Prep for the journey - Your 2019 festival Guide

Program and site map

Not all those who wander are lost...

 

Getting There

Directions

Happy Wanderer is held at Yin Barun, a beautiful working farm. The address is 118 Yin Barun Road, Benalla, Victoria. Google is all over it. 

If you're coming from Melbourne on the Hume Highway, take the first Benalla exit and then turn right towards Mansfield. Cross over the highway and Yin Barun Road is then on your left after 10km. Once you’re on Yin Barun Road please drive slowly - really slowly - it’s dry out here and the faster we drive, the dustier it gets.

Also - there’s a lot of wildlife out here, so be sure to drive slow at dawn and dusk, and scan the roadside for approaching marsupials. They’re big.

 

Carpooling

Carpooling is the best. The environment is fully into it and also you can meet some truly rad individuals, who may have good car snacks. If you have a spare seat or are looking for one, feel free to find your people on the Facebook Event page. Epic.

Public transport

Fancy a long scenic train ride through the countryside? You're in luck! Train machines choof choof their way up to Benalla fairly, semi, ok not that regularly. But, with a little planning you'll be on your way. Here's a handy Journey Planner where you can find the train timetables. Benalla Station is about 15km from the festival so arrange a lift or sign up for one of our Benalla station shuttles below.

Benalla Station SHUTTLES

If you're catching a train over and would like a lift from the station, we will be doing shuttles on Friday, meeting the 2.23pm, 5:20pm and 8:34pm arrivals. There are limited seats available.

Book your seat by emailing happywandererfestival@gmail.com. Include Benalla Station Shuttle in the subject line, and your arrival time (2.23pm, 5:20pm or 8.15pm) in the email.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED

We can't wait to see you! Gates are open:

  • Friday, 1 November from 2pm - midnight

  • Saturday, 2 November from 10am - midnight

  • Sunday, 3 November from 10am - midnight

  • Monday, 4 November from 6am - 11am

Bring a valid ticket and ID for each Wanderer in your car. Dog applications have closed, so unless your hound has applied and been approved, please leave them at home. Dogs without prior approval will be turned away at the gate.

The roads into the farm and around the festival are unsealed - so go slow and enjoy the views! It will make for less dust, happier neighbours and make it safer and much easier to avoid our animal friends. 

Camping Like a True Wanderer

Pack smart

Our camping areas are car-free for everyone's safety - so when you pack, bear in mind you'll need to carry your gear a short distance from the drop-off area to the campsites. Some people pack lighter, others pack lotsa wheely suitcases, some see it as a sweet bicep workout.

be an Early bird

After dark, car access to the festival area is further restricted, so get in while the sun's up and set up camp in style. Last light is 8.10pm.

WILD WANDERING

The festival and camp grounds are in real Australian bush. Well, we've mown the lawns and put up a lot of bunting, but otherwise - practically Croc Dundee country. Come prepared for real-deal camping:

Tips

  • Check the weather forecast a few days out and pack accordingly. The festival will go ahead rain, hail, or shine

  • We're not perfect but we aim to be a zero-waste festival one day - please help us by minimising waste and taking everything home with you that you bring

  • Again with the litter, cows usually live on the festival site, so please don't litter their lounge room.

You'll never regret bringing:

  • insect repellent

  • sunscreen

  • torch and spare batteries

  • drinking water

  • all your usual medications including antihistamines if you get hay fever and an epi-pen if you might need one

  • warm socks and maybe thermals for nighttime

  • swimmers and a towel for river splashing

  • tent pegs (these are really effective if you use them, the number of tents we've seen fly away...)

  • cash - the festival is cash-only and there are some amazing masseuses, hair artists, food trucks and makers of great things. You’ll never regret bringing that extra cash

  • yoga mat - great for our yoga classes or just lying in the sunshine

BE MINDFUL OF WHERE YOU CAMP

Drop bears! Keep a look out for those, and also potentially-fally branches, who are truly tricky and very camouflaged. When setting up camp at the festival, think about:

  • Proximity to trees and falling branches

  • Maintaining a safe distance from the river

  • Night time access

  • Supervision of children near water

Our super-friendly gate helpers are more than happy to recommend a great spot for you.

BRING CASH

There are no EFTPOS facilities or ATMs on site, so bring enough cash for workshops, market stalls, food, drinks and merch. You're going to hear some music you absolutely need to buy. It's a given.

The Wanderer's choice of drinking VESSEL

We are sustainability nuts and one way we're caring for the land and our future is disposing of all those disposable cups.

The Fat Cat Bar does not provide mugs, so everyone coming through the gate will be given their own Happy Wanderer mug, our drinking vessel of choice.

Happy Wanderer mugs from festivals-past are also welcome at the bar.

You can personalise your mug at the decoration station at the bar.

No Glass

The festival is held on a working farm where cows and sheep look after the land the other 362 days of the year. That means strictly NO GLASS. Glass will be confiscated by festival crew as required. Please consider this when planning any BYO.

COOKING

For everyone's safety, NO FIRES or cooking is permitted in camping areas. There are some epic food trucks available, but if you'd like to cook a meal, small personal cookers can be used in the main festival area.

Wally's Trailer Park AND #VANLIFE

There are separate camping areas available for your awesome trailers and vans. They're not powered.

Dogs

Our epic farm dogs and a couple of their mates will be coming to the festival. They're all super-friendly and very entertaining, and they'll be kept on a leash at night. Note that your best doggie friend can only come to the festival if you have an approved application. Dog applications for Happy Wanderer have closed. If your dog hasn’t been approved, please don’t bring them, they’ll be petted and then turned away at the gate. Which is 💔 for everyone.

Culture

Wanderers are some of the best humans you’ll meet. Let’s all take care of each other. Read more about our culture, and why it’s ok to say, ‘That's not ok’, here.

Wandering with us

You're in for a weekend of wondrous wandering. Here are some extra tips to make your journey as wander-ful as it can be:

  • Bring your own hammock and it can hang out in our hammock world under the gum trees

  • Bring your instruments for The Two-Chord Wanderer workshop - any instrument is welcome, including your voice

  • Bring something to share with your fellow wanderers be it games, activities, stories, food or music