Favourite family-friendly festivals & events: complete guide

Kids and music festivals are a combination that gets better the moment you stop trying to make it work like an adult trip and start leaning into the chaos. Face painting. Dancing in the grass. Stumbling across a puppet show between sets. The shared memory of it all is the thing families talk about for years afterwards.

The practical challenge is accommodation. Most popular Australian festivals fall in summer or around school holidays, which means the nearest caravan park is booked solid months in advance and the onsite tent camping gets uncomfortable in 35-degree heat.

A hired campervan solves both problems at once: you bring your own accommodation, you have a proper fridge, a real bed and somewhere to retreat when the little ones hit the wall. With over 14,000 privately-owned RVs listed on Camplify, you can find the right setup for your family and pick it up from an owner near you, or have it delivered straight to your campsite.

Here are some of Australia's best family-friendly festivals, organised by state, with everything you need to know to plan your campervan trip around them. For more on how to make it work on the ground, our complete guide to festival camping in a van covers setup, power, packing and keeping a hired van clean across a big weekend.

Queensland

Woodford Folk Festival

When it's held: annually from 27 December to 1 January, at Woodfordia near Woodford, one hour north of Brisbane.

The Woodford Folk Festival is one of the biggest cultural gatherings in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the oldest continuously running festivals in Australia. Over six days and six nights, roughly 125,000 people fill the 500-acre Woodfordia site for over 450 acts: folk, roots, world music, circus, comedy, street theatre, spoken word, and an entire dedicated Children's Festival running across all six days.

The Children's Festival is a major draw in its own right, with puppet shows, arts and crafts, games, dance, theatre and circus designed for kids of all ages. The festival closes on New Year's Day with the spectacular Fire Event, a large-scale open-air ceremony in the amphitheatre that's been a tradition since the early 1990s. Children under five attend free; reduced rates apply for under 18s.

There's onsite camping at Woodfordia, including powered and glamping options, though it books out early. Surrounding towns and caravan parks are a short drive away for those with a hired van.

Big Red Bash

When it's held: annually in early to mid-July, near Birdsville in outback Queensland.

Set against the iconic Big Red dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert, the Big Red Bash is billed as the world's most remote music festival and it earns the title. Three evenings of headline Australian artists play under a vast outback sky, with camel rides, sand dune activities, creative workshops and family-friendly programming filling the days between sets.

It is resolutely a camping and caravanning event: the journey to Birdsville is part of the experience, and the generous on-site space means there's room for families to spread out and settle in. Children 11 and under have historically attended free. The festival runs during the Queensland school holidays, which makes it a popular choice for families prepared to make the long haul.

Note: the Big Red Bash occasionally pauses or moves due to weather or other factors (the 2026 event was cancelled following major flooding at the Birdsville site). Always confirm the event is proceeding before booking travel.

Check our reader story about one family's first Big Red Bash experience for an honest sense of what the trip entails.

Island Vibe Festival

When it's held: annually in late October, on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), Queensland.

Island Vibe is a multicultural celebration of reggae, roots, bass and soul on North Stradbroke Island, about an hour from Brisbane by ferry. Art exhibitions, craft workshops, food stalls and makers markets fill the weekend alongside the music program. The island atmosphere and its beaches make it an inherently family-friendly destination. Children under 13 attend free; reduced rates for under 18s.

Getting there requires a barge crossing, so plan your van dimensions and the crossing schedule carefully. The Adder Rock Campground on the island is the closest camping option to the festival.

New South Wales

Tamworth Country Music Festival

When it's held: ten days in mid to late January, annually in Tamworth, NSW.

Australia's biggest music festival by some measures, Tamworth brings over 50,000 visitors to a regional NSW city for ten days of country music that sprawls across pubs, clubs, parks and purpose-built stages. The city itself becomes the festival; Peel Street fills with buskers and food stalls, and the free outdoor concerts mean you don't need to spend much to have a great time.

The Family Zone is a dedicated precinct with rides, activities and performances for kids, while the Golden Guitar Awards on the final Saturday night is the anchor event of the whole calendar. It's also pet-friendly, which makes it popular with families travelling with dogs. The Tamworth Showground and the Riverside Camping Grounds are the main camping options; book early because they fill fast in January.

