On the western fringe of the Blue Mountains, the town of Oberon is widely famous for foraging. This Central NSW town and its surrounds are home to wild mushrooms, truffles, honey, olives, nuts, gemstones, and paddock-to-plate pork and lamb. Every year, at the height of autumn’s foraging season, Oberon hosts its epic Field to Forest foraging Festival—and if you need an excuse to get out of town come April, this is absolutely it.
While the full program is yet to drop, we can give you a sneak peek into what to expect. 4WD foraging and fishing adventures, wine and gin cellar door tastings, and foraging walking tours all feature, making this one a must-do for foodies looking to fill up their calendars with tasty local escapes this year.
Kick things off in the comfort of a 4WD, as Detour Adventures 4WD Foraging Tours takes you on an off-road journey searching for some of the best wild mushrooms NSW has to offer. You’ll be guided into remote forest areas to forage, collect, photograph, and later cook up rare and natural produce. A 4WD Tag-Along Tour will help you explore Kanangra Boyd National Park and Jenolan State Forests, to fish for local rainbow trout, forage for field mushrooms, and fossick for precious blue sapphires.
Prefer to take in the forest on foot? Join Sydney’s king of foraging, Diego Bonetto, and his Forage to Feast Experience. Take a walk with the man trusted by so many Sydney chefs for urban foraging and uncover the secrets to discovering and harvesting edible, mouth-watering wild mushrooms, which can be cooked on the spot.
If it’s liquid-based local products you’re after, the month-long festival will also showcase and tour you around some of the region’s finest boutique vineyards, small-scale breweries, and micro-distilleries. Whatever your pleasure, you’ll find fresh air, adventure, tranquillity, and some of this country’s finest flavours in Oberon.
Stay up to date with info on the festival here.
The Details
What: Oberon Field To Forest Festival
When: April 1 - 31, 2021
Where: Oberon, NSW
For now, check out this hit list of historic towns to visit in NSW.
Image credit: Walker Pod Images