If You Love Music Festivals But Hate Camping, Beyond The Valley Has Got You Covered

For some, the Beyond the Valley experience isn’t complete without a poorly pitched tent in the campgrounds. It’s convenient, it’s close to the action, and there can definitely be a sense of community in those temporary tent cities. But honestly, it’s not for everyone. There’s a lot to like about the other side of the coin: staying off site. It offers an easy break from the chaos of the festival, means you can choose which acts you most want to see, and provides you a comfortable base from which to explore one of the most beautiful parts of regional Victoria – before or after your BTV experience. It’s becoming more and more popular at festivals around the world (Coachella, anyone?), with day passes giving punters the chance to fully refresh after each day.

So, if you’re thinking of heading to Beyond the Valley this year but want to choose your own adventure, here’s why a festival entry pass might be the way to go.

Reset before each day

Set in the picturesque Barunah Plains – less than an hour from Geelong and the Surf Coast – Beyond the Valley packs in four days of music and other adventures from December 28 to January 1. A festival entry pass means you can have a jam-packed day and night, and then return to your accommodation for a well-earned, comfortable night of sleep. Tickets are for one, two, three or all four days, so you really can choose your own adventure here. Plus, you’ll have the luxury of later starts each morning, a quieter spot to get ready in and of course – the ability to recover from the day before before facing the next day.

If you’re staying off-site, there are plenty of stunning backdrops for those pre- and post-festival hours. You can buy a pass for the buses which head to Barunah Plains every day from Geelong, the Otways and the Surf Coast – so whether you’re shacking up by the beach in Torquay or enjoying a temporary tree change at a Golden Plains homestead, you won’t miss out on any of the festival fun.

See the acts you want to see – or just ring in the New Year

Listen to this line-up: Central Cee, DMA’s, the Jungle Giants, G Flip, Peggy Gou – and that’s just a taste. There’s also a full program of live podcasts on the podcast stage (including The Mason Cox Show, Where’s Your Head At – hosted by some beloved Love Island stars – and The Maria Thattil Show), plus classic Beyond the Valley side quests like the hidden Schmall Klub and the wedding chapel – where couples will be tying the knot around the clock. Multi-day festival entry passes are available, or you can get a single day pass just for New Years Eve. So if you’re keen to just ring in the new year with Peggy Gou and split – that’s also totally fine.

Festival entry passes means you can self-curate for the acts and experiences that really appeal. Keen to see why Central Cee was streamed two billion times last year? A spot of matrimony scored by a live taping of Scheananigans With Scheana Shay sound about right? It’s completely up to you. If you can’t make it away for the whole four days, or just have a crammed silly season calendar, getting a multi-day festival entry pass will mean you’ll get to experience all of the festival has to offer, with the added comfort of staying off site..

Swim in the ocean and have a recovery brunch

BTV takes place in a lovely part of Victoria – which is itself near a heap of other beautiful locales. So it would be a shame to come all the way here without getting to experience some of the unique things this part of the state has to offer. That’s where staying off-site, whether it’s for a day or for the whole festival, has an edge over camping: you get the chance to explore the region. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure when it comes to accommodation if you stay off-site. Pick the accommodation type that suits your budget, organise transport with friends and you’re set to go.

Down on the Surf Coast it’s all about the beaches (like the famous Bells Beach between Torquay and Jan Juc), but the area’s home to the Bellarine Peninsula and its wineries, too. The region is quietly developing a name for itself as a pinot noir hot spot, and a quiet glass overlooking the vineyard at, say, Oakdene or McGlashan’s could recharge anyone’s festival batteries.

If you’re staying in Geelong, you’ll find a bayside city that, these days, is packed with high-quality bars and restaurants happy to help you refuel after a long festival day (or get appropriately caffeinated in the mornings). Exploring the historic streets is all part of the fun, and you’ll find everything from high-end South American cuisine at Alma to relaxed waterfront dining at Pavilion at Eastern Beach.

Broadsheet is a proud media partner of Beyond the Valley. Festival entry passes gives you the flexibility to do the festival your way, staying off-site, without worrying about missing out. See the full line-up and more information on day passes.