Tips to help you have a great festival camping experience.
Facilities and comfort tips
The ablution blocks are located in areas that enable safe access by the service trucks and crew rather than dotted around the campsites. When you arrive, ensure you are aware of the facility locations and choose your camp area accordingly. If a walk to the toilets is a problem for you then please consider camping on the Oval or in the disabled camping area. Toilet and shower facilities are adequately basic. Peak times for shower queues are in the mornings and later afternoons so please avoid these times if you don’t want to wait.
Please remember the camping grounds are temporary and only used once a year, please respect the area, so that it is left as you find it. The Fields and Rivergrounds camping areas in particular are used to graze animals during the remainder of the year. Any rubbish, particularly small items such as bottle tops, can be harmful to livestock. Please put ALL your rubbish in the bins provided.
Because of this limited use it is not possible for us to provide perfectly level campsites with well-manicured lawns. Some areas have trees, however, the majority of the camping areas do not.
Say hello to your neighbours to build a community feeling and provide greater security. Look after each other and remember this is an all ages event!
Your campsite
Remember that you are creating a temporary home at your camp for the weekend. It may be a retreat from the festival as well as a place to crash at the end of the day so please make sure you are comfortable and consider your camping gear carefully. When choosing a campsite consider where the water will naturally flow in the event of rain, and pitch your tent accordingly.
It’s great to camp with friends. Either arrive at the same time or bring their tents to peg out whilst waiting for them.
If you don’t have a tent, consider hiring a caravan, camper trailer or campervan, they are permitted in all areas except Oval Tent City.
Our campgrounds need to accommodate a large number of people so please keep your campsites small and conserve space wherever possible.
Please restrict the number of vehicles in the campgrounds by sharing lifts or park spare vehicles in the front car park.
Please do not drive around the campgrounds once you have set-up your campsite. If you don’t need your vehicle over the weekend then please choose the “No vehicle movement area” in the Fields camping area. Once parked, vehicles in this area cannot be moved until midday on Sunday . This area is particularly recommended for families with small children.
No open fires are allowed anywhere in the camping areas or the festival precinct, however, you can use small gas camp stoves.
Water
Water is always a precious commodity and we appreciate it if all campers would join with us in conserving water. All tap water on-site is potable but for conservation and your own convenience please bring all the water you’ll need for the duration.
Weather
As the festival is conducted in autumn, our weather can range from very hot and dusty days through to thunderstorms. It can get pretty chilly in the evening so campers should come prepared for all seasons. Check The Bureau of Meteorology before you set out.
What you can do before you leave home
The following is supplied to help you have a trouble free camping experience if you are still unsure, please visit a Getaway Outdoors store where the staff can help with further advice.
Take your tent or camper out of storage to check its condition, zips, fly screens and adequate guy-ropes and pegs.
Clean and test-light the gas stove and any lamps. Ensure you have spare gas lamp mantles, check the O-rings. If you’re unsure take it to a reputable dealer and have these items checked.
Airbeds and camp stretchers should be inflated or assembled to ensure they function properly.
Bring any foodstuffs in an esky; ice is available at the Tavern and the Village Shop.
Suggestions for a comfortable campsite
- Choosing your camping spot. Make sure the area you have selected to pitch your tent is free from sharp objects, ants’ nests, overhanging branches and away from the natural course of water in the event of heavy rainfall.
- The ground and other conditions. Be prepared for hard ground and bring tent pegs appropriate to the conditions and a hammer. If possible, have the rear of the tent facing the prevailing conditions. Always put guy-ropes on tents as it may be calm when you erect your tent, but windy conditions can roll in quickly in the rural environment and catch you unaware.
- Off the ground. A fold-up camp stretcher allows air circulation and protects your bedding from any water that may enter your tent. Consider a fold-up chair for keeping your personal belongings off the ground as well.
- No electricity in camp areas. There is no electricity available on-site for patron’s campsites unless they require it for life-support equipment (disabled camping area). You will need to bring good torch light or gas lamp.
- Generators. Use of generators is discouraged, however, it is understood that some newer models are less noisy. Please consider your camping neighbours, the noise and pollution if you find it essential to use a generator.
- Keep your valuables safe. Theft can be a problem as at any large event, so please do not bring anything of value to the festival other than what is absolutely necessary. All valuables remain the responsibility of the camper.
- Expect noise, bring earplugs. You can expect to hear music and fellow campers at any time of the day or night. Please bring your earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
When it’s time to leave
Before leaving, be sure that all your tent pegs, mats, ropes are packed away and that all rubbish, packaging or broken camp items are disposed of correctly. Rubbish bags will be available, please use them and leave no trace where you have camped for the festival weekend.
We look forward to seeing you at the 20th Fairbridge Festival for a fantastic festival experience.
