Three things line up on the NSW South Coast this spring, and they only line up like this once a year. The spring school holidays run from Monday, 28 September to Friday, 9 October 2026, a full two weeks. The October long weekend NSW 2026 dates sit inside them: Saturday 3 to Monday 5 October, the only public holiday between June and Christmas.
Daylight saving starts mid-holiday, on Sunday 4 October, handing you an extra hour of daylight for exactly the trip you’re already weighing up. Eurobodalla events spring into a genuinely busier calendar around that fortnight and the weeks either side of it; the Tilba Festival 2026, Sea Otter Australia 2026, the River of Art 2026 program, and Crank It Up all land between late September and late November.
Here are the ones worth building a trip around, and where to stay while you’re at it.
Eurobodalla spring events in 2026: What’s happening
Six things carry this spring’s calendar, in date order. Each one is priced and placed below so you can see at a glance whether it’s worth timing a trip around — and each pairs easily with everything else there is to do in the region, from coastal walks and wildlife to a browse through things to do more broadly.
- Saturday 26 September, Tilba Festival, Central Tilba; $20 adult, $10 child (4–12), $50 family of four, cashless. More than 30 years running, with live music on two stages and old-fashioned street games down the heritage village’s main street.
- Friday 25 September to Monday 5 October, River of Art Festival, Moruya and surrounds, many events are free. Over 100 arts events spread from Durras to Bermagui, anchored by the River of Art Prize exhibition.
- Thursday 1 October, Avant Raag Trio, Bermagui; ticketed at the door. A River of Art fringe gig blending jazz, electronica and world music influences at The River Rock Cafe.
- Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October, Sea Otter Australia, Mogo and Batemans Bay; festival passes from $10 a day. Australia’s biggest bike festival, which drew close to 9,000 people to its 2025 debut.
- Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November, Crank It Up, Batemans Bay foreshore. Three days of 1950s and 1960s rock ‘n’ roll, classic cars and a Show ‘n’ Shine on the Clyde.
- Every week, the region’s markets have free entry. SAGE Farmers Market on Tuesdays, Tilba Growers Market on Saturdays, and more below.
Which events are on in September 2026?
September opens with two headline events nine days apart. Tilba Festival 2026 runs on Saturday 26 September, 9:30 am to 4 pm, in the heritage village of Central Tilba, with tickets at $20 general admission, $10 for children aged 4 to 12, $50 for a family of two adults and two children, and free entry for under-4s who still need to book a ticket — the event is cashless, so plan for tap-and-go or pre-purchase. Nine days later, on Friday 25 September, River of Art 2026 opens across Moruya and the wider region, running through to Monday 5 October. Together, the two events give a Sydney or Canberra visitor a genuine reason to base a long weekend around Moruya and Tilba, rather than Batemans Bay alone.
Now in its fourth decade, the Tilba Festival brings live music to two stages, artisan and food stalls along Bate Street, a dedicated kids’ zone, and the street games the festival is known for, played out along the same heritage streetscape that’s drawn visitors to the many things to do in Tilba for years. Tilba itself has limited accommodation, so most visitors day-trip in from Narooma or Moruya; check getting around before you go, since the village’s single main street gets tight on festival day. Full program and ticket details are on the official Tilba Festival 2026 event page.
River of Art is the region’s largest arts festival, spreading more than 100 events from Durras in the north to Bermagui and Cobargo in the south over 11 days. The centrepiece is the River of Art Prize exhibition, hung this year at the historic Moruya Mechanics Institute — most exhibitions and events are free to attend, making it an easy add to a things to do in Moruya itinerary. For something after dark, the Avant Raag Trio play Bermagui’s The River Rock Cafe on Thursday 1 October, blending jazz, electronica and world music influences. Browse the full program, including art and culture events across the region, at the official River of Art website.
Which events are on in October? A long weekend, then the bikes arrive
October opens with the long weekend and closes with the region’s biggest single event. The October long weekend nsw 2026 falls Saturday 3 to Monday 5 October, the only public holiday between the King’s Birthday in June and Christmas — daylight saving starts partway through it, on Sunday 4 October, so clocks jump forward mid-weekend. Three weeks later, Sea Otter Australia takes over Mogo and Batemans Bay from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October: a two-day industry summit opens proceedings on 21 and 22 October, before the main festival runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25.
Sea Otter Australia 2026 is Australia’s biggest bike festival, and its first outing in 2025 proved it: the inaugural event drew close to 9,000 visitors and more than 1,845 athletes to the region, filling accommodation across Batemans Bay and booking out local caravan parks. The 2026 edition runs racing and demo rides across the Mogo Trails network, with the expo — more than 200 exhibitor brands — based at the Hanging Rock Sports Precinct in Batemans Bay. Non-riders need a festival and expo pass: $10 for a single day or $25 for all three, with kids under 12 free. Shuttles also run out to trails around Narooma and Mogo for the weekend. Full schedule and pass details are on the official Sea Otter Australia site.
What else is happening in October:
- 1. River of Art wraps up on Monday 5 October, so the festival’s final weekend overlaps with the long weekend itself.
- Spring school holidays run the full fortnight, so accommodation books out earliest for the long weekend and the Sea Otter weekend that follows it.
- Whale watching is still strong through October, with the season’s northbound and southbound migrations overlapping — see whale watching for vantage points.
Which events are on in November?
