Barwon Bluff Nature Festival 2026

This year’s Barwon Heads Nature Festival was a great success with enthusiastic participation in all events despite the weather trying to get in the way a couple of times.

In 2026, Friends of the Bluff again hosted the festival in the first week of the September school holidays, from the 21st to the 25th. The festival included a range of activities for different interests and different age groups, and was packed full of walks, talks and activities for children.

Below is are reports on most of the sessions as they ran along with some photos. Scroll down to see the full program.

Thanks to Friends of the Bluff member Ann Raybould for the following reports. Pictures by Ann along with Hilary Bouma.

Explore the Bluff

Despite blustery showers and grey skies, an enthusiastic group assembled at the Barwon Bluff look-out for the kick-off event of this year’s Nature Festival.

It did not take long for us to warm to John’s banter which transported us back in geological time to over a million years ago, when the land on which we were standing would have been under the sea. We learned how ancient volcanic activity, low sea-level periods, massive accumulations of sand and calcium carbonate and ongoing sea erosion have combined to create this iconic landmark of Barwon Heads.

There were many questions asked relating to present-day river mouth conditions and concern for its future viability was expressed. What is known is that sand dunes along 13th Beach have lost two thirds of their volume over the last twenty years and long shore currents have deposited much of this sand into the lower estuary.  Reduced water flows from the river system struggle to remove the resulting subaqueous dunes. 

Once our group moved on, the walk itself was punctuated by various stops: to look out across Bass Strait and imagine the land bridge to Tasmania that once existed; to hear about the work of the Friends of the Bluff and the establishment of the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary in 2002; and to give the dads in our group the chance to catch up with their kids who had been whisked ahead by Hilary to hunt for nature’s treasures.

Further on, we were told how the Bluff had offered the Wadawurrung people a veritable coastal supermarket. Food was freely available and the plants provided medicines, timber for shelter and weapons, as well as flaxes for weaving. From their vantage point at the top of the Bluff, they would have been able to see much of Wadawurrung country extending from Airey’s Inlet in the west, to the Great Dividing Range in the north and the Werribee River in the east. How easy was it to follow their neighbours’ activities by noting where campfires were burning! 

Unfortunately, much of the ground flora diversity of the Bluff has been lost as moonah and coastal tea trees have become more dominant. Regardless, there was still much to be noted close to the paths and opportunities to admire various grass species, succulents and low growing shrubs. The song of the singing honeyeater rang out, a pair of black-shouldered kites graced the cliff’s thermals and a black Jezebel butterfly was spotted.

Towards the end of the walk, John ensured the group was left wanting more by regaling us with stories of lost gold and shipwrecks, in particular, the loss of the Charlemont in 1853.

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Canoe the mangroves

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Land, Sea, Sky

There was a good attendance at this free ‘slide’ night which aimed to celebrate small things in our local environment.

Beth Ross, from Bellarine Land Care, began the night by sharing the alarming fact that some food-web models suggest that the loss of a single keystone plant can lead to the extinction of 10-30 affiliate organisms like specific pollinators, beetles and fungi. She followed up by presenting examples of small indigenous plants, with which many of us were unfamiliar. She spoke about their importance to a healthy eco-system and encouraged people to look down when out walking.  

Mark Rodrigue’s first slide, depicting Evil Plankton (an animated character from Spongebob Squarepants), had us expecting to hear how harmful plankton are to our world. On the contrary, we learned how they form the base of the aquatic food chain and make a significant contribution to controlling Earth’s climate by taking in carbon dioxide. 

Martin Griffith, from Birdlife Bellarine, shared his slides of various small birds that, if we are lucky enough, we may see in our local area. By using a telephoto lens camera, his shots are close-up, clear and capture the animals in their normal habitat. He explained how birdwatchers are always learning from each other and how they use size, shape, bill shape, plumage details on the head, breast, belly and back, as well as distinguishing markings to help in their identification. A bird’s behaviour, call and song provide further information.

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Tide and seek

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Barwon Heads Great Spring Clean Up

We gathered in Lahey Square, thankful that it was a beautiful morning for taking part in the Great Spring Clean Up. Eleven people donned the bright yellow, volunteer vests then grabbed gloves, pickup tongs and bags before wandering along the shoreline and coastal paths to collect litter and all sorts of refuse.

Most volunteers returned with their bags at least one third full. John and Andrea sorted recyclables and plastics and did a quick survey of the types of rubbish collected. They estimated that we had picked up between 3,000-3,500 pieces of litter. Once again, cigarette butts featured prominently.

A job well done!

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Turning the Tide short film festival

The short film festival featured a program of six local and international films. They document threats to our oceans and marine life from plastic pollution and proposed gas projects.They also celebrate individuals who work to protect these vulnerable environments.

The film on Scott Reef raises the urgent need to protect Scott Reef from Woodside’s plans to develop the Browse gas field, which lies directly under Scott Reef. Woodside plans to drill up to 57 wells next to this area which is home to 33 threatened species including pygmy blue whales and green sea turtles. Another film focuses on the beauty and diversity of marine life of the Ningaloo Reef which has again come under threat from Woodside as part of its Burrup Hub project which could impact 12 different marine parks. To learn more about the campaign to pressure the Federal Government to stop this destruction and to sign the petition, visit act.greenpeace.org.au.

Enaleia is an inspiring film about the work of a young Greek man who was horrified to learn that the traditional fishermen from his homeland threw back any plastic waste they collected from the sea as part of their fish catch. He set about establishing Greece’s first fishing school to help create a new generation of eco-conscious fishers. Enaleia has now also implemented mega cleanup projects in collaboration with fishing communities and collects used fishing gear to ensure it is not dumped overboard. Currently, around 60% of its collected marine plastic enters the circular economy through recycling and upcycling. Enaleia has expanded its operations to six other countries and believes it is making progress. 

After the film, a delicious supper was provided in the Supper Room and it was obvious from the lively discussions around the table that many were engaged and challenged by what they had just watched.

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Barwon Heads Nature Festival program, 2026

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