The Sydney to Dubbo road trip passes through Tamworth, so it's easy to fold the festival into a broader NSW road trip itinerary.

Parkes Elvis Festival

When it's held: annually in the second week of January, aligned with Elvis Presley's birthday on 8 January.

One of regional Australia's most beloved annual events, the Parkes Elvis Festival turns a Central NSW town of 12,000 people into a five-day celebration of the King. Street parades, tribute artist competitions, heritage car shows, 1950s dance workshops and dozens of free events in Cooke Park fill the week. Kids are well catered for, with the retro theme providing natural entertainment value and most of the big outdoor events being free.

Accommodation books out months in advance, which makes a hired campervan especially practical. A temporary campsite through the Parkes Visitor Information Centre is the main option for van travellers. For everything you need to plan the trip, see our complete Parkes Elvis Festival guide.

Bluesfest Byron Bay

When it's held: annually over the Easter long weekend, at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm near Byron Bay, NSW.

Bluesfest is Australia's premier blues and roots festival and consistently attracts some of the biggest international names in the genre. The five-day Easter festival has always been family-friendly, with a dedicated Kids Zone, nappy changing and feeding areas, and daily children's activity sessions. Kids under six camp and attend free; reduced rates for those aged 6-15.

Note: the festival's future was uncertain following the cancellation of its 2026 edition. Check the official website before making plans.

Dashville Skyline

When it's held: annually in early to mid-October, in the Hunter Valley, NSW.

A laidback, old-school celebration of country music set in Hunter Valley countryside, Dashville Skyline is exactly the kind of family festival that doesn't try to be everything to everyone. Camping in the vineyards and farmland, live music, good food, markets and utes on show. It's relaxed, reasonably priced and genuinely enjoyable for kids and adults alike. The Hunter Valley is also one of the most accessible regional destinations from Sydney, making it a natural first festival trip for families new to the format.

Victoria

Healesville Music Festival

When it's held: annually in mid to late November, across multiple venues in Healesville, Victoria.

The Healesville Music Festival is a community-scale event set in the Yarra Valley. Events spread across several venues in town, with camping at Healesville Racecourse. The festival has a strong reputation for kid-friendly programming including circus shows, storytelling and themed concerts specifically designed for children. Kids 13 and under attend free.

Healesville makes for a lovely base for a longer Yarra Valley campervan trip; the region is full of wineries, wildlife parks and bushwalking trails that are equally good for families.

South Australia

WOMADelaide

When it's held: annually over four days in early March, in Adelaide's Botanic Park.

WOMADelaide is one of the great Australian festivals: four days of world music, arts and dance in the heart of Adelaide's Botanic Park. The KidZone is an impressive operation, with dress-up parties, face painting, science workshops and child-specific programming running across all four days. The open park setting is pram and stroller-friendly, changing facilities are provided and children 12 and under attend free.

There's no onsite camping, but Adelaide Caravan Park is a short walk from the festival. WOMADelaide falls on the Adelaide Labour Day long weekend, making it a natural anchor for a longer SA road trip.

Northern Territory

Barunga Festival

When it's held: annually over the King's Birthday long weekend in June, at Barunga, approximately 80km southeast of Katherine, NT.

The Barunga Festival is one of Australia's most significant Indigenous cultural events, drawing over 5,000 visitors to a small remote community in the NT for three days of music, dance, sport and culture. It's a drug and alcohol-free festival and explicitly welcomes non-Indigenous visitors as guests of the Bagala Aboriginal Corporation.

The cultural program offers rare experiences: traditional dance performances, didgeridoo making, spear throwing, bush medicine, weaving and Dreamtime storytelling. Three sporting carnivals run across the weekend alongside the cultural program. Camping is the only accommodation option at Barunga itself, and the journey from Darwin or Katherine is an outback road trip in its own right.

Tasmania

Cygnet Folk Festival

When it's held: annually over a long weekend in mid-January, in Cygnet, Huon Valley, Tasmania.

