Now in its third year, Oyster Festival Matakana kicks off the shucking season with a selection of Mahurangi’s finest home-grown Oysters. Alongside a bevvy of oyster dishes, local wines and craft beers there’s also an all-day oyster shucking competition, Buddy Bar and foodie demonstration tent.

And for those that aren’t partial to the slippery little bivalves there’s plenty of other tasty delicacies on offer with everyone from Rose Crafted Cakes to Toro Chiros, Double Dutch Fries, Whitebait Fritters from Manaki Whitebait and many more joining in the fun! In total this boutique Tepee style village will feature 40 artisan vendors of food, wine, beer and of course oysters aplenty 90% of whom are proudly local.

Alongside demos and oyster shucking competition the all-day entertainment continues with live music from The Up-Doos, Jim Pinckney, The Ibeju Pleasure Club and more. The event offers a day out of shucking good fun for the whole family, kids included. Mid-school holiday activities are programmed from silent disco, flax weaving, crepe making, lego comp, old school games and more. All within a dedicated area equipped with Made for Mischief cubbies and mud kitchens.

VIP tickets sold out within a few weeks but now a limited number has been released, these tickets will upgrade your festival experience, and include priority parking & entrance queuing, access to the VIP Private Bar, Mimosa on arrival and picnic box.

So go on, get shucked and imbibe the best of the Matakana region at Oyster Festival Matakana.

Getting there will be a breeze with return buses running from the city, North Shore and Silverdale, at $28 return. Transport from Mangawhai, Warkworth and Omaha are also be available, at $21 (return per person), for the local pick ups listed below run by The Concierge:

• WARKWORTH - pick up Baxer Street Bus Stop
• SNELLS BEACH - pick up Mahurangi Carpark, Sandspit-playground carpark opposite motor camp.
• MATAKANA - pick up Matakana Primary Bus Stop
• POINT WELLS - pick up Point Wells General Store
• LEIGH - pick up Leigh General Store
• WHANGATEAU - pick up Whangateau Camp Group

See the website for more details.

The oysters will be at their best for the festival even if the weather isn’t. This is an all-weather event – it’ll go ahead rain or shine, so leave the heels at home and make sure you glam up your gumboots for this one.

So grab your ticket to discover the bounty of the Matakana Region, and all it has to offer. Early bird tickets are on sale now, until the end of July for only $29.50.

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