A national charity is inviting Hawkesbury locals to spend a free weekend camping, fishing and learning how to restore the waterways they love — and no experience is necessary.
OzFish Unlimited — Australia's only fish habitat restoration charity — is holding an Experience Campout at Yarramundi, on the banks of the Grose River, from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 May 2026. The event runs from 2pm Friday through to 10am Sunday, and is open to anyone keen to get involved in protecting their local fishery.
Over two days, participants will get hands-on with the techniques OzFish has used nationally to restore 100 hectares of seagrass meadows, build 20 hectares of oyster reef, and improve 184 kilometres of riverbank for recreational fishers. Skill sessions will include input from recreational anglers, industry experts and First Nations leaders, covering water quality monitoring, riverbank restoration and community project planning.
OzFish Senior Project Officer Lucas Kas says the format is deliberately relaxed. "The weekend blends short skill sessions with plenty of time to get some fishing done, where we'll wind down so members can swap ideas, compare notes and plan local projects for 2026."
"These campouts are about building confident, connected chapter leaders who know how to turn good ideas into on-ground action. Our members leave with practical skills and the momentum to improve their home waterways."
The Grose River event is a particularly significant one for the organisation — it marks the first campout for OzFish's newest Western Sydney chapter, bringing together members from across neighbouring chapters to share challenges, swap ideas and work toward community-driven solutions for local waterways.
Included in the weekend are two group dinners, off-grid camping on Friday and Saturday nights, and a take-away guidebook for future chapter projects — along with plenty of time for fishing, yarning and sitting around the campfire. Those who can't make the full weekend can also register as a day tripper.
Previous campouts at Evans Head, Patonga and Sandon River have proven popular, giving members the chance to learn about macroinvertebrate and water quality monitoring, oyster ecology, saltmarsh care and community leadership.
Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. An OzFish membership is required to attend. To register for the Grose River campout, visit ozfish.org.au/event/ozfish-experience-campout-grose-river-nsw
