CAMPING

Officially open: December 30th 2026 10am - January 2nd 2027 12pm

MUSIC

First tunes: Afternoon, December 30th 2026 

Final beats:  Late night, January 1st 2027

This year we’re heading back to new heights, exactly 1500m above sea level, up to the very top of Mt Baw Baw.

Located 180 km (about 2.5 hours) east of Melbourne. 

The entire mountain is ours so we’ll be the main slays in the village. 

A nice (and necessary) exchange: NYE 2026 is an entirely independent event, funded solely through festival passes. When you buy a pass, you’re exchanging money for three days of alpine bliss. And all of the costs that come with birthing this festival baby of ours. Everybody knows babies are expensive. Especially in the silly season. Think three days of venue hire, artist performances (flights, transport, visas), shade shelters, toilets, hydration, generators, mindbending lights, a soundsystem with heavy womp, crew fees for professional people, cool rooms for frosty cold drinks, safety equipment, and bonus costs due to public holiday demand and rates. 

The number of attendees is capped, so the sale of each pass is vital to building this event. This will be the 8th consecutive year of this event. Each year, the aim is to break even and go again doing it purely for love. 

Access: Passes include free camping from December 30, 2026, until 12 pm on January 2, 2027. Make sure you get your show on the road by midday January 2. All people and vehicles must leave by then. 

Vehicle Passes: Please organise one pass per vehicle. This helps us monitor and allocate parking and camping spaces. Don’t want to pay extra for your vehicle? Consider carpooling ;) 

ID: Your full name and date of birth (DOB) on the pass must match your legal ID. Passes will be checked against your ID at the gate. We can’t let you in without a physical ID.

Please read Diega’s 21+ age restrictions

Official resale will only open once the festival has sold out. We ask that you please understand why this matters.

The reality is that this little festival’s pulse barely beats financially as it is. We operate on incredibly tight margins, and when people purchase through resale rather than directly from us before we've sold out, it puts the festival's financial viability at risk. The same applies to refunds for changes of mind or personal circumstances.

Until the event sells out, you’re welcome to privately resell your ticket to friends or through social media. Reselling above the original purchase price is not permitted. Ticket name changes can be made via Humanitix - CLICK FOR HOW-TO LINK

As a small, independent festival with significant costs committed well before the gates open, we simply cannot afford to operate like a large commercial event. Every ticket sold directly supports the festival going ahead, and every unsold ticket makes that harder.

For this reason, please only purchase a Mountain Pass if you genuinely intend to attend and understand that tickets are non-refundable for changes of mind or personal circumstances, except where required by law. We appreciate that circumstances change, but we ask you to consider this commitment before purchasing.

Sorry we do not offer single day passes.

Please email hello@diega.com.au with the subject line “FIRST NATIONS PASSES” to access complimentary MobTix.

We warmly welcome First Nations attendees and want to make attending as accessible and straightforward as possible. We acknowledge that this festival takes place on stolen Aboriginal land, and offer complimentary passes as one small gesture towards paying the rent.

We’ve always strived to incorporate First Nations artists and businesses into our programming, with past acts including King Stingray, Uncle Johnny Lovett, the Ecstatic Mob showcase, Keanu Nelson and local DJs, alongside this year’s Blak Brews tea lounge. We’re constantly discovering new talent and seeking opportunities to weave First Nations music, art and culture into the event. If you have any favourite artists you think we should know about, please send them our way in your email!

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

We cannot stress the importance of the drive enough. We’re not kidding when we say it’s one of the steepest mountain climbs in Victoria.

The drive up is steep, winding and demanding, with limited to no phone reception. The last opportunity to fill up with petrol is roughly an hour before the climb, so plan ahead. Stay alert for oncoming traffic, obey speed limits and drive below the limit whenever conditions require it. Only drive if you are fit and confident to do so.

This is a more challenging drive than you'll encounter getting to most other festivals. Please don't underestimate it.

We recommend travelling via Noojee. The route through Erica is less winding but includes unsealed gravel roads. All buses should travel via Erica, so please make sure your private bus drivers are aware. A third option is via Moe.

Avoid driving after dark wherever possible. There is no street lighting along much of the route, and the roads are challenging enough in daylight. Roadside breath testing is not uncommon in the area, so ensure you are fit to drive before departing. If you're on driving duties, please make use of our on-site drug and alcohol testing services.

Just as importantly, please know how to drive both up AND down a mountain.

