Next Voyage: Friday 5 - Monday 8 February 2027
Come aboard for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival — the Southern Hemisphere’s premier celebration of wooden boats and maritime culture, and Tasmania’s largest free festival. Every two years, Hobart’s waterfront comes alive with tall ships, historic vessels, maritime craftsmanship, live music, theatre, film, art, storytelling, family activities, and on-water experiences from across Tasmania, Australia, and beyond, with festival venues and events weaving through nearby city streets and historic buildings.
Wander the docks, step aboard, make something by hand, and discover what’s waiting around the next corner of the waterfront. Whether you’re a lifelong wooden boat lover or simply curious to explore, there’s something for everyone at AWBF.
While the full 2027 program will be announced in November 2026, here’s a taste of the experiences, events, and waterfront atmosphere people have come to love at the festival.
Boats Afloat
Discover more than 300 wooden boats lining the waterfront of Sullivans Cove, from gleaming yachts and working vessels to rare historic craft, each carrying its own story of life on the water.
The Parade of Sail
Watch more than 200 wooden boats and tall ships sweep from John Garrow Light into Sullivans Cove during the Festival’s iconic Friday Opening Parade of Sail at 12pm, then experience the organised chaos as crews bring the fleet to berth across the waterfront.
Boats Ashore
Wander among beautiful boats ashore across the festival precinct, from classic dinghies and historic designs to finely crafted model boats celebrating the artistry of wooden boatbuilding.
The Maritime Marketplace
Hunt for maritime treasures and waterfront bounty inside one of Australia’s great maritime marketplaces, filled with nautical curiosities, timber, tools and hard-to-find pieces for life at sea.
Tall Ships
Watch the tall ships arrive in full sail, towering above the docks of Sullivans Cove. Explore these majestic vessels that travel from across Australia, meet their crews and experience the atmosphere they bring to the harbour.
On-Water Action
From Constitution Dock to the River Derwent, the Festival comes alive with races, parades, demonstrations, rowing, and sailing as wooden boats drift, race, and gather across Hobart’s waterfront.
The Quick & Dirty Boat Challenge
Cheer on youth teams as they race the clock to build a boat from scratch before launching their creations into Sullivans Cove in one of AWBF’s most chaotic, inventive and entertaining traditions.
The Wooden Boat Symposium
Dive into a lively program of talks, films, storytelling and debate presented with the Australian National Maritime Museum, exploring the people, ideas, craftsmanship and maritime traditions shaping life on and around the water.
The Little Sailors Village
Drop anchor at The Little Sailors Village, where young imaginations come alive through hands-on making, creative workshops, storytelling, and maritime adventures designed for toddlers to tweens and their grown-ups.
The Ketch Review
Feel the River Derwent come alive as Tasmania’s historic ketches raise their topsails in tribute to the vessels that once carried timber, cargo and stories along the coast and across Bass Strait.
Sailing, Cruises & Tours
See the Festival from the water aboard a sailing cruise or harbour tour, with opportunities to step aboard traditional vessels and experience Hobart’s waterfront under sail. From short scenic trips to unforgettable tall ship experiences, there’s no better way to take in the atmosphere of AWBF.
The Derwent World Championships
Cheer on Tasmania’s iconic Derwent Class yachts as they race across the River Derwent in the proudly named “World Championships” — a spirited celebration of local design, restoration, tradition and friendly rivalry on the water.
Model Boats & Ships in Bottles
Marvel at miniature worlds of remarkable detail, from finely crafted model boats to delicate ships in bottles, each celebrating the patience, precision and artistry of maritime makers.
The Classic Dinghy Display
Step inside Hobart City Hall to explore beautifully restored dinghies, kayaks, and canoes from across Australia, many rigged with sails raised. Celebrating the small craft that shaped generations of sailing and racing on Australian waterways, this much-loved exhibition showcases craftsmanship, design, and maritime heritage.
Knot Tying Fun
Learn the ropes with hands-on knot tying activities for all ages in the beautiful heritage Hobart Town Hall Ballroom, from simple sailor’s knots to traditional maritime techniques passed down through generations. Fun, practical, and surprisingly addictive, it’s a chance to test your skills and connect with life on the water.
Tasmanian Food & Drink
Follow the flavours of Tasmania across the waterfront with fresh seafood, local produce, artisan treats, craft beer, cool-climate wines, whisky, cider, and more. From long lunches to quick bites beside the docks, AWBF is a celebration of Tasmania’s rich food and drink culture.
The Waterside Tavern
Pull up a seat beside the harbour at The Waterside Tavern, where cold drinks, live music and waterfront revelry carry on from sunny afternoons into lively festival nights alongside the boats of Sullivans Cove.
Gotta Love Tassie Seafood Marquee
Savour the smell of the sea at the Gotta Love Tassie Seafood marquee, where chefs, cooking demonstrations and Tasmania’s world-class seafood come together. Don’t miss the oyster shucking competition, where professionals and enthusiastic amateurs battle it out for shucking glory.
The Vintage Steam Village
Hear whistles blow and engines rumble as the Hobart Vintage Machinery Society brings historic steam, diesel and outboard engines to life beside the waterfront.
Theatre
Experience original live theatre premiering at the Festival, with performances inspired by the sea, storytelling, history, and life on the waterfront. From intimate productions to larger-scale works, these special events bring maritime culture to life in unexpected ways.
The Vintage Diving Display
Gather at Watermans Dock as the Tasmanian Vintage Diving Group descends into the strange and wondrous world of vintage diving, with brass helmets, heavy canvas suits and all the curious apparatus of a bygone seafaring age.
The Shipwrights Village
Listen to the sound of tools on timber as shipwrights, boatbuilders and craftspeople bring traditional maritime skills to life beside the harbour, sharing the artistry, knowledge and hard work behind wooden boats.
Film Festival at The Peacock
Slip into the historic Peacock Theatre for a curated series of maritime films and documentaries, from independent storytelling and ocean adventures to beloved seafaring classics and big-screen blockbusters inspired by life on the water.
The Noisy Boatyard
Roll up your sleeves and learn from skilled craftspeople in hands-on workshops where you can carve, weave, splice, shape and create your own wooden, knotwork and maritime-inspired pieces to take home.
Roving Entertainment
Around every corner, expect music, laughter, and a touch of maritime mischief. AWBF’s roving entertainers bring the waterfront to life with colourful characters, wandering musicians, sea shanties, storytelling, and spontaneous performances for all ages.
Art & Exhibitions
Step ashore into galleries, historic halls and unexpected waterfront spaces filled with maritime art, photography, objects and stories that capture the beauty, mystery and romance of life at sea.
Fireworks on the Derwent
Gather along the waterfront as the Royal Hobart Regatta Association lights up the River Derwent with a dazzling fireworks display reflected across the harbour and the festival fleet.
Public Rowing
Take to the water at Constitution Dock with free public rowing sessions open to all ages and experience levels. Try your hand aboard a range of traditional and community vessels, from classic dinghies to Indigenous watercraft, and experience Hobart’s waterfront from a whole new perspective.
Parbuckling
Try your hand at parbuckling, a traditional maritime technique once used to roll barrels, cargo, and even boats using ropes and teamwork. Open to all ages and experience levels, these hands-on demonstrations at Constitution Dock offer a fun and lively glimpse into historic waterfront working practices.
The Admiral's Sail
Farewell the fleet at the Festival’s closing Admiral’s Sail on Monday afternoon, as wooden boats, tall ships, and classic craft form a final flotilla across the River Derwent. A much-loved AWBF tradition, it’s a stirring send-off to four unforgettable days on Hobart’s waterfront.