iNaturalist fungi foray - Fungi Feastival

Sofia Zvolanek, accompanied by Caity Brown, will lead a guided fungi walk in the Bermagui State Forest. Bring your curiosity, camera and phone to photograph fungi outdoors in the forest. Sofia will show you how to locate and identify fungi in their natural habitats, and photograph them for further investigation. Ideal for beginners and budding fungi enthusiasts alike.

Sofia Zvolanek is one of Australia's most passionate and accomplished fungi experts and a leading contributor on iNaturalist. With around 80,000 verified fungus identifications to her name, she is currently Australia's top fungal identifier on iNaturalist, helping naturalists of all levels improve their observations and deepen their understanding of fungal diversity.

Sofia grew up exploring bushland around Sydney and developed a lifelong fascination with nature — especially fungi — through field observation and hands-on learning, which she has continued through her work as a bush regenerator. Her enthusiasm for fungal taxonomy and ecology led her to co-author Fungi of the Hills & Gullies, a beautifully curated guide to the fungi of Berowra Valley.

Sofia's guided walks combine expert identification knowledge with a friendly, accessible approach, encouraging participants to explore the hidden world of fungi with curiosity and care.

Assisting Sofia will be Caitlin (Caity) Brown
Caitlin Brown is a Bermagui-based environmentalist, early childhood educator and fungi photographer.