GETTING THERE

BY SHUTTLE BUS

The Gaytimes Shuttle Buses will return in 2024, to help get you home safe.

The shuttle buses will depart Melbourne and travel direct to Gaytimes.

All shuttle bus tickets are ONE WAY. All bus ticket holders must hold a valid ticket to Gaytimes 2024.

BUS TICKETS FROM MELBOURNE: $45 + GST + booking fee

Arrive AT LEAST 15 MINS EARLY to load up your luggage. Don’t be late — or you will miss the bus.
You must buy your bus tickets in advance. Please note your specific departure time and location. If you turn up for the wrong bus, we cannot guarantee you a seat.
You also must have a festival ticket.
You can bring your camping grear and luggage on the bus as each is a charter coach with undercarriage storage — but please note you can only bring your own.
Additional buses will be added to the ticketing site and schedule, as these sell out.
Shuttle buses are subject to demand, and if undersold we may transfer you to another scheduled departure time.

SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE

FITZROY TO GILWELL PARK (Fri Feb 23 2024)

LOCATION: 433 Smith Street Fitzroy North (Fitzroy Gas Works Construction Site, between Alexandra and Queens Parade near corner of Smith Street, opposite Council Street)

Shuttle Bus Option 1:
DEPARTS: 10:30am SHARP
ARRIVES: 12:00pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 2*:
DEPARTS: 11:30am SHARP
ARRIVES: 1:00pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 3*:
DEPARTS: 12:30pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 2:00pm approximate 

Shuttle Bus Option 4:
DEPARTS: 5:00pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 6:45pm approximate 

BRUNSWICK TO GILWELL PARK (Fri Feb 23 2024)

LOCATION: 680 Sydney Road Brunswick (at Albion Street opposite Brunswick Markets)

Shuttle Bus Option 1*:
DEPARTS: 11:00am SHARP
ARRIVES: 1:00pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 2*:
DEPARTS: 12:00pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 2:00pm approximate

*Brunswick shuttle buses will travel via Fitzroy stop.

FLINDERS STREET TO GILWELL PARK (Fri Feb 23 2024)

LOCATION: Flinders Street Bus Zone outside ACMI at Fed Square

Shuttle Bus Option 1: Friday**
DEPARTS: 12:00pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 2:00pm approximate

GILWELL PARK TO MELBOURNE (SUN FEB 25 2024 & MON FEB 26 2024)

LOCATION: Gaytimes Shuttle Bus Stop in Festival or in Artist / Crew Carpark near Gate 2.

Shuttle Bus Option 1: Sunday 11am
DEPARTS: 11:00am SHARP
ARRIVES: 12:30pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 2: Sunday 1pm
DEPARTS: 1:00pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 2:30pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 3: Sunday 3pm
DEPARTS: 3:00pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 4:30pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 4: Sunday 5pm
DEPARTS: 5:00pm SHARP
ARRIVES: 6:30pm approximate

Shuttle Bus Option 5: Sunday ~8:30pm
DEPARTS: 8:30pm
ARRIVES: 9:45pm approximate 

Please note the last bus on Sunday will depart after the festival programming finishes at 8:30pm. If you want to stay till the end — this is the bus for you!

Shuttle Bus Option 6: Monday (Departs from Artist / Staff Carpark)
DEPARTS: 10:00am SHARP
ARRIVES: 11:30am approximate 

Shuttle Bus Option 7: Monday (Departs from Artist / Staff Carpark)
DEPARTS: 10:30am SHARP
ARRIVES: 12:00pm approximate 

All returning buses back to Melbourne will travel to Fitzroy stop and Flinders Street.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The closest train stations are Pakenham and Belgrave. Both of these are a roughly 25-30 minute drive away — if you would like to taxi or Uber.

There are public buses from Pakenham (Route 860) and Belgrave (Route 695) to Gembrook but these do not go directly to Gilwell Park.

BY CARPOOL OR UBER (IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CAR…)

Hitch a ride with a friend, or ask if any other festivalgoers are driving. Visit the Facebook page, Facebook event or Facebook group to request to carpool.

If you would like to Uber (or Ola or Didi etc), the cost of a ride is approximately $110-130 one way from Melbourne CBD, Fitzroy or South Yarra (depending on traffic).

BY CAR

Take Eastlink (M3) to Rowville and take the Wellington Road exit. Take Wellington Road and C412 to Gembrook. 

