“Six months ago, we paid over $1,200 for tickets to the first ever Mundi Mundi Bash based solely on our music knowledge and not particularly on our towing and camping experience”.
Location: Belmont Station
Mundi Mundi Plains, NSW
Words by: Sharyn Howell
Photography by: Sharyn Howell
Destination Indicators – Unsealed roads, subject to closure during wet weather
Difficulty – Dry – easy to moderate, wet – experience required
Things to do – Mundi Mundi Bash, Silverton Pub, Silverton Camel Farm, Galleries
Best Time to Go – Check festival dates. check weather forecast
Trip Length – 971km from Canberra, Three-day music festival
What’s the Mundi Mundi Bash, I hear you ask?
Basically, it’s a huge music festival, covering three days, set on the iconic Mundi Mundi Plains near Silverton, NSW. Expecting around 10,000 ‘Bashers’ who will be camping in approximately 4,000 sites on the private Belmont Station. The music will start at one o’clock in the afternoon and wrap up around 8.30pm each night – just perfect for us.
As April approached, we realised we needed to buy some gear and take heading to the outback seriously. The Prado 2021 model was upgraded with Old Man Emu suspension, air bags, bull bar and a UHF radio.
With the new Lovells suspension fitted on the Iridium 13s by Signature at its first service, there were just a few little extras to buy for the van. Simple things like a gear bag to hang off the rear tyres for extra firewood, jerry cans for diesel and water
Then we packed like never before, two gas bottles, extra diesel and water, a Mini Webber BBQ, and clothes for every possible temperature. Over a months’ worth of food, including fifteen different meals, some pre marinated, sauces made, meat portions and don’t forget drinks. All of this meant for the first time ever our 95-litre fridge/freezer was filled to the maximum.
We packed a day early, so we left a day early. As we hooked up the Iridium to the Prado, we noticed a the car slightly dip near the tow bar. Because our weight had changed, we added some air to the Prado’s new air bags which straightened up the alignment. At that moment we are so pleased we bought a decent air compressor.
Finally, we were off!
Silverton NSW, near Broken Hill is really only 970kms away or 11.5hrs drive. In theory we could do this drive in one long day if we pushed but we had been warned that the road feels long and straight. And to be honest, we wanted to explore this part of the country.
So, as the afternoon approaches, we pull into Lake Cargelligo. The first camping site is full but the second site, Deadman’s Point, does not disappoint. As we light the fire and watch the sun set behind the van, opposite over the lake, the moon is rising. Got to love free camping, this is why we got the Iridium. Such a great little town with WW1 history, fishing, water skiing and river walks, we stay an extra night.
Broken Hill here we come!
So very different travelling today as the roads are full and we listen to the truckies on the UHF discussing the amount of vans on the road. For us, we choose to stay on 100km because the van travels perfectly as that speed. If a truck is in a hurry, we indicate to the left, slow while they overtake and then return to speed. Everyone seems happy with this arrangement.
Like many other Bashers we are booked into the Broken Hill Racecourse overflow camping area for two nights. The locals have done their best grading access roads and the camping sites are very generous. The facilities struggle to keep up with demand and we are so glad to have our own shower and toilet in the Iridium.
It is raining as we pull in and things are a little wet and slippery. We are nervous about getting bogged but our setup handles the conditions well and we park without drama as many other people are sinking into their campsites.
Because of the conditions and amount of people it is difficult to fully explore Broken Hill. The parts we are able to visit ProHarts gallery, The ‘Big’ Picture and Line of Lode Memorial are all impressive.
Finally, the big event! We leave early the next morning for the Mundi Mundi Bash. Because of the rain, the road was closed the day before and crews have worked through the night. As we drive the evidence is clear with mud across the road, some ‘dips’ have running water and road crews are just packing up. Thanks to their efforts we join the line into Belmont Station and ‘follow the leader’ begins.
This traffic jam to the middle of nowhere is like a giant caravan and camping show. So many different brands, sizes and setups. We feel tiny in our little Iridium 13 but find out latter that our water holding capacity is as large as some of the bigger rigs. Our cassette for the toilet holds the same and so many people admire our kitchen setup that making a meal takes longer than normal.
We have to back into a single campsite 4.75m x 12.5m with an official watching, it’s a little nerve racking as a line of vans are waiting to park behind you and they are all watching to see how you do. For us, the campsite size is more than adequate but our neighbours, who become great friends, need extra room for their car and we can accommodate them easily.
Surrounded by bigger rigs we are shielded from the wind and decide not to put up the annex. A good decision in the end as we get to know our neighbours, share fire pits and collect so much knowledge as they talk equipment, cars and previous adventures.
The infrastructure of this campsite is incredible. Multiply composting toilet locations, food vans, merchandise and local shops, petting zoos, helicopter and camel rides, all within walking distance.
For the three days there are laughs to be had, friendships to make, and absolutely cracking musical performances to be seen. To name just a few Paul Kelly, Kate Cebrano, Chocolate Starfish, Ian Moss and my new favourite band, Fernance and the Fundamentals.
The days become routine and we usually leave the Iridium around 11.30am and wonder down to events like the Mundi Mundi Talent Show, Mundi Undi Run, Mad Max Dress Up and Nutbush World Record Attempts.
Of course we join the Nutbush and help raise money for the Royal Flying Doctors Service. Sadly we were a few bodies short for the record but doing the Nutbush for a full five minutes and 15 seconds certainly got everyone laughing and a huge cheer went up when we finished.
Dinner at the food trucks was an absolute must, not only convenient to the stage but good quality. With a bakery on site pumping out pies, pasties and doughnuts. We also had Mexican, curries, seafood and paella. We never go hungry and are disappointed we can’t try all the food trucks.
At the end of the night, around 9.30pm, we were so glad to see our little Iridium. The insulation must be good, because even though the evenings were cool, we never put the heater on. We would just stumble back, have a quick shower and climb into bed. Then dream of doing it all over again the next day.
We use a mixture of the compost toilets on site and our Iridium toilet for the duration of the festival. To reduce the cassette filling, as it is strictly no dumping at the festive, our toilet paper was put into nappy bags and placed in general rubbish. Showers were kept to a minimum each night and in the mornings we used baby wipes to freshen up. No water refilling facilities until you returned to Broken Hill. This was one of the things we worried about, enough water for two for four days, but while we were conservative we had plenty in the end.
As the Mundi Mundi came to an end, we began the packed up and marvelled at how little dust we had collected inside the van. While everything would definitely need a good clean when we got home it wasn’t too bad, and we hadn’t been too precious either.
Funnily, we packed up so quickly and easily falling into our normal jobs of someone doing the bed box and interior, and the other doing the stabilisers and kitchen, we beat some of our neighbours.
As we looked back on our little campsite, we didn’t really want it to end. SO WE DIDN’T LEAVE!
In Broken Hill we met another couple travelling to the Mundi Mundi Bash in a Signature Iridium 15 and we became friendly. So for our final night at Belmont Station we moved over to their adjacent camp site, built the biggest fire with all the left over wood and sat and chatted all things towing, caravanning and our course, all things Signature!
We would like to thank our great customers Sharyn and John for sharing this adventure with us, certainly looked like a great taste of the Australian Outback!
Be sure to follow their adventures on their Youtube Channel
Link Below
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Phone: 1300 935 400
Email: sales@signaturecampertrailers.com.au
Email: service@signaturecampertrailers.com.au
Address: 3/11 Sefton Road, Thornleigh, NSW 2120
Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 2:00pm
ABN: 52 615 476 901
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