Words on the Waves, the Central Coast’s first and only writers festival, celebrated its fifth birthday with a record number of attendees buying tickets to this year’s festival.
In 2025, it recorded 6084 festival attendances, up 20% from 2024 which was also a record-breaking year. The attendance represents a 10% increase in ticket sales overall, and included a sold out main program.
In addition, hundreds of Central Coast primary school children attended Ripples, the festival’s schools program.
Festival Director, Angela Bennetts, says “Words on the Waves launched five years ago, fuelled by big dreams and a volunteer committee’s worth of enthusiasm. Since then we’ve grown from four locations to 14 across the Central Coast; from 47 authors to over 100. And our audience numbers this year speak for themselves. It was a deeply-felt pleasure to celebrate our fifth birthday with our biggest and most successful festival to date.”
Hugh Mackay, Jan Fran and Stan Grant at the Words on the Waves Opening Address at The Art House, Wyong
Festival highlights included its Opening Address at The Art House Wyong with Stan Grant, Hugh Mackay and Jan Fran; the inaugural Poetry Slam featuring legendary poet Maxine Beneba Clarke and locals Will Small and live artist Grant Molony; and a bustling free Family Fun Day in Umina’s Peninsula Recreation Precinct with live illustrator battles, story time and roving performers.
Illustrator battle with Serena Geddes and Mick Elliott, Family Fun Day
Along with the crowds and outstanding program came impressive book sales. The festival’s top ten book sales, according to festival bookseller the Umina Beach Book Nook were;
- Unsettled by Kate Grenville
- The Way We Are by Hugh Mackay
- Lyrebird by Jane Caro
- Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
- The Correspondent by Peter Greste
- An Unlikely Prisoner by Sean Turnell
- Broken Brains by Rosie Waterland and Jamila Rizvi
- Bright Shining by Julia Baird
- Terraglossia by Debra Dank
- The Name of the Sister by Gail Jones
And it wasn’t only the audiences who enjoyed the festival, with praise from the festival’s authors flooding in.
“Words on the Waves 2025 was brilliant!” – Hugh Mackay
“I really enjoyed my panels, loved the sessions I attended, and saw how fully engaged your community was with the whole event. Brilliant.” – Steve Vizard
“[Words on the Waves was] the most beautiful festival. All your staff and volunteers were marvellous, as were your warm, generous crowds.” – Clare Wright
Summing up the 2025 festival, Angela Bennetts said, “Since the beginning, Words on the Waves has been nurtured and propelled by a community that loves to read, and a community that believes in the power of community to create change. We thank you all. Till next year!”
Words on the Waves would like to acknowledge the invaluable support of its Partners. For a full list click here.
Photo credits Syl Marie and Lisa Haymes
Debra Danks, Clare Wright, Ginger Gorman and Steve Vizard
Danielle Binks in conversation with Jane Caro at The Dip, supported by Keyton and Brentwood Village
