Ocean lovers unite

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.

09 December 2024

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 at Darling Harbour, or ferry tours across Sydney Harbour highlighting marine restoration efforts, there’s something for everyone.

Families can enjoy hands-on workshops and eco-markets, 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, and shark net alternatives.

Sydney Fish Market will host special events, including cooking classes with award-winning chef Luke Bourke and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours.

Festival founder, Anita Kolni.

Valerie Taylor, diver, photographer, and ground-breaking conservationist dedicated to protecting the grey nurse shark.

The endangered Grey Nurse Shark Pic: @aussie_bubbles

Adriana Verges, Professor in marine ecology at UNSW Sydney and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.

Dr Vanessa Pirotta is a marine biologist, woman in STEM and science communicator.

Take 3 Beach clean up is a part of the Festival.

Nothing could be more Aussie than celebrating the ocean with a sunrise yoga session on Bondi Beach.

Students gather at the Festival with the innovative Hullbot, an advanced underwater robotics platform.

Sand sculpture is a fun, inclusive event during the Ocean Lovers Festival.

The program includes live music performances.

Kyle Lionhart on stage at the 2023 Ocean Lovers Festival.

Markets are another colourful facet of the Festival.

Kids enjoying the "Litterarty" exhibition.

Big Friendly Giants of The Sea Sea Science Panel audience.

Festival founder, Anita Kolni addressing the audience during one of the presentations.

Trashion Show makes use of plastic waste.

Just some of the speakers and attractions at the 2025 Ocean Lovers Festival.

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, free diving lessons, and exclusive IMAX ocean documentaries. Audiences can meet ocean scientists or become a citizen scientist and join a Marine Bioblitz community science event in their area.

Festival founder Anita Kolni expressed her excitement saying, “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 percent 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 greatest ocean city in the world,” Kolni added.

Check out the event dates throughout March with highlight free festival weekends on 15 & 16 March in Darling Harbour and 22 & 23 March at Bondi Beach.

oceanloversfestival.com

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