From wading waist-deep through waters where Sydney rocks are grown to cruising the waters they’re grown in, here’s where to celebrate World Oyster Day and every other day in between. 

I’m standing waist-deep in the waters of the Hawkesbury River following the example of oyster farmer Sheridan Beaumont as she demonstrates how to prise a Sydney rock oyster out of its shell before handing it over. It’s one of the freshest oysters I’ve ever eaten and one of many immersive experiences on offer around Australia in response to a rising interest in agritourism. Earlier this year, Destination NSW reported a surge in agritourism with oyster trails, tours and tastings designed to meet that growing demand. World Oyster Day on 5 August is dedicated to celebrating Australia’s seafood industry and supporting our oyster farmers and the species cultivated here. From indulging in oysters in Sydney wine bars to enjoying them in situ in Queensland’s sandy isles and on NSW’s South Coast, here’s where oyster lovers can celebrate on World Oyster Day. Wade, slurp, sip and repeat. 

NSW 

The Dry Dock, Balmain

Dry Dock ups the oyster ante with an indulgent seafood platter.

Not all oyster experiences require you to don waders. The Dry Dock in Balmain serves Sydney Rock oysters with a Champagne mignonette as part of its dedicated ‘Oysters & Caviar’ menu, available in both The Dining Room and Public House. The pub also ups its oyster offerings with the indulgent seafood platter, which includes oysters, yellowfin tuna, prawns, Balmain bugs and steamed mussels. It’s a luxe option for oyster lovers who prefer their bivalve molluscs beside a crackling fire with a side of cocktails. Balmain’s oldest pub also has its very own dedicated sit-up oyster bar. 

Raes Dining Room, Byron Bay

Good oysters and good views await.

This iconic dining room is adjacent to the waterfront in Byron Bay, which makes it a mainstay for slurping oysters with a sea view. It’s pretty much one of the best places to enjoy oysters on Australia’s East Coast. Get your bivalve buzz on by hitting the trifecta with oysters on the half shell served three different ways: natural, with native finger lime, anise myrtle and lemon aspen or with a pandanus kombucha granita.

Broken Bay Pearl Farm, Broken Bay

The only place to indulge in Akoya Oysters. (Image: Destination Central Coast/James Horan)

While it’s best known for its pearls, Broken Bay Pearl Farm also offers a rare oyster experience as part of its Oyster and Pearl Lovers tour. In fact, the shellar door is the only place in NSW offering a taste of akoya oysters. Hop on board a flat-bottomed boat and drift along the Hawkesbury River to visit working oyster leases and dine on Angasi, akoya oysters and Sydney rock oysters. The half-day tour also provides visitors with an up-close look at a live pearl harvest and exclusive pearl grading back at Broken Bay Pearl Farm, NSW’s only pearl farm. 

Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, Mooney Mooney

Wade into the water of the Hawesbury with Sydney Rock Oysters in-water dining experience. (Image: Remy Brand for Destination Central Coast)

Oyster lovers can find their happy place on the Hawkesbury River, dining on Sydney rock and Pacific oysters in the very waters they were grown in. Pull up your rubber waders and make your way to the floating dining table – replete with white tablecloth and bottle of bubbles – to learn the art of shucking near a ‘secret’ shoreline. Each curated tour includes a visit to authentic oyster leases with third-generation farmer Sheridan Beaumont, who has been cultivating oysters for about two decades. This is a true tide-to-table experience aimed at those who want to know where their food comes from. Circle the region’s Brisbane Water Oyster Festival in your culinary calendar for November.

Navigate Expeditions, Pambula River, NSW

Looking to taste the best oysters in Australia, straight from the source? Spend the morning paddling the pristine waters of Pambula River with Navigate Expeditions, where the water is gin-clear and the industry stories run deep. This tour is as hands-on as it gets: you’ll learn about the life cycle of the Sydney rock oyster and try your hand at shucking under the watchful eye of the team from Broadwater Oysters. This immersive tour is a must-do for anyone who likes their oysters freshly shucked and enjoys forging a deep connection with our farmers. Fun fact: co-owner Greg Carton won the Narooma Festival oyster-shucking contest in 2025 and he and his wife Sue McIntyre are regular medallists at the Sydney Royal Aquaculture Competition.

The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter, Narooma 

In April 2025, Destination NSW reported that in-water oyster farming experiences were becoming increasingly popular in NSW. The report titled “Oyster Tourism Turbocharges Visitor Economy" indicates that this trend is driven by visitors who wish to understand the origins of their food. The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter on the NSW South Coast is meeting the demand. The venture led by fourth-generation farmer Natasha Coxon offers a very boutique experience on the shores of Wagonga Inlet. Enjoy a partially guided e-bike tour with Southbound Escapes to the al fresco shack, which is worth a detour while on the NSW South Coast.  

