In Australia, transformational/hippie/spiritual/psychedelic festivals are called bush doofs, and this country throws one HELL of a bush doof. Here are some of the best bush doofs in Australia from Victoria to NSW.
Transformational festivals are defined in that they have much more than just a lineup of music – they have art, they have yoga, they have seminars, workshops, smaller shows, and more. At a transformational festival, you are not an attendee, but a participant!
They often promote certain values to uphold, sustainable living, healthy lifestyles, and personal growth and ‘transformation’ as a whole. They will often be rather psychedelic in their art forms, deep in their music, and open-minded in their attendees. They may not have all of these things, but any of a few would define a festival as transformational.
On the same note, having all of these things out in the middle of the Australian bush (read: the middle of nowhere) would classify it as a bush doof. These are often psytrance festivals in Australia, but have increasingly been including much more house, techno, live music, and other genres as well.
Australia has been at the forefront of this type of festival, throwing them in many different states and many different sizes. If you are a festival junkie, bush doofer, or burner like me, here are some to add to your bucket list this festival season or any year to come!
I have individual guides to many of these bush doofs, so keep a lookout for them in each section. Many of these bush doofs have been suspended during c*vid times, but check the links to the websites to see which ones are back on this year.
But Before You Read All About Bush Doofs, See If Any More Festival Articles Interest You (open in a new tab!)
- The Best Brands For Funky Festival Outfits
- Tips For Going to a Festival Alone + Having a Rad Time
- Top Festival Hacks, Tips, and Must-Haves
- Best Festival Backpacks, Hydration Packs, and Camelbaks
- Top 20 Festivals in Australia for all genres
Strawberry Fields Festival Victoria
Strawberry Fields is one of the first bush doofs NSW can offer, taking place in late-November in a place known as ‘the Wildlands’ in northern Victoria/NSW. Attendees can explore the serene bushland or even swim in the cooling Murray River on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
Strawberry Fields harbors multiple music stages, each with their own vibe and general genre, which are scattered amongst tall trees on a dusty and beautiful river bank. See my Strawberry Fields photo album here!
They push the boundaries with amazing stage design, art installations, amazing performances such as fire spinning, aerialists, and stilt walking, and have workshops, healing, and art classes as well! Strawberry is often seen as the ‘introductory doof’ for people who have just joined the scene and is a perfect way to start the festival season.
It’s one of the best known and most popular bush doofs in Australia and it’s a must-do if you are around. Click the link below to read my in-depth review guide all about Strawberry, or “Strawbs” as it is called.
Read More: A Guide to Gay Travel in Melbourne
Lost Paradise NSW
Lost Paradise takes place over New Years in New South Wales. It boasts an incredible and varied genre lineup across multiple stages, and lots of extras as well! You can check out the eccentric and artsy beach club, adventure activities like horse riding and abseiling, games like bingo, amazing food experiences and vendors, and a massive setup of well-being at their ‘Shambhala Fields.’
I’m talking yoga, astrology, massage, workshops, talks, and very special speakers and humans sharing their gifts. They even have a few burning man-esque theme camps this year! If I could choose one festival for New Years in New South Wales, this would be it.
Check their website for upcoming information and tickets.
Pitch Music + Arts Festival
Pitch is the perfect example of a newer bush doof in Victoria done right. It started in 2017 and has done great for its next years at the foot of the Grampians in Victoria. Pitch is the techno-haven for late summer Melbourne bush doofs, and will ALWAYS bring in an impressive international lineup. It tends to draw a younger crowd as it is on the same weekend as Esoteric festival in Victoria (see below).
A brief browse of their incredibly minimalistic website will give you an idea of what is to come each year – they hold just enough back to keep you yearning for more! Pitch Music + Arts will bring in the top-of-the-line in house and techno music, as well as some artistic displays too.
Pitch is more music-focused than many other bush doofs, and really places emphasis on the massive lineup rather than having tons of workshops like other festivals. You can expect a meticulously organized lineup and a selection of vendors and stalls to keep anyone interested. Find a variety of insider festival info on my review-guide below.
Esoteric Festival
Esoteric is a very small-sized, new-ish, psychedelic bush doof in Victoria that is a bit more niche than a lot of the festivals on this list yet VERY fast-growing. They started up in 2017, grew a ton from 2018 to 2020, returned with a BANG in 2022, and now have a very loyal and committed following of doofers who pledge to return each and every year.
