As the days grow longer and the sun begins to shine brighter, winter hibernation is coming to an end and Kiama Unplugged is kicking off with the hottest event of the season - Unplugged After Dark at popular eatery Cin Cin Wine Bar near the Little Blow Hole.

Jane Bourne, who heads up Kiama Unplugged with her husband Ian Harvey-George, explained the organic nature of the event.

“The only rule is no phones. Everything we do is all about connecting people in real life and away from screens,” Bourne said.

“It’s an opportunity for friends, couples, or just singles who want to meet local people to come and have a nice dinner at Cin Cin.”

Exploding Topics Research Associate Fabio Duarte published findings of screen time attributed to adults in April 2025 and found that on a global average, people spend 6 hours and 40 minutes per day.

Bourne said the event aims to provide a space where people are not tempted to reach into their pocket and pull out their phone for some scrolling and explains that removing screens is part of the foundational mission of Kiama Unplugged.

“We didn’t just want it to be about this kind of pledge for no smartphones, we wanted it to be about getting the community back together again and getting adults off their screens,” she said.

“We all spend too much time scrolling and rotting our brains.

“So it very much became wider than the phone pledge, but also about connection, community and real-life experiences.”

The Unplugged phenomenon, which started out as a grassroots community movement in Kiama has now expanded to Berry, with Bourne and Harvey-George establishing a vision statement for Unplugged Australia leading the way for other communities to start their own local Unplugged groups.

Part of Unplugged Australia’s vision is to reconnect in real-life, with community and nature - away from screens, promote sustainable and low tech living, support young people to branch away from screens and into authentic connections, establish local interactions that facilitate mindful experiences and foster inclusion and collaboration.

There are three guidelines for Unplugged and screen time heads it up with connection and community closely followed, with some events being free for the group to remain accessible.

Before the Unplugged After Dark event, Kiama Unplugged in collaboration with Grounded Education are holding a Spring Walk at Jerrara Dam for a morning of nature’s trails, wildcraft, nature’s art and connection.

“We love linking up with local businesses where we can be supporting them as well and so we are really happy for them [Grounded Education],” Bourne said.

“It’s aimed as a family activity and is probably aimed at families with younger kids.

“And we are going to be collecting things like sticks and leaves, and then there is going to be a time to do some nature craft.”

The Kiama Unplugged After Dark Event is on 23 October from 6pm at Cin Cin and costs $15 per person and includes a drink upon arrival. Bookings are essential.

The Spring Walk with Grounded Education is on 19 October from 9:30am with a suggested donation of $10 per family. Bookings are essential.

For those looking to get out and about this long weekend, there is a Kiama Unplugged event this Sunday 5 October at Fillmore’s plant-based, art and culturally focused café on Manning street, which is sure to match the temperature forecasted for this weekend.

For Kiama Unplugged event information and links to booking sites, head to https://www.kiamaunplugged.com/events