If you’ve ever dreamed of savouring world-class cuisine beneath a canopy of stars, feasting on produce picked that very morning, or sipping on an ice cold craft beer while surrounded by the raw beauty of Western Australia’s outback coast—then it’s time to plan your 2025 Gascoyne Food Festival road trip.
This isn’t just another food event. It’s a journey—across stunning landscapes, into iconic settings, and straight to the source of WA’s most extraordinary produce. For just over one month each winter, the Gascoyne becomes Australia’s hottest culinary destination.
From Long Table Lunches in the middle of picturesque plantations to immersive paddock-to-plate experiences, sunset cocktail parties, beach barbecues, station banquets, and chef’s masterclasses, the 2025 program is bold, ambitious, and not to be missed.
The Ultimate Food Road Trip
The Gascoyne Food Festival stretches across more than 1,000 kilometres of coastline and country, linking Exmouth, Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Dirk Hartog Island, Mt Augustus and beyond. It’s a celebration of connection—to land, culture, and flavour.
Each destination has its own hero events, featuring curated menus by fabulous chefs. Think station reared beef roasted over coals, freshly caught Shark Bay whiting turned into delicate ceviche at a secret cove, or Carnarvon bananas reinvented as a decadent dessert with WA vodka and native bush botanicals.
The food is local. The chefs are world-renowned. The setting? Out of this world.
Real Produce, Real Stories
The Gascoyne is Western Australia’s food bowl—where tomatoes, capsicums, melons, mangoes, bananas, herbs, beef, goat, and seafood are all grown or caught locally and sustainably. But what truly makes the festival special is the connection to the people behind it.
Meet the farmers. Chat with brewers and distillers. Hear stories from traditional owners and station families. This is a rare opportunity to experience country hospitality at its best—authentic, generous, and rooted in deep respect for the land.
At every table, you’ll find a sense of place—whether you’re dining on seafood at the iconic Mantarays Under the Moon event in Exmouth or joining the 200-person Carnarvon Long Table Lunch, set in a lush banana plantation avenue on the banks of the Gascoyne River.
Book the Big Ones—Before They Sell Out
With more than fifteen signature events, this year’s festival is attracting serious attention. And for good reason: each event is limited in numbers, many are in remote or exclusive locations, and tickets are selling fast.
Must-attend highlights include:
- Carnarvon Long Table Lunch (Saturday 26 July): This flagship event brings together the region’s best produce in an unforgettable open-air setting. Guests will enjoy a three course feast prepared by celebrated chef Ben Ing (formerly of NOMA), with cocktails on arrival, live music and matching wines, beers and other beverages included.
- Mantarays Under the Moon (Saturday 9 August): An elegant coastal celebration in Exmouth with a seafood-forward menu, live music, and a view that will leave you speechless.
- Dirk Hartog Island Banquet (Sunday 31 August): Remote. Refined. Remarkable. Accessible only by boat or plane, this once-in-a-lifetime event includes an overnight island stay and a gourmet banquet featuring freshly caught seafood, craft gin, and cocktails, all whilst watching Australia’s last sunset. Intimate, wild, and luxuriously off-grid—it’s the pinnacle of bucket-list dining.
- Outback Station Tour & Tea (Tuesday 26 August): Embark on a tag-along tour through the heart of the Gascoyne’s rugged interior and discover life on a working station. Indulge in lavish high tea stops set against sweeping outback views and soak in the charm, history, and flavour of country hospitality at its most authentic. A true hidden gem of the festival.
Get Your Tickets Now
The Gascoyne Food Festival isn’t about food trends or Instagram shots. It’s about authenticity, adventure, and unforgettable flavours. If you love discovering places through food, connecting with passionate people, and eating like a local—this is your festival.
But don’t wait. Many events are capped at fewer than 100 people, and with travellers booking trips north for the dry season, accommodation and event tickets won’t last long.
Visit gascoynefoodfestival.
Make a Trip of It
Whether you’re flying into Exmouth or hitting the road from Perth, there’s no better time to explore the Coral Coast. Plan a road trip between events, take a dip in Ningaloo Reef, go hiking at Mt Augustus, or relax in the warm winter sun between feasts.
The Gascoyne Food Festival offers more than just meals. It’s an immersive, sensory journey that brings together the best of WA’s food, culture, and community spirit.
So pack your appetite, gather your crew, and join us for a truly extraordinary winter escape.
The 2025 Gascoyne Food Festival is proudly supported by the Gascoyne Food Council, Gascoyne Development Commission, Tourism Western Australia and exceptional producers and partners right across the Gascoyne.
Check out some other great things to do in WA during your visit by clicking here.