If you're unfamiliar with steep mountain descents, engine braking or how to manage your brakes safely on long downhill stretches, please familiarise yourself beforehand or nominate a designated driver who is experienced and confident.

At our last edition, we saw cars struggling to make the climb, vehicles breaking down, brakes smoking and brake pads overheating on the descent. By the time everyone had made their way down, parts of the road smelt like burning brakes.

Our security and roaming on motorbikes so if anything happens, we ask people to stay where they are.

We really cannot stress this enough. How you get up and down the mountain matters. Please make sure your vehicle is roadworthy, your brakes are in good condition and your driver knows what they're doing.

Take your time, look after each other and get to and from the mountain safely.

This year there are three accommodation options: camping, vehicle camping (rooftop tents, vans, campervans, etc.), and lodge accommodation.

1. Vehicle Camping 

We strongly encourage vehicle camping, as we have plenty of parking spaces available. One minor detail: the parking area is asphalt (perfect if you’re not a dust bunny).

Following last year, we’ve decided that awnings will no longer be permitted in Vehicle Camping areas. We know it’s a bit of a buzzkill, but they took up far too much space last year, and all vehicles will need to remain within their designated parking spots.

2. Camping in Tents

Throw the rule book out and remember there are a few gentle slopes (it is a mountain after all). There are flat camping spots, but it’s not an empty paddock. You’ll be nestled among the gums.

There will be ample on-site parking, bus drop-off locations, and more buggies this year available to help transport heavy items to the campground.

We have a no marquee policy. This saves space for sleeping. More importantly, it’s better vibes when we all gather in communal areas rather than huddling under squares of PVC. Feel free to bring your camp chairs, hang out, and make some new friends for 2027. 

3. Lodges (please note as far as we are aware all Lodges on the Mountain have been booked)

A very exciting novelty. We’d love you to book a lodge, but please be mindful that the whole party loses momentum if you spend the weekend inside. It’s a luxe sleeping option but can kill the vibe if not used well.

The lodges are completely separate from the festival. If you’ve booked through Airbnb, the Mt Baw Baw website, or elsewhere, those bookings are your responsibility. At the end of the day, how you use and leave them still reflects back on the festival.

Please check the T&Cs of your booking, whether it’s BYO linen, and make sure you leave it as you found it, no matter how tired or ready you are to start the year on Jan 2.

There are specific bins for lodges so please also be mindful that the rubbish is left in the correct spots.

- Fresh drinking water stationed all around the mountain

- Gender neutral toilets

- Shower facilities will be available this year (also obviously within lodges)

- Trash and recycling facilities

- Ice bags will be available

- Blow Me First will be onsite for alcohol and drug testing before you drive

- General store. For all the bits and bobs you forgot to pack.

Bring your own booze, slabs of beer and RTD cans are chill. No glass. Car checks at the gate for this and excessive amounts of alcohol will be confiscated.

Bring plenty of snacks and sweet treats. There will be more food pop-ups on-site this year, with details and opening hours coming soon. Eat when you can, sleep when you must. The site is remote, so come prepared with all the essentials.

And yes, Pang and Kiki’s legendary bar is back. This time, the skiosk is taking pub form. Since 2019 they’ve been slinging cold drinks, questionable ideas, and better stories, and this year’s no different.

Find Pang & Kikis, hand over a few crumpled notes or a shiny plastic card, and let them mix you something delicious.

As the name suggests, Mt Baw Baw is a mountain. While there won’t be anywhere for you to swim this year, the climate’s much cooler than the lowlands at that time of year, so you’ll day dance comfortably and sleep easy. Do bring your swimmers anyway as there are many stunning spots nearby for getting wet pre- or post-festival. 

Tell your mates. Tell your mates’ mates.
Good people know good people and every year, this crew proves it. The best kind of chain reaction.

That said, we encourage you to bring the ones who get it.
The ones who show up, look out, and add something real. This isn’t just a party, it's a shared space built on respect: for each other, and for the stolen land we gather on.

No -isms, no phobias, no egos. If your behaviour doesn’t align with these principles you may be asked to leave. We’ve got zero tolerance for this and infinite love for good energy.

Bring your best self. Leave the rest at the city limits.

Front gate’s running the show: scanning passes, checking IDs, and handing out wristbands.
Have your ID ready, your pass printed or on your phone, and one car pass per car.

Entry is strictly 21+ years old.

Here’s the stuff that stays out:

Fires: TOTAL BAN. All day, all night. No campfires, firesticks, fireworks, candles, or flares.

