Australia’s largest cultural and science event dedicated to the ocean, the Ocean Lovers Festival, is back for its fifth year with an even bigger splash! Expanding beyond its iconic Bondi roots, the 2025 festival will span multiple Sydney locations throughout March, including a special cruise on Sydney Harbour.
The Ocean Lovers cultural and science cruise with Tribal Warrior and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) will explore ancient knowledge and customs and share with the public modern science restoration projects in Sydney Harbour.
SIMS Project Manager for Project Restore Francisco Martinez Baena will show how Sydney Harbour ecosystems are being restored today and he will be joined by special guest Aunty Rowena and the indigenous hosts and crew aboard the vessel Wirawi on Saturday, March 15, departing the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Tickets on sale now, include a performance on Be-lang-le-wool, known today as Clark Island, where performers will guide the audience back to pre-European settlement to discover the traditional practices for fishing and food that sustained Aboriginal communities for thousands of years.
The festival will transform Sydney into a vibrant hub of ideas, art, music, and action. Whether it’s a sunrise yoga session on Bondi Beach followed by the “science in your swimmers” talks, or a Trashion Parade and eco-markets in Darling Harbour.
Families can enjoy hands-on workshops and immerse in actions for the ocean, revellers can dance on the beachfront to bands and Sydney Fish Market will host special events, including cooking classes with award-winning chef Luke Bourke and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours. The Coal Loader at North Sydney will also offer kid-friendly ocean activities, ensuring the city embraces ocean conservation.
The dynamic Ocean Lovers Talks program has also been announced across two days of free inspirational talks on March 22 & 23 to offer hope and solutions. Dive into expert panels on topics such as sustainable seafood, Indigenous sea knowledge, and shark net alternatives. A Fashion forward panel featuring Kit Willow and an exploration of the restoration of Sydney Harbour will be presented alongside marvelling at the smarts of the Octopus and the magical creatures that are Sea Dragons. The ocean’s role in Extreme Weather will be explored and shark conservation legend Valerie Taylor will return to discuss her campaign for the critically endangered Grey Nurse shark.
Filmmaker Damon Gameau will join a panel hosted by actress and activist Tessa de Josselin about the sea urchin invasion crisis and how making the urchin a culinary hero could save sea forests. Vitamin Sea is an ocean therapy session to explore how the ocean boosts our health and wellbeing. Hear from science and environmental leaders about critical campaigns to save and revive reefs plus meet Miss Earth 2024 Jessica Lane on a panel with youth ocean crusaders and hear how pioneers are crashing through the ocean trash crisis.
For those keen on action the opportunities include participating in Valerie Taylor’s Grey Nurse Shark Census, freediving lessons or become a citizen scientist and join a Marine Bioblitz community event in their area.
Check out the full program event dates throughout March with highlight free festival weekends on 15 & 16 March in Darling Harbour and 22 & 23 March at Bondi Beach.
Highlights:
- 2 March – Rose Bay Beach Clean for Clean Up Australia Day
- 2 March – Manly Microplastic Hunt with AUSMAP
- 5, 12, 19 & 26 March – Paint and Splash Ocean Series each Wednesday in March
- 5 & 12 March – Seabirds to Seascapes Boat Tour, ticketed, Circular Quay (Book Here)
- 6 – 19 March – Ocean Film Festival World Tour – various venues and dates (Book Here)
- 8 March – Seafood Cooking with Rockpool’s Luke Bourke, Sydney Fish Markets (Book Here)
- 8 March – Valerie Taylor’s Grey Nurse Shark Census
- 15 March – Culture and Science Cruise with Tribal Warrior and SIMS on Sydney Harbour
- 15 March – Trashion Shows, Darling Harbour sponsored by Sofitel Darling Harbour
- 15 & 16 March – Darling Harbour Markets and BIA Sustainable Boating Showcase
- 20 March – Deep Blue Impact – AMCS & friends impact films and talks event
- 21 March – Swim for the Ocean with Bondi Salties
- 22 March – Sunrise Yoga on the beach with Rare Studio Bondi (Free, Register Here)
- 22 March – Ocean Adventures with Diver Dave, North Sydney Coal Loader (Book Here)
- 22 March – Big Bondi Beach Clean with Take 3 for the Sea, (Free, Register Here)
- 22 -23 March – Ocean Lovers Festival Film Program at Bondi Pavilion
- 22 – 23 March – Ocean Lovers Talks in the High Tide Room (Free, Register Here)
- 22 – 23 March – Live music on the Sunshine Stage and markets.
- 23 March – Expanding Purpose & Possibilities with Michelle Boyde (Book Here)
- 26 March – Eco Playgroup – Protecting The Ocean, North Sydney Coal Loader (Book Here)
- 30 March – Fillet-a-Fish Course, Sydney Fish Markets (Book Here)
Visit the website for more details and the full Festival program as it’s unveiled.
