Big Red Bash sells out

Driven by the unique opportunity to see Midnight Oil perform in their only 2019 live appearance, up to 9500 Outback travellers are heading to this year’s Big Red Bash near Birdsville from July 16-18 – nearly 500 more than last year’s record crowd.

According to the event’s organisers, more than 98 per cent of the Bash’s 3400 campsites have already been pre-sold, leaving latecomers to source what’s left of accommodation in Birdsville or Bedourie.

Being staged near the geographical centre of Australia, the 2019 ‘Bash’ is drawing people with their caravans, camper trailers, tents and swags, from virtually every state, city and town in Australia.

The organisers say that 38 per cent of registered attendees will come from Queensland, 19 per cent apiece from New South Wales and Victoria, with the balance from other States and Territories, as well as from overseas.

As Midnight Oil has a large International following, overseas visitors have also booked from the UK, Germany, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand.

The total kilometres travelled by patrons to what has become the world's largest remote music festival is estimated at 40 million.

A number of intrepid attendees will also be crossing the Simpson Desert in groups via the French Line, to arrive at, or leave, the festival by the ‘back door’ at the Big Red sand dune in whose shadow the Festival is staged.

Caravans are the most popular form of accommodation  in the adjacent campground and they're expected to house about half of all festival goers. Camper trailers will make up another quarter, with the remainder using tents, swags, rooftop tents and camper vans.

Birdsville is around 1900km from Sydney (around 2.5 days’ drive), 1600km from Brisbane (2 days’ drive) and 1200km from Adelaide (1.5 days’ drive). It is accessible by 2WD, however most people usually come in a 4WD and take the opportunity to do some Outback touring and sightseeing on the way. The road trip (if this is how you choose to travel) is all part of the adventure.

‘Bashville’ is located on the organic cattle station of Adria Downs, where camping is not usually permitted on this patch of desert.

This year’s Bash is funded under the Year of Outback Tourism Events Program during the Year of Outback Tourism 2019.

Camping is included in the cost of your ticket and is permitted for four nights: Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th July. Tickets cost $539 for adults 18+, $92 for those 12-17 years old, with children 11 years and under admitted free. A family pass (2 x adults, plus unlimited children and those 12-17) costs $1168.

More info: Big Red Bash