Every year I see the information about Nimbin Roots Festival come up on Facebook and Instagram. Every year I so want to go and try my hardest to get there. With my Bucket List in my mind I decide to make it to Nimbin Roots Festival 2019.
Nimbin Roots Festival 2017 and 2018 and 2016 – yep tried so hard to make it all these years. Never pulled it off. I was so not letting Nimbin Roots Festival 2019 pass me by.
No More Excuses
This year I yearned so much to make it possible…
I didn’t have the time.
I made it.
I didn’t have the spare cash – we have a huge event we are saving for next year – I found the money.
I have never ever traveled by myself – I always travel with either one or two sons or with my husband. I needed this time away by myself – its the very first time I have ever done anything like this. And it wont be the last.
Now that I know that I can survive alone anything is possible.
Nimbin You Are Amazing
I felt so safe in Nimbin. Even though there is lots of walking from the Showgrounds to the three different event buildings, I didn’t feel like it was dangerous to walk the streets. Even late at night!
Nimbin Roots Festival Map
When you arrive to Nimbin there is a town Hall – where the tickets are located. I meet so many people who were so very confused about where to go to get the tickets – and how to see the different events. They have a program that you can purchase for $1.00 which I used throughout the three days.
So head to the Town Hall for your Tickets – where you will be given an arm band and can purchase the $1.00 pamphlet – it helps to organise your days activities {at least I hope you could organise it better then me!}
I did find it difficult to decide on which event to see and which venue to be at – There is the Nimbin Hall, The Bush Theatre and the Bowlo which holds events for the three days throughout the day and evening.
I missed the Workshops completely because I was so focused on the Music events! The workshops were about Permaculture – which would have been so good to attend. And there was also a Birds, Bees and Butterfly garden – which if I had Kyle will me we so would have gone to.
David so would have loved the Permaculture events – and there was also Yoga which I would have loved to do – but again I wanted to see everything all at once.
Maybe I will return to Nimbin Roots Festival in 2020! Mind you I have so much on our Bucket List to cross off that I am not sure where we will be this time next year.
How I Got To Nimbin Roots Festival 2019
David and I woke up at stupid o’clock – we had to be at Bundaberg Station by 4.30am. I caught the 5.15am train down to Brisbane.
Got off at Roma Street and caught the train to Fortitude Valley. I so had to coffee by then so that was the first priority. Heading to the Taxi rank – almost finished my long black.
Jumped into the Cab – gave the nice guy the address of where I had to be – I was picking up the Spaceship! Check out my Instagram story about the crazy cab ride {gee some crazy stuff happens to us lately!}
Spaceships Campervan
Yep I traveled in a Spaceship Solo from Brisbane down to Nimbin. It was the best of the best campervans to travel in – very smooth to drive, automatic, easy to set up for sleeping and carrying food – the fridge kept all of the food so cold. But I couldn’t work out how the radio worked, until the last morning while leaving the Goldcoast!!! Funny how easy it was to turn on when I knew which button to press.
I didn’t get a chance to set up the back cover as it was so cold at night! And I was hardly there at the campground, only briefly to eat and sleep.
The back cover has had upgrade but I didn’t get it out – I used the kettle and cooker every day to make a cuppa along with their provided kitchen utensils. Bedding was also provided – but I used my own pillow as I can’t sleep without it.
And I didn’t get a flat battery – I did turn the fridge off every night cause it was so cold in Nimbin that I didn’t think the fridge needed to be left on – mind you it will cut in/out when necessary.
We have previously worked with Spaceships Campervans so we were happy to work with them again.
Stayed At The Showgrounds In Nimbin
The showgrounds was super cheap $15.00per night per person. With toilets/shower and camp kitchen – and surprisingly even though there was so many people camping, there was always a shower available.
Little Tip – take your own toilet paper with you – I took two rolls with me and would have to carry my own roll every morning as there wasn’t any toilet paper left in the ladies toilet.
