So, you’re headed to Splendour in the Grass with some mates… While road trips like this are often heralded as life-defining moments, without some solid planning, they can end up as torturous treks that no one ever wants to speak of again after your return. That’s where we come in. Here’s our Top 5 Newcastle to Splendour road trip hacks to help you plan a successful trip to Byron.
If you don’t plan, you’re probably going to end up at the Big Banana. While we’ve got nothing against big ol’ yellow in Coffs Harbour, there are definitely some way more exciting spots to pull up for a roadside rest.
Our tip is to stop in at Nambucca and take a walk along their famous V-wall public art gallery. There’s a bar and kiosk to replenish your supplies, and the public art along the break wall is both amazing and full of lol’s.
PROTIP: Visit a shop the day before you leave and pick up some art supplies to commemorate your Splendour road trip by leaving your own art on the wall.
Let’s face it, if you’re not driving, you should probably enjoy a drink to kick-off your Splendour celebrations! Combat the Winter chill AND get the party started with this amazing invention… The FlaskScarf!While we’re totally in favour of the whole “driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole” rule, to avoid arguments you might want to set yourself up with a playlist everyone will be happy with.
We’d recommend starting with the official Splendour Spotify playlist. It’s got tracks from all the acts that are playing Splendour this year, and it’s put together by the Splendour team themselves.
Most cars only have one cigarette lighter. And more often than not, it takes forever to charge you phone using it. If your road trip involves two or more people, that power hole is going to be hot property. Why not ban the arguments before they begin and buy yourself a power bank. You can pick a cheap one up for around $35 that will charge your devices quickly. There’s even a multiple outlet option so two or more people can charge at the same time. Trust us, you always need your phone most when it’s out of battery.
While lollies and chocolates may seem like a good idea the night before you leave, you’ll probably be left still hungry, nursing a sugar headache, and questioning your life choices after demolishing a bag of Allen’s Snakes and three-quarters of a block of Cadbury chocolate. Go for some real food and stop at a few ‘honesty boxes’ along the way. For a couple of bucks, you can pick up a few bags of oranges or a bunch of bananas fresh from the farm. You could even stock up on supplies for the weekend ahead. Not only is it a healthier alternative, but you’ll be helping out local producers, too.