When you arrive in Gembrook, take directions to Gilwell Park along Gembrook Launching-Place Rd, Gembrook.

If you need to get cash out, get petrol or get last minute items, you are best off stopping in Gembrook.

To help out the Gembrook community, we encourage you to stop to buy your bag of ice for your eski, your BYO drinks and snacks in Gembrook. We also encourage you to enjoy lunch along the way.

Every car will require a CAR PASS to park at Gaytimes. Please purchase in advance online or you will pay more at the gate. Further details below.

CAR PASSES

Every car requires a car pass, we strongly recommend all attendees to car pool where you can. Our car pass scheme is administered by Treecreds who run carbon offset initiatives that ensure your greenhouse emissions from the travelling to and from the festival are offset through replanting, revegetation and conservation.

Each car pass supports offsetting emissions from Gaytimes, as well as other sustainability initiatives including our shuttle buses and car park shuttles, our efforts to single use plastics, recycling and composting.

Standard Car Pass: $100 + GST + bf per vehicle 

Campervan / RV Pass: $150 + GST + bf per campervan, caravan or RV

Campervans and RVs will be able to park in a dedicated area onsite. Please note you must have a campervan or RV to park in this area, as patrons are not permitted to sleep in their cars. Tents and swags cannot be placed next to RVs. 

Private Bus Pass: $100 + GST + bf

Groups can organise private buses that will be permitted to drop off or pick up at the Artist / Staff Carpark at Gate 2. Private Buses cannot park onsite, they must be DROP OFF or PICK UP only.

Special / Accessible Car Passes (Free) will be available for people with a disability / mobility / accessibility requirements that will allow patrons to park near their cars in an accessible camping area close to amenities. 

If you have accessibility requirements, we will make arrangements to ensure you can park near your car in an accessible camping area.

Please email hello@gaytimes.com.au if this applies for you with as much notice as possible. 

Concession Car Passes ($70 + GST + bf) will be available for Health Care Card holders, First Nations People and people experiencing financial hardship or coming from regional areas. Concession Car Passes will still be required to park in the general public car parking area. If this applies to you, please email hello@gaytimes.com.au with as much notice as possible and will give you access to Concession Car Passes. 

Participants & Stallholder Car Passes ($50 + GST + bf) will be required for stallholders and other participants who will be permitted to park within the festival near Crew Camping.

Artist Car Passes will be issued to all artists on arrival who will have their own Artist Carpark at Gate 2 for Loading Bay drop offs only. Any Artist staying overnight will have to park in General Parking.

Volunteers and Guests are still required to have a General Car Pass.

CAR PARKING

For the safety of all festival goers, participants, artists and crew, patrons will not be permitted to park near campgrounds within the festival precinct this year. 

Upon arrival at gates, all patrons will be directed to enter via Gate 9 and park their vehicles in the designated car parking areas on the eastern side of Gilwell Park at the instruction of the traffic management team.

Free carpark shuttles – mini buses with luggage trailer – will take patrons from the carpark to bus stops within the campgrounds on a loop throughout the weekend.

Free carpark shuttle bus will run during the following times:

FRIDAY 12pm to 11pm (when gates close)
SATURDAY 9am to 11pm 
SUNDAY 10am to 9pm
MONDAY 9am to 11am (departing from Artist / Staff Carpark)

If you leave anything in your car outside of these hours, you will need to go on foot and cross at Gate 2 with the supervision of our gates or security team. Remember, pass outs are not permitted so if you drive out of the site your wristband will be cut.

So, why can’t you park at your campsite?

Cars and camping festivals don’t mix. Parked cars are a fire hazard that increases bushfire danger at camping festivals, and makes evacuation more difficult. Festival goers driving through the festival is also a major traffic hazard. Festival goers getting behind the wheel while intoxicated and running over tents have been the cause of deaths and serious injuries at festivals in Australia and around the world. 

Please only drive if you need to and please carpool with friends (or offer a spare seat to other festival goers) if you can to make the journey safe and more sustainable. 

TAC’s Vanessa team will be onsite along with Blow Me First offering voluntary breath testing before you depart Gaytimes, to get you home safe.

If you are designated driver, please remember to drink responsibly, stay hydrated, eat, sleep and make sure you are sober, well rested and of the right mind to drive.     

Be warned there may be booze or drug buses waiting for you when you leave the festival.