IF YOU have a burning desire to camp in a tent covered in a grass, grazing sheep or patchwork quilt design, then the Tamworth Country Music Festival can make your dreams come true in January.
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The festival will welcome Mooggee to the city for the first time, with its pre-pitched tents featuring colourful designs and providing showers, toilets and other camping facilities visitors need to enjoy the event.
The Mooggee Wake up and Walk campsite experience will be pitched at the Cross Park fields at the bottom of Gipps St near the Bicentennial Park footbridge, meaning it’s a short walk to the CBD and festival buses.
Tamworth Regional Council Country Music Unit manager Barry Harley said the new camping experience came about after receiving feedback after numerous festivals.
“A common theme in the last several years has been people looking for accommodation at a price they can best afford,” he said.
“These people are not in the market for five- or even two-star accommodation, but their checklist includes close proximity to the CBD, close to the festival bus, security and at a reasonable price.”
The campground promises visitors a relaxed vibe, including a communal chill-out area with coffee and breakfast carts, games, beanbags, picnic tables and even Mooggee instruments on hand and 24-hour security.
For musicians who want to stay, there will be a secure container where they can store gear.
“It’s not glamping per se, but can be as basic as possible, where you can just get a tent, or you can have camp stretchers, mattresses, sleeping bags and lights,” he said.
“People could arrive on a train or a plane without their own vehicle and be fully equipped.”
Mr Harley acknowledged it was quite close to the festival, but organising development applications and other checks and balances had taken longer than expected.
“They are late into the market, but it’s an exercise they wish to pursue and, regardless of what happens (in January), they will be back, bigger, better and brighter in 2017,” he said.
“This is not designed to take away from anyone’s existing accommodation, but providing an opportunity for more people to come and providing more choice.
“We see this as being an addition to attract more new visitors to the town.”
Campers can move in on January 14 and move out on January 25 if they want to enjoy the full festival spirit at the pop-up camping ground.
