The annual trip to Beyond the Valley is a rite of passage for many. And if it isn’t already, your group chat will probably soon start to buzz with plans for this year’s festival. This year’s line-up is packed – with Tinashe, Ice Spice, Chase & Status, AJ Tracey, Sugababes and heaps more – and the choice of one-, two-, three- and four-day tickets means there are plenty of fun, flexi ways to experience it all this year.
If you want to be close to the action, on-site camping options range from General (with a space to pitch your own tent) to Pre-Pitched and Lux options (both close to selling out – Premium already has).
But perhaps you feel like your festival camping days are behind you. Or maybe it’s your first time and, rather than a four-day affair, a single-day cameo is looking like the go.. Luckily, the BTV site isn’t far from Geelong or the Great Ocean Road – so you could add a private stay with beach views to your festival trip. There are car park passes are available, and a variety of transport options (including shuttle bus passes) that can ferry you safely between Barunah Plains and Geelong, Melbourne, the Otways or the Surf Coast each day.
If the idea of staying off-site sounds more up your alley, we’ve picked out the best places to eat, drink and stay (and what to do) near Beyond the Valley.
Stay
Sandwiched between Melbourne and BTV, Geelong is a great place to base yourself for the festival. Two-bedroom apartment Rancho Relaxo Waterfront Getaway is perfect for a bigger group, while Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong is located near everything you’ll need. Alternatively, Torquay and Lorne are just an hour’s drive away on the surf coast. Here, you can ring in the new year in style at a luxurious Airbnb or be waited on at the sprawling RACV Torquay Resort. If you’re keen for an NYD ocean dip, Anchorage Lorne has studios, villas and apartments, while the two-person Phoneix Apartments come with balconies or courtyards. In Torquay, this apartment and Puebla Beach House are less than 10 minutes from the beach. If you don’t mind pitching a tent, but prefer the beach to the hustle and bustle of the festival, Lorne and Torquay both have tons of great camping grounds.
Eat
For pre-festival fuel, start your day at The Local in Geelong for house-made pastries, snacks and sangas. Try the crowd-favourite sourdough Reuben or a scrambled egg and bacon bagel. Nearby, Cartel Coffee Roasters is a must for topnotch coffee. And if you’re feeling dusty the next day, Torquay’s Mortadeli is a go-to for conti rolls. Be sure to grab a flaky pastizzi while you’re there.
For lunch or dinner before heading into the festival, or if you’re hanging around the coast for a few days to explore, Mortadeli’s ’60s-inspired diner is also worth a visit for its classic Roman pasta. Or head to Pholklore just down the road in Torquay for a hearty bowl of pho with beachside views. From the team behind Melbourne’s revamped Royal Oak Hotel, The Petrel in Geelong is known for its chicken schnitty with garlic butter. Further down the Great Ocean Road, there are food pop-ups and a Shandong Mama stall at David Moyle’s new Clam tavern in Lorne.
Drink
For those staying in Geelong, add Daisy to your hit list – a cosy wine bar with aperitivo-hour specials like $8 wine and beer. Or grab a bottle of local wine from the nearby Geelong Cellar Door, or sit in for a glass and a cheese platter. If you’re in Torquay, make your way around its many standout breweries – like Bells Beach Brewing and 4 Pines Torquay, both within pub-crawl distance. And in Lorne, we recommend pulling up a seat at Lorne Hotel for a pint on the sun-soaked deck with unparalleled views of the bay.
Do
Staying off-site during BTV allows you to choose your own adventure – make the most of your time out near the Great Ocean Road by turning it into a full holiday, complete with other activities before, after or even during the festival. In between sets, it’s worth exploring some of the local attractions. Check out the waves and see some pro surfing at Bells Beach, Torquay. In Lorne, wander through the ferns to Erskine Falls, one of the most popular (and stunning) waterfalls in the Otways. The Geelong Botanic Gardens, meanwhile, make for a picturesque picnic spot, and the waterfront, with its charming 19th-century pier, is a lively spot for parks, dining and a dip.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Beyond the Valley.
