Exploring over 50 countries in the last decade has made me a solo travel expert, and my two years in Australia are some of my fondest memories. Working in various parts of Australia allowed me to top up my funds to enjoy as much as possible, and I was lucky enough to experience some epic Melbourne festivals. 

Melbourne is a vibrant hub of culture, and when the festival season approaches, I swear you can feel the anticipation and excitement in the air! As the sun begins to warm and blue sky days grow more frequent, people flock to various parts of the city to enjoy every kind of Melbourne festival, no matter how small! 

Going to a Melbourne Festival? Here's where you'll find:

  1. Essentials for Melbourne Festivals
  2. Getting to Melbourne Festivals
  3. Getting Tickets for Melbourne Festivals
  4. What to Wear for Melbourne Festivals
  5. Travel Insurance for Melbourne Festivals
  6. 22 Melbourne Festivals You Need to Experience

 

Essentials for Melbourne
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Festival Essentials for Melbourne Festivals & Events

Don’t be fooled into thinking you need to rally a group of friends to enjoy festivals. I recently ventured to a music festival solo and had the most incredible time. I saw every act on my list, met new people, and created epic memories. Navigating a festival can seem overwhelming with booming stages and heavy foot traffic, but prepping the essentials will make you feel like a pro in the Melbourne festival scene. Don't forget to read my tips for going to a music festival solo.

 

Getting to Melbourne Festivals

During my two-year Aussie escape, I lived in Melbourne for several months and quickly realised that public transport was the best way to get around. The first port of call for navigating the city outside of free tram zones is to buy a Myki card. Top up the card and use it to pay for trains, trams, and buses to get you to all the festivals you’ve got planned.

Travellers looking to bounce around the city and attend back-to-back festivals may find hiring a car worthwhile. A car rental will offer extra comfort, and you can split the cost (and the driving!) with friends. 

Melbourne | Sunday raving at Piknic Electronik | Australia

Getting Tickets for Melbourne Festivals

I’ve never been one to shy away from a bargain, and as a passionate music lover, I’ve learned a lot about how to score cheaper (or even free) festival tickets. Original festival websites are an obvious place to secure tickets, but this means paying full price. Australia is one of the most expensive countries I’ve travelled to, so here are some tips to help you pay less for Melbourne festivals:

Check Out Various Websites

Don’t settle for the first ticket price you see on the festival’s website. This may be the best price, but you can also save pennies by scouring the web. Always buy festival tickets from reputable companies with secure payment and guarantees. For Australian festivals, I recommend checking out tixel, ticketmaster, moshtix, and livenation. 

Enter Competitions for Festival Tickets

Social media has evolved far from the days of posting a pic or two on Instagram, and this is good news for festival-goers. As festival season approaches, look out for competitions running on social media for free tickets. These could be on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok and offer the chance to bag a free ticket - I think that’s well worth a few shares on your story!

Volunteer at Melbourne Festivals

So many of my friends volunteer at festivals during the UK summer, where they exchange a couple of shifts for a free ticket. This may not be the perfect answer if you literally want to see all of the festival as you may be working during some acts, but this is a small sacrifice to pay for a free ticket!

Melbourne | The magic of Rainbow Serpent Festival

What to Wear for Melbourne Festivals

I’ve been attending music festivals globally for 15 years, and oh boy have I learned a thing or two about festival fashion! It goes without saying, but festivals often mean being on your feet for a long time - I’m not joking when I say I once walked over 100k steps across a 4-day festival. It’s vital to merge comfort and style so you can radiate confidence and not have to reach for blister plasters every other hour!

Dress for You

Festivals are the perfect places to experiment with fashion. That bold print dress you’ve been too self-conscious to wear is PERFECT! I wouldn’t call myself a fashionista as such, but I love exploring various styles and playing around with different looks at festivals, after all, it’s what everyone does!

Consider the Weather

Lots of Melbourne festivals happen late in the year as this is when Aussie summertime hits. When planning your outfits, remember the weather! Check the forecast and see if any waterproofs are in order, or if you need a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen instead. 

Invest in Festival Footwear

Having sore feet is the worst when you want to dance the night away, so choose your footwear wisely. Heels and cowboy boots may be tempting, but trust me, you’ll regret these toe-squishers from the first night. I put my faith in outfit-friendly trainers and classic black boots that keep my feet warm, dry, and blister-free, check these out in my festival shoe guide and shop my Festival Essentials.