Esoteric is known for having an extremely open community vibe (perhaps more than some other festivals on this list), people who actually leave no trace when asked to, and an inclusive and loving environment. It’s one of the most popular bush doofs in Victoria these days for the die-hard doofers.
You can expect live art, amazing sculptures and installations, interactive experiences, and lots of workshops to learn new instruments, reflect, move, and learn. Esoteric is one of the festivals that plays primarily psytrance, but does have plenty of variety and a bush techno stage.
Rabbits Eat Lettuce
‘REL’ is Byron Bay’s edition of the Aussie bush doof, along with Bohemian Beatfreaks (below)! As their slogan goes, this festival is a ‘place of freedom, love, and dance music’ and boasts the tag line ‘we can dissolve barriers and dance together.” Isn’t that just beautiful? That’s part of the reason I adore festivals in the first place!
Located in a beautiful grassy valley at the foot of sandstone cliffs inland of Byron Bay, the environment is perfect for a festival community to be created. Rabbits Eat Lettuce encourages funky dress, positivity, leaving no trace, and departing from the real world just for a few short amazing festival days.
Here, of course, you will also find amazing art, design, and workshops each day to help expand your perspective.
Bohemian Beatfreaks
Bohemian Beatfreaks is a bush doof run by the same people as Rabbits Eat Lettuce, and you can expect some of the same awesomeness… including the same venue! This party kicks off the festival season in November, while REL closes it off on Easter weekend.
Bohemian Beatfreaks has fun dress-up themes throughout, and has yoga, tie dye, massages, circus, theatres/plays, music production workshops, a massive market village and more! It calls itself a ‘tribal dance gathering’ and will have everything you could want from a hippie festival in Australia.
Interstellar Groove
A newer festival on the scene in Victoria, Interstellar Groove, is said by many to be one of the best doofs going on these days with incredible vibes, organization, and music. This doof is a bit smaller compared to many on this list but closer-knit.
While hosting both local and international talent, this festival has many beloved local Melbourne artists on the lineup and fosters a great sense of community among the Melbourne music scene. It takes place in Tallarook (only 1.5 hours from the city) so it’s also one of the more accessible doofs in Victoria.
Beyond the Valley Festival
Beyond the Valley is another music + arts festival over New Years, in the beautiful rolling hills of Gippsland in Victoria. It’s not quite a doof, but has some doof-like features so I had to mention it on this list!
This one has an outstanding lineup each year that caters a bit more to a mainstream crowd, but has a techno stage, an art/meditation area, and all the art installations, yoga classes, and boutique bars and eateries that make it transformational as well.
It’s a fully awesome camping weekend with all sorts of options available, and a range of genres that will have something for everyone. It is put on by Triple J as well as Untitled Group, which means it has some widely-known Aussie artists as well as some deeper house and techno dj’s. It’s one of the best options out there for New Year’s in Victoria lineup-wise, and tickets usually sell out fast.
Earth Frequency Festival
Earth Frequency brands itself as a ‘music, arts, lifestyle, and environmental festival’ which encourages ‘arts, education, healing and community spirit.’ If that isn’t exactly what a bush doof/transformational festival is about, then I don’t know what is!
EFF focuses on art, creativity, sustainability, family values, respect, and community, and you can expect a wide range of amazing performances, artists, music, vendors, and installations to peruse while you are there. This one was usually held in south Queensland in February, but has been moved to May because of all past restrictions.
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour is one of Australia’s most famous music festivals, and it can quite marginally be considered as a transformational/spiritual festival, too.
Along with an absolutely stacked lineup of international artists, Splendour in the Grass has a 600 acre art space with projects, live art and installations, and performances from internationally renowned artists. I’m not just talking big sculptures, I’m talking interactive, walk-through, and participatory art experiences!
At Splendour, you can also expect top-of-the-line food and vendors – you can never go hungry here! If you aren’t busy watching the many world-famous music artists you can also find some interesting presentations and experiences at the science tent, get a laugh at the comedy club, listen to speakers of all kinds at the forum, do some yoga at the bohemian lounge, get some zen at the world stage or healing sancturary, or groove at the silent disco!
