Illawarra Edible Garden Trail 2026

Now in its fourth year, the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail has grown into a coast-wide celebration, spanning Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama.

Join us across two weekends as we explore this year’s theme, “Food for All”—celebrating native habitat gardens alongside backyard veggie patches, balcony & verge gardens, community spaces, school gardens, hobby farms, and everything in between!

The Trail will take place over two weekends

• 31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026: Helensburgh to West Wollongong (Northern Illawarra)
• 7 – 8 Nov 2026: Cringilla to Gerringong (Southern Illawarra)

The Trail is an opportunity to ask all those weird and wacky questions; how to raise chooks, what does it take to build soil, how do you choose the right varieties for your garden, what about endemic native foods, how to build the right structure fit for purpose, what grows well in shady spots, how to plant dwarf fruit tree, or just simply asking, what is this weed!? And maybe, is it edible?

Don’t miss this golden opportunity to connect with like-minded folk, and learn how to build food security across the Illawarra!

WANT TO OPEN YOUR GARDEN?

Get in touch with Emily at gardentrail@foodfairnessillawarra.org.au or register via this link. Host registrations are open from 1st May until 1st September.

This event is in partnership with Food Fairness Illawarra andHealthy Cities Australia, and is sponsored by Gilly’s Kitchen Garden. This is the trail’s fourth year running (first trail in 2023).

Please visit the ticketing event page to purchase tickets and view event FAQs.