Region X Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour

What could be better than paddling along the Clyde River in search of fresh Sydney rock oysters? This isn’t your average kayaking tour. Rather, it’s a progressive oyster picnic run by Region X that guides guests along the mirror-like calm of the river. In between leisurely strokes, adventurous epicureans will stop to sample oysters pulled straight from the river and meet a fourth-generation farmer and salty sea dog who knows this patch of water like the back of his weathered hand. In addition to enjoying the freshly harvested oysters in situ, there’s the chance to spot birds such as white-bellied sea eagles, pelicans and kingfishers.

Sydney Fish Market

Pick up a copy of Sydney Fish Market’s A Fish for All Seasons so you look like you’re an authority when you’re trawling around this iconic attraction for fresh oysters and seafood. NSW bivalve producers take home some of the top awards for the unique characteristics of their oysters. Pick up a dozen and enjoy them overlooking the waters of Blackwattle Bay. The new Sydney Fish Market is set to open adjacent to the existing market in 2025 and will return previously inaccessible parts of the harbour foreshore to the community. 

 Pearls & Plates, Broken Bay

Pearls and Plates is an unmissable experience for the culinary senses.

This October, Broken Bay Pearl Farm will also host Pearls and Plates, a long-table lunch that’s the only East Coast edition of the wildly popular WA series. The culinary event with the cult following will be hosted by Broken Bay Pearl Farm on 25-26 October. The immersive event, accessible only by boat, will feature a six-course menu curated by Guy Jeffreys, paired with matched wines and cocktails, live music, art, and a dramatic, over-the-top pearl harvest. It’s a rare chance to dine with the Brown and Lidden families, who are behind Australia’s pearling legacy, beside the glimmering waters of Broken Bay.  

Jim Wild’s Oysters, Greenwell Point

Oysters are at their briny best when plucked straight from the water. And Jim Wild’s offers some of the finest examples of Sydney rocks and plump Pacifics grown on the NSW South Coast. The family-run oyster shack is located on a crook of the Crookhaven River, at Greenwell Point near Nowra. It’s an easy day trip from Sydney to this corner of NSW’s southern coastline, which is only open during the oyster season. Check the website to see when Jim Wild’s Oysters is trading.  

Narooma Oyster Festival

Enjoy a boutique oyster-eating experience on the shores. (Image: David Rogers Photography)

It’s not a Narooma rumour: World Oyster Day is designed to bring attention to this prized ingredient. And it does a fine job of doing so. No matter that the Narooma Oyster Festival is held in May, as a day dedicated to oysters simply leads us in readiness towards worshipping at the weekend festival. Stop talking about attending the Narooma Oyster Festival. Just pencil the next May dates in your calendar and get it over with. Sample these delicacies by the dozen, meet oyster farmers everywhere from the Shoalhaven to Pambula, watch shucking contests and explore the life aquatic. Schedule a return visit with South Coast Sea Planes for Rock Oyster Week from April 26 and fly direct from Canberra to the jetty at the Quarterdeck.

Pearly Oyster Bar and Farm, Batemans Bay

Head to the Pearly Oyster Bar in Batemans Bay for one of Australia’s best oyster experiences. Here, fresh Sydney rock oysters come straight from the pristine waters of the Clyde River to your plate. Second-generation farmers Stefan and Kathy Paschalidis continue the tradition started by Stefan’s dad, Christos Paschalidis, more than three decades ago. Watch the tide ebb and flow as you slurp down just-shucked Sydney rock oysters grown just metres away. It’s a true tide-to-table experience.

 The Oyster Shed on Wray St, Batemans Bay

NSW’s South Coast is one of the best places to sample the merroir of Australia’s Oyster Coast. And to extract this recommendation from a Batemans Bay local is as challenging as it is for a first-timer to prise an oyster from its shell. Pick up a dozen just-shucked oysters served with a tongue-numbing splash of Tabasco and ready to savour alongside a crisp glass of white. The rustic Oyster Shed on Wray Street is, like Batemans Bay itself, low-key and unpretentious. Nab a picnic table overlooking the working estuary where you can watch the sea birds bobbing on the water. Aaah the serenity.

Wheeler’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Wheeler’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a must-stop for lovers of just-shucked oysters and one of the key attractions along the Sapphire Coast Oyster Merroir Tasting Trail. Taste oysters fresh from the estuary in one of the South Coast’s most dreamy dining rooms. Prefer to DIY a cheeky dozen? You can also pick up a bag of oysters in their shell to enjoy on a picnic by the sea or to take back to your seaside stay. And while there are infinite variations on ways to enjoy oysters, we reckon it’s best practice to enjoy them au natural when they’re this fresh.