Rainbow Serpent Festival / Rainbow Spirit
This is the mother of all bush doofs, the funkiest festival of the bush, and one of the most iconic bush doofs in Australia. Rainbow Serpent really does have it all when it comes to transformational festivals. All possible kinds of art and expression are practiced here – installations, stages, VJ’s, and artists from all over the world.
They practice sustainability and plant new trees on the festival site each year. They have over a kilometer of vendors and stalls offering all kinds of conscious crafts and healthy eats. They have lots of camping options and are big on safety, being friendly to the environment, and wellness.
As the festival draws its name from an Aboriginal legend, the festival works with local tribes to teach and appreciate local Aboriginal culture. In ‘The Village’ you can find all sorts of yoga, speakers, workshops, panels, performances, and activities involving art, film, sound, meditation, you name it!
There are massive installations – some that live on the festival site and some that are new each year. It’s not a surprise at all that this festival sells out consistently and quickly.
Rainbow Serpent has not taken place since 2019, and it is unclear whether or not it will come back. They have rebranded to Rainbow Spirit and still have events (usually at venues in Melbourne) and contribute to collectives. Check their website or check back here to see what they’re up to now.
Falls Music + Arts Festival
If you know festivals in Australia, you definitely know Falls. Falls is somewhat taking over the scene with its many locations and amazing lineups. The festival grew to four locations and consistently sells out very quickly.
Falls Festival is definitely more mainstream and not a classic Australian bush doof, but it had to be included in this list due to its extra focus on art and sustainability. Make a visit to the Village at Falls and take part in yoga, dance classes, circus instruction, comedy, burlesque, and more!
In 2023-2024 Falls Festival is taking a break but should return for coming New Years events.
Babylon Festival
Babylon is yet another absolutely incredible bush doof in Melbourne/Victoria (Victoria really does them well, doesn’t it?!) Located in the deep bush of Victoria, Babylon is a haven for psytrance + techno lovers an always boasts a stacked lineup of international and domestic talent.
As part of the all-encompassing Babylon experience, you’ll find art, performances, and interactive installations, some of which roam around the festival grounds for maximum enjoyment. Talented artists from all over the place come to exhibit their creations at Babylon, some of them creating live art as well.
Despite all this, Babylon does tend to be a more music-focused than art-focused doof, and you’ll definitely find some of the harder-hitting beats here too.
Babylon hasn’t been able to have an actual doof in the last few years, so they have thrown Babylon in the Park/City in Melbourne and have become part of Day Doof events and also contribute to Pure Melbourne annual event.
Blazing Swan – Regional Burn of Western Australia
Blazing Swan is actually a regional burn, an event contingent upon the ten principles of Burning Man, in WA’s wheat belt bush countryside.
These events are not classic festivals/bush doofs whatsoever, but would definitely be considered transformational! Anyone who heads out to the bush for a regional burn can expect to bring everything with them that they will need for the week, and be prepared to co-create an event totally put on by its participants!
Expect homemade mutant vehicles, spur-of-the-moment yoga and meditation sessions, theme camps and home made stages, amazing art, nonstop music, and great costumes. Make sure to leave to trace and participate as much as possible!
Burning Seed
Burning Seed is also a regional burn contingent upon the ten principles of Burning Man, taking place in ‘Red Earth City’. It’s held in New South Wales and, like Blazing Swan, is totally based upon a gifting economy, theme camps, radical self-expression, leaving no trace, a cashless economy, and all that good burn stuff. It’s located in the countryside near a lake and is one of the best properly transformational events in Australia all year.
Subsonic Music Festival
After a four year hiatus during c*vid, Sunsonic is finally annually returning to Riverwood Downs each year since 2023. Another classic doof celebrating 15 years now, Subsonic holds it down for bush doofs in NSW amongst the other psychedelic festivals in Australia in a truly beautiful setting.
The festival is a branch of the Subsonic music label, and brings in awesome music of all genres (lots of bass and minimal) to impress attendees. The fantastic range of music is carefully selected each year, from live acts and bass to techno to psytrance to house and downtempo. Expect artists, galleries, installations, family areas, healing centers, and all the good stuff.
Meredith Music Festival
This festival has been going for a massive THIRTY PLUS years within the gumtrees west of Melbourne. These people definitely know what they are doing!! It’s not a classic doof, but is a well-known Aussie festival with a strong community following and similar principles to bush doofs.
