GETTING TO AND FROM THE CAMPGROUNDS
Getting There: The entrance to the campground is on Plane Avenue, via Russell Street.
For the duration of the event, only vehicles with valid passes for the campgrounds, event day parking, and accessible parking will be able to drive through Victoria Park, so make sure you have your tickets ready to present to staff.
When you arrive at the entrance to the campgrounds you will be greeted by our friendly staff, where your camping tickets will be checked and your car will be searched for banned items. From here, you will be directed into the campgrounds and shown to your camp site.
Driving around the campgrounds is not permitted. Once you have parked your vehicle at your campsite, you will not be able to move it until you leave the event.
Getting Home: You are welcome to leave the campgrounds at any point over the weekend, however once you exit in your vehicle you will not be able to return.
Once you’ve packed up your campsite and are ready to head home, exit the campgrounds, turning left onto Plane Avenue and follow the road out of the festival.
All campers must exit the campgrounds by 12:00pm on Sunday 11th of October.
Sunday morning between 10:00am – 12:00pm is the busiest time to exit the campgrounds. If you are leaving during this time, please expect some delays.
OPENING HOURS
The campgrounds will be operational from 2:00pm on Friday 9th of October until 12:00pm Sunday 11th of October.
Staff will be available to check you in during the following dates and time:
Friday 9th October – 2:00pm – 12:00am
Saturday 10th of October – 8:00am – 2:00pm
If you arrive outside of these times you will not be permitted entry to the campgrounds.
THINGS TO KNOW
- All sites are unpowered but there will be toilet and shower blocks
- You can bring cooking supplies and gas cookers but you must follow the rules in our FAQs below
- Our Ballarat campground will have a coffee + food truck
- The campsite is separate to the festival ground so you won’t be able to go in-between the festival and your campsite during the show due to our strict no pass-outs policy
- Prices are total per package for both Friday night & Saturday night.
- Read our FAQs below to find out any extra info
SHUTTLES INTO TOWN
We will be running complimentary shuttles into town for campers to grab some food, pick up extra supplies or whatever else you may need over the weekend.
Shuttle buses will operate on a loop between the campgrounds and the town centre in Ballarat.
The campsite pick up and drop off point is on Russell Street, just outside the campgrounds and the Ballarat town centre pick up and drop off location is the Little Bridge St bus interchange, in front of Woolworths.
Shuttle buses will be operational during the below times:
Friday 9th October 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday 10th October: 8:00am – 1:00pm
FREE PITCH SITES
If you’re keen to bring the full camping set up with your own cooking supplies then have a squiz at the options below.
CAMPING WITH CAR
We have a limited number of 6m x 6m free pitch sites for $259 + $10 fees and you can also bring a vehicle to park alongside your tent. No maximum on the number of tents you can pitch, as long as you don’t exceed your allocated pitch footprint, or the max number of campers (4 per site), and only 1 car per site.
CAMPING WITHOUT CAR
We have a limited number of 4m x 4m free pitch sites for $199 + $10 fees but you can’t park your vehicle on your plot. If you are bringing a car with this option, you’ll need to grab an external car park pass for $39 (discounted down from $59) which is next to the main campground. No maximum on the number of tents you can pitch, as long as you don’t exceed your allocated pitch footprint, or the max number of campers (4 per site).
CAMPERVAN SITES
We have a limited number of campervan sites available so you can roll right in ready for the weekend. NB these sites are unpowered. 4 max campers per site.
All campervan sites are 8x5m and may be located either on hardstand or grass, depending on the ground conditions.
You are welcome to set up chairs and tables outside of your campervan, however your overall footprint must not exceed your allocated space.
All campervan sites are unpowered. Generators can be brought for personal use. If you are bringing a generator you must follow the below rules.
- All generators must be turned off between 10pm and 8am
- No spare fuel sources or refuelling of generators are permitted onsite
- Generator to be kept in your campsite, away from others and with the appropriate ventilation and clearance from ignitable sources (tall grass/tents)
- Generators cannot be left running unattended
- Limit of 1 generator per campsite
- Diesel, Open-frame, construction style, 5kVA+ generators are not permitted due to noise and safety
Please note generators are not permitted during days of Total Fire Ban.
PRICING
| CAMPERVAN SITE (Unpowered) | 8 x 5m | $285 + $10 fees |
| FREE PITCH SITE (Unpowered, with 1 car) | 6 x 6m | $259 + $10 fees |
| FREE PITCH SITE (Unpowered, with no car) | 4 x 4m | $199 + $10 fees |
| CAMPING CAR PARKING PASS | Purchased in conjunction with camping without car free pitch site, limited to 1 parking pass per site (additional car parking pass can be purchased at price below) | $39.00 + $5 fees |
| CAMPING ADDITIONAL CAR PARKING PASS | Purchased in conjunction with any camping package, if bringing additional car | $59.00 + $5 fees |
Camping FAQs
Can I bring a generator?
Yes, you can but you must follow the below guidelines. Please note generators are not permitted in a Total Fire Ban.
