Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 edition of Pearls & Plates at Broken Bay Pearl Farm, an immersive long table experience combining food, culture and Australian pearling heritage in a secluded location.
Pearls & Plates returns this October, following a sell-out premiere last year. This off-the-brochure, once a year event, brings together one of Australia’s most unique dining experiences with an exciting new culinary direction led by acclaimed Bundjalung chef Mindy Woods.
Set on the Hawkesbury River, the experience begins at Broken Bay Pearl Farm’s Shellar Door at Mooney Mooney, before guests travel by boat to a private historic homestead on the water’s edge - a setting that forms the backdrop for an intimate long table lunch.
The boat ride to our secluded location is just the beginning of an afternoon that promises lots of fun, extraordinary culinary experiences and an opportunity to meet the people of the river and share their stories.
Our feature Chef, Mindy Woods, a finalist on MasterChef Australia and recipient of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 Champion of Change Award, is nationally recognised for her work championing native ingredients and First Nations food culture.
As the founder of Karkalla, Woods works closely with communities and knowledge holders to protect and celebrate Indigenous food systems, weaving cultural storytelling into contemporary dining.
“For me, it’s about creating a deeper connection to Country through food,” says Woods. “Using native ingredients and local produce allows us to tell stories that have been shared for thousands of years.”
Guests will enjoy a multi-course menu inspired by the Hawkesbury and its surrounding regions, paired with premium beverages and local produce.
Now in its second year at Broken Bay, Pearls & Plates is part of a broader series founded by the Liddon family in Western Australia’s Abrolhos Islands, bringing together multi-generational pearling families to share stories, culture and connection through food.
Hosted by the Brown family of Broken Bay Pearl Farm, in collaboration with the Liddon family, the experience also includes a live pearl harvest, offering rare insight into the world of Australian pearl farming.
The 2026 event also forms part of a significant milestone for the Brown family, marking 80 years since the founding of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Australia’s oldest operating pearl farm.
This legacy underpins the Pearls & Plates experience, bringing generations of knowledge, storytelling and connection to the table.
With just two dates available and limited seating, Pearls & Plates Broken Bay is expected to sell quickly.
