Music lovers lash out amid new Splendour in the Grass issues
Music lovers hoping to enjoy day two of Splendour in the Grass have been hit with fresh issues before even getting into the festival grounds.
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After a disastrous day one at Splendour in the Grass, revellers are revealing even getting into the festival has become a mission.
Taking to social media, festival-goers have revealed they have waited up to three hours in line just to get on a bus from Byron Bay to the festival grounds.
“It’s taken us 2.5 hours and apparently another 45 minutes wait at the festival for entrance,” one person commented on a video showing long line of people waiting to get into the showground.
People were wrapping around corners while standing in line on a muddy footpath.
Meanwhile, another woman shared a video from the middle of town where people were waiting just to get on a bus to be taken to Byron Events Farm.
She revealed she had waited an hour in line before being able to jump on board the bus.
Her video showed the line extending down the street and around the corner as festival goers scrambled to enjoy what they could after Day 1 was cancelled.
One person tweeted: “#SITG2022 get some buses to BEF where everyone has paid for parking. 3 hour wait and looks like an hour to go.”
Another said: “Three hour bus queue to get from the car park that takes you to Splendour. Another hour once you get to the site. #fail #splendourinthegrass.”
Three hour bus queue to get from the car park that takes you to Splendour. Another hour once you get to the site. #fail#splendourinthegrasspic.twitter.com/i4Bg8o6opx
— DWheat (@DWeatz101) July 23, 2022
Others attempted to get alternative means of transport to Splendour in the Grass but prices meant not everyone could.
Uber costs for drop-offs to the festival soared as high as $250 on Friday night, – with some popular camping areas around Byron Bay and Mullumbimby experiencing a shortage of Uber rides on Saturday.
The high demand has meant many festivalgoers who forked out savings for tickets, supplies, accommodation and other festival fees have taken to social media in an attempt to split the cost of travel.
The sky-high prices come after extreme weather saw day one of the festival cancelled.
Thousands of festivalgoers were forced to retreat to Byron Bay last night after main stage acts, including headliners Gorillaz as well as the Avalanches and Kacey Musgraves, were cancelled as hectic weather turning turned the festival site into a flooded swamp.
The unlucky ticketholders who had to trek through muddy water were promised refunded tickets.
Day two has so far been less chaotic, with Grace Tame the only major act to pull out, but attendees looking to enjoy non-stop music have had to contend with the high cost of getting there.
For fans looking to travel up to the festival from any of the off-site camping locations suggested on the Splendour website, expect to see a hike in rideshare and taxi prices as an increase in demand and limited number of cars are driving up the prices.
People looking to catch a ride from Byron or Mullumbimby may not be able to book an Uber car for a while.
But for those who do manage to nab a car – prepare to spend upwards of $120 for UberX cars or anywhere between $190-$200 dollars for UberXL if you’re travelling from around the First Sun Holiday Park or the popular Mullumbimby Rugby Leagues Club.
And with availability of cars dwindling – you may have no choice in what type of Uber you get to pay for.
Many who had to make the trek back from Splendour after a miserable day one noted the high rideshare prices.
Posting to Facebook group ‘Splendour In The Grassers 2022’ on Friday night, Riley Lynch was unimpressed by the $150 dollar cost on the way back from Splendour to Byron Bay.
It’s not just getting to Splendour that is proving a problem.
For many, finding a way to travel back home – especially cross-state – is the real issue as flight prices also surge upwards.
One ticketholder who made an 18.5 hour car trip from Melbourne to Byron Events Farm with a friend posted a desperate plea for help as she was forced to cancel her ticket and drive back – leaving her friend stranded with camping equipment, supplies and no mode of transport to make it back to Melbourne.
“Due to some very sensitive and personal issues, I have unfortunately had to leave the event,” Rachel Spencer said in her post.
“We drove my car up, and I have had to leave (my friend) there to fend for himself.
“He has a tent, blow up mattress, small Esky, and his bag of clothes and a beautiful soul and can-do-attitude. We are currently trying to search for a way for him to get home on the Monday.”
Ms Spencer said the biggest issue preventing her friend from buying a plane ticket or ordering an Uber was the sheer cost that her friend had no way of paying.
“Tickets are $600 for flights, not including carry on for all his supplies, Uber fees and getting back home from the airport,” she explained.
“Trains are 24 hours long and it is basically impossible for him to carry all his things by himself.”
Ms Spencer appealed to any “kind, beautiful, amazing souls” who would be willing to help her friend travel back to Melbourne on Monday.
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Originally published as Music lovers lash out amid new Splendour in the Grass issues
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