During the months of March and April, Cooks River People gather for Wurridjal Festival to celebrate the annual migration of the mullet and the First Nations cultural practices during mullet season. In 2025, Wurridjal Festival will take place from 29 March to 12 April

Wurridjal Festival marks the start of a season when thousands of mullet – known as ‘Wurridjal’ in the Aboriginal languages spoken in the Sydney region – enter the Cooks River during their pre-spawning migration along the east coast of Australia. For thousands of years the river was healthy and a source of food for Aboriginal people. Wurridjal Festival aims to reconnect communities with First Nations knowledge and care for Country.

The festival highlights the incredible communities throughout the Cooks River catchment and the determination to regenerate it. With a wide range of activities from guided walks, river clean ups, bushcare, and cycling, to cultural workshops and panel discussions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.