Everything you need to know to ensure you and your crew have a great weekend with us.
Alcohol & Glass
NO GLASS ALLOWED! The Subsonic Music Festival is a glass-free event (this includes BYO). Subsonic Music reserves the right to confiscate food or drinks packaged in glass. You have been warned!
Subsonic Music Festival is a BYO event! You may bring alcohol as long as it is NOT IN GLASS and can be consumed in the camping areas and the entertainment areas of the festival.
IMPORTANT 2024 UPDATE:
In an effort to make the festival experience more affordable, accessible and relaxed we have made the festival site and entertainment area completely BYO! For the first time the stunning entertainment area of the resort site we call home, Riverwood Downs will no longer be licenced, instead, you can now (responsibly) take your glass-free refreshments into those grounds. We believe this will hugely benefit our festival family looking for a more affordable and flexible festival experience.
Excessive use of alcohol is not cool and will not be tolerated. Please drink responsibly folks.
ATM
There is no ATM onsite. Please bring cash, or use your EFTPOS or credit card.
Buses & Shuttles
We’ll be offering an afternoon shuttle service on the Friday of the festival from Newcastle Airport, as well as a return service to both on Monday morning and Monday afternoon. Tickets are available on the Buy Tickets page.
Camping & Entry
Gate open times:
Thursday 11am to Midnight.
Friday and Saturday 8am to Midnight.
Gates Open Thursday morning 11 am. Please don’t come earlier as you will be turned away! Thursday camping incurs a $50 surcharge per ticket holder (payable on entry or via the Buy Tickets page.); A small fee to ensure first pick at the best camping spots and also covers the cost of venue camping (outside festival hours) and patron safety and comfort provisions. Camping is included in the ticket price for Friday, Saturday & Sunday only. Departure is required by 5 pm Monday or further charges apply ($50 per ticket holder). Camp only in designated areas. It really sucks to have to be told to move your campsite. If you are not sure please ask. If you are camping with a large group of people try to come at the same time, if you are a late arrival you may not be able to get your vehicles to where your friends are once a particular campground is full.
No campfires or gas stoves are allowed unless fully contained within an RV/Motorhome.
First Aid & Security
Located next to the Info tent. In case of an emergency, you may also ask security to contact First Aid. The best way to be safe is to TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. Look after your mates! If someone looks like they might require assistance, ask them if they need help. You will feel good plus you’d want someone to do the same for you. Bring sunscreen, warm clothes, a hat and some camping gear/ shelter to protect yourself from the elements. Security at Subsonic Music Festival is there to help you. It's not Kings-X in the 90s. Be nice.
Generators
No generators or independent sound systems are allowed. Subsonic Music reserves the right to confiscate power generation and/ or PA/ DJ equipment if deemed necessary for the comfort of other campers.
Illegal Substances
The possession, sale or use of illicit substances is strictly prohibited. Offenders may be excluded from the festival entertainment area and may be subject to Police action. NO TOLERANCE!
Law Enforcement
Port Stephens/ Hunter Police will attend the Subsonic Music Festival and will be there to assist in the case of an emergency and to ensure your safety. Police will be stationed near the Info Tent & Medical Tent area. If you are in need of Police assistance and cannot locate the Police, enquire at the info tent or with security. The Police have been attending the Subsonic Music Festival since year dot. This is a friendly event, so please don’t be a dick – that just makes it hard for all of us. DO NOT DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES!
Local Area
The town of Stroud is 25 minutes from the festival. Check the venue page to find local businesses for camping supplies, food, drinks and more. Please respect the local community. The locals have been kind enough to let us do this fabulous event in their area so please be respectful to them and the surrounding properties. Please do not go exploring outside of the festival grounds as it is out of bounds and you will be trespassing. Please be careful not to damage any of the beautiful Fauna and Flora when entering the festival site.
Mobile Phones
There is NO mobile phone reception on-site at Subsonic Music Festival. Some folks get lucky with Telstra, but don’t count on it. Don’t worry you will thank us later. Many people will not have reception from the moment you turn off of the Pacific Highway. So make your final calls to your boss, neighbour or goldfish well before you arrive and surrender to the peace.
There is 1 payphone on site located near the Kiosk.
Passouts
If you want to leave the festival ground you will receive a wristband. To re-enter the grounds you will need to be wearing your additional wristband AND your festival wristband. For your happiness, we suggest you pay extra attention to not lose either. Do not remove your wristband. Anybody without a wristband will be asked to pay entry or asked to leave. If you are worried your wristband will fall off please head to our info tent where our amazing staff will help you fix it or will give you a new one. Do not drink and drive!
