The annual Walk on the Wild Side festival in Hawks Nest is only a few weeks away and organisers have a full agenda of planned activities for locals and visitors over the weekend of September 7 to 9.
Event coordinator, Shona Hunter Howarth, believes this year will be well-attended, with more than 5000 people visiting the event website in July alone.
"Thanks to the support of our local sponsors and the Department of State and Regional Development, we have been able to extend the program to offer activities over the whole weekend," she said.
The weekend begins on Friday evening September 7, when local identity, Christian Patteson, will lead a spotlighting walk through some local bushland to discover nocturnal wildlife and do a little stargazing.
On Saturday, September 8, the Lions Club will host a barbecue breakfast beside the Myall River for the annual Paddle for Life Kayak event.
The Village Markets are also on at the Myall Quays Shopping Centre.
At 11am a bus will take visitors on a free guided heritage tour, departing from the Visitor Information Centre in Tea Gardens.
On Saturday afternoon, the surf club will hold a little nippers registration and demonstration, and in the evening there will be a barbecue tea for families at the Surf Club.
There will also be a bush dance at the country club, held by the Lionesses.
Walk on the Wild Side's main feature is a program of free guided walks through the spectacular wildflowers and natural environment surrounding the Hawks Nest area on Sunday, September 9.
Eight different walks have been organised by the Myall Koala and Environmental Support Group and will be led by local experts and enthusiasts, departing from the community hall in the morning and running again in the afternoon.
The Sunday program also includes:
o short seminars about local koalas and birdlife
o Live music in the park
o Palm and tarot card readings
o Helicopter joy flights, only $50 per person for an eight minute flight
o Fishcare volunteers caravan
o National Parks display
o Myall U3A Art Exhibition
The Wally will be operating as our festival ferry offering a bargain return trip from Nelson Bay at only $15 per person and will be met by the Hawks Nest Golf Club bus to take you to the action in Hawks Nest.
The first ferry departs from wharf four in Nelson Bay at 8.30am.
All the shops in Hawks Nest will be open to show off their bargains or serve you with a variety of food and drinks.
As this event will be held on the APEC weekend, locals are encouraged to tell their Sydney friends and relatives about the weekend and refer them to the website at www.walkonthewildside.net.au.
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