BROOKVALE DISTILLERY FIELD GUIDE
Foraging at Dusk: Sea Kelp, Elders’ Stories and Zero‑Alcohol Spirits on Freshwater Beach
A three‑hour guided beach foraging and distillery experience that pairs Aboriginal cultural knowledge with a behind‑the‑scenes look at Seadrift’s award‑winning non‑alcoholic spirits.
Foraging at Dusk: Sea Kelp, Elders’ Stories and Zero‑Alcohol Spirits on Freshwater Beach.
Meet as the sun slips down over Freshwater Beach for an intimate, three‑hour experience that begins on the sand with Aboriginal elder Clarence Bruinsma and finishes inside Seadrift Distillery, where Master Distiller Alastair demonstrates how local sea kelp and other botanicals are turned into internationally awarded non‑alcoholic spirits—complete with tastings and a take‑home bottle.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Guided Foraging with Clarence Bruinsma
An Aboriginal elder leads a beach foraging walk, explaining 50,000 years of local practice, the cultural significance of sea botanicals and sustainable collection of local kelp. Participants are invited to try shoreline foraging, with shallow wading optional.
From Shoreline Botanicals to the Still
Back at Seadrift, the Master Distiller outlines the production process for non‑alcoholic spirits—how local botanicals, including sea kelp, are used to build flavour without ethanol and why the distillery prioritises connection to local ingredients.
Tastings and a Bottle to Take Home
The visit includes a tasting of Seadrift’s three international award‑winning zero‑alcohol spirits; the experience closes with the opportunity to select a bottle as a memento, and arrivals are welcomed with a Seadrift zero‑alcohol spritz and nibbles.
What the day feels like
How the Evening Unfolds
You meet at Freshwater Beach as daylight fades for an acknowledgement of country and a guided beach foraging walk with Clarence Bruinsma, learning to identify local sea kelps, their uses and sustainable techniques; after optional shoreline foraging you return to Seadrift Distillery to watch the production process, taste all three of the distillery’s zero‑alcohol spirits and choose a bottle to take home. The full sequence is designed to fit into a three‑hour visit.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who will get the most from this experience:
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The experience runs for three hours; sunset times vary through the year and you will receive an email two days prior to the tour confirming the meet‑up time.
Participants should be prepared to get wet during shoreline foraging—wading into the shallows is optional—and expect a beach environment at dusk.
The tour includes a welcome Seadrift zero‑alcohol spritz and nibbles on arrival, a beach foraging walk, a distillery tour, tastings of all three Seadrift spirits and a bottle to take home.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Foraging at Dusk experience?
The experience runs for three hours.
Where do we meet for the tour?
Meet on Freshwater Beach; the operator will send an email two days before the tour confirming the exact meet‑up time.
Who leads the foraging and cultural portion of the tour?
The beach foraging is led by Aboriginal elder Clarence Bruinsma (Yaegl).
Will I have to get wet?
Participants should be prepared to get wet; foraging may include going into the shallows, though that is optional.
Are tastings included and is there anything to take home?
Yes—tasting of Seadrift’s three zero‑alcohol spirits is included, and each guest selects a bottle to take home; arrivals are also welcomed with a Seadrift zero‑alcohol spritz and nibbles.
Is the experience suitable for children?
The tour is described as suitable for all ages.