The event attracts thousands from across Australia and you’re invited to take part in the camp oven cooking competitions, enjoy live entertainment and see heritage displays, sheep shearing, damper throwing and much more!
Organisers say that what started as a little friendly competition around the campfire has evolved to become one of Queensland’s flagship tourism events. Located in Millmerran (82 km from Toowoomba, Queensland), the Festival was the brainchild of Outback icons Gary Fogarty and Ned Winter. Following modest beginnings in 1999, ACOF is now widely known as Australia’s most iconic camp oven festival.
“Our quirky program celebrates authentic Aussie traditions including camp oven cooking, damper throwing, billy boiling, bush poetry, country music and bush heritage displays,” organisers say.
There are several competition categories at the Festival too, including Championship, Intermediate, Drovers Apprentices (for youth under 18) and our Beginner category. Competitors can cook in teams of up to four.
- The Championship competition offers great prize money as well as the coveted Championship Camp Oven that you can’t buy anywhere. The competition runs over the 2 days of the festival and competitors must cook everything on the menu.
- The Intermediate competition was brand new in 2018 and a great way for past Beginners to move up before tackling the daunting Championship competition.
- The Beginner competition is more of a have a go competition and you can choose to do it all or just one thing, it’s up to you.
- The Drovers Apprentices Competition is suitable for youth or school aged entries.
Come October 2022 the coals will be stoked, RVs parked-up and the damper rising as people from all walks of life are welcomed to this quiet, rural town. So dust off the camping gear, prep the camp oven and start planning your trip to celebrate the unique and iconic Australian Camp Oven Festival.