Wollongong

The Illawarra Festival of Wood is a contemporary take on traditional wood festivals, highlighting local and regional artisans and various wood-related crafts and industries. The event features demonstrations by skilled woodworkers in areas like spoon carving, knife making, timber surfboards, woodturning, basket weaving, and more. Visitors can watch live demonstrations such as timber milling, chainsaw carving, and wood chopping. There are also hands-on workshops for all ages, including spoon carving and milk stool making, with additional free activities like chopstick making and bush critters for kids.

The festival presents around 150 performers over four days featuring some of the best national and international traditional folk acts. Ride the Green Music Train from Sydney to Bulli and enjoy other festival highlights including a two-day intensive folk school and the popular Lunch Italian Style and Tripe Dinner.

The splendid harbour precinct of Wollongong comes alive every year with a festival of fitness, health and family fun that offers the opportunity to participate or enjoy the spectacle of the sport. The festival offers races for a wide range of ages and abilities from a 1-kilometre ocean swim, to the popular beginners Enticer triathlon, through to Olympic distances. Entries are available to individuals or teams.