Camping & Accommodation at Open Field Co-Living in Castlemaine - Melbourne Cup Weekend 2026

Book a camping spot or room to experience a relaxing time in nature at Open Field Co-living this Melbourne Cup weekend. Feel free to use this as a base to explore other events and activities in the area during your stay.

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WHAT

This gathering has changed. I am now offering individually bookable accommodation and camping facilities. I've checked in with my capacity and realised that I just don't have the energy to host a full 'festival' experience.

But, I would still love to welcome you to this land and home, experience Open Field, and hopefully enjoy some rest and relaxation with friends in nature.


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MORE INFO:


CONTRIBUTION / COST

Room bookings:

- Prices are per room (not per person) for up to four nights.

- Please see the Humanitix ticket link for individual room prices.

- This is a fixed rate for the whole weekend (even if you only stay one or two nights).

Camping tickets:

- $50 per adult

- It is the same simple, affordable price for all adults. Kids attend free.

- We want to keep this gathering intimate and manageable, so tickets are limited to 120 people. Sorry, to keep things simple, no separate single day bookings are available.

Your financial contribution supports me/us to cover the costs involved in providing facilities eg. house facilities, land, shelter, water, electricity, toilet paper, firewood, insurance, etc.

WHO

All ages. Everyone welcome, from newborns to elders. Children under 18 attend for free.

WHERE

- Castlemaine / Djaara Country

- This is a private property on an open flat paddock, 5kms from Castlemaine train station, and 1.5 hours from Melbourne.

- Neighbouring the property there is 50 acres of bush reserve to explore with plenty of wildlife, birds and critters

- There is a large, deep swimmable dam on the property

- Camping is recommended in the partially shaded 'sapling grove' on the east side of the property, or along the dam wall at the south end

WHAT TO BRING

If booking accommodation in the house:

- Your own bath towel and beach towel

- Eski in case there is limited room in the fridges

- Biodegradable personal hygiene products

If camping:

- Camping equipment: tent, mat, sleeping bag. You may want to bring additional shelter

- Food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks and an eski to store it in

- Cooking equipment, eg. stoves, pots, cutlery and bowls, table

- Chairs, picnic blankets, cushions

- Your own bath towel and beach towel

- Biodegradable personal hygiene products

- Your own extension cord and power board if wishing to use your own powered appliances (eg. kettle, toaster, rice cooker)

- Bushcraft & art materials, musical instruments, bushcraft tools, flint & steel, whittling knives, weaving materials, boardgames, paper, paints, etc.

- Acoustic musical instruments, poetry, stories, etc. for evening entertainment

- Clothing for messy, or wet outdoor activities including swimming: hat, sunscreen, drink bottle, rain jacket, waterproof boots, backpack for adventures

- Caravans and campervans are welcome, but the flat parking area is unshaded

FOOD

You are welcome to do your own thing for breakfast, lunch and snacks. But we do love a communal dinner around the fire that brings us all together in the evening, if you'd like to join for that.

You can choose to team up with friends to cook communally, or make your own separate food to bring to the gathering place to eat

WHAT NOT TO BRING

- No amplified music of any kind. Acoustic instruments welcome.

- Vicious dogs

FACILITIES PROVIDED

The entire property and house will be available for us to use over this long weekend.

- Large sheltered outdoor area for gathering

- Sheltered outdoor kitchen including washing up tubs, some tables, large camp cooking pots, boards & knives

- Communal fire areas and fire safety equipment

- Open paddock, 'bushcraft zone', woodworking area, swings, trampoline, shed and adjacent forest

- Filtered rainwater - drinkable, suitable for all purposes

- 2 x indoor hot showers - please be aware we are on rainwater which is a limited resource

- 1 x indoor flushing toilet

- 2 x outdoor composting toilets

- Powerpoints for charging devices and appliances

- A dam to swim and play in

- Full indoor kitchen facilities are available in the house including induction stove, 2 x ovens, 2 x sinks, large fridge, freezer, serving bowls. However, please be aware that in a large group these facilities may not be available for your exclusive use at the time that you expect them. So we recommend also bringing your own cooking equipment

- Outdoor cooking is only permitted in the designated fire safe areas

- Bedrooms are available to book in addition to your event ticket, if camping feels like a bit much! The rooms are very warm and cosy when cold outside, and cool when it's hot outside.

If you book a room, it will be available for your exclusive use during the whole 4 nights (not shared or bookable by others). It it is a flat fee per room, not per person. So, please select the room that suits your or your group's needs when booking. You may like to team up to share with a friend! When you arrive, please find Nicola to receive your room key. Please strip the sheets on your bed and bring them to the laundry on the day you leave.

NO rubbish service is provided. You MUST take your own rubbish & recycling home.

Compost can be left on-site.

WHEN

Cup Day Weekend

From Fri 30th Oct 3pm to to Tuesday 3rd Nov 2pm.

- You are welcome to arrive and leave at anytime, if you arrive by bike or if you park your car in the designated parking area (unshaded).

- If you park your car in the camping area and intend to sleep in your car, you must stay put until Tues, for traffic management and safety reasons

- If you live locally or are not able to camp, you are still welcome to come along for the day, but please purchase a camping ticket.

From 10pm onwards - quiet time, talking or sleeping. No music. Let's keep good relationships with the neighbours and keep noise to a minimum late at night

FIRE SAFETY

- Open fires are only permitted in the designated stone circle areas on the property

- Water, sand or a fire extinguisher will always be available and nearby in case a fire becomes uncontrolled

- Cooking on open flame gas stoves is permitted only if safe, away from tents, trees and vegetation

- We are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, but please take responsibility for your own safety and those under your care.

SAFETY & FIRST AID

- The dam is unfenced. All children under 16 must be actively supervised by an adult at all times near or in the dam.

- Snakes have been seen on the property, please tread carefully and supervise children.

- A fire management plan is in place. If there is a fire risk we will evacuate as soon as possible to Castlemaine town centre

- A first aid kit and a person with First Aid & CPR training (Nicola and/or others) will be on site at all times, but your safety is your responsibility. Urgent medical care is available at Castlemaine Hospital just a 5 minute drive away.

PETS

- Dogs are welcome if safe, on lead and supervised at all times.

- No cats or other pets.

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We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the custodians of this Djaara country on which we gather. Sovereignty was never ceded. As settlers, we will try our best to honour and respect the land as we gather, and be awake and aware to this complex and painful history.