Callitris Native Pine by Joolie Gibbs
AWA Retreat 2026
Walking the wilds, the winds and the rainbow.
20-23 August 2026 at Rainbow Beach, Queensland
AWA Retreat 2026 will complement the exhibition WALKING ART NOW at Gympie Regional Gallery (17 July-27 August 2026). AWA Retreat 2026 will be based at Rainbow Beach and the Cooloola region in Queensland, a spectacular area renowned for its beaches, high dunes, wilderness and wildflowers.
Rainbow beach is a three hour drive from Brisbane.
AWA Retreat 2026 will provide you with opportunities to:
Explore walking practices in the unique locations of the Cooloola region
Meet other walking artists and experiment with practices and processes
Share your ideas and participate in collaboration and experimentation.
What will it cost?
Members are invited to participate in the whole three-day event.
Early bird: $175 Before July 31
Full registration: $200 From August 1-10 or earlier if all tickets are sold
Non-members are invited to join us on Saturday 22 August.
Early bird: $105 Before July 31
Full registration: $120 From August 1-10 or earlier if all tickets are sold
Note: costs do not include accommodation.
Would you like to join us?
Download the Information pack using the button below. Read and decide which walkshops you would like to attend. Complete the registration form using the links below.
Any questions?
Download a copy of the Information Pack
AWA Members register for whole Retreat
Non-members registration for 22 August
Day trip to K’gari
An adventure for AWA members attending Retreat 2026
If you’re coming along to the AWA Retreat, you might like to join a group of AWA members who are heading to the World Heritage listed sand island of K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) on Monday 24 August. The full-day K’gari Explorer Day Tour (ex Rainbow Beach) is organised by K’gari Explorer Tours; it will cost $279. You’ll see most of the iconic sites for which the island is famous, plus you’ll enjoy opportunities to swim and eat lunch together.
Click the button below to read more and reserve your place.
WALKING ART NOW
A Survey of Australian Walking Art
The Australian Walking Artists at the Gympie Regional Gallery
17 July - 27 August 2026
Walking is more than putting one foot after another with a destination in mind. It’s an active process subject to chance; we don’t know what we’ll discover along the way, what will be observed, remembered, imagined.
For the 32 artists in WALKING ART NOW, walking is essential to creative practice, traversing paths through landscapes that are physical and cerebral.
This exhibition offers an opportunity for wandering, exploring the world of walking art and the fascinating terrains covered by the artists.
Join the artists at the opening event, 11am Saturday 18 July to celebrate. Keep an eye out on our socials for a program of artist talks and other activities.
Gympie Regional Gallery
39 Nash Street Gympie Queensland
Open Tuesday – Friday 10am - 4pm. Saturday 10am – 2pm. Closed Sundays and Public Holidays.
The following slideshow represents a small selection of the remarkable works curated for the exhibition.
WALKING ART NOW features the work of artists:
Lisa Behan
Renata Buziak
Patricia Casey
Alex Chadwick
Lisa Chandler
Helle Cook
Sue Davis
Joolie Gibbs
Melinda Hunt
Annelies Jahn
Lisa Jones
Rosie Lloyd-Giblett
Victoria Lovecchio
Matti
Bea Mowson
Ainslie Murray
Annette Nykiel
Sandra Pearce
Perdita Phillips
Alison Rogers
Jill Sampson
Anke Stäcker
Marni Stuart
Bianca Tainsh
Harlinah Teoh
Amy Tsilemanis
Nicole Voevodin-Cash
Molly Wagner
Tanya Wallace
Leanne Wicks
Therese Gabriel Wilkins
Meg Williams
Ainslie Murray
Monthly Australian Walking Artist Members Meetings
When you join the AWA and become a member, you’re invited to attend our monthly meetings. We gather on Zoom on a Sunday afternoon to share our walking projects. We also share details about upcoming exhibitions and events. Just click the Join Now button and come along to the next meeting.