Highland Valley Forage
Sat 6 March and Sat 23 October 2021
After a sold out event in 2020, the Highland Valley Forage in Kangaroo Valley is back in 2021. This foodie trail tells the story of how the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven and Coast, South of Sydney are connected, through food and wine.
Be sustained by our 10-course degustation menu, meet the locals, taste cool climate wines, smell the wild flowers blooming in the warm spring air and take in some of the most breathtaking scenery of the region as you experience the Highland Valley Forage. Enjoy our 4km experience or take in the entire 9.5km walk.
Guests walk along the Three Views Walking track, stopping at 10 food and beverage stations along the way, enjoying a degustation lunch, meeting the local food and wine producers and being part of nature. This area was directly impacted in January 2020 by the bushfires and is regenerating. Walk through this fire affected region, experiencing the changing landscape and native wildflowers, whilst taking in the warm spring air.
We welcome our local sponsors Shoalhaven Tourism as well as promotional partners NSW Parks and Destination Southern Highlands as part of this event and we will be announcing our chef and wine partners in the coming weeks as their culinary creations, make this a unique experience each year.
Meet Our Culinary Partners
Choose from two options on the day; a 4km experience or the entire 9.5km walk.
Our event menu on Saturday 24 Oct 2020 comprised of dishes from local gastronomic artisans; Kangaroo Valley’s Nick Gardner from Hampden Deli; Highland favourites, the team at Birch Restaurant and our Camden Friends at PB Catering. We also enjoyed a cleansing shot from Bare Bites Bowl & Brew, cheese from Pecora Diary, Ice Cream from Bodalla and Fudge from the Kangaroo Valley Fudge Shop.
All our chefs and catering partners use produce from local farmers in the area, and the food is matched with local wines, ales or distilled cocktails to offer foodies and wine lovers alike a very different kind of food experience. in 2020 we sampled Tertini, Centennial, Artemis, Wollumbi Estate, Crooked River Wines and Cupitt’s Estate as well as Copper from Crooked River Wines.
The track is almost completely flat, so it’s suitable for all fitness levels. Experience the best of this region in a leisurely long degustation food and wine trail through blooming spring wildflowers in Morton National Park.
So you can meander at your own pace we take bookings at allocated a times with each group around 12 -20 people, so guests are staggered throughout the day. Parking has been arranged at the Osborne Park Showground on Moss Vale Road in Kangaroo Valley and is included in your ticket price. When you start the Forage you will be given a booklet outlining all elements of the walk as well as a wine glass for your tastings.
Cost | 10 course degustation $195 per person.
This includes parking, bus ride there and back which is 15 mins each way, all food and wine for the day as well as NSW Parks fees and GST. We are unable to accommodate specific dietary requests however approx 7 of the 10 stations are suitable for vegetarians. Please also note that this is an over 18 years event.
We recommend flat shoes that cover your feet like trainers, no thongs or sandals, as this is a national park and whilst its flat and a well worn track, it is an unmodified natural surface. Please bring your own filled water bottle (there will be refill stations along the way), sunscreen and a hat for the spring weather. This is a beginners walk so suitable for all fitness levels.
Sat 6 March On Sale Now
Description
Geography
Once the sea floor, the Highlands are characterised by native scrub dry sclerophyll forests and dry red mineral rich soils of Canyonleigh in the north west and the rolling green hills bordered by sandstone escarpment walls with micro-climate rainforests in the south east. From the village of Robertson, the escarpment drops into one of the country’s most scenic valleys, the Shoalhaven community of Kangaroo Valley, with just 35 kms until the rugged coastline of Shoalhaven Heads. The coast then stretches north through seaside towns and surfing beaches to Wollongong and to the south to the pristine, white sandy coves of Jervis Bay and the famous Booderee National Park.
What to expect
We suggest taking your time to really get the most from this wonderful location. The vegetation is diverse from rainforest to woodland and heath. In October there is a vibrant display of wildflowers in bloom from large yellow swamp banksias, cream paperbark wattles and deep reds on the native fuchsia. The area is also known for its bird life from honeyeaters to parrots, emu wrens and kookaburras.
