That golden warmth pouring down from the sky and those hiked up Esky prices can only mean one thing: festival season is upon us. Camping and live music is super fun, but it can also get crazy, messy and extremely unglamorous. To ease you into those dusty, muddy days and nights, we've put together a helpful packing list that will make sure your experience is memorable for all the right reasons.

BACK AT THE CAMP

To pack:

wet wipes
first aid kit/band-aids
bug repellent
spray-on deodorant
tea tree toothpicks
Febreeze
portable phone charger
washable shoes
torch (even better – a head torch!)



Anything that keeps you clean at the campsite (without requiring running water) is super handy – wet wipes are a must for everything from spot-washing your hands, face and body to getting muck off your gear. Tea tree toothpicks make for a great after-meal teeth clean, and spray-on deodorant keeps your body fresh when you haven't lined up to hit the showers. We thoroughly advise you to leave your roll-on at home!

Keep clothes and tents fresh with a spritz of Febreeze – clothes can get smoky and this stuff is like an instant deodoriser for fabric fibres. Practical items like bug spray, band-aids, a good torch (if you can get hold of a head torch for hands-free tent-rummaging- even better!) and a portable phone charging battery are all priorities on the pack list. Throw in a pair of washable rubber shoes for a cute alternative to thongs or flip flops. A quick-dry towel is also super-handy when you don't want to deal with mouldy cloth!

HEADING TO THE STAGE

small shoulder bag
cash
sunglasses
I.D
sunscreen
hand sanitiser
lip balm
fan
glitter
costumes
phone
gumboots
homemade refresher mist



Snazzying yourself up with costumes and glitter before a big night of music is pretty darn fun. This can be slightly impractical if it's super hot, cold or muddy though, so consider some gumboots or rubber shoes, a big floppy sunhat, a small spray-on sunscreen and a collapsible hand fan to keep you cool. Lip balm and sunnies are absolute must-haves in the heat, and a small bottle of water-free hand sanitiser is a good idea for post-portaloo hygiene.

Keep your loot in a small over-the-shoulder bag with internal pockets, along with plenty of cash, your I.D and phone for finding and snapping all those top-notch moments with friends. Heads up: Chinese Green Oil mixed with water in a spritzer bottle (which you can pre-chill in the Esky) makes for a refreshing, awesomely-scented pick-me-up when you're kicking up the dirt.

REST AND RECOVERY

eye mask
silk sleeping bag
ear plugs
toilet paper
dry shampoo
gastrolyte
coffee and coffee maker
nurofen
mouthwash
cotton tips
eye makeup remover
vitamin C face spray



Ugh. The day after. All you really want is comfort and hydration. To get some real rest it's a good idea to block out the light and noise with an eye mask and some ear plugs, and cocoon yourself in a silk sleeping bag (which you can usually nab from a backpacking supplies store). Keep warm at night with a beanie and a poncho.

When you're finally ready to emerge and face the public, you will thank yourself for packing the emergency roll of loo paper, some makeup remover and mini mouthwash. Skip the queues by bringing your own plastic coffee-maker – the ones you put the filter papers in (just add coffee and boiling water!) and throw one of those Gastrolyte tabs in a big cup of water for instant health-bringing hydration. Dry shampoo is brilliant for a wash-free hair rescue and a nice moisturising face spray will have you feeling like a new person, ready to face the drive home, or hit the stage all over again.

Words by Dana Leviston of Lady Day, with pretty pics snapped by Bekky Halls, and Madi Weybury in front of the camera.