Final Call: The Gascoyne Food Festival – A Bucket List Experience
- ideas745
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
It all begins Saturday, 26 July – Just four weeks to go!
Whilst it’s cold and miserable across most of Australia, the sun-soaked Gascoyne region is beautifully warm and preparing to host a series of events unlike anything else on the culinary calendar. From long-table luxury and beachfront feasts to firelit storytelling and fashion-forward race days — the Gascoyne Food Festival kicks off in just four weeks, and it’s shaping up to be one for the ages.
Here’s what to expect in Week One — and why you need to book your spot now.
Saturday 26 July | Carnarvon Plantation
Set beneath the palms of a working banana plantation, the Long Table Lunch is not just a highlight of the festival — it’s one of the most talked-about food events in Australia.
This year’s headline chef is Ben Ing, former Head Chef at NOMA in Copenhagen — widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world. Now based in Australia, Ben brings a passion for hyper-local, sustainable cooking that pairs perfectly with the Gascoyne’s rich seasonal produce.
The menu starts with a love letter to the Coral Coast, a Ningaloo Gin Spritz on arrival, followed by a signature seafood entrée featuring king prawns, scallop ceviche with caviar, and wild, line-caught mackerel. For mains, guests will enjoy BBQ’d beef oyster blade with a rich vegetable salsa verde, perfectly matched with Amico Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 from Di Latte Estate. Dessert is a standout — cardamom rice pudding with banana whiskey sabayon, crafted with vodka made from rescued bananas. It’s an inspired nod to zero-waste innovation.
Set to a live jazz soundtrack, and complete with an exclusive auction and stories from local producers, the Long Table Lunch is an unforgettable celebration of food, place, and people.
Tickets selling fast — Click here to book now
Sunday 27 July | The Fascine Foreshore
On Sunday, the celebrations continue by the water with the Great Carnarvon Feast and Groove — a free, family-friendly day of food, music and culture on the scenic Fascine.
From midday into the evening, seven diverse food stations will dish up a true taste of the Gascoyne. Think fried squid, crumbed prawn baskets, seafood pizza, Vietnamese pancakes, goat satays, and even tempura Carnarvon Sweeter Bananas. There's something for every palate, including local vegetarian burgers packed with fresh regional produce.
With live music throughout the afternoon and a fire show on the beach at sunset, it’s the perfect way to connect with the community, enjoy great food, and take in the magic of Carnarvon’s coastline.
Free event – all welcome. Bring a rug, bring the family, and come feast and groove.
Wednesday 30 July | Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre
On Wednesday evening, the flames are lit for Around the Firepit — a unique food theatre experience celebrating native flavours, student talent, and shared storytelling.
Guests will move between fire-side food stations, welcomed by local hospitality and culinary students serving dishes like freshly shucked oysters, Shark Bay prawn skewers with bush spices, and crocodile rice paper rolls. It begins with an amuse bouche of Coral Bay crab and green mango tart, and continues with bold bush-influenced mains including crumbed lamb cutlets, fish goujons with lemon myrtle, and kangaroo & wild mushroom pies with rich bush tomato relish.
The dessert table is just as memorable, featuring wattleseed tiramisu, finger lime tartlets, and saltbush & caramel brownies. With a mocktail station offering native fruit drinks, and the stars above, it’s an immersive, relaxed and deeply local dining experience.
Friday 1 August | Massey Bay Racecourse
The first week of the festival wraps up in style with the beloved Prawns & Pimms Race Day — a high-spirited celebration of fashion, food, fun and fillies at the stunning Massey Bay Racecourse.
In celebration of the Horses’ Birthday, every ticket includes a Pimms cocktail on arrival and a TABtouch voucher to get your bets underway. But it’s the Fashions on the Field – Fresh Produce Challenge that steals the show.
Racegoers are invited to craft and wear fascinators made from fresh Gascoyne produce — from citrus halos and chilli crowns to floral bursts of herbs and edible blooms. It’s wildly creative, fabulously fun, and uniquely regional.
Add in sizzling prawns, live music, a carrot birthday cake for the horses and you’ve got an unforgettable Gascoyne-style day at the track.
This is just Week One of the Gascoyne Food Festival — and what a way to begin. From long table elegance and firepit feasts to beachfront vibes and race day flair, it’s the ultimate celebration of WA’s Gascoyne region.
Want the full experience? All-inclusive packages, including event tickets and accommodation, are available from just $1,080 per person. Contact BKB Holidays to reserve your itinerary.
Call BKB Holidays to book on 1300 357 057
Coming Up in Week Two – Bullara to Exmouth
Next week, we’ll share more details about the menus for Week 2 of the Gascoyne Food Festival as we head inland to Bullara Station and north to Exmouth for a jam-packed lineup of Fiestas, Hoe Downs, Masterclasses, and stylish full-moon dining experiences.
Stay tuned for the next blog as the bucket-list journey continues across the Gascoyne. You won’t want to miss a single bite.
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