Pets
No animals are permitted on site. NO EXCEPTIONS. This will be enforced.
Showers
Shower tokens can be purchased for a small fee of $5 AUD. The shower block will be open during specified hours (check the festival program). Please respect the signage telling you when the shower blocks are closed.
Swimming
Swimming is only allowed in the designated area. Swimming is prohibited at night. Please be careful, the river is full of beautiful but quite slippery rocks. No diving in the river...it’s too shallow! The river is for everyone to enjoy so please be respectful.
Vehicles
Vehicles may only be driven if you are entering or exiting the festival. No motorised transport including scooters, mopeds etc. Bicycles come in pretty handy. If you have vehicle troubles such as getting bogged or are in need of a jump-start please ask your neighbours first before going to the info tent. Our friendly traffic crew will not be able to assist you until after the conclusion of the festival. Alternatively, you may contact NRMA Roadside Assistance. If you lose the keys to your car check the lost and found at the Info Tent and leave a report. The Subsonic team will NOT be able to help you open your vehicle by law. You will have to call NRMA Roadside Assistance.
Waste
Subsonic Music Festival is a celebration of life, nature, love and the arts. Please be considerate of the environment. Riverwood Downs is a beautiful, heritage-listed national park site and we hope you will help us to keep it neat and tidy throughout the festival. At Subsonic we have the privilege of being situated on a river so let's respect that privilege and make sure waste stays off the ground and away from the water. Waste on the ground has a tendency to find its way into our waterways. Avoid streamers, tinsel, confetti and throwing around other messy, non-biodegradable stuff. A substantial amount of rubbish was left behind at the previous festival which incurred a large expense, which unfortunately gets passed on (think about it!). Garbage bags and personal ashtrays will be provided. Bins will be provided in all festival areas, so please do not litter. If you see litter, pick it up and bin it. Clean your campsite up when leaving the festival and be sure to leave your campsite how you found it.
Leave only footsteps, take only memories. Please <3
Water
Free drinking water is available throughout the festival site at marked H2O locations. Keep an eye out for the blue bags. Bring containers and fill them up on-site. Bottled water will be available for purchase at the Bars and market stalls.
More Things
- This is an over 18’s event. Children (aged 0-12) are permitted but must be in the company of their parent or legal guardian AT ALL TIMES. Ticket holders must show ID at the entrance to the festival. Entry is forbidden for minors over the age of 12.
- A ticket admits 1 person only. Do not share your barcode with people or you may be denied entry. The name on your ticket may be verified and must match you ID. Upon entry, our gate staff will check the name on the ticket against the name on your photo ID. If the name on (or registered to) your ticket does nto match the name on your photo ID, your ticket will not be valid.
- Name changes on tickets are possible via our official ticket platform (Flicket).
- Beware of scammers. If the name on a ticket is not changed and has simply been transferred to a 3rd party, there is a possibility the original purchaser may still use that ticket. An official name change will protect the new recipient to ensure their ticket will be valid. Purchasing a ticket from anywhere other than our official ticketing platform presents a risk to the buyer of being scammed. No valid barcode= no entry.
- The right of admission is reserved. No ticket, No entry.
- Do not remove your wristband. Anybody without a wristband will be asked to pay entry or asked to leave. If you are worried your wristband will fall off, it can be replaced at the info tent.
- Check the website for all updates before travelling to the event.
- Be sure to print the directions before driving to the festival site. You can find them by heading to the “Maps & Travel” page on this website.
- The promoter or venue shall not be held liable for any injury, loss or damages sustained while entering or on the site.
- Tickets are fully transferable and non-refundable.
- Subsonic Music reserves the right to publish any photos or videos of an individual across any form of media. By entering the festival, you agree to these terms.
- Subsonic Music Festival and the Venue Owner (Riverwood Downs) are providers of recreational services and activities as defined under the Civil Liability Act. You are warned, acknowledge and accept that The Venue is an inherently dangerous place that contains all manner of obstacles, risks and dangers, both known and unknown, natural and man-made which may result in loss or damage to your property, personal injury or even death. Knowing this to be the case, if you choose to come onto this property you do so at your own risk and to the extent permitted by law, you release and indemnify Subsonic Music Festival and Venue Owner (and its officers, employees, agents and contractors) from and against any claim or liability of any nature in relation to injury or death, from you or any third party which might arise from entry to, or the use of, The Venue by you and any accompanying persons and/or minors regardless of how the damage, injury or death is sustained or caused.
Thanks for taking the time to read.