5 Lessons We Learned At This Year's Barunga Festival

Now that this year's Barunga Festival has wrapped up its 31st year in the NT, I reflect on the five most important things I'm taking home after spending five days in the Outback State.

go in with an open mind

For those flying up to Barunga from major cities like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, it may come as a bit of a shock to see the slow paced nature of the Territory and its smaller communities. Be open minded about being among nature (regardless of the countless crocodile warning signs, I didn't see a single one), don't worry if you're out of mobile phone reception (only Telstra works up there) and don't worry if you're camping and there's nowhere to take a shower for three days. Do throw a ball with those local indigenous kids, do jump in that creek for a swim, do listen to that Arnhem Land band you've never heard of and don't understand. If you let yourself go, you'll have a blast. 

you can interact with amazing artists in intimate ways

This year, Barunga Festival bagged one of the world's most talked about artists, Courtney Barnett, to play a stage that was probably smaller than your bedroom and housed only 200 people. Punters this year sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the stage to see her and Jen Cloher play acoustically, stood behind them in the coffee line in the mornings or headed out on the Barunga walking tour with them. Musicians that go to Barunga Festival are more than likely wanting the same authentic experience you are, so there are so many opportunities to meet and hang out with them on a grassroots level. 

don't stand under trees

If Barunga continues to have a flying fox infestation, you're going to want to either A) avoid walking under trees at all times, B) use an umbrella, or C) wear a hat. When the breeze picks up, there's a very solid chance you could get shat or peed on from the thousands of cocooned creatures above, so… don't stand under trees. You've been warned.

learn from the locals

From the twerking/moonwalking/popping/locking skills of the Aboriginal children at the Barunga Beats disco (unbelievable!) to the heavenly tunes of Eleanor Dixon and Sand Hill Women to how to carve your own didgeridoo, the locals will surprise you. There are plenty of opportunities to learn from the children and elders of the community and that's partly what Barunga Festival is about, so sign up for that bike ride, sign up for the walking tour, sign up for the damper cooking workshop. 

take loads of pictures

Many people haven't given the NT a chance and won't give an experience like this a chance, so take lots of photos to show your friends just what they're missing. Don't live the entire weekend through your Snapchat screen but there's much natural beauty to capture — we heard amazing things about Bitter Springs in nearby Mataranka and I myself went swimming in the gorgeous swimming lake at Edith Falls, surrounded by cliffs and a waterfall. My family wouldn't believe it if I didn't have some photos to show them. 

Crocodiles, Myf's Mix Tape & Gurrumul: It's Barunga Festival Day One

An Intimate Courtney Barnett Gig & A Run In With A Bat: It's Barunga Festival Day Two

Northern Territory's One Direction & The Good Vibes Of Barunga Festival Day Three