THE ESSENTIALS

Download the Gaytimes 2024 Essential Guide above, read up and share with your friends!

WHAT TO BRING

☐  YOUR GAYTIMES TICKET
We won’t have any door sales, so you will need to have bought your ticket before you arrive. If the ticket was not purchased in your name, you must arrive with the person who bought it or you must have proof of purchase. Resale and name changes can be processed by Tixel or email hello@gaytimes.com.au
 
☐  PHOTO ID
 
☐  WARM CLOTHES (JUMPERS, JACKETS, THERMALS ETC)
Pack for all weather conditions. It can get cold at night even when it is sunny during the day, so rug up. The festival will go on… rain, hail or shine!
 
☐  A TENT AND ALL CAMPING MATERIALS
We have grassy camping areas for you to pitch your tent, so feel free to bring a good tent of any size and all your camping essentials including: air mattresses or foam mattresses, an air mattress pump (ideally a re-chargeable one with the right attachments), a mallet for hammering in tent pegs, extra tent pegs, fold out chairs, a tarp, a rug or matt for inside your tent and an extra canopy or marquee for shade and weather proofing.

If you don’t have a tent, you can hire a tent and your camping essentials (like gazebos, marquees, chairs, eskis etc) from Good Intentions. You can hire quality, affordable camping gear to pick up onsite — you’ll save the hassle of bringing it and taking it home. You can also get camping items you forgot or repairs.
 
☐  A SLEEPING BAG OR WARM LINEN
Sleeping bag or doona, extra blankets. Remember, it gets cold at night.
 
☐  TORCH AND BATTERY-POWERED CAMP LIGHT
You’ll need it to hunt around your tent in the dark.

☐ FACE MASK & PROOF OF VACCINATION
Under the Victorian Government rules, you will need to show proof of vaccination or exemption upon entry. Face masks must also be worn indoors — if not eating, drinking or performing.

☐  SENSIBLE OUTDOOR SHOES OR BOOTS
You will need sturdy boots or closed-toed outdoor shoes. Thongs don’t count as sensible. Stilettos are also strongly discouraged, and we won’t let you run the Drag Race wearing them - as we don’t want any rolled ankles.
 
☐  WATERPROOF JACKET AND GUMBOOTS
Just in case it rains.
 
☐  SUNGLASSES
Oh, and don’t forget your prescription glasses or contact lens if you need them to see.
 
☐  SUNSCREEN, HAT & LONGSLEEVE SHIRTS
On a clear sunny day, you’ll can get sunburnt in 15 minutes (trust us) so be prepared to slip, slop slap and stay sunsmart.
 
☐  CANS OR PLASTIC BOTTLES
We have an absolute ban on glass at Gaytimes, and we will be checking your car and luggage on arrival so if you try to sneak it in we’ll throw it out. When you’re not here, this is a scout camp. Buy your beer, seltzer and ciders in cans, or decant your spirits into plastic bottles before you arrive.

☐  A REUSABLE DRINK BOTTLE
We’ve joined Green Music Australia’s campaign to #BYOBottle and ban disposable plastic water bottles from our bar. You can refill your own drink bottle from free water stations around the festival.
Bring a Keep Cup for your coffee too —and you’ll get .50c off your coffee.

☐  CARDS & CASH
Most of our bars, food trucks and canteens will be cashless, so bring your credit or debit card loaded up. Bring cash as well — just in case. We will have limited cash out facilities. Please make sure you drop by an ATM on the way up to Gaytimes, and bring more cash than you think you’ll need … especially for the Gay Stuff Markets!

☐  MOBILE PHONE AND SPARE BATTERY PACK
We will have very limited mobile phone charging facilities on site, but your campsites are not powered so if you can’t live without your smartphone bring a battery pack. Or better yet leave your phone off and disconnect for the weekend. Be aware that mobile phone reception may be unreliable at Gilwell Park.
 
☐  ANY MEDICATION YOU NEED
We have a first aid area but this is only for emergencies. There is no pharmacy on site so bring anything you normally take - e.g. asthma medication, allergy medication, pain killers, insulin, PrEP, contraceptive pills etc.

If you are seriously allergic to anything you might encounter in the forest (ie bees, wasps, ants), we recommend you have an epipen too.
 
☐  A TOWEL (OR TWO)
We have free hot showers onsite in our toilet blocks and change rooms. Please remember that these are shared facilities and we are in an environmentally sensitive site so do your bit and keep bathrooms clean for the enjoyment of everyone. A spare hand towel or towel can also be useful for wiping up spills in your tent. You will also need to bring your own towel this year for the Gay Spa, so we suggest bringing an extra one!
 
☐  TOILETRIES
Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair brush, tampons or pads, perfume, cologne and whatever else you need to keep yourself nice.

☐ SEX STUFF
Don’t forget condoms, lubricant, Jungle Juice, sex toys etc or whatever you might need.
 
☐ INSECT REPELLANT

☐ YOGA MAT
You have to bring your own mat to our morning yoga session.

☐  COOLER OR CHILLY BIN
For your booze and food!
 
☐  FOOD & SNACKS
 
☐  CAMERA
 
☐  SOMETHING FABULOUS!
Glitter, wigs, fairy wings, fake moustaches, feather boas, superhero costumes, lyra jumpsuits, animal onesies, whatever takes your fancy. We encourage everyone to dress up and express yourself. Saturday is the Drag Race and Walk Off. Sunday is our Doof Day, so bring your doof sticks.

WHAT NOT TO BRING

☐  GLASS. STRICTLY NO GLASS!

☐  TOTAL FIRE BAN (DAY & NIGHT)
No cooking, BBQs, gas bottles, fireworks, lanterns or cooking devices

☐  ILLICIT SUBSTANCES

☐  PETS

☐  ANYONE UNDER 18+

☐  EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF ALCOHOL
Limit for BYO of 1 x a case of beer or cider or 1 bottle of spirits.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Gaytimes 2023 Festival site is a partially wheelchair accessible venue with accessible amenities and camp sites — but there are gravel roads, rocky and uneven terrain in some areas.

If you are a person with disability, please get in touch with our operations team at hello@gaytimes.com.au so that we can better prepare you for your visit.

We have free car passes and accessible camping areas within the festival designated for those with a disability or mobility issues.

Please let us know if you’d like this information in another format.

SAFETY

Gaytimes Festival is an 18+ event. Please bring photo I.D.

Gaytimes aims to create a magical space for LGTBIQ people and their friends to come together and be themselves.

We have a strict zero-tolerance policy towards sexual abuse, harassment and any anti-social, homophobic, transphobic, biphobic or racist behaviour. Our Code of Conduct will be sent to you when you purchase your tickets.

Be aware of the space you are in and enjoy yourselves.

Safety Ambassadors will be onsite to look out for those who may be feeling uncomfortable or compromised. They exist to ensure the safety of all people. If you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or unwell, reach out to them, our event staff, our security or crowd controllers, our first aid medics or any of our other harm minimisation services.