The Valla Beach Ukulele Camp and Beach Party is hosted by The Wild Women of Anywhere Beach assisted by local ukulele groups. It’s for adult ukulele players of all levels wishing to develop their skills, including an 'absolute beginner' stream. Workshops for both melody-pickers and strummers are offered, as well as performance opportunities for developing players, and

a fabulous evening concert by skilled artists.

2020/2021 CAMP DATES AND TIMES

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WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FUTURE DATES

 

CAMP VENUE

Our venue is Valla Beach Tourist Park, 1 Regatta Drive, Valla Beach. The park is situated on the Deep Creek estuary with footbridge access to the beach.

 

WHERE IS VALLA BEACH?

Located on the picturesque mid-north coast of New South Wales, Valla Beach is 35 kms south of Coffs Harbour, approximately midway between Sydney and Brisbane (a five-and-a-half hour drive). Tiger Air has direct  flights from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour, while Qantas, Virgin and Tiger fly from Sydney, and Fly Corporate fly from Brisbane. Trains also run from Sydney or Brisbane to Nambucca Heads (11 kms south of Valla Beach). 

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SHUTTLE SERVICE

Whatever your mode of travel we can arrange to collect you from station or airport. Please advise us early if you require this service.

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WHAT FACILITIES DOES VALLA BEACH HAVE?

The small village offers two excellent cafes, a pharmacy, real estate agent, tavern and bottle shop. There is also a minimal convenience shop in Valla Beach Tourist Park’s reception.

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ACCOMMODATION

Valla Beach Tourist Park offers a wide variety of options from yurts and cabins (with and without linen) to powered and unpowered camp sites. Please contact the Park Management directly to arrange your accommodation. All cabins are priced for twin share but some can accommodate up to 6 people (4 in bunks)! The timing of the camp will be low season prices. 

 

Phone: 02 6569 5555 Website link:

 

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You will need to provide your own breakfast. The Tourist Park shop sells basics (milk, margarine etc). The Park has an outdoor Camp Kitchen for those who like to make their own meals and, as it’ll be mid-winter (no fire bans), some ukers may enjoy campfire cookery. For others, low cost lunches and dinners will be available (see below).

 

Lunches will be prepared daily by the local Lions Club at the Park. On offer will be salads, quiches, sausages, steak, coleslaw, bread rolls and a dessert. To partake you’ll need to order a Lunch Meal Package via the Register page and print out a ticket to exchange for lunches. (If you can’t manage this technical flim-flam don’t panic, we won’t let you starve).  

 

Dinners will be cooked by the sublime team at the five-star Beach House Providore Restaurant, Valla Beach, and served in the Park’s BBQ area. They will be informal, hot, tasty, prepared from local organic produce and include gluten free and vegan options. Friday night is Mexican Street Food and Saturday night is Greek Street Food.  And, yes, you guessed it. You’ll need to order Dinner Meal Packages on the Register page and print out tickets. 

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REGISTRATION

To register for the Valla Beach Ukulele Camp and Beach Party and purchase your tickets click here.  

 

WORKSHOP LEVELS

Selecting the appropriate workshop level for you is important. When you choose wisely, the tutor can cater for the expected group and you will have a great learning experience. If you find after a workshop has started, that you didn't make the best choice, no worries! Tell us quickly and we will find the best option for you.

 

Descriptions of ukulele workshops levels

Click here for descriptions to assist you to make good choices.

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WHAT IS THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA?

In January 2019, Ian Porter ran a one day event, the Willoughby Ukulele Orchestra. All participants received some music (at different levels) one month in advance, learned their selected part and came together to rehearse and play 3 pieces. You can see us playing at

It was so much fun we are giving you the opportunity to do the same with one selected piece, Fly Me to the Moon. There are 4 parts. You will receive an email describing the parts so that you can select the one that suits you. We will send you the music (in TAB and notation) and a sound file so you can hear it and practice with it.

In Workshop 2, we will have a short rehearsal session and then come together to play the piece led by Ian.

NOTE: Absolute beginners will have a workshop running concurrently with the orchestra.

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THREE TWINKLING UKULELE CONCERTS

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7PM FRIDAY EVENING STAR CONCERT

This concert offers an opportunity for local ukulele groups to perform their three best songs. Group leaders should contact us directly to register an interest in performing at this concert. Ten minutes maximum is allocated per group, including setup and exit time. However, if a large number of groups book in, that time will need to be reduced. The concert is FREE for the general public.

 

Contact us to register for your group performance 

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7PM SATURDAY NIGHT SUPERSTAR CONCERT

This concert featuring the Camp tutors, staff and guest artists is included in your camp fee so your Camp Name Badge is required for entry. However, if you have friends or family who wish to come, they can purchase tickets at the door. Additional tickets are $25 or $20 concession.

 

2PM SUNDAY CONSTELLATION CONCERT

This concert featuring the Camp Tutors and their Workshop Ensembles showcases Camp Participants. FREE for the general public.

MERCHANDISE TABLE

• Ukuleles, strings, tuners, straps, gig bags, Alfred Chord books, Ukulele Camp souvenirs for sale.

• CDs by Samantha Muir, The Wild Women of Anywhere Beach, Jack n Jel, Australian Ukulele Vol.1.

• Books include The Ukestration Manual & The Business of Being a Community Musician, Jane Jelbart and Mark Jackson

• Throughout the weekend Paul Jonson will install strap pegs, do ukulele set ups and/or guide you to do your own set-up. 

 

TRADING TABLE

Bring along your outgrown ukuleles and other ukulele paraphernalia to sell. These must be clearly marked with the asking price and seller’s name. BUYERS: It will be up to you to find the seller and negotiate directly with them.

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ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES UPDATE

The Valla Beqach Tourist Park Bar will not be open. However, you may BYO for the weekend.  Legend has it that one drink makes you a brilliant ukulele player (in your own mind) while two drinks makes you a ukulele virtuoso (whom no one wants to hear).

 

WEATHER UPDATE The long range forecast is for small rain events on Saturday. Hopefully that may change but ... be prepared.

August in Valla Beach is usually warm and sunny during the day and cooler in the evenings. The average temperature for August is a high of 20 and a low of 11 degrees. We have contacted the Bureau of Meteorology and requested sunny weather for the Valla Beach Ukulele Camp and Beach Party.

 

DON'T FORGET TO BRING UPDATE

Your medications, music stand and water bottle, all with your name on them please. Please bring a KEEP CUP for your tea and coffee. Also bring the music that will be sent to you for the ukulele orchestra and Samantha Muir workshops, plus a pencil, eraser and sharpener. A sense of humour is also essential. Keen swimmers may want to bring their costume but it will probably be too cold for most to swim, except for Mark Jackson!) but we’d love to see you all in your bikinis at the Beach Party!