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, featuring a diverse lineup of ocean-inspired events aimed at celebrating, educating, and inspiring action for a healthier ocean.
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 "science in your swimmers" talks, a Trashion Parade and eco-markets in Darling Harbour or a cultural and science cruise across Sydney Harbour highlighting indigenous knowledge and marine restoration efforts - there's something for everyone!
Families can enjoy hands-on workshops and immerse in actions for the ocean, revellers can dance on the beachfront to bands, while ocean enthusiasts dive deeper with expert panels on topics such as sustainable seafood, Indigenous sea knowledge, shark net alternatives, weather extremes, a culinary cure for the sea urchin invasion and Vitamin Sea exploring the health benefits of the ocean.
An Ocean Lovers cultural and science cruise with Tribal Warrior and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science will explore ancient knowledge and customs and share with the public modern science restoration projects in Sydney Harbour.
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.
For those keen on adventure, opportunities include participating in Valerie Taylor's Grey Nurse Shark Census, freediving lessons, or a swim for the Ocean with the Bondi Salties. Audiences can meet ocean scientists or become a citizen scientist and join a Marine Bioblitz community event in their area or board the Shark in a bus.
Festival founder Anita Kolni expressed her excitement: "The passion from our ocean-loving community has been overwhelming, urging us to expand across Sydney, and inspire real hope and action for a thriving harbour and ocean. We have received generous support from the government and local councils through to organisations and individuals and we're beyond thrilled to unveil this program and invite everyone to dive into our events this March. Together, we can turn ripples of action into waves of lasting change."
The 2024 festival saw a remarkable 70% of attendees leave feeling more optimistic, having learned actionable ways to protect the ocean.
"By spreading out across Sydney, we can amplify that passion to have a truly amazing impact on the health of our much-loved ocean. This not only strengthens our mission but helps solidify Sydney as the world's greatest ocean city," Kolni said.
