With Lost Paradise confirming today that they are cancelling this year’s festival, we look at some alternative options for you and your $420 refund.

Devastated about Lost Paradise being scrubbed? With the monstrous bushfires devouring NSW at the moment showing no signