Are festivals becoming Australia's most expensive hobby?

 THOUSANDS of fans forking out up to $600 on a single day in the sun as they cram into music festivals this summer.

Music festival ... Big Day Out hits Sydney's Olympic Park for Australia Day in extreme heat. Fans in the crowd cool off by dancing under mist machine. Picture: Cameron Richardson

YOUNG music lovers are so devoted to music festivals they're now spending up to $600 on the experience.

As ticket prices soar through the $150 dollar mark, and VIP tickets reach $210, punters have told of spending up to two weeks pay just to attend. 

VIDEO: Watch the above video to see what they spent their cash on and how much.
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For 20-year-old Samantha Boyd, attending the Big Day Out was the culmination of a year's worth of saving.

"I put $5 a week away every year so I can go," said Boyd.  " It's expensive, yeah. By the time you buy drinks, food, the ticket, taxis to get here, you've gone through a good couple of hundred dollars, but I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Festival goers are also dressing to impress with many spending further hundreds on costumes, props and new outfits for the day.

"I went shopping with my friends and we all bought matching tops, shorts and hats and decorated them so that was probably another $80 or $100, but at least I can wear them again," said the university student. 

Things will be a little tight this week for Luke Crowley, a part-time pizza delivery boy, after his Big Day Out experience.

"I blew my whole fortnight's pay packet on today. I'm broke as of tomorrow. I spent $200 on a VIP ticket when they went on sale too, so yeah, festivals keep me pretty poor,"  said the 21-year-old.  

Drinks were priced at up to $10 for a can and $5 for a bottle of water, labelled by some as "ridiculous."

"It is a rip-off, but I guess they've got a captive market, so people will just pay it" said Crowley.

The Big Day Out has become one of the world's premiere music festivals drawing the cream of international acts and Australian bands and more than 300,000 people nationwide during its two-week run.