FAQ’s

Barunga Festival falls on the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend each year. The next festival is on the FRIDAY 6 – MONDAY 9 JUNE 2025. Gates open 9am Friday and close midday on Monday.

Permits are not required to attend Barunga for the festival weekend. 

You are guests on Jawoyn land. Dress conservatively and be sun wise. Please respect the community and stay within festival areas and camping grounds. Please show respect and ask permission to take an individual’s photograph.

Barunga is situated 80 km southeast of Katherine in the Northern Territory via sealed roads – there is no need for a 4WD. 
Make sure you fill up in Katherine before you head onto Central Arnhem Road, as fuel is unavailable for sale in Barunga. Fuel is available 24 hours a day at Beswick Community, 30km west from Barunga on sealed road. 

Adult (18 years and over) $55.00 + ticketing fee
Youth (12 -17 years) $20.00  + ticketing fee
Child (5-11 years) $5.00 + ticketing fee
Under 5 years free 

Tickets are on sale soon and we recommend pre- purchase of tickets prior to the event to avoid disappointment.  We cannot guarantee that tickets will be available at the gate.  Upon presentation of your ticket at the gate, you will be issued with a wristband that is valid for the entirety of the 2025 festival event and enables you to come and go over the weekend.

Workshop participation is on a first in first served basis and purchase can be made direct with the workshop host at the festival.  Pre-bookings are not available.

All ticket sales, sponsorship and grant funding goes to the Bagala Aboriginal Corporation and is then distributed and managed by the Aboriginal Investment Group to meet the cost to deliver a safe and friendly festival event.

No, there is only one type of adult ticket.

Tickets are available each year through Moshtix in the leadup to the event and we strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets will also be available for cash or eftpos at the gate as you arrive at Barunga Festival. Your ticket is valid for the entire 3-day festival and entitles you to camp in designated areas within the community. A separate camping ticket will be required for large campervans, camper trailers, caravans and buses. 

You are more than welcome to come for just one day however there is only one festival ticket available that covers the full festival experience. We encourage people to stay at the event for the whole weekend and do not encourage people driving at night. If driving at night take it slowly and be aware of wildlife, wandering stock including buffalo and donkey on the road. 

There are four toilet blocks in the community and supplementary port-a-loos are situated near all campsite areas.  There are some shower facilities available.

Campfires are permitted, but you must bring your own firewood. Please be respectful of surrounding campsites.

Be Crocwise.

You should always be aware of the risk of a saltwater crocodile attack in all Top End waterways.

It is never 100% safe to enter the water. Your personal safety is your responsibility.

There are very limited facilities to cater for disabled guests. Internal roads are made of bitumen but there are no gutters or sealed footpaths. One disabled toilet is available.

Yes you can, there will be a charge for vans this year. All vans will park in Camp 1 ONLY. Powered campsites are available and generators are not permitted.

Daytime temperature hover around 30°C. At night time, the temperature drops to around 13°. Bring warm clothes for the evening.

Yes! We love photos and would like you to document your experience throughout the festival for your own personal keepsakes. However, any use of images for promotional or commercial use without the permission of the Barunga Festival Organising Committee will breach cultural protocols and may be liable to legal action. Media need to put requests in writing to [email protected].

Telstra signal is available at Barunga. Optus does not work here.

The general store sells bags of ice and is well stocked.

The Festival Tent selling merchandise is located in Heritage Park (behind the Main Stage). It is open over the festival for up-to-date info on what’s happening, program changes, workshop wrist bands, lost property and children.

There is an ATM at the local general store. During the Festival, however, it can be unreliable due to increases in mobile phone traffic and limited internet access. It would be a shame to miss out on sales (merch, food stalls, activities) if the signal drops out so come prepared.

Dogs are not encouraged at Barunga Festival and there are lots of community dogs who have freedom to roam. If you do choose to bring your fur babies, please do so at your own risk.

There is a variety of healthy food available from the food stalls in Heritage Park open early to late. These stalls accept cash and card. The local general store is a well stocked ‘mini mart’ and is open during the day throughout the festival. Eftpos is available at the store.

St John’s Ambulance will be in attendance during the day and will be based at the football oval. Barunga Sunrise Health clinic will be open all weekend for more serious health issues. Barunga does not have a chemist or pharmacy, please bring all your medications with you. Closest chemist is Katherine.