Melbourne | The magic of Rainbow Serpent Festival

Travel Insurance for Melbourne Festivals

Adventure runs through my veins, but I never sacrifice my well-being. Travelling so much over the last decade has shown me that anything can happen anywhere, which is why I invest in SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance. The company understands traveller’s needs, covering over 175 countries and offering complete control over the policy start and end dates. 

SafetyWing provides Travel Insurance for Nomads including global coverage that can be purchased outside your home country, with a simple claims service and 24/7 human support. 

Their cover provides the following:

  • Meals & accommodations if you have a travel delay over 12 hours
  • Emergency dental care up to $1000
  • Medical care including prescriptions, emergency care and hospital stays
  • Coverage for lost checked luggage
  • Flights home if something bad happens
  • Continued coverage for visits back home
  • Coverage for motor accidents
  • Coverage for injuries from leisure sports & activities

Read my full blog post on Choosing Travel Insurance for Solo Female Travellers so you can feel confident and safe tackling the Melbourne festival scene during your trip Down Under.

Birthday thanks, love and celebrations

22 Melbourne Festivals You Need to Experience

The state of Victoria is a festival haven, and Melbourne is a key city to experience the action. I’m incredibly grateful to have attended multiple festivals in Melbourne. Even now, I still find my mind fluttering back to the time I spent in the events capital of Australia.

 

1. Melbourne International Jazz Festival

It doesn’t feel like the festival season until the Melbourne International Jazz Festival gets underway! Spanning across various locations in the city, the Jazz Festival celebrates the best from global jazz artists and this year’s lineup included Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding and Marcus Miller.

 

2. Beyond the Valley

Beyond the Valley is a euphoric synergy of music, camping, and arts, taking place in the tranquil Barunah Plains less than two hours from Melbourne. The star-studded lineup for 2024 includes Fisher, Ice Spice, Chase & Status, AJ Tracey, and plenty more acts to get the music flowing through your body!

 

3. Meredith Music Festival

First held in the early 90s, Meredith Music Festival offers an eclectic blend of rock pop, hip hop, punk, soul, disco, house, and techno, catering to the tastes of every reveller. It’s a weekend where community and sheer passion for the arts get showcased on the incredible lands of Wadawurrung Country. This year’s lineup saw acts like Jamie XX, Waxahatchee, and Fat White Family unleash their talents and get everyone boogieing under the stars.

 

4. Always LIVE

The non-stop celebration of Always LIVE spreads joy across Melbourne and Victoria, highlighting the best Aussie talent and global acts to the beat of stomping feet. The highly anticipated 2024 line-up included Chet Faker, Tash Sultana, and Adrian Eagle for a gigantic celebration of contemporary live music. 

 

5. Rainbow Spirit Festival

I had the delight of attending the Rainbow Spirit Festival during its time as the Rainbow Serpent Festival and it was a crazy experience! Returning to the Melbourne Pavillion, 2024’s festival offered three dance floors, creative art spaces, healing sessions, and delicious food and markets to fuel plenty of dancing!

 

6. Antipodes Festival

A Greek-Australian fusion, the Antipodes Festival brings gyros, mythos, and a whole load of Greek-inspired fun to Melbourne’s Greek precinct. Uniting communities, this free event is a must to experience the heart of Greek culture with food, music, and dancing.

Melbourne | Partying at St Kilda Festival & White Night | Australia

7. Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Featuring an array of international and beloved Australian comedians, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the gateway for giggles. Guy Montgomery, Urzila Carlson, The Gala, and Guy Williams are just a selection of names awaiting to take to stages across Melbourne next year. 

 

8. Moomba Festival

Run by the City of Melbourne, the annual Moomba Festival continues to be Australia’s largest, free, community festival. Spanning four days, the city comes to life with carnival energy, celebrating the Moomba Monarchs on the Monday street parade, followed by the Birdman Rally, and glistening fireworks lighting up the sky each evening.

 

9. St Kilda Festival

Free, fun, and accessible for festival lovers of all ages, the St Kilda Festival is a must to add to your calendar! It unites the best of summer with local music in the beauty of St Kilda beach. I partied hard when I went to the St Kilda Festival, soaking up the sun while dancing the night away. Ready to take to the stage are acts from all genres including pop, dance, electronic, jazz, and indie such as Dizzy Days, Dyan Tai, Jamie Lena, and Leroy Macqueen. 