November marks the seasonal handover on the South Coast: the water starts to warm toward swimmable, the last whale mothers and calves head south past the coastline, and the region’s biggest classic car and rock ‘n’ roll weekend takes over the Batemans Bay foreshore. Crank It Up runs Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026, three days of 1950s and 1960s music, fashion, dancing and cars on the banks of the Clyde River.
Now a fixture on the South Coast calendar, Crank It Up brings ten live bands across multiple stages, a Show ‘n’ Shine car display, a car cruise down to Moruya and back, retro markets and dance demonstrations to Batemans Bay over the third weekend of November. It’s the last big drawcard before summer, and accommodation in the Bay fills for it much the way it does for Sea Otter a month earlier. Whale watching season is winding down through November as the last mother-and-calf pairs make their way south — see whale watching and Muriyira Whales for the best remaining vantage points before the season closes. Details and ticket tiers for the weekend are on the official Crank It Up website.
Which markets run every week in Eurobodalla?
Four markets run every week in Eurobodalla, and between them they cover most days from Tuesday to Saturday. SAGE Farmers Market is the pick for produce: it runs every Tuesday from 3pm to 5:30pm at Riverside Park in Moruya, selling fresh, local, grower-direct food including fish, cheese, bread, honey and freshly shucked oysters. It’s won ‘most outstanding farmers market’ from ABC Delicious Magazine twice.
Central Tilba runs its own Growers Market every Saturday morning from 8am at the Big Hall on Bate Street, worth combining with a look at things to do in Tilba if you’re up that way outside Festival weekend. In Batemans Bay, the Makers & Growers Market runs Thursdays from 10:30am to 2pm at the Market Place on Edward Road, Batehaven, with the neighbouring Edward Road Market Place trading Friday and Saturday, 9am to 2pm. If your visit spans a first, second, third or fourth Sunday, check the monthly markets too. Batemans Bay’s Sunday Market runs the first and third Sunday of the month on the waterfront, and Narooma’s Rotary Market runs the fourth Sunday at NATA Oval. For a fuller list of stalls and local produce worth building a food trail around, see our markets guide.
Where should you stay for the spring events?
Three weekends create the pressure points for spring accommodation: the October long weekend and school holidays (3–5 October, with the fortnight either side), the Sea Otter Australia weekend (23–25 October), and Crank It Up (20–22 November). All three concentrate demand on Batemans Bay and Mogo, so book those weekends first if that’s where you’re headed; Sea Otter’s 2025 debut booked out local caravan parks entirely.
Tilba Festival and River of Art pull demand toward Moruya, Narooma and Mogo instead, since Tilba itself has limited beds. If you’d rather skip the crowds altogether, our guide to the best time to visit without the crowds covers the quieter weeks either side of these dates. Wherever you land, browse the full range of options – from riverside cabins to beachfront resorts – on the accommodation page, and check getting around for transport once you arrive.
Plan your spring escape in Eurobodalla today
That’s the spring calendar: four events worth planning around, weekly markets to fill the gaps, and a long weekend and school holiday fortnight that both land in the middle of it. For the full calendar beyond what’s covered here, check What’s On Eurobodalla. If coastal walks, wildlife and food are more your speed than festival crowds, our spring escapes guide covers the rest of the season. Whichever events you’re building your trip around, start with accommodation — the dates above are exactly when it books out first.
FAQs
Which spring events on the NSW South Coast are worth travelling for?
Four: the Tilba Festival (26 September), River of Art (25 September–5 October), Sea Otter Australia (23–25 October) and Crank It Up (20–22 November). Each draws visitors specifically for the event, rather than being a nice-to-catch add-on to a beach holiday.
When are the NSW spring school holidays in 2026?
Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026, for both the Eastern and Western divisions of NSW public schools.
When is the October long weekend in NSW in 2026?
Saturday 3 to Monday 5 October. Daylight saving starts on Sunday 4 October, mid-weekend, so clocks move forward an hour partway through.
How much do Tilba Festival tickets cost?
$20 general admission, $10 for children aged 4–12, and $50 for a family of two adults and two children. Under-4s enter free but still need a booked ticket. Booking fees apply, and the event is entirely cashless.
Is the River of Art Arts Trail running in 2026?
No. The Arts Trail is paused for 2026 while its organisers review the model. The River of Art Prize exhibition is still running, at the Moruya Mechanics Institute, alongside fringe events like the Avant Raag Trio concert in Bermagui.
What is the biggest festival on the NSW South Coast?
Sea Otter Australia, held 23–25 October at Mogo and Batemans Bay. It’s Australia’s biggest bike festival. Its 2025 debut drew close to 9,000 attendees and 1,845 athletes.
Which markets run every weekend in Eurobodalla?
SAGE Farmers Market, Tuesdays 3:00-5:30 pm, and Moruya Country Markets, Saturdays from 8:00 am – 12:30 pm, both held at Riverside Park, Moruya; Tilba Growers Market, Saturdays from 8:00 am; and Batemans Bay’s Makers & Growers Market, Thursdays 10:30 am–2:00 pm at Batehaven.
Is the Narooma Oyster Festival held in spring?
No, it’s held in early May. The 2026 festival has already passed by spring; the next one runs 7–9 May 2027.
How far is Eurobodalla from Sydney and Canberra?
Under two hours from Canberra via the Kings Highway, and 3.5 to 4 hours from Sydney via the Princes or Hume Highway, depending on your route and starting point.
What is the weather like on the South Coast in spring?
Mild and warming: days climb from the high teens in September to the low-to-mid 20s by late November. Rain is generally lighter than winter, though the ocean stays cool for swimming until closer to summer.