The Ultimate Summer Festival Roadtrip

Lately I’ve been thinking about my dream bucket list – what I would do if time and money were no object – and have been quietly putting together a list just in case I become instantly independently wealthy. And right at the top of that list is to do the ultimate festival road trip, to spend a year travelling around Australia visiting as many music festivals as I could.

And then I got to thinking that it might be a possibility even without a fortuitous lotto win. With enough careful planning, money saving and leave time from work, picking a time of year like Summer when the festivals come thick and fast and choosing a route that would take in the best of the best, it just might be possible, if only for a month.

Due to weather and a wealth of events, I picked December through January, bought a map of the East Coast and started to plot a route based on the music festival trail. Here’s what I came up with:

Gulgong Folk Festival

Where: Gulgong, NSW
When: 28^th to 31^st Dec
About: Historic Gulgong feels as though it’s straight out of the 1900s with its wide country streets and ornate shop fronts. The festival features some of the country’s best up and coming talent in an atmosphere that feels local and intimate.
While You’re There: The Mudgee wine region is right on your doorstep.
Where to Stay: Options are limited in Gulgong, especially when the festival is in town. Drive the 20 mins to Mudgee and book into the De Ruisse Suites. You won’t regret it.

Woodford Folk Festival

Where: Woodfordia, QLD
When: 27^th Dec to 1^st Jan
About: Probably the biggest folk festival in the country, Woodford will help you see in the New Year in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland while listening to some of the best folk, acoustic, rock and pop music from around the world.
While You’re There: Why not explore the stunning Glasshouse Mountains or head to the famous Eumundi markets.
Where to Stay: Woodfordia is just outside of Woodford in Queensland and in the summer rains the festival is nicknamed “Mudford” by regulars. You can camp on site but a better bet is to head to the coast. The BreakFree Alexandra Beach is just up the road from Mooloolaba’s busy main beach but a world away from the bustle. Mooloolaba is a popular summer spot with Expedia’s travellers.