Gas gear: BBQs, camp stoves, gas lanterns, nitrous bulbs, soda water makers.

Other cooking toys: Induction plates, solar cooktops. Leave ‘em home.

Generators: keep the hum at bay.

Glass & ceramic: bottles of any kind.

Micro-trash chaos: polystyrene beads, glitter with microplastics, feathers, wood chips, straw/hay, confetti. Real fun doesn’t come in a can.

Doof sticks: fuck em. sorry. not allowed in.

We spend enough of our lives staring at screens and scrolling memes. We don’t need them printed on sticks and waved in our faces during our one chance to switch off. There are plenty of other festivals to wave them around at.

Excess packaging: if you bought it, strip it down and leave the wrapper at home.

Keep it light, keep it safe, keep it wild but not messy or dangerous. 

Gate opening and closing times for each day are coming soon. Stay tuned.

Heads up: no pass-outs for safety. If you choose to drive off-site, you might not be allowed back in.

Make sure you and your crew are fit to drive before hitting the road. No one wants a drama on the way home.

Pass this on to any mates thinking about sneaking in.

Wristbands are obvious, and in a small community, anyone trying to slip by usually sticks out like a sore thumb.

This is a mountain, surrounded by National Park. Getting lost isn’t just awkward, it’s dangerous. Trespassing is rude but also genuinely unwise. So ignore any temptation to channel your inner Bear Grylls. 

This festival runs on passion, care, and love. Sneaking in on a small, independently run event on private land is not the vibe. It’s also illegal and we’ll call authorities if we have to.

If you see someone without a wristband, let us know. We all pitch in to make this event happen, and keeping the gates tight keeps the whole community safe.

No ticket = no entry. 

Thanks :) 

Accessibility matters to us. We want NYE to be as inclusive, welcoming and enjoyable as possible for everyone. This is a place to lose yourself in the music, the people and the experience, and we want everyone to feel able to do just that.

Mount Baw Baw has existing accessible facilities, including paved pathways and accessible toilets. However, as an alpine location, the site has some steep inclines, uneven terrain and areas that may be more difficult to navigate.

We strive to make the festival as accessible as possible, considering accessibility across all aspects of the event and site. This includes clear, legible signage, designated spaces for those experiencing sensory overload and a no-strobe lighting policy.

If you have any accessibility requirements, mobility concerns or questions about the site before arriving, please get in touch at hello@diega.com.au so we can discuss your needs and how best to accommodate them.

We’ll do everything reasonably possible to make sure everyone feels welcome, supported and part of the experience.

If you’re feeling unwell or need medical help, we’ve got you. Head to the First Aid Centre, text Diega’s hotline, or find a crew member, or care bear (community care volunteer). Our medical team is onsite 24/7, fully stocked and ready.

Our Care Bears are friendly peers here to offer support in a relaxed, non-judgemental way. They’ll be roaming the festival, looking out for you and always happy to lend a hand, have a chat or point you in the right direction.

Emergency procedures are in place for all sorts of unexpected events. Stay alert to announcements or Telegram updates. That’s our fastest way to reach everyone if something comes up.

The whole event is designed with health, safety, and smooth event sailing at the forefront.

But first! Safety. None of this is any fun if people don’t feel safe. If at any point you feel uneasy or need a hand, reach out, don’t wait. Your wellbeing matters, and we’re committed to making sure everyone can enjoy the experience stress free. 

If you see or experience anything concerning, let us know and we’ll step in. There’s security onsite 24/7, plus the Diega crew keeping an eye on things and supporting your time at the festival.

Keep an eye on BOM updates, but remember: the mountain plays by its own rules. Temperatures can be around 10°C cooler than the lowlands, and nights can get seriously chilly. We strongly recommend packing with alpine conditions in mind.

That doesn't mean the festival will necessarily be cold. It's still peak summer in Australia, and while warmer-than-average conditions are possible, we're hoping for some lovely, pleasantly warm days rather than sweltering heat. The mountain, however, is famously unpredictable.

Last year taught us a few things. One minute you're basking in the sunshine, the next the mountain is engulfed in clouds and visibility drops dramatically, sometimes only for a short while. We learnt you can get ski-style sunburnt during the day and need thermals and a puffer jacket by nightfall.

Pack for all four seasons, because you might just experience them in a single day.

Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, sunnies, layers, sturdy shoes, an extra warm and cosy jacket, and anything else that keeps you comfortable. Little survival hacks like spray bottles and portable fans can make a world of difference when the sun's out. Equally, hand warmers, heat pads from the chemist, winter-rated sleeping bags and every trick in the book for keeping warm will help you tackle Baw Baw like a pro.

