Burning Man Australia is the Aussie version of the original
Burning Man at Black Rock, Nevada USA.
Something you need to see for yourself.
The theme this year is 'Mythconception' and I although I'm wanting to write so much on last year's experience, I also want you to have your own amazing
Burning Man festival event. It is held in a special forest clearing near Narrandera, in Wiradjuri Country, Southern New South Wales (NSW). I acknowledge the traditional owners of this country when I enter and depart.
Last year I arrived at night in the midst of terrible weather, only to have the clouds break virtually at the dirt road entrance to the Matong Forest, NSW. As overwhelmed by the drive as I was, I soon was overjoyed and feeling like a child as a great number of blessed artistic type humans rushed the car and whooped with a big 'WELCOME HOME, HAVE A TASTE OF FREEDOM!' and suddenly we found cheese in a can being generously sprayed onto our fingers. As odd as this sounds, even as I write this, the kids were in hysterics and it certainly set the scene for a wonderful week of artistic altered reality and sustainable living.
Can kids go?As full on as it may seem going as a family, my experience was that kids were treated with incredible care and respect. They were given experiences such as learning how to do trampoline flips from a Peruvian dancer and experiencing being full participants in the Kabuki theatre. There is a special place at the end of the camp for families so there is less noise, and I have been assured by the Department of Public Works that no less than 4 portable toilets will be in this area for the kids. I don't have an issue with noise as I love the activity and joy, but I would advise bringing some ear plugs if you are sensitive and enjoy an early night. Follow the map and head down the end of the camp for further forest peace.
The Actual Burning Man
You do need some preparation. It is a great way to learn how to completely look after yourself along with a small amount of reliance on others as you need to take all your own water with you. It is quite a hike into town if you need more. Make sure you read the
ten principles in the survival guide. I took about 200 litres of water for 4 people but that gave us 2 small washed per day, camp cleaning water, and plenty to drink. That is around 10 litres per day and you need to bring at least 6 litres per person. Aldi sell 10 litre containers which were handy for drinking water, and an old olive barrel served as our washing water. We filled this up before we left.
I loved the art installations placed around the campsite, the opportunity to attend a solar workshop, and a talk about the
Masculinity Conspiracy by academic; Joseph Gelfer.
I'm more than happy to answer any questions as a year on, I'm still unravelling the many experiences, both spontaneous and planned, at what is surely the best arts festival in Australia.
This dome is huge and filled with colourful laser lights.
And a warning to the silly ones - never, never, ever party so hard at a festival full of artists so that you don't immediately wake upon the first squirt of body paint!
I was alert at all times to these shenanigans.