Walking From Showgrounds To Events
There was a bus that you can pay to get on but I decided that walking would be ideal as I had been sitting in a train for five hours, and driving for 3 hours on the Friday. I walked all weekend – it was the best decision. It did take up time walking back to the showgrounds for lunch and dinner but I enjoyed the fact that I got so much exercise.
And David reckons I lost a fair bit of weight while away. So I need to escape and explore more often as I don’t get out and about much when life gets busy.
Nimbin Roots Festival Lineup
I am not into music as such – I mean I love dancing and I love a good beat, but I don’t know bands and know their names/songs.
So I went to each venue based on the location and if the Nimbin Roots Festival Lineup took my interest.
On the Friday night I stayed close to the middle of the town – staying at the Nimbin Hall and the main street. The music was so good – there was a drumming group on the street – and everyone kept turning up with their drums and joining in. It was a full moon as well. Something out of this world.
Nimbin Roots Festival Saturday Lineup
The Saturday Night was the best ever. Saturday morning was so good – there was a Circus in the Bush Theatre called “Pitts Family Circus”. A short movie plus a live show – so worth the time to walk down to the Bush Theatre.
Saturday Night a band called “Wild Marmalade” rocked the walls and the floor of the Nimbin Town Hall.
I danced and danced for over two hours. The beat was incredible – there wasn’t any words to the songs – it was a band made up with three people. One on the Didgeridoo – he played for over an hour easily without a break!!
One on the bongo drums and one on the normal drums. It was something out of this world. Never seen anything like it – the beat. It went deep into the soul.
I danced the whole time. It was music that you just had to dance to. And it made you move fast!
There was other good bands throughout the Saturday – just seen so many I can’t remember all of their names!
Nimbin Roots Festival Sunday Lineup
On Sunday morning I headed back down to the Bush Theatre for the Poetry Breakfast.
And to watch Miguel Rios – OH MY GOSH. I don’t know why I didn’t buy his CD – his music was so good. He told a “Story” in his lyrics and it was deep. Connecting. Good for the soul. He played the guitar while his team member played the violin. The two went together perfectly.
I did try to hear another band in the Bowlo but I wouldn’t recommend that place – I didn’t have my wallet on me and so I didn’t have my drivers licence and they wouldn’t let me in, even though I had the arm band on my wrist. I got in fine Saturday but the grumpy guy on the door wouldn’t let me in on the Sunday. The only place that wasn’t super friendly at Nimbin!
Time To Say GoodBye
Before I knew it the time had gone so very fast – and I had to get back onto the road! Gosh did I have a crazy experience trying to get to the next showgrounds but never got to stay there and ended up free camping on the Goldcoast – at the beach!
Considering we had been at the Goldcoast recently I didn’t expect to be back so very soon.
Would I Recommend Nimbin Roots Festival 2020?
Yes! Highly recommend a visit to Nimbin, either a 2 day pass or a 3 day pass. And spending time visiting all of the cafes, seeing all of the amazing stores, and meeting the very super friendly people. Loved the drumming band, loved the vibes of the town and loved the people.
Drug Problem In Nimbin?
No idea – I am sure there is! Just like every town – but I was too busy having too much fun to notice. And gee did I dance my feet off.
I have So MUCH to share from Nimbin Roots Festival 2019 – from the shop that helped with my Migraine on the Friday night with essential oils, to the Bush Theatre that has a candle store out the back – a place where the guy was super friendly and we want to go back with Kyle.
Stay tuned for more on Nimbin – some crazy things went down around me!
Have You Been To Nimbin?
Have You Been To Nimbin Roots Festival?
Would you be going next year and want to get your Nimbin Roots Festival tickets? <<< Use the hi-lighted word to purchase them for 2020!
Location – Nimbin New South Wales
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road
PS – Did it live up to my expectations?
*please note * we were provided with a Spaceship Campervan for a reduced daily hire. We paid for our own insurance every day along with the reduced daily amount. All thoughts are our own and we were not paid to write a review on the Spaceship Campervan.
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