Wild edible mushroom foraging – Oberon

Join us for a magical day out in the State Forest. Following in the footsteps of Italian and Polish families, wild crafters and gourmet food enthusiasts, for a fantastic seasonal treat, pine mushrooms!

With professional forager Diego Bonetto who will take you on a wild food adventure in the pine forest, uncovering the details of where to look, when to move and how to harvest edible pine mushrooms. You’ll even get to taste these seasonal treats and learn how to preserve your bounty.

This is a hands-on workshop and while we hope to find baskets full of delicious mushrooms for all, you’ll need to get your mushroom eyes ready for spotting them on the forest floor. Part treasure hunt, part ecological awakening, this experience is like no other. The activity has been treasured for generations by eastern European and Mediterranean cultures in Australia, making it a seasonal must-do to share stories and recipes.

WHEN:  March to May

WHERE: Hampton State Forest, NSW- Exact location disclosed to ticket holders a few days before the event.

Please be aware that we will be driving on unsealed roads at times. The forest tracks are suitable for city cars but not ideal for low-riding sport cars.

COST:

Adults: $120
Underemployed/Concession/Child: $95

“An amazing experience at the mushroom foraging workshop. It’s so tranquil in the forest and thanks to Diego, we’re now empowered to pick our own mushrooms. 100% recommend!”
– Emily Don

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE FINALISING YOUR BOOKING.

This is an all-weather event. We will only cancel the outing in case of heavy rain or dangerously gusty winds, via email and phone call 2 days before the date, offering a place on another tour.

Refund Policy: Due to the nature of the event, we will not issue any refunds for unused tickets sold. Please make sure you are available to attend before you finalise your booking.

Reschedule Policy: If you need to reschedule we can offer you a Gift Voucher up to four weeks (4) before the event. This voucher can be used against any workshop of the same value, and is valid for three years. If less than four weeks’ notice is given you can pass on the ticket to someone else.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Great company

• A wild food hunt in the magical pine forest

• We will visit 2/3 different locations

• Learn how to cook + preserve your bounty with recipes to follow in your inbox

• To taste mouthwatering mushroomy treats

• Too many mushrooms to carry? We can provide a box to take home your excess loot!

• To be back in the city by 4 pm

WHAT TO BRING:

• Suitable clothing (it gets cold in the forest)

• Sturdy hiking boots or gumboots.

• Long pants, to ward of scratches from blackberries and kisses from leeches

• Water and snacks

• A knife and a basket (a wicker basket is best, you find them in Op shops)

• Your camera

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ABOUT YOUR GUIDE:

Diego has been pioneering the edible mushroom workshops in NSW, empowering people with the ancient skills of foraging for food for over 20 years. Diego is a wild edibles advocate, most famous for his offering of urban foraging workshops. Building on the knowledge acquired while growing up on a farm in Italy, Diego introduces people to the ever-present food and medicine plants that surround us. He collaborates extensively with chefs, herbalists, environmentalists and cultural workers promoting a new understanding of what the environment has to offer.
Check a media review of Diego’s works here>

This workshop is a registered activity with the Forestry Corporation of NSW and we are in constant contact to find out roads and forest conditions, ensuring the best experience for all guests.

This event is part of the Field to Forest Festival of the Oberon Council. Please see here for more events as part of the initiative and here for some local accommodation options to make it a weekend of fun regional activities.