The trail leads through a dense community of plants especially adapted to the difficult, nutrient poor conditions on the exposed sandstone escarpments. Expect to see spectacular plants such as the dwarf gum tree, a form of yellow Bloodwood, Corymbia Eximia. The flowers, fruit, leaves and bark of this plant are very attractive all with a yellow tinge. You will often see pink eriostemon and highly scented boronia in full flower nearby. There are also a huge variety of orchids, native peas and purple flag blooming in spring which bring in large numbers of birds and small marsupials to feed as this is a rich course of nectar and pollen.
Main trees are Scribbly Gum, Red Bloodwood, Southern Sandstone Stringybark, Yertchuck and Yellow Bloodwood with its spectacular cream-yellow flowers in October. Also Grass Tree, Boronia, Eriostemon, Banksias, Smokebush, Geebung, Wedge-pea, Drum and Cone sticks, Hakea, Kunzea, Dampiera, Grevilleas, Mountain Devil, Native Iris, Leek Orchid, Sun Orchid.
Native animals to the area include Wombat, Swamp Wallaby, Echidna, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Fantail, Rufous Whistler, Eastern Spinebill, New Holland Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Wattlebird, Rock Warbler (around cliffs), Lace Monitor, Jacky Lizard.We recommend flat shoes that cover your feet like trainers, no thongs or sandals, as this is a national park and whilst its flat and a well worn track, it is an unmodified natural surface. Please bring your own filled water bottle (there will be refill stations along the way), sunscreen and a hat for the spring weather. This is a beginners walk so suitable for all fitness levels.
Additional information
| Experience | Autumn Forage, Spring Forage |
|---|---|
| Day | Sat 6 March, Sat 23 Oct |
| Time | 10am, 10.20am, 10.40am, 11.00am, 11.20am, 11.40am, Noon, 12.20pm, 12.40pm, 1pm, 1.20pm, 1.40pm, 2pm |
TripAdvisor Review ‘An incredible, unique, immersive experience! Wow wow wow! What a day. What a concept! We had an amazing time yesterday doing the Highland Forage in Kangaroo Valley. The whole idea was amazing, combining outstanding food, delicious wine, breathtaking dining set ups and the most lovely people.”
“The Forage was amazing – so well organised and the food, wine, service and friendliness of all hosts was incredible. We had a downpour of rain but were able to continue on again after 10 minutes or so. We went prepared for the wet weather, so we were all fine.
Amanda and her crew do an amazing job!”
“Top notch event
I participated in the Highland Valley Forage on 24 Oct 20; a 9.5 km hike with 10 course degustation. It was my first Wildfest event and it exceeded my expectations. Even the unpredictable rain showers couldn’t dampen our spirits. It was well organised, amazingly catered and the Three Views Track Walk was exceptional! We were given a calico backpack, full menu and a wine glass (glass not acrylic) with neck lanyard to aid our experience. Everyone who participated in the event from Wildfest staff to chefs we’re welcoming, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The food and matching wines were 5 star quality and I liked that it highlighted local produce, regional wines and district restaurant chefs and caterers. I immediately signed up to their mailing list and have booked in for another event.”
“Highland Valley Forage 2020…Really amazing food and wine served with passion and commitment through rain and storms. Fabulous location in a beautiful national Park and the organisation was superb. Worth every cent.”
“My husband, myself and a couple of friends went on the Highland Forage and were blown away by the quality of the food – absolutely delicious and more amazing for being put together on a bushwalk with beautiful views. The food was matched with incredible local wines – we’ll be visiting both the wineries and eateries featured to sample more! Very enjoyable few hours with a lovely bunch of people and passionate foodies.”
“A friend and I went in the inaugural Highland Forage yesterday and it beat every expectation that we had. We did the 4.5km walk with 8 courses and loved every moment. The food provided would have been exceptional in a restaurant setting but for the chefs to produce what they did, in the bush, was absolutely amazing. The lookouts were breathtaking, the wines were delicious and the vibe amongst the group we foraged with was relaxed and friendly. It’s an experience I won’t forget and I’m looking forward to next year’s Forage already. Thanks to Amanda, her team and all the chefs for putting together an unforgettable day.”
“it beat every expectation that we had…….The food provided would have been exceptional in a restaurant setting but for the chefs to produce what they did, in the bush, was absolutely amazing. ….. It’s an experience I won’t forget and I’m looking forward to next year’s Forage already. Thanks to Amanda, her team and all the chefs for putting together an unforgettable day.”