Australia's best summer boutique festivals
FESTIVALS with Japanese-inspired red light districts, 1950s bars and bands and Whitney Houston flash mobs: here are Australia's best.
WITH sales of big, commercial festivals slowing over the last few years, boutique festivals inspired by quirky European parties have become popular in Australia.
Bespoke, handcrafted festivals with secret acts, unexpected and immersive events and limited numbers are popping up to offer a more personal experience.
Here is our guide to the best options with a heart over the next year.
Subsonic Music Festival
Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort, Barrington Tops, NSW
December 7 - 9
A three-day camping festival in lush green surroundings by a creek for swimming, Subsonic offers a mixture of electro, techno, hip hop and roots music.
Performance art is a big part of the weekender - expect ariel acts, a cabaret zoo, yoga and healing herb workshops, bush tucker and body art.
And it's not all about frantic beats - The Tantric Turtle cafe will be on hand to offer partied-out festival goers organic cakes in a sensual atmosphere inside a gypsy caravan.
The festival is in its fourth year and around 2500 people attend.
Secret Garden Festival
Held at a secret farm one hour from Sydney
March 8 - 9 2013
Not to be confused with the similarly-quirky British festival of the same name, SG organisers keep most of the details a surprise so partygoers are fully immersed in a secret world.
Previous highlights include a Japanese-inspired red light district complete with pole dancers, porn, booths and a marriage chapel, a Whitney Houston flash mob and a Secret Garden Olympics.
Creative groups set up their own themed areas in the forest and partygoers never know who or what to expect. Make sure you pack a fabulous array of fancy dress for this one.
All profits go to charity and the festival is already sold out for 2013.
www.secretgardenfestival.com.au
Rainbow Serpent Festival
Lexton, Victoria
January 25 - 28 2013
Rainbow Serpent Festival started as a small gathering in a secluded clearing and is now a weekend of dance, colour, expression and celebration of the earth.
As well as banging beats, the festival offers spiritual massage and healing, thought-provoking discussion panels and speakers, video arts and a kids zone.
With the festival's international theme, a market village will sell food from Thailand, Japan, India, Israel and India.
And festival goers are free to submit their own ideas on what they want to see and experience with the best ideas being put into action.
RGEN Regrowth Festival
Braidwood, NSW
2013 dates TBA
The festival focuses on sustainability and rebuilding bush and over the past seven years, more than 60,000 trees have been planted by partygoers.
Wobbly beats, minimal, glitch hop and dub reggae are just a few of the music styles on offer over three stages, as well as a cinema with arty films, market stalls, art installations, live body painting, hooping and fire performers.
Wide Open Space
Ross River Resort, Central Australia, Northern Territory
May 3 - 5 2013
This unique desert arts, music and culture gathering 85 kms from Alice Springs is organised solely by volunteers.
Music goes right across the aural spectrum with Pacific grooves, ska, space-rock, acid and much more.
With contemporary dance, sculpture inspired by the outback skies and tribal fusion bellydance, this festival is a great way to experience the Aussie outback in a quirky way.
Peats Ridge
Glenworth Valley, NSW
December 29 - January 1 2013
Held over New Year's Eve an hour's drive from Sydney, Peats Ridge has a pretty phat lineup - Krafty Kuts vs A.Skillz, Friendly Fires and the John Butler Trio are just a few of the names.
Themed areas include the Wonderland Garden - expect wombats, polka-dotted mushrooms, enchanted romances and mischievous characters. Meet Aphrodite the Goddess of Love while you sip a cocktail.
There are workshops for yoga, dance and drumming and markets selling everything from vintage clothing to jewellery.
See www.peatsridgefestival.com.au
Meredith Musical Festival
Meredith, Victoria
December 7 - 9
With an emphasis on nature and nonsense, the magic centres around the Supernatural Amphitheatre which will host acts including Primal Scream, Rahzel and DJ JS-1 Spiritualized and Grimes.
A giant outdoor cinema, tai chi lessons, art inspired by the animals of the area and the arch of love are just some of the highlights.
See www.mmf.com.au
Earth Frequency Festival
Landcruiser Park, SE Queensland
February 15 - 18
Musicians, artists, healers and intellectuals all come together at this gathering with shared interests of culture, technology, nature, community and peace.
There are workshops and lectures on topics from personal growth to ecology, plant and herbal medicine and sustainability.
Now in its eighth year, the venue is a two hour drive from Brisbane.
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