone, Rosa Mitchell cooking with sardines, and more. Kids will also have the opportunity to participate with hands-on educational programs and interactive demonstrations.
The evening festivities will continue with live music on two stages, featuring Fenn Wilson, Hobson Bay Coast Guard, Go Dog Go, The Beachniks, and local Aria award winner Matt Orchard. On Sunday, the “Conversations on the Edge” panel talks will return, hosted by Richard Cornish and Hilary McNevin, featuring local fisherman, scientists, ocean activists, farmers, chefs, and Indigenous knowledge holders discussing key critical issues affecting the ocean and land.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival website.
Apollo Bay Seafood Festival
When: Friday 17 February to Sunday 19 February
Where: Apollo Bay Harbour, Trafalgar Street, Apollo Bay
For more information, head here.
About Apollo Bay:
Apollo Bay is a coastal town in southwestern Victoria, Australia. It is situated on the eastern side of Cape Otway, along the edge of the Barham River and on the Great Ocean Road, in the Colac Otway Shire. The town had a population of 1,598 at the 2016 census.[1]
It is now a tourist destination, though it is smaller and quieter than other nearby places such as Lorne. It is also host to the annual Apollo Bay Music Festival and the Great Ocean Sports Festival.
In winter to spring, southern right whales come to the area mainly to breed, to bear their calves, and to raise them in the warmer, calm waters of South Australia during their migration season. Less frequently, humpback whales can be seen off the coast.
– via Wikipedia.
Nearby towns:
- Wye River | 30km | 37-minute drive
- Forrest | 40km | 47-minute drive
- Lorne | 47km | 1-hour drive
- Colac | 72km | 1-hour and 10-minute drive