I've moved from Sydney up to Byron Bay to live over the Christmas holidays. Byron is the party capital of Australia and pretty much every weekend parties happen in the surrounding area. The parties around here are called Doofs, and even the local free papers encourage you to get to them..... only problem is transport. A few have happened since I've been here, but seeing as they're so deep into the forest or on remote beaches that a car is definitly needed.
I hear about a Doof happening at Hells Hole during the week. Not that I know where Hells Hole is, but I make it my mission to get to it. Thursday night and a friend I've met at my hostel mentions that he's going to the party...excellent. I stick around, and we walk to the Arts Factory hostel in Byron. We wait around for an hour while people sort themselves out and jump in one of the cars going. The five car convoy leaves Byron at 12.30am and heads out to Mullumbimby about a 20 minute drive away. As we pass through the town, we come out the other side and down a long road which soon turns into a dusty track. The convoy picks up a few more cars on route and 8 or 9 cars snake through the forest, getting lost only once. After half an hour or so, we eventually spot cars parked alongside the track. We park up, and walk down the track towards the repeative beat.
Walking into the party space and again a lot of effort has gone into the Doof. UV fluro backdrops hang in the trees, with bright lights shining into the crowd of dancers. 500 or 600 people must be here in the woods clearing. Psy-trance is played all night, with the highlight being local Byron hero Olli Wisdom. He's from the trance act, Spacetribe and does a great job of keeping the vibe alive.
A tea stall and chill space have been setup, and plenty of people make use of them. No fire juggling happened as the risk of forest fires is quite high around here. I met loads of people during the night and even a few I reckonise from Byron..... my other friend's car got lost big time, and they evenutally turn up about 4am, but still remain in high spirits due to entering the Doof atmosphere. After dancing for a few hours me and a friend chill and watch the party. The sky starts to slowly get lighter and amazing rays of sunshine flow through the trees and into the clearing. Our friends with the car leave, and we decide to stay for a while longer. Evenutally building up the motivation to make a move, we walk up the long track and past loads of cars, asking everyone we meet if they can give us a lift home. As we get to the end of the parked cars we still haven't found a ride...when all of a sudden a Volvo pulls up and offers us a lift back to Mullumbimby.... we accept, and the driver takes us back down the forest track and into the town.
Standing at the side of the road in Mullumbimby, 100 cars pass us before a 4x4 car stops and gives me and my mate a lift back to Byron. Excellent night in the bush and seeing as New Year is just around the corner I'm sure a few others will be happening.
Bugs