 

10. Piknic Electronik Melbourne

Piknic Electronik has faced some difficulties over the last few years due to poor weather and funding issues. But hope prevails for 2025! I attended the festival during my two-year Aussie adventure and loved every second of dancing the night away with friends. 

 

11. Interstellar Groove

Music, art, love, light, and cosmic energy make Interstellar Groove an explosion of joy in its new location in Tallarook. Boasting authentic Australian electronic sound across four stages, Interstellar Groove is a celebration of music, art, and community with acts like Antix, D-Nox & Beckers, Jossie Telch, and Perfect Stranger lighting up Victoria.

 

12. Melbourne International Film Festival

Music-based celebrations aren’t the only Melbourne Festivals worth attending, with the Melbourne International Film Festival offering a cultural and artistic awakening. Featuring free-to-view movies from Victoria’s most talented storytellers, MIFF is a showcase shining a light on rising talent for audiences who appreciate the art of the screen. 

Fraser Island | Why Fraser Island should definitely be part of your East Coast trip | Australia

13. NYE on the Hill

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in style has never been easier thanks to NYE on the Hill. Acts like Mallrat, Hockey Dad, The Dreggs, and Jack Botts transform South Gippsland into an energetic summer wonderland for the best NYE celebration in Victoria.

 

14. St Jerome's Laneway Festival

Some of the world’s freshest, most loved, and most exciting acts gather together at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Flemington. Acts for 2025 include the global superstars Charli XCX, Barry Can’t Swim, and Bicep for an epic night of entertainment. 

 

15. Alive Garden Party

Alive Garden Party brings summer vibes to the Yarra Valley, Perth, Adelaide, Southern Highlands, and Brisbane with the help of Club Symphony. Enjoy live orchestra performances in the stunning Yarra Valley accompanied by scrumptious food and wine. The countryside escape transforms classic tunes from The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, and Eric Prydz with an orchestral twist. 

 

16. White Night Melbourne

For twelve twinkling hours, visitors can relish in the beauty of White Night Melbourne; a festival bringing the uniqueness of the city to life. The goal of the event? To showcase the best Melbourne has to offer across its landmarks and streets, transforming the city into an artistic demonstration of food, theatre, fashion, film, and performance. 

 

17. Brunswick Music Festival

Brunswick Music Festival is a collective of shows and events blending people, culture, music, and arts. The Sydney Road Street Party is unmissable, bringing dance parties and food to the streets under blue skies and sunshine. This iconic event is worth the short journey north from the heart of Melbourne.

 

18. Chinese Lunar New Year

Take part in Melbourne’s biggest cultural celebration at the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival. The captivating Millennium Dragon Parade winds down Melbourne’s crowded streets adorned by traditional and modern performances. Feed your soul and your stomach with a taste of Asia that everyone will fall in love with and soak up the vibrant cultural festival.

 

19. Golden Plains

Lose yourself to the beats of PJ Harvey, Fontaines DC, Wet Kiss, and 2ManyDJs at the Golden Plains festival next March. The festival is set in a stunning wild environment where music and nature unite, creating epic scenes in the trees. Free from sponsors and marketing, Golden Plains does festival season differently, truly offering a life-impacting experience over a rowdy weekend!

Melbourne | Feeling the need for speed at the Australian Grand Prix | Australia

20. Maldon Folk Festival

If a long weekend of folk, bluegrass, jazz, and blues sounds like a bit of you, Maldon Folk Festival is your answer. Maldon Folk has been held for over five decades, bringing the taste of folk to Victoria, showcasing dance, music, and interactive workshops suited to every festival-goer and budget. 

 

21. Riverboats Music Festival

Delicately tucked away next to the Murray River, the Riverboats Music Festival is a charming synergy of music from the likes of Bic Runga, The Cruel Sea, Dan Sultan, and Emily Wurramara. Paddlesteamers float by while revellers enjoy local produce from delicious food trucks to the soundtrack of indie rock and alternative country.

 

22. African Music and Cultural Festival

Fuse African and Australian culture with three days celebrating over 35 African countries. Inject your soul with African rhythm in Melbourne’s Federation Square and enjoy music, dance, food stalls, and incredible traditional performances. The festival encompasses an overwhelming feeling of beauty, where diversity and culture can come together in the city centre.