Port Stephens

It’s impossible not to inhale an extravagant amount of oysters at Holbert’s Oyster Farm. The Holbert family has transformed its Port Stephens oyster shed into a destination detour rated as one of Australia’s standout oyster experiences. It’s not just on World Oyster Day that you’ll find visitors perched on the outdoor picnic tables slurping and sipping in unison. Visitors can watch the experts at work, grab a seafood platter or purchase a couple of dozen to enjoy at home. There’s no bells and whistles; it’s just briny bivalve brilliance. 

WA

Pair’d

The southern coast of WA is known for its premium seafood, including Albany rock oysters. The rock oysters from the western coast of Australia are sweet and creamy and can be sampled on an oyster farm experience with Untamed Escapes. Those looking ahead for the ultimate oyster experience could also book Pair’d, which occurs in November and includes everything from tasting events to fireside feasts. The festival earns points for both accessibility and excellence. 

Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm Tours

Burn 200 kilometres north of Broome to find the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, which is a tribute to more than 75 years of pearling history and heritage. The family-owned working farm has evolved into a one-of-a-kind destination offering immersive tours, waterfront accommodation and a seafood-centric restaurant with a view. Sure, it’s the pearls that are the star attraction. But the tidal flats surrounding the Dampier Peninsula also support wild oyster beds and tours delve into the region’s broader shellfish ecology. You can also book a Borrgoron Culture & History Tour of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, which offers an Indigenous perspective of the industry and includes foraging for rock oysters. 

SA

OysterPalooza at Never Never Distilling Co., McLaren Vale, SA

Start your OysterPalooza weekend with oyster gin tastings. (Image: Meaghan Coles)

Get in quick for this year’s OysterPalooza on 1–3 August. The annual three-day oyster bash will be held at the Never Never Distilling Co. in the heart of McLaren Vale. Expect vineyard views, coastal cocktails and the now-iconic Shellie: its Oyster Shell Gin frozen and served in a freshly shucked shell. Festivities kick off on the Friday with $3 oysters and live tunes. Meanwhile, Deck Sessions are back on Saturdays and Sundays with laidback tastings and tipples. It’s a peak winter indulgence, perfectly timed ahead of World Oyster Day on 5 August.  

Oyster Farm Tours, Coffin Bay

Port Lincoln is otherwise known as the Seafood Capital of Australia, so it’s not to be overlooked when searching for the best oyster experiences in the country. Those looking ahead will want to book ahead for the popular Oyster Farm Tour, which takes guests out on the water for a hands-on shucking lesson and taste of fresh Pacific and native Angasi oysters. Coffin Bay supplies some of Australia’s top chefs and restaurants. If you don’t want to get your feet wet, hole up at the Port Lincoln Hotel over oysters and a glass of SA chenin blanc. It’s unique oyster dining in Australia and up there with the best. 

Maxwell Wines

Maxwell Wines in McLaren Vale is on the map for lovers of oysters with a show-stopping dish dubbed the Oyster Pearl. One of the best ways to celebrate World Oyster Day in Australia is to book an experience with Maxwell Wine, which has transformed the humble mollusc with artistic flair. We’re talking an oyster mousse encased in a crisp, edible oyster shell made from gluten-free batter and painted to look like the real deal. The ‘Pearl Oyster’ is a pearler: topped with oyster mayo, caviar, karkalla and sea blight. A flourish of gel fashioned from sparkling wine and edible silver seals the deal. A must-try for anyone chasing the best oyster experience in Australia.  

Smoky Bay Oysters

Board a barge bound for the purpose-built platform that is standing, like a skinny-legged egret, in the waters of Smoky Bay. Don your Teva sandals and wade in at low tide to learn all about the cultivation of oysters and management of the leases just south of Ceduna in ‘The Oyster Capital of Australia’. After a hands-on watery workshop at Smoky Bay Oysters, you get to savour some freshly shucked oysters with sparkling wine and local cheese. It’s fitting that Australia’s only Oyster Deck and Farm Tour Experience is on the Eyre Peninsula, Australia’s so-called seafood frontier. Want to organise a romantic oyster experience for two? Book a private sunset tour which includes a picnic on the platform as the light scatters diamonds over the water.  

QLD

Straddie Oyster Tours  

Oysters are served with bubbles and sea breezes on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island. This luxe four-hour catamaran cruise with Moreton Bay Sea Farms includes farm visits, shucking demos and all the oysters you can handle during a farm-to-plate experience. The tour is a mix of education and indulgence, set in one of the most biodiverse and beautiful marine environments in the country. Apart from learning the age-old art of shucking, visitors get the opportunity to spot dolphins, turtles and sea birds. By participating in the cruise, guests also contribute to OzFish, where local oyster shell recycling is helping to restore 100 hectares of shellfish reef. 

