Accommodation

We invite you to join us and stay on-site at Pilliga Pottery / Barkala Farm, where all the action will take place.  Maria and her family have created a warm and welcoming environment, providing clean, hand-crafted, environmentally conscious facilities to ensure you stay warm, dry and comfortable.

For those looking for something more private or with more amenities, nearby towns offer plenty of options to suit any budget, from cabins and BnBs to motels and holiday parks. Given the size of these towns, we highly recommend locking in your accommodation early!

The three main options for accommodation are –

• Camp at Pilliga Pottery / Barkala Farm. This is the most abundant and affordable option, with plenty of room amongst the trees on Dandry Creek for tents, camper trailers, and camper vans. Camping is $15 per night, per person, payable on arrival. No bookings are necessary. There are no designated sites, so spots are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.  The campsite is also dog friendly!
• Get a bed at  Pilliga Pottery.  There are several accomodation options at Pilliga Pottery / Barkala Farm, suitable for families, groups and solo travellers.  All of the accomodation options are available on the Pilliga Pottery website. All accommodation has been reserved for the event weekend, so for availability and to book, contact Pilliga Pottery directly.
• Stay nearby in a hotel, Air Bnb or caravan park. Coonabarabran is the closest town (approx 30min drive south) and has many options. Narrabri is a bit further away (1 hr north) and also has a range of hotels, etc.

The event site is located at Pilliga Pottery, or Barkala Farm as it is also known, 30 minutes north of Coonabarabran and 1 hour 15 minutes south of Narrabri, off the A39 / Newell Highway. It is ~10km off the Newell Highway, along a gravel road.

The road is subject to flooding after significant rain events and has been repaired since the 2022 floods. It is suitable for 2WDs, and if anything changes, we will update you before the event.

Regardless, please drive slowly and be wary of wildlife on all roads in and around the Pilliga. More information is available on the Pilliga Pottery website.

Please note that Pilliga Pottery does not have phone reception. However, the Blue Wren Cafe at the Pottery has free (but limited) Wi-Fi. There is also a landline, which you are welcome to use if necessary. Event organizers will have satellite internet access for event management and emergency purposes.

Before heading out to Pilliga Pottery, we suggest:

• You have at least half a tank of fuel
• Charge all your devices and bring a portable charger (if you have one)
• Let your emergency contact/family know that you will be out of service for the weekend
• Have all of your mandatory gear

Here are a few things to remember to pack:

• Cash (There are card facilities at Pilliga Pottery, but if everyone is paying for everything via card, it will slow down the limited wifi)
• Camp Chair and/or mat
• BYO Plate, Cup & Cutlery
• Essential snacks & refreshments

The Blue Wren Cafe team will be catering dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Meal tickets must be pre-purchased via the online booking platform.   All dietary needs will be catered for, and there are adult and kids pricing.  Numbers are strictly limited,  so book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Note that in addition to the pre-booked meals, the Blue Wren Cafe team will be firing up the Pizza Oven on Friday and Saturday night. Pizzas will be first come, first served until sold out.

Breakfast and Lunch at the Blue Wren Cafe

The Blue Wren Cafe at Pilliga Pottery will be open 7am to 4pm all weekend!

A stay or a day at Pilliga Pottery wouldn’t be complete without afternoon tea or a delicious meal at the Blue Wren Café. Relax in the beautiful bush oasis on ironbark picnic tables with a delicious espresso coffee, freshly baked scones, scrumptious woodfired pizza, or truly awesome house-made Pilliga Gelato.

Other activities at Pilliga Pottery

The perks of coming to a running event hosted at a pottery studio – there is always more to do! The team at Pilliga Pottery will be hosting pottery classes throughout the weekend. A workshop timetable will be shared closer to the event date. All pottery classes must be booked directly with the Pottery upon arrival.