MOAB

MOAB is the flagship convention of the Sutherland Shire Gamers, a tabletop games club in the Sutherland Shire, in Sydney's south. The club bills it as NSW's biggest tabletop gaming convention, and the name tells you where its heart is: battles on the tabletop, with tournaments you register for in advance and tables you can simply sit down at.

It isn't only wargames, though. Roleplaying adventures and board games are part of the weekend, and the Monday has its own newcomer and family programme, Meeple Monday. That makes MOAB a good fit for a group of friends who don't all play the same thing.

Who runs it

The Sutherland Shire Gamers meet every Friday evening at the Sylvania Heights Community & Youth Club, which was also MOAB's home in 2026. Besides MOAB, the club runs ShireCon, a smaller local convention it launched in 2022, and the second-hand stall at Cancon in Canberra each January. The bring and buy is run by club volunteers to raise club funds.

MOAB has been going a long while. The club's own MOAB page still carries video from the 2013 event, though it doesn't say which year the first one was held.

MOAB is held every October long weekend: Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday Monday. The 2026 event ran from 3 to 5 October, and when we checked, the club was looking forward to "seeing everyone in 2027" but hadn't announced the dates. Our listing for MOAB 2027 reads Usually the October long weekend, with the status Usually held in October. We'll update it once the club confirms.

Opening times

Doors open at 7am each day. Each tournament sets its own round times in its players pack, so if you're playing, that pack is your timetable. The other services keep their own hours:

These are the 2026 hours, from the club's visitor page. Check the visiting MOAB page before you go in case they change.

Which day to go?

Most tournaments run on the Saturday and Sunday, so those are the busiest days at the tables and the best for watching games. A few are one-day events, on the Saturday or the Sunday only. The Monday brings Meeple Monday, with free RPG one-shots and a board game library, so it's the natural day to bring the family.

There are no visitor tickets to buy for MOAB. General entry is free; tournaments are paid. Participation games and the Meeple Monday activities are free too. If you're searching for "MOAB tickets", what you probably want is tournament registration, which is paid and booked online before the weekend.

Tournament fees

Fees depend on how many days you play, and booking early saves you $10. The club prices them in Australian dollars, per player, per tournament:

In 2026 the early bird price ended on 23 September, with full refunds on request until 20 September. On top of the fee, each tournament organiser may add a prize pool, so the total for a given game can be a little higher.

In 2026 MOAB was held at Sylvania Heights Community & Youth Club, Sydney, 288 Box Road, Sylvania NSW 2224. It's in the Sutherland Shire, south of central Sydney, and it's also where the club meets every Friday. Check the venue on the official site for 2027, then plan your route from there.

By train

The nearest station is Gymea Station on the T4 Cronulla Line, about 7 minutes' walk. The club's page doesn't give a route from central Sydney or the airport, so plan your journey to Gymea with a journey planner.

By bus

Bus routes 970, S314, S016, S301 and S308 stop a short walk away. The closest stops are Sylvania Road at Garnet Road, about four minutes' walk, and Garnet Road at Sylvania Road, about five.

By car and parking

The venue's own car park has only a few spaces. Most visitors park on the street instead: Free, untimed street parking on Box Road and nearby, typically two to five minutes' walk away. There are no marked accessible bays on site, but there are kerb ramps near the entrance.

Access and facilities

The club says there's ramp access across the key areas, toilets on site and accessible toilets in the Main Hall. If you need a hand, speak to a club member. The canteen serves breakfast, lunch and snacks, with soft drinks, hot drinks and beer, and takes cash and card. There's no cashpoint on site.

Tournaments

The club's tournament page listed 17 tournaments for 2026, most over two days and a few on a single day. Historical gamers get a good share, with fantasy and sci-fi well covered too:

The list can change from year to year, so check the current page before you start painting for a particular game.

Painting competition

The club's site has a MOAB painting competition page alongside the tournaments. Look there for the categories and how to enter before you pack a model. Our guides on entering a painting competition and what judges look for will help you choose and prepare an entry.

Participation games

Participation games are free, open to anyone, and you don't need to bring a thing: someone runs the table and teaches as you play. When we checked, the first two listed for the weekend were a Caribbean swashbuckling adventure for Sharp Practice and a wintry Russian front game for Chain of Command 2, with more to be added. They're the easiest way to try a period or a rules set before you buy an army.

The bring and buy

MOAB's bring and buy is a tabletop market for pre-loved miniatures, board games, books and hobby gear, run by club volunteers in the Main Hall to raise club funds. It works a little differently from some shows, so here's what to know.

Full rules, including packing tips for loose figures and job lots, are on the club's bring and buy page. If you're selling painted models, our storage and transport guide shows how to pack them so they arrive in one piece.

Traders

A range of vendors and traders come along too. The club lists them on a traders and vendors page on its website in the run-up to the event.

RPGs, board games and M3

Roleplaying adventures and board games run alongside the wargames. On the Monday, MOAB Meeple Monday, or M3, is aimed at newcomers, families and first-timers: free RPG one-shots in morning and afternoon sessions, plus a board game library. One-shot players get a confirmation email with their session time.

Tournament players. With well over a dozen tournaments, a weekend of games against new opponents is the main event for many. Register early, read the pack, and get your army finished in good time.

Historical gamers. Ancients and the Second World War both feature, from Art de la Guerre, DBA and Mortem et Gloriam to Bolt Action, Chain of Command and Flames of War.

Bargain hunters and sellers. The bring and buy runs all three days, and sellers can set lower prices for later days, so it rewards a second visit.

Spectators. Entry is free and spectators are welcome. Walking the tables and watching games is a fine way to spend a morning, as long as you keep it respectful.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. Participation tables let you try a game without owning a single miniature, and Meeple Monday is pitched at first-timers. If you're thinking of building a small force afterwards, our skirmish warband guide covers how to put one together.

Can children go?

Yes, MOAB is open to all ages. The club's rule is that anyone aged 16 or under must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Meeple Monday, with free one-shots and board games, is the day best suited to families.

Travelling from the UK?

If you're combining MOAB with a trip to Australia, remember that it falls in the Australian spring over a public holiday weekend, so book travel and a bed early. Prices on the club's site are in Australian dollars. And if you're flying with painted models, keep them in your hand luggage in a padded case rather than trusting them to the hold.

Details checked against the organiser's website in October 2026. Always check the official site before you travel. Dates, the venue, tournament registration and the bring and buy rules are all published by the Sutherland Shire Gamers, so that's the place to look for anything this page doesn't cover. The club also posts news on its social channels, linked from its website.

Planning more than one event? Our miniature events around the world page lists the big shows by region, including the other Australian events below.