Honey Bee Festival buzzing for a third year

The Derwent Valley Beekeepers Association hosted the Derwent Valley Honey Bee Festival on the Esplanade in New Norfolk on Sunday.
In its third year and part of the Tasmanian Autumn Festival, the event celebrates beekeepers, bees, and, best of all, the luscious honey from their hives.
The day was basked in full sunshine after a brisk, icy Sunday morning start, with the Esplanade's Autumn colour on full display for all to see.
Highlights included the Tasmanian Honey Competition, which featured some of the region's best Wildflower Honeys.

Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis joined expert judges to taste and critique various honeys, with winners presented with prizes from special guest and Liberal member for Franklin Eric Abetz.

Both praised the importance of bees in the environment and also the efforts of the Derwent Valley Beekeepers Association.
There were 11 entries in the Tasmanian Honey Awards at the 2026 Honey Bee Festival. All were for Wildflower honey.
The winners were:
1st place Rodger Browne from Yummy honey at Lette's Bay, Strahan
2nd place  Mark Howell at Plenty
3rd place  Max Lewis from Lenah Valley honey
People’s choice - David Stevens from Bicheno honey bee produce at Bicheno
There was plenty to keep people occupied, with hands-on beekeeping and hive demonstrations, plus informative talks on pollination and bee and environmental health.

Two observation hives were also showcased to give an insight into bee life within a colony.
Leigh Slater, Patron of The Derwent Valley Beekeeper Association, has spent more than 60 years preserving one of Australia’s rarest bee species, the Old English black bee (Apis mellifera mellifera).

Based in Wayatinah, Mr Slater learned his craft as a 12-year-old boy and used to save all his pocket money to buy beekeeping gear.

Fast forward to today, and he manages around 250 hives with his “hobby” now a semi-commercial operation, complete with a hand-built honey processing shed he once moved by crane across the state.

Leigh has also passed his expertise on to his son, Adrian, who produces his own honey at Bridport from the different coastal flowers that bloom through the Summer, which is called Rock Ridge Bush Honey.
Leigh also showcased his own exhibition, Glass Bee Hive, at the Honey Bee Festival.
Mr Slater said that observation hives provide insight into the world and the lives of bees.

“Unlike traditional hives, a glass observation hive allows you to watch the bees at work without disturbing them, which is ideal for both educational purposes and hobbyist beekeepers who want to learn more about a bee colony.
“Without bees, as humans, we wouldn't survive.

“All life in the environment relies on pollination from bees"
The Honeybee Festival had close to 40 stalls, with exhibitions and tastings, plus local honey and hive products, all for sale.
Other family- and child-friendly activities kept people entertained with skincare products and gifts, fresh food and drinks, native plants and gardening products, plus art, craftwork, and handmade goods, all available for purchase as well.
The Tasmanian Autumn Festival continues until April 29.