Some festivals you drive to. Others are worth planning a whole trip around. Meatstock is one of those.
Australia’s biggest barbecue and music festival is now 10 years and more than 25 events strong, and in March 2027 it fires up in two states: Lardner Park in Gippsland, Victoria, on 5 to 6 March, then Toowoomba Showgrounds in Queensland on 12 to 13 March.
The music alone is worth the drive. Two of the hottest names in country right now fly in from the USA to headline both events. Gavin Adcock has racked up more than 1.5 billion streams and just toured with Morgan Wallen, while Nate Smith’s “World On Fire” spent 10 straight weeks at No. 1 on the US country charts. Australian country royalty tops the home lineup, with Lee Kernaghan in Toowoomba and ARIA Hall of Famer Kasey Chambers in Gippsland, plus Casey Barnes, Wade Forster and a crop of rising stars at both.
Then there’s the barbecue. Local and international pitmasters cook over live fire all weekend in the Heat Beads BBQ Wars, the Australian Butcher Wars pit the nation’s best butchers against the clock, and everywhere you wander there’s brisket, ribs and pulled pork cooked low and slow, the way it’s meant to be. Add PBR Bull Riding, the toughest eight seconds in sport, and the atmosphere is genuinely electric.
For southern travellers, though, Gippsland is the one to put on the map. Lardner Park might just be the most stunning venue on the circuit. Picture rolling green paddocks, big open skies and the Strzelecki Ranges on the horizon, with plenty of shade, undercover areas and modern facilities. You can roll your rig straight onto site, camp for the weekend and wake up to the smell of smokers that have been working away all night. Gippsland also scores exclusive sets from The Smith & Western Jury and Dingo, the guitarist from Kasey Chambers’ own band.
Early March brings warmer days and mild evenings, perfect for sitting outside the van with a cold one. And Lardner Park makes a brilliant base for exploring. It’s barely an hour from Melbourne, with the gold rush streets of Walhalla, the Great Southern Rail Trail and Wilsons Promontory all within easy reach. Plenty of our campers turn two days into a week.
Meatstock is something different: loud, fun and full of energy. It’s also proudly family friendly. Last year kids, parents and grandparents danced side by side well into the night.
Huge country stars, bull riding, world-class barbecue and some of the best festival sites in Australia. What more could you want?
Weekend passes start from $168.50. Tickets and camping are on sale now at meatstock.com.au. Camping is limited, so book early.
Meatstock Gippsland
5 to 6 March 2027, Lardner Park, Warragul, Vic
Meatstock Toowoomba
12 to 13 March 2027, Toowoomba Showgrounds, Qld
