Myself and Darren a friend from the UK who's just moved out here, drive the long journey from Sydney up to Gosford along the main pacific freeway. An amazing road, with views out of this world snaking through valleys, and up huge mountains sides following the central coast.
We stop in Gosford for a few beers, before heading off the main freeway, and onto the smaller back roads. We had some good directions, but were lacking a map of the area - needless to say we got a little lost. Eventually we found the right road and got our bearings. About 30k from the main freeway, we turn down a dirt track. The directions tell us to stay on the track for 5k and the party will be in a remote camping area in the valley basin. Luckily the road isn't full of potholes, but is still a bit hair raising at times.
Getting to the turning down to the camping area, we see a sign telling us the party has been moved 14k down the track! argghhh!!! Well we've come this far and don't have much of a choice, so we carry on along the track. The road seems to go on forever. 14k + 5k = 12 miles from the nearest tarmac'd road! We've seen about a handful of cars pass us on the road from the freeway - we don't see any on the track itself. The occasional arrow is spotted on the trees, giving us confidence that the party is down here. After what seems like a lifetime, an arrow pointing into the woods is at the side of the track. We stop and slowly drive down a rough road into the woods. After a few minutes' car lights ahead are spotted - we were very glad to see those lights I can tell yer!
Pulling up and parking on the track, it's still early - 11pm. A few cars are already there, but not many. We pay $15 each, which is 6 pounds, which is fair enough. Walking up the slight hill to the clearing in the woods, we come across a soundsystem. Only 30 or so people were there at this point, but we could see that a lot of effort had gone into this party.
A Tipi in the centre housed the decks, with a 7k system playing psy-trance. Either side of the Tipi was a couple of shaped white sheets, which had a video projector shone at them with live trippy video mixing. UV lights and backdrops hung around several of the trees, and a few UV sculptures were dotted around the clearing. White fairy lights hung over the speakers and tipi to finish it off.
Although not so many people were there at that point we went for a walk, had a chat to a few people and hung around. After half an hour or so, a 6 car convoy came along the track, and then slowly more and more cars found their way up to the party. I thought I'd been in the middle of nowhere before, but this was pretty much the most remote place I've ever been to in my life - great to get out of the city as well!
The party really kicked off about 1.30/2am, about 200 people were there at the peak. People were dancing to the loud psy-trance tunes all night, everyone in a good mood and really friendly. I think we were the only English people there that night, but everyone was welcome.
Then the fire juggling started... they love it over here. Once one person had started, a whole fire show of 4 or 5 jugglers were swinging their clubs, chains and staff's for what seemed like most of the night. They were really good... I've seen quite a bit of fire juggling in the past, but this was a great sight to see. (Remember the girl in the bikini top swinging fire poi's Dazza!!).
We danced for a while, spoke to loads of people during the night, watched the daybreak - as we were in the woods we didn't have a great view of the sunrise, but it was a clear morning and far from cold.
As Darren had to get back to home, we made a move about 6am - we could have stayed there all day, but had to drive back to Sydney... which was a two-hour drive! We had to get past the 20k track first though! Doing an 8-point turn in the small dirt track, we brushed past what must be 30-40 cars all jammed in tight to the bush. Eventually we make it back onto the main track (Walker's Ridge Forest Road), and drive the 20K back to the main road, stopping a few times to take in the beautiful scenery.
Back on the main road, and I take over driving. After an hour or so, we're back on the main pacific freeway, which is probably the most scenic road I've ever driven on. I've always loved the drive home from parties, but this one was pretty special. We made it safely back to Sydney at 8am. Top night out!
The following weekend, the same people put on a party in an old cinema in the centre of Sydney....me and a friend walked to it from our hostel. It's been raining here for a week, so the woods had to be changed to the cinema location. Big old cinema with screen one playing trance, screen two playing techno and the foyer being the chill. free fruit and water. The rave scene is still developing over here, and the concept of free parties hasn't caught on as much. Money is still a factor in them as they were trying to charge me quite a bit of money to get into the cinema - I refused to pay that much, and talked so much to the girl taking the money that she let me at a much cheaper price. Besides that it was good night in there. Cinema's are the perfect place for raves!
Bugs