Come prepared for both ends of the thermometer and everything in between.

We'll share weather updates via Telegram throughout the festival, so make sure you're connected. It'll be the fastest way to stay informed about conditions on-site.

Please download Telegram and join the 2026 - 2027 event chat for all updates.

Event updates will be sent via Telegram and email to all pass holders.

We have designated groups on Telegram for general chat, important announcements, carpooling and transport, ticket resale, lost and found, and more.

There’s also the Diega instagam but she’s more for vibes @diega.au

Music running times and set times will be published closer to the date.

All the benefits of the mountains, without snoozing next-door neighbours.

One source of sound. Main stage into deep listening stage. Music until sunrise obvi.

Ciggie butts: entire anthologies could be written about how annoying it is to pick them up from the ground. They are a literal and metaphorical pain in the ass and back. They’re also terrible for the soil. Put your ciggie butts in portable ashtrays, pick up after yourself or someone if you see them on the ground. Please take your used vapes home with you and dispose of them  properly: don’t just jam them in a rubbish bag.  

Rubbish bins are located around the site; please make use of these and regularly clean up both your space and collective areas. You will also be provided with rubbish bags upon arrival and encouraged to take home as much rubbish as possible. Absolutely nothing is allowed to be left at your campsite.

Listen out for the clean up song and clean up as much as you can when you hear it

Strictly no Nangs. Almost as annoying as ciggie butts.

A general attitude of collective care, shared responsibility, good  intentions and good actions 

An unwavering commitment to dance yourself into the New Year 

Common sense 

All personal camping gear: Tent, Car set-up, Esky pre-filled with ice 

Clothing for all seasons boiling hot + freezing cold (see weather section for some tips)

Alcohol in cans or decanted into something that isn’t glass  

Cute spray bottle to fill with water  and mist yourself  

Food and snacks 

A couple 10L water sacs  

Reusable water bottle  

Sunscreen 50+ 

Hat  

Insect repellent 

Canister/portable ashtray  for cigarette butts 

Reusable cup for the bar 

Cash for bars, merch,  

Extra ice, food 

• Bad Juju  

• Generators 

• Portable gas cooking devices,  fireworks, flares  

• Glass and ceramic (bottles, glassware) 

• Firearms, unnecessarily large knives, weapons, bows & arrows etc

• Polystyrene beads, glitter that  uses micro-plastics, feathers,  wood chips, straw/hay bales,  confetti. 

• Excess packaging: if you purchase something new to bring  along, please remove and leave all  excess packaging at home. 

• Nangs

• Doof sticks are a big no

Miss Diega has a hotline. You'll find the number on your wristband. Whether it's an emergency, a minor mushy crash out, a toilet paper crisis, your situationship dumping you on nye, your car breaking down or literally anything in between, the ECC hotline is your go-to.

She's operating 24/7 and here to help. Call or text, and please be as clear and specific as possible about what you need and where you are.

You’ll have phone coverage onsite if you’re with Telstra or Optus. We suggest only using your phone if you really need to capture a moment or happen to need the helpline. 

Filming 24/7 isn’t necessary and can be straight-up rude to the people around you. Pick your moment: choose your track, grab a short clip, then save your battery. 

We know there are festivals that deem this uncool. We can’t say we feel the same. Aussies aren’t Europeans, and that’s a fact. We yap. We snap. We get it.

Analog cameras, small DSLRs and camcorders are very welcome. Essentially real cameras are preferable, but it’s 2026 and we know your iPhone is probably your camera. That said, respect always comes first.

Be mindful when taking photos or videos, especially on the dancefloor where people are just trying to do their thing and are probably in a silly state they don’t want photographed. If you want to take a video, pick your little special moment. Don’t hold your phone up for ages, read the room and remember to lose yourself in the dance.

Dancefloors, as the name suggests, are for dancing. Catch-ups and yapping are better saved for the sides or out the back.

What’s worse than a phone on the dancefloor is patrons policing each other. Everyone experiences these things differently, and we know you lot. You’re not at Coachella. You’re not going to spend the whole festival staring at your phones.

Make memories. Get that lovely smiley photo of you and your besties in your happy place over nye. Just keep the phones and yapping to a minimum, be considerate of those around you and respect how others choose to enjoy themselves.

Good boys and girls sadly can’t join us this year :(( Leave all Fur Babies @ home please.