Here, they value watching the sunset, playing sports in the sunshine, classes, inspiration, and more. I think a quote from their website does a much better job of explaining than I ever could, so I’ll leave you with that.
“Music, nature, nonsense, humanity at its most wonderful, wild times, excursions, incursions, retrospections, a retreat, a Rare Treat, a rare feat, a rare bird, Things Rarely Heard, music, nature, nonsense, wild times, etc, etc, all staged in a purpose built Underground Wonderland specifically designed for housing The Very Best of Times on an annual end-of-year basis, all run VERY smoothly with pride and affection….uh….that doesn’t even scratch the surface.”
Mushroom Valley Festival
Held in the Whitsundays in Queensland, Mushroom Valley is a small three-day music, arts, and lifestyle festival. They are a Leave No Trace fest that encourages reuse and sustainability, and their lineup boasts tons of workshops right alongside the musical artists and morning yoga at the main stage.
Now held in September, this is the perfect kickoff to summer in Queensland before it gets too hot. Its one of the best small psychedelic festivals Australia can offer and you are guaranteed to have a good time here.
There are amazing markets with all kinds of colorful jewelry, clothing, face painting, and more, always amazing outfits, and they are all about coming together as a community and connecting with like-minded people. Mushroom Valley, also presents another transformational festival called Happy Daze in June.
Wild Horses Festival
Wild Horses is a small psytrance festival in the mountains of Victoria that also has some techno/live music as well. It used to take place each December, but has been moved to March considering lots of circumstances!
Music takes place across two stages (techno and other) in the beautiful bush. You can find workshops, amazing decor, all different types of musical acts, performers, and markets. Think: fire spinning, different presentations and talks, amazing stage design, bongo drums, crazy outfits, good vibes, and amazing people!
Dragon Dreaming Festival
Dragon Dreaming is a transformational/psytrance festival on a stunning river in New South Wales that should not be missed! It had a long hiatus and a few changes but is back with a ‘positive trace’ event where trees will be planted around the area.
Here you will find performers ranging from dance groups, fire acts, and tribal circles, amazing markets, and of course a massive array of art on display throughout the festival from a lineup of talented people. Dragon Dreaming is more pf a psychedelic/psytrance festival in NSW but there are other genres mixed in too.
Return to Rio Weekender
Return to Rio is a fabulous weekend of fun on a river in NSW – one of the borderline NSW bush doofs/mainstream festivals that has some elements of both styles of event. This event encourages random acts of kindness, has a strict ‘fancy dress’ day each weekend (which means to get as weird as possible of course), and a fun lineup full of upbeat house, funk, and techno artists.
Return to Rio was usually in February each summer, but has offered a Halloween weekender for the past few years Check their website to see what they are up to!
Earthcore
(Cancelled since 2019) Earth Core is a classic Aussie bush doof which had a full three day edition in Victoria and one day events in WA, NSW, and QLD with the same awesome vibes. They considered themselves the original bush doof, having started a few dozen years ago! This festival has almost too extensive of an experience to try and list, but I’m going to try.
Some of their culture and experiences are the ‘bazaar of earthly desires,’ a kids zone, healing, physical, spirit, and wisdom exchanges, all sorts of sustainability and safety programs, markets, recycling and eco projects, cinema, comedy, face painting and hair styling, and all kinds of art and creativity!
Earthcore has been going through some rough times in the past few years, and has had their recent editions cancelled much to the dismay of many lovers of Australian psytrance festivals. We hope it will be able to come back soon!
Maitreya + Yemeya Festivals
These amazing bush doofs unfortunately lost their permits/had their permits denied to hold the festivals in the past few years, but there are rumors and hopes that they will continue sometime in the future! Yemeya is in constant dealings with councils and promises to fight for their future. Keep your eyes out for them in the future.
That’s all for Aussie bush doofs… for now! I’m sure I’m missing some and am always looking to add to this list, so let me know in the comments below what I need to add!
You may also be interested in:
- Zamna Tulum Music Festival Guide
- Boom Festival Portugal Review + Guide
- Top Festivals in the Netherlands
- Best Music Festivals in France
- The Best Travel Insurance, Heymondo
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.