A free event for beekeepers!
The 47th Tocal Beekeepers' Field Day will be held at Tocal College. This is a free event for beekeepers and bee enthusiasts, with exhibitors and suppliers, presenters, industry updates, and honey to buy. The date for 2026 is Saturday 10 October, so put it in your diaries! It's always good to get together for an informative day for those wanting to know more about both European honey bees and our native bees!
- Talks on the main stage
- Hive demonstrations in the beezeebos
- Honey extracting and sales
- Beekeeping associations
- Beekeeping equipment suppliers
- Tocal publications and education
- Helpful advice for anyone thinking about keeping bees
- An informative day for the family
We will be holding a honey competition for the general public to enter, facilitated by the Central Coast Beekeepers (download the entry form and schedule), and also hosting the Amateur Beekeepers Australia Colonel Guy Pulling Competition for affiliated ABA clubs (download the schedule).
For updates, follow us on Facebook at www.fb.me/TocalBees
Register for free at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/47th-annual-tocal-beekeeping-field-day-tickets-1860958028559
Email: beekeeping@dpi.nsw.gov.au
2025 suppliers and information
- Pender Beekeeping Supplies
- Lockwood Beekeeping Supplies
- Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies
- Hunter Valley Apiary supplies
- Tocal publications and education
- Hunter Valley Amateur Beekeepers' Association
- Hunter Branch - Australian Native Bee Association
- Central Coast Beekeepers
- Varroa controller Australia
- Varroa Development Officers
- DPIRD honey bee officers
Meals and refreshments
Coffee available!
You are welcome to BYO food to Tocal if you are staying all day, or order lunch in the dining hall which will be open from 12 noon to 1.30pm:
- salad box with or without chicken - $10
- lasagne and chips - $15
- fish and chips - $15
- pie and chips - $15
- hot chips only - $5
- tea and coffee available with your meal for $2
- soft drinks will be available at $3 per can
There is also a free cold water bubbler to fill drink bottles.
Demonstrations in the Beezeebos
- Inner workings of the hive - Kelly Lees (Education Officer Honey Bees, NSW DPIRD)
- Hive inspection for pest and disease - Alex Schellenberg (Bee Biosecurity Officer NSW DPIRD)
Competitions
Category | Winning Entry # | Name | Score % |
1a Light honey | 30 | R Ray | 94 |
1b Medium honey | 36 | M Graham | 96 |
1c Dark honey | 14 | K Hearne | 86 |
2 Candied honey | 15 | K Hearne | 88 |
3 Creamed honey | 17 | K Hearne | 95 |
4 Flowframe honey | 43 | B Vickery | 84 |
5 Native honey | 19 | K Hearne | 86 |
7 Frame of honey | 48 | M Rice | 75 |
8 Beeswax block | 49 | M Rice | 90 |
9 Candle | 24 | N Smith | 95 |
10 Pollen | 50 | M Rice | 92 |
11 Mead | 30 | R Ray | 91 |
- Amateur Beekeepers Australia: Test your honey bee knowledge
- Tocal Honey competition winners (download the entry form and schedule)
- Presentation of the Col Pulling Award and Bruce White Sheild
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