TAS 

Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures 

Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures gives you fresh seafood caught and cooked before your eyes. (Image: Dearna Bond)

Jump on board a private vessel for a deep dive into the cold, clear waters of the River Derwent in Tasmania/Lutruwita. This full-day adventure includes harvesting your own oysters, abalone and sea urchin off Bruny Island/Lunawanna-Allonah. This seafood haul is then prepared to order, paired with crayfish, mussels and salmon and served aboard the boat with a crisp Tassie white. Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures offers part hands-on and part high-end tours. It’s the seafood safari you want to book if you’re into making great memories. Make the most of your time on the island by visiting the Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Co. to snaffle some more foodie souvenirs. 

Barilla Bay Oyster Farm & Restaurant, Barilla Bay 

Guests can enjoy fresh oysters and a beach tour. (Image: Tourism Tasmania/Nick Osborne)

Barilla Bay Oyster Farm & Restaurant is prepared for the daily invasion of mainlanders with dozens of oysters shucked fresh each day. Enjoy a cheeky dozen Sydney rock oysters onsite, paired with local wines, or go behind the scenes with a guided tour through the farm’s wetlands and processing areas. The tours are perfect for first-timers keen to learn more about farming the bivalve molluscs as they include a beach tour to visit the leases. Check the website for the roster of specialty evenings held on the last Thursday of each month (between October and April. But excluding December. 

Get Shucked, Bruny Island/Lunawanna-Allonah

The nutrient-rich waters off Bruny Island/Lunawanna-Allonah are known for producing world-class oysters. And lovers of the bivalve molluscs have Get Shucked pinned to their map app. The island is an easy drive from Hobart on the ferry and the drive-through shellar door is perfect for van lifers who want to pick up a cheeky dozen of fresh-out-of-the-water oysters without having to wield their own knife. The oyster door sells oysters by the dozen to day trippers. You can also take your foot off the pedal and perch at the oyster bar to enjoy plump and creamy Pacific oysters. 

Oyster Bay Tours, Frecyinet Farm 

Indulge in some mouthwatering oysters fresh from the marine farm.

Don your waders and paddle into the sparkling waters of Coles Bay on this immersive east coast tour in Tasmania/ Lutruwita. Learn how to grow, harvest and shuck oysters straight from the source, then sample them on the riverbank, still tasting of the sea. The experience finishes with a wine tasting at nearby Freycinet Vineyard, which is known for its pinot noir, which pairs perfectly with oysters. This rustic tour is right up there with some of Australia’s best oyster experiences for seeing how seafood is farmed and harvested.  

Melshell Oyster Shack  

This family-owned farm has a charming spot for indulging freshly shucked oysters. (Image: Rob Burnett)

Melshell Oyster Shack is hidden away where the Swan River meets Great Oyster Bay. And it offers both a charming and superior oyster experience. Tasmania/Lutruwita is home to some of the world’s most delicious oysters. And this blue-hued ‘love shack’ is a beacon for lovers of bivalve molluscs. Here, oysters are shucked fresh to order and served up with views of the surrounding Moulting Lagoon. Melshell Oyster Shack is a little off the beaten track, but totally worth the drive. While the best time to go might be on World Oyster Day, visitors are drawn year-round for the option to slurp a dozen on the jetty by the water’s edge. Open Monday to Friday. Level up the experience with a stay on Picnic Island, set to reopen at the end of the year, which offers oyster tours to Melshell Oyster Shack and Freycinet Marine Farm.  

Tarkine Fresh Oysters  

They offer a tour for adventure-seeking oyster lovers. (Image: Jess Bonde)

Embark on a tour of the Tarkine Fresh Oysters so you can make your selection in the retail outlet with some authority. The boutique farm tour is aimed at those seeking a more remote, untamed oyster experience. Tarkine Fresh Oysters is in Tasmania’s wild northwest. And the boutique farm offers oysters straight from the nutrient-rich waters of Smithton, where it has six oyster leases. Taste them at peak freshness, just steps from where they’re pulled from the water. Less is definitely more at Tarkine Fresh Oysters as the organic oysters are farmed with minimal intervention to achieve maximum flavour.  

VIC

Portarlington Mussel Tours 

This list won’t be complete without this world-class dining experience from Portalington.

It’s a bit of a flex that Portalington Mussel Tours includes oysters. The Victorian region of Geelong & The Bellarine is the go-to for world-class culinary adventures. The Deluxe Seafood Tour, launched in December 2024, is not just about oysters. Guests cruising the waters of Port Phillip Bay on the beautifully restored Huon pine boat Valerie will be treated to a veritable feast of oysters, mussels, scallops and abalone accompanied by a bottle of ocean-aged vintage cuvée which has been cellared under water at the mussel farms. The tour includes a cooking demonstration and tasting.