- All generators must be turned off between 10pm and 8am
- No spare fuel sources or refuelling of generators are permitted onsite
- Generator to be kept in your campsite, away from others and with the appropriate ventilation and clearance from ignitable sources (tall grass/tents)
- Cannot be left running unattended
- Limit of 1 generator per campsite
- Diesel, Open-frame, construction style, 5kVA+ generators are not permitted due to noise and safety
Can I move my car after check-in?
No, once you’re checked in and parked up in your spot you won’t be able to move your car again until check-out.
Can I bring a gas cooker?
Yes, you can but you must follow the below guidelines. Please note gas cookers are not permitted in a Total Fire Ban.
- Gas cookers may only be used in well-ventilated areas.
- Flames must burn blue at all times.
- Gas canisters must not be refilled under any circumstances.
- Any leaks must be reported to event staff immediately.
- Each campsite using a gas cooker must have a fire blanket available.
- Fire blankets will be available for purchase onsite if you arrive without one.
- Spare gas cylinders are not permitted inside tents or vehicles and may be checked during vehicle inspections.
- Cooking is not permitted between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
- All empty gas canisters must be removed from site upon departure.
- Security may inspect cooking equipment at any time.
Can I bring regular drinks in?
Sealed soft drinks, juice and water is fine! Anything unsealed won’t be permitted.
Allowed Items
Anything that isn’t on our banned items or isn’t deemed dangerous by Security or event staff is allowed into the campground, but here is a short list of items that are frequently asked about that ARE allowed. Please note these items may differ from what is allowed inside the festival grounds.
- Any food
- Sealed, non-alcoholic drinks
- Make-up and perfume/cologne in a glass container under 110ml
- Sealed, non-prescription medication
- Gas Cookers – must follow our guidelines
- Generators – must follow our guidelines
What time can I check-out of the Campsite?
BALLARAT: by Sunday 12:00 (midday)
SUNSHINE COAST: by Monday 12:00 (midday)
You may check-out at any time prior however if you have a car and are planning to leave anytime before 7am – 12pm on Sunday (Ballarat) or Monday (Sunshine Coast), please chat to the campgrounds team to let them know so they can make sure the gates are open and security are aware.
CAMPGROUND MOTOR VEHICLE RULES
- Pay attention to your surroundings and be aware of other people and camp set-ups
- Speed limit is 10km/h within the campground
- Headlights must be on when the vehicle is moving
What time can I check into the campsite?
You can check in to the campsites between the following times:
BALLARAT
- FRIDAY: Check in opens 14:00 and closes at 00:00 (midnight)
- SATURDAY: Check in opens 08:00 and closes at 14:00
SUNSHINE COAST:
- SATURDAY: Check in opens 14:00 and closes at 00:00 (midnight)
- SUNDAY: Check in opens 08:00 and closes at 14:00
Banned Items
- Illegal substances
- Sharp or large cutlery utensils (blunt cutlery is fine). Ensure all food prep is done before arriving to the campgrounds
- Weapons of any kind or any item that resembles a weapon
- Alcohol
- Unsealed non-alcoholic drinks
- Glass of any kind (exclusion of makeup and perfume containers)
- Liquid and cream of any kind over 200ml (excluding sealed drinks)
- Aerosols
- Metal water bottles
- Unidentifiable or unsealed medication. All medication must be inspected by staff through the accessibility lane
- Professional still cameras, video or audio recording devices. Smart phones and pocket-sized film/digital cameras allowed
- Noise making devices and musical instruments (small speakers are fine)
- Broadcasting or transmission equipment
- Animals (with the exception of service or assistance animals, such as Guide Dogs)
- Doof sticks, totem poles, flag poles of any kind
- Laser pens or pointers
- Skateboards and rollerblades, hover-boards, scooters, bicycles, and other personal motorised and non-motorised vehicles (Excluding mobility aids)
- Flags, promotional material or items of any kind, including banners, posters and signs, or that display political, religious or offensive signage or logos of any kind
- Gang-related insignia and masks, headwear or helmets, large spiked wrist or neck bands, spiked or studded belts
- Flares, Fireworks & Sparklers (or any other similar flammables)
- All unapproved unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones unless expressly authorised
- Any items determined as dangerous by Security, Event Staff and Law enforcement
Can I bring a camp chair to the campground?
You can BYO camp chairs into the campground, however not into the festival
Will there be access to power?
No, there won’t be any outlets available.
I want to camp next to my mates, is that possible?
We can’t guarantee you will be placed next to your mates, but to have the best chance of being close by, we recommend arriving at the campsite at the same time so we can allocate you spots next to each other.
Do we need blankets or pillows?
Yes, would definitely recommend bringing your own blankets, pillows & sleeping bags.
Can I bring in alcohol?
No alcohol will be allowed into the campground.
How many people per pitch?
Maximum of 4 people per pitch or campervan site.
Can I only pay for one night?
No, all tent packages are for two nights.
Can I come and go between the festival and campsite throughout the day?
No. The campground is separate to the festival site and Strummingbird has strictly no passouts which means you can’t go back and forth between the festival and the campsite.
There are no restrictions on coming and going from the campsite and the town before the festival.
However if you have brought your car or campervan to the campsite, you won’t be able to take it out again until the checkout opens.
Can I sleep in my car?
Sure. As long as you’ve purchased a free pitch or campervan site and the number of people in your car doesn’t exceed the maximum allowed per pitch (max. 4)