Set in the stunning Huon Valley south of Hobart, the Cygnet Folk Festival is an eclectic mix of folk, world music, poetry, dance, film, art and artisan markets. The festival is known for its relaxed, community atmosphere and genuinely child-friendly programming. Camping at Burtons Reserve on the Cygnet waterfront puts you within walking distance of most venues. If you're bringing a campervan, purchase a Vehicle Pass when you get your tickets. Children under 5 attend free; reduced rates for 5-18 year olds.

A Festival Called Panama

When it's held: annually in early March, at a cider brewery in Lone Star Valley, Tasmania.

Panama is a boutique festival held on a secluded 50-acre cider brewery property in the Tasmanian countryside. It bills itself as a carefully curated mix of world-class music, midnight cabaret, DJs, artisan markets and local food, with a dedicated Kid's Space for families. Children under 4 attend free. It's a well-regarded, intimate event that regularly sells out.

Western Australia

Nannup Music Festival

When it's held: annually over four days on the WA Labour Day long weekend in late February or early March, in Nannup, Western Australia.

Run continuously since 1990, Nannup Music Festival is held in the small, charming WA Southwest town of Nannup on the banks of the Blackwood River. More than 100 acts across eight stages fill the long weekend: folk, roots, blues, Indigenous music, acoustic, Celtic and world music. The Family Fun Area is a staple of the program, with dedicated entertainment for kids running across the whole festival.

Camping is available at the Festival Campground on the banks of the Blackwood River, with a campervan site available for those who book ahead. It's WA's Labour Day long weekend, so the Nannup area is popular with families from Perth making a longer Southwest road trip.

Fairbridge Festival

When it's held: annually in mid to late April, at Fairbridge Village, Pinjarra, Western Australia.

Fairbridge Festival is held on a wild bushland site at Fairbridge Village near Pinjarra, about an hour south of Perth. The program covers folk, blues, roots, a cappella, acoustic, Celtic and world music across multiple stages in the bush. It has an exceptional reputation for children's and youth programming relative to its overall festival size, and the site is specifically configured for families with camping in the meadow.

Planning your family festival trip

What to look for in a family van

When hiring a van for a family festival, a few features make a real difference:

• Enough beds for the whole group without anyone sleeping across seat cushions

• A fridge to keep drinks and food cold in summer heat

• Aircon or a quality fan: January and December festivals in Australia are hot

• A leisure battery or solar panels: most festival campsites are unpowered

• Storage space for gear without the van feeling cramped after day one

• An onboard toilet if you want to minimise festival amenities trips with small kids

When you book through Camplify, you collect directly from the owner or have the van delivered to your campsite. Either way, the owner does a full handover so you know exactly how everything works. If something comes up during the festival, they're a message away.

For a detailed breakdown of what to pack and how to prepare, our road trip packing checklist and family caravanning guide are worth reading before you go.

Book early for everything

The same thing trips up first-timers at almost every festival on this list: leaving it too late. Festival campsites, caravan parks within range, and van hire all move quickly once dates are announced. The festivals that fall on school holidays or long weekends book even faster. If you have a festival in mind, lock in the van before the campsite, and the campsite before you sort the tickets.

Pets at festivals

Some festivals on this list welcome dogs, including Dashville Skyline and the Big Red Bash. Others don't. Check the specific festival's policy before assuming. Our guide to van life with dogs covers what to consider if you're travelling with a pet, and many Camplify owners are happy to accommodate dogs in their vans. To find them, just use the pets permitted filter when searching.

School holidays and timing

Several of these festivals fall conveniently in or around school holiday periods: Woodford Folk Festival over Christmas and New Year, the Big Red Bash in the July school holidays, and Tamworth in January. Planning around school term dates can also help with the logistics of taking kids out of routine. Our roundup of family-friendly school holiday activities has more ideas for building a longer trip around any of these festivals.

Ready to find your festival van?

Camplify is Australia's largest RV sharing marketplace, with over 14,000 campervans, caravans and motorhomes available to hire from local owners across every state and territory. Every booking includes comprehensive damage protection and nationwide roadside assistance, so all you need to focus on is enjoying your family festival adventure.