ABOUT
ConFest (Conference/Festival) is a gathering of people wishing to share talents, skills, ideas, concerns and philosophies in a caring fun loving and tolerant atmosphere. The presentation of workshops, demonstrations, entertainments and the maintenance of site facilities are all performed by volunteers, monetary payment is neither accepted nor made.
The event works with the energy and participation of the people who attend. Everyone is encouraged to get involved and help out where possible. At ConFest, everybody shares the responsibility of making the event as fantastic as possible.
What is ConFest
When you enter ConFest you leave the mainstream world of “service delivery” behind. You become a participant in the well-being of the ConFest community. Two hours minimum work is included as part of the adult ticket price (this helps keep ticket prices low for everyone while encouraging participation). Please check in with the information area (also known as the Info Tent) at ConFest to find out what you can do.
ConFest (Conference/Festival) is a gathering of people wishing to share talents, skills, ideas, concerns and philosophies in a caring fun loving and tolerant atmosphere. The presentation of workshops, demonstrations, entertainments and the maintenance of site facilities are all performed by volunteers, monetary payment is neither accepted nor made.
At ConFest, people often set up villages with differing themes. ConFest is a clothing optional space, this means ConFesters can wear, or not wear anything they chose. Everywhere at ConFest is clothes optional. Don’t be surprised to have a naked ticket collector when you arrive at the ConFest gate. Clothing can range from nothing, to body paint, a coat of mud, a sheet, a fairy costume, even a ball gown or dinner suit. At ConFest, clothing is not gender specific. There is just one simple rule, respect other ConFester’s choices. A long running and very popular ConFest tradition is the communal artists studio. Activities include, body and sign painting, life drawing, clay work, organic art, photography etc . Artists, models and workshop facilitators are always welcome.
ConFest is a unique event and all attending speak of the ‘ConFest spirit’ as something very special. In the Music Village, and at odd spaces around our site, performers include acoustic, folk, jazz, reggae, world and indigenous musical acts as well as some circus, theatre, comedy and poetry on an open air stage.
As well as spontaneous music, dance and art events and happenings that can emerge anywhere at any time.
Once inside, all events are free.
Join us for a fabulous communal experience. Workshops, play shops, singing, dancing, discussions, tai chi, yoga, jamming, alternative technology, vegetarian market, fire twirling, circus skills, meditations, walking, swimming and more. You may have some skill or thoughts you’d like to share with others. Want to put on a workshop/conference? Create your own workshop. Everything is spontaneous. Just write topic/theme and time/place on workshop boards. There will be a number of shaded areas for workshops and events to take place. ConFest is as much you as it is any other person. Be free to just do your own thing. Create or join with a village that is your flavour. Explore wellbeing ways – drumming, dancing, storytelling and friendly chats at fire circles. Make links with others. Relax among new friends. Share healing ways in hundreds of workshops and mini-conferences. Have an outdoor massage (over 30 tables). Go into the steam lodge. Have a swim. Slow down in a safe friendly environment. Dance the nights away with thousands under the Southern Stars.
Arrive well before sunset. For safety reasons cars are restricted from moving around the ConFest site at night. If you arrive at sunset of later, you will be asked to remain outside the front gate until morning. Arriving in daylight allows for ease in setting up your camp. Cars are not driven on the site at night. Please pack your sleeping gear so that it’s easily accessible. You may be able to walk into the ConFest site.
The Ticket Gate is set well into the ConFest Site from the Road entrance gate. For safety, the road entrance gate is locked before dark and reopened in the morning. If you want to leave the ConFest after dark, take your car outside the road gate before dark, and walk out to your car when you are ready to leave, there are provisions in place for emergency vehicles, Ambulance, Fire, Police to access the site when needed.
Directions
Getting There
The ConFest site is situated 13km from Moulamein in NSW on Pretty Pine Road (the one to Deniliquin). Please remember if you are heading up from Melbourne, please DO NOT bring fruit and seeded vegetables as you will cross the fruit fly exclusion zone. Fresh produce can be purchased in Deniliquin, Kerang and a limited amount in Moulamein.
Driving to site
From Melbourne – via Echuca and Deniliquin 385km
Take the M31 from Melbourne (Hume Hwy) and take the exit B75 (Cobb Hwy) to Echuca. Continue on the B75 to Deniliquin (these are the last shops before ConFest).
From Deniliquin follow the B75 north of town and turn left at Pretty Pine towards Moulamein. The festival is around 70km along this road on the left hand side.
From Melbourne – via Kerang and Moulamein 373km
Take the M79 (Calder Fwy) from Melbourne and continue along the A79 past Bendigo. Turn right into the C274 towards Serpentine and follow B260 towards Kerang. From Kerang head to Barham along the C264 and from Barham take Moulamein Rd following signs to Moulamein. In Moulamein follow signs to Deniliquin, festival site is short drive on the right.
From Sydney – via Hay 855km
From Sydney take the M5 to the M31 (towards Canberra). Continue on the M31 until past Gundagai and take the A20 towards Wagga Wagga. Continue on the A20 to Hay and take the B75 towards Deniliquin. At Booroorban turn left at Booroorban Tchelery Rd and follow to a T junction. Turn left onto Moulamein Rd and follow to Moulamein. From Moulamein the festival site is just a short drive down Pretty Pine Road towards Deniliquin.
From Adelaid- via Ouyen 552km
From Adelaid take the M1 towards Melbourne and exit on to the B12 (Mallee Hwy) towards Ouyen (google Ouyen Zombie Apolocolypse as you drive through). From Ouyen continue on the B12 and cross the Murray River at Tooleybuc. After 17km turn right onto Kyalite Rd towards Moulamein. In Moulamein follow signs to Deniliquin, festival site is short drive on the right.
Public Transport
Public transport is limited in the area. Buses run to Echuca and Swan Hill, but it is still a long way to get to site from there. If you are without your own transport then the easiest way to get up there is to car pool. Check out the facebook group ConFest Car Share and see if you can catch a lift. People come from all around Australia and car sharing is not only environmentally friendly, but a great way to make a new friend. If you have spare seats in your car, why not offer someone a lift?
