Bringing to life a decade-long dream for Aussie outdoor publication We Are Explorers, Aussie-first festival ExplorerFest 2025 will be held from the 2nd-4th of May 2025 at Hawks Nest, NSW (Worimi Country).
Centred around the three pillars of adventure, inspiration, and entertainment, ExplorerFest – created in partnership with Osprey – is all about creating a festival for people who’d rather be outside hiking, camping, learning, and experiencing nature together. It will kick off with a Welcome to Country, cultural talk, smoking ceremony and yiḏaki performance on Worimi Country, with events taking place at Reflections Jimmys Beach, in Hawks Nest.
Activities are all included in the ticket, and attendees can choose what they get stuck into based on their interests and mood. Confirmed adventures include a series of hikes along the beach and on Yacaaba Headland, and a mini rogaining challenge, both led by Paddy Pallin, trail runs hosted by For Wild Places, kayaking on Port Stephens Bay with Lazy Paddles, and an onsite rock climbing wall. There will even be a chance to drive along the sand on Bennetts Beach to experience the remote dunes, thanks to Jeep.
Pilates on Surfside and BAHE Yoga will be at the festival too, running classes in the gorgeous bushland setting.
An inspiring roster of talks and workshops has come together, too. Nightly stargazing will be hosted by Blue Mountains Stargazing, Matt Horspool from OM Systems will host a photography masterclass, We Are Explorers writer Brooke Nolan is running an adventure writing workshop, and Living Strong will teach attendees how to make cordage from natural plant fibres.
Rick J Petersen from Alone Australian Season 2 will be there to teach survival skills and bushcraft, and talks from professional endurance athlete and founder of Her Trails Sam Gash, and famous Aussie bushwalker Caro Ryan of Lotsafreshair, are not to be missed.
Caro will also be hosting an Explorer Story Slam thanks to The North Face, and everyone is encouraged to share their best yarn.
There will be multiple places to kick back, like an Explorer Cinema, a wood-fired sauna and ice bath thanks to Cedar & Salt, live music all afternoon, and lawn games over at the Sea to Summit hub. Coffee, food trucks and brews will keep everyone fuelled up, as will the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service with their fundraising barbecue.
Cabins are almost sold out but campsites are still available! With up to six people per site, camping at the festival (including hot showers and other amenities) can get as low as $27 per person.
Tickets are on sale now for $230, but Walkers Journal readers can use the code WAEMATES for $40 off.
Buy tickets: explorerfest.weareexplorers.co
