Melbourne’s Guide to Best NYE Festivals This Year

Let Them Eat Cake is the first party you’ll attend in 2024, with zero remnants of 2023 included. We say this because it is a full-day festival that starts at 12pm on January 1st! Held on the grounds of the Werribee Mansion on New Year’s Day, you’ll celebrate day one to the sounds of local and international dance music and other subforms of electronica that will keep you moving all day.

This year’s line-up features German techno DJ Ben Klock, Austrian producer salute, UK acts ABSOLUTE., LF System, Mella Dee and Irish DJ and producer Saoirse. Local acts C.FRIM, Caitlin Medcalf, AK Sports, Bella Claxton, Rob Anthony, SWIM, and more will be representing down under.

Acts we’re most excited to see include DAWS, a well-known name in the Melbourne and international electronic scene due to her uplifting beats and genre-bending style, and C.FRIM, who blends rap, afrobeat, dancehall and grime with obscure house, techno and more.

Tickets: https://ltecnyd.com/

NYE on the Hill is a boutique camping festival that has all the fun of the larger gatherings minus the crowds. You’ll see bands, late-night DJs, comedians, art installations, morning yoga, food trucks and licensed bars during the 3-day, 2-night festival. Held in the picturesque hills of South Gippsland near Loch Village (around 95 minutes from Melbourne), tickets to the event are always limited to 3,000.

This year’s line-up includes Ball Park Music, Alex Lahey, Beddy Rays, Dice, Gretta Ray, Hope D, Old Mervs, The Grogans, and more. We’re excited to catch local rocker Alex Lahey as she shares songs from her new album ‘The Answer Is Always Yes,’ and Gretta Ray, whose sophomore album, ‘Positive Spin,’ offers plenty of pop wonders to help celebrate the new year.

Tickets: https://www.nyeonthehill.com.au/

There is one big hole in our list that lovers of NYE festivals may recognise, and that is Falls Festival, which is “taking a break” this year, but there is good news. The organisers are still throwing a party in the form of a one-day festival called Heaps Good in an even easier-to-get-to spot! Sidney Myer Music Bowl, smack bang in the middle of the city, will host acts like Flume, Foals, the Avalanches, SBTRKT, Basement Jaxx, Holly Humberstone, and more.

Heaps Good usually only takes place in Adelaide, but on Sunday, December 31, 2023, Melbourne adds it to its festival repertoire. We are extremely excited to watch dance-rockers Foals, who have been touring the whole world and are finally heading down under; plus, who doesn’t want to countdown the new year to the vibe of Flume?

Tickets: https://heapsgoodfest.com/

Beyond the Valley is a huge NYE party that takes place at Barunah Plains, about 90 minutes from Melbourne, from December 28 until January 1, 2024. The line-up is specifically curated to make sure attendees dance themselves into the wee hours with acts like Rüfüs Du Sol, Central Cee, Ferg, Flight Facilities and Peggy Gou, along with local acts like DMA’s, G Flip, and the Jungle Giants.

There is also a Ferris wheel, podcast stage, inflatable wedding chapel, and a beach club. Some of the lesser-known acts we strongly recommend you catch at this one include Ross from Friends, one of the best live DJ sets you’ll ever see to mix techno with live saxophone and electric guitar, and Overmono, whose vocal-sample-heavy UK dub will be your new party playlist staple.

Tickets: https://www.beyondthevalley.com.au/

The good news is you can’t go wrong with any of the options above; the tricky part is getting tickets and ready for the big event. To help, here are some quick tips to keep in mind:
Quick 3-4 tips that would be beneficial for readers that may want to attend these:

• Tickets to these events are in high demand and often sell out quickly. Resale platforms such as Tixel are a great second chance option, and people are always listing their tickets here right up until the event. Set up a notification on these sites to make sure you don’t miss out.
• Multi-day festivals require a fair amount of planning and equipment, so make sure you have everything you need, like a tent, sleeping guitar, food and drinks (for those that let you BYO), spare clothes, and trust us, some toilet paper!
• NYE is a HOT time of the year. No matter the duration of your partying, be sure to drink plenty of water, wear a hat, and do all that sun-smart stuff.

Veriu’s Melbourne apartment hotels give you easy access to the heart of Melbourne and make a great basecamp for your NYE festival experience. Choose from a range of Veriu Hotels, and make sure you start the new year in style.