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Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes: Rainbow Serpent Festival in Australia
I interviewed a husband and wife from Australia at the Podcast Movement conference in Orlando. When chatting in the hot tub, I asked them what is the one experience you should have in Australia? Immediately they responded with, ‘the Rainbow Serpent Festival’. I know you are very capable of reading, but to get the full experience, click play above to hear our interview about the Rainbow Serpent Festival that will take you there.
What is the Rainbow Serpent Festival?
It is an electronic music festival (edm festival) that happens every January (summer in Australia). It’s located in Lexton, Australia, about 2 hours northwest of Melbourne. The Rainbow Serpent festival is a multi-day experience of electronic music, color, and beautiful costumes. The music goes all day and all night. It’s a 4-5 day experience of music, dancing, workshops, classes and is the place to hang out and meet beautiful people. The food is fantastic, you can wake up and do yoga, sound healing in the afternoon. It’s more than a festival, it is a truly magical experience.
What is the Rainbow Serpent Music Festival Like?
At night, all of the lights come up, there are lasers, projections. Sometimes projections are on the grass so it looks like a moving carpet. From the campground, you can feel the music pounding on the ground. Many times people will dress up, and one time over the hill came every character from Mario Cart. Now remember it’s more than 100 degree F degrees, and one time a guy dressed like a cross country skier would ski around the festival in the heat of summer. You never know what you will see at the Rainbow Serpent Festival.
How Did the Rainbow Serpent Festival Get Its Name?
The rainbow serpent is a dream-time myth from the first Australians, the aboriginal culture in Australia. They are the oldest living cultures in the world. The Rainbow Serpent is one of their creation stories. The story is the rainbow serpent snaked through the landscape and carved out the rivers and gorges.
Why Should Experience the Rainbow Serpent Electronic Music Festival?
It can be a bit overwhelming but is the community and people that make this experience special. This is a massive event where people are genuinely friendly, where they want to talk to you. People will come around offering you food such as fruit platters, fruit loops, and more. The generosity there is overflowing. Strangers will open up to you and people will come up and show pure love. This is a place you can go where you can be as silly and outrageous as you possibly want to be without fear of judgment. This is an event where people feel comfortable to express themselves freely. Never during the festival, no one will ever ask you what your job is. No one cares how much money you make, what your job is, and people are there to enjoy each other’s company. It’s the ultimate equalizer.
What is the weather like at the Rainbow Serpent Festival?
Expect high temperatures and dust, so plan your costume accordingly.
How is the Rainbow Serpent Festival Different from Burning Man?
The couple I interviewed has been to Burning Man and they’ve been to the Rainbow Serpent Festival 4 times. They found Burning Man to be more expensive. They felt that Burning Man had a heavy drinking culture, with some drugs there, while the Rainbow Serpent festival does not have a heavy drinking culture, but there are drugs there. The primary reason people go to Rainbow Serpent is for the music, while Burning Man is not a specific music and dance festival and is very focused on art. Burning Man is an experience, while Rainbow Serpent is a festival.
Is the Rainbow Serpent Festival appropriate for all ages?
Yes and no. There are plenty of kids and families there, but you do have to understand this is not Disney Land and some people will be on drugs there, but there are plenty of kid-friendly events at the Rainbow Serpent Festival. There is a family-friendly campground and you can go have an amazing time.
When is the Rainbow Serpent Festival?
The next festival is January 24-27, 2020. You can buy tickets here.
How Much Does it Cost to go to the Rainbow Serpent Festival?
Note that prices are given in Australian dollars (which is about a 30% discount for Americans). Tickets are around $350-$420. You’ll need money for a tent. Bus tickets are about $50 to get to the festival. A car rental would be around $500-$600 for the week. Budget for $30-$50 a day. Each meal is about $15.
What to Know About Food and Alcohol at Rainbow Serpent
You can’t buy alcohol there and no glass is allowed. You can bring as much food as you want.
Accommodation Tips if You’re Traveling from Overseas
You don’t want to buy a tent and get rid of it. It’s suggested to rent an RV so you can drive there and sleep in it. They also have tents set up at the festival, called Sleepy Hollow with beds/tents already set up for you. You could also rent a Juicy Van to sleep in for only about $500. Use a standard comparison site to get a good deal on the van.
Is the Rainbow Serpent Festival Accessible?
It is all grass and hilly, but people do bring mobility scooters. Others also bring bikes, so trikes are welcome there if you have limited mobility. Gum Tree is the Australian version of Craigslist, which may be good place to check for a trike or mobility scooter. If you bring a trike, make sure to lock it up at the festival.
Tipping Etiquette in Australia
People tip, but people only tip if they want, really if the service was really good. The workers in restaurants are paid very well and tips aren’t expected.
Other Top Tips for Visiting Australia
- Drive on the left. You don’t want a head-on smash.
- Try an Australian burger, it is delicious!
- Australia has great Asian food, try it!
What Should You Check out After the Rainbow Serpent Festival
- Melbourne shouldn’t be missed. Most Americans think of Sydney first, but Melbourne is a special place.
- If you want to relax, check out Daylesford, the gay capital of Australia. It’s a small town and they have a lot of day spas there and is a great place to get pampered after the festival.
- Take a drive down the Great Ocean Road as it is one of the most gorgeous drives in the world.
- If you like surfing, then stay extra and hit up the Bells Classic Surfing competition.
- You should try to experience the Aboriginal Culture.
- Get on a plane and fly to Darwin and check out Uluru Rock at Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.
Top Restaurants around Melbourne to Check-Out:
- HuTong Dumpling for killer dumpings
- Fat Jak’s or Burger Love for an amazing burger
- Cumulus Ink for modern Australian fusion.
- Chin Chin for Asian Fusion, be prepared to get there early to get a table.
- 2 streets to check out are: Chapel Street in Prahran and Flinder’s Lane that has a plethora of great restaurants.