ECHO FESTIVAL

Welcome to ECHO Festival

There’s a reason they call this autumnal event a “festival of the senses”.

In the stunning countryside of Tasmania’s east coast, where vines and crops sprawl along a fertile farming landscape hemmed by white beaches, you’ll find the East Coast Harvest Odyssey, also known in its abbreviated form as ECHO Festival. This event is a celebration of the community’s deep connection with the pristine environment and the high-quality bounty it yields.

ECHO takes up residence on the outskirts of the sleepy seaside town of Swansea, offering festival-goers three days of immersive and interactive foodie fun. It’s an idyllic place delivering a premium harvest from land and sea, with views over an azure ocean, to Freycinet National Park’s striking pink-granite Hazards mountains in the distance.

Come together with artists, chefs, scientists and passionate thought leaders to celebrate the unique culture and climate of Tasmania at this decadent festival of the senses.

The festival

Autumn is when the island erupts into leafy colour, the days get shorter and cooler, and the air becomes crisp. Hot summer winds hush to reveal stillness, and bright sunshine fades into a softer, clearer light. Florals and the scent of summer are replaced with an earthier atmosphere in the wake of seasonally emerging fungi.

This season sees grapes plucked from the vines, hops harvested and crisp apples picked from the orchards; setting the stage for ECHO Festival. The event site is positioned on picturesque, undulating farmland, in the company of top-notch vineyards draping along the east coast. This area is bordered by Meredith River and vast fields – a fitting setting for a festival celebrating harvest, nature and the patterns of life.

Eclectic live music fills the air, and interactive installations bring vivid visual art to the fore, alongside bountiful stalls selling delicious food and drink.

Catch experts in conversation and learn more about harvesting practices and other cultural and environmental topics. Sample delicious tipples from Splendid Gin, gulp down oysters speckled with edible flower petals, eat from huge pans laden with fragrant paella and taste rich abalone barbecued before you. Bite into a steamy slice of North-west Artisan Pizza, or visit the ‘Zen van for a crunchy cone stuffed with velvety gelato.

Delight in a special shared experience at the Native Bounty Feast, held on the very first night of this three-day sensory event. Dine in the invigorating outdoors at long tables decorated with tablecloths adorned with native flowers, and lit by the warm flicker of candles. Smell the swirling woodsmoke and eat up the morsels freshly harvested and prepared for you, while connecting with the people around you. As the evening grows darker and bellies grow fuller, sit around the glowing fire and share food, laughs and stories beneath the stars.

Accessibility

ECHO Festival is an annual event occurring around late March and early April, to coincide with the Autumn harvest season. Though pets are not allowed on site, dog guides are welcome at the festival.

ECHO Festival is an 18+ event set upon undulating farm grounds about two kilometres outside Swansea. Shuttle buses may be available from Swansea to the festival site. Taxi services are also available but are likely to be in very high demand during the festival period. To access the ECHO Festival program, or find answers to frequently asked questions and other vital event information, visit echofestival.com.au.

Swansea is a 134-kilometre drive north-east of Hobart which takes roughly 90 minutes. The coastal town is a similar distance south-east of Launceston. Calows Coaches offers public transport from Bicheno to Hobart via Swansea and other east coast towns. Tassielink offers a bus service seven days a week from Hobart to Bicheno, passing through a stop at Swansea. Visit transport.tas.gov.au for bus timetables and more travel information.

A vast array of accommodation is available in Swansea, including camping, backpacker hostels, and self-contained accommodation. The town is also equipped with a grocery store and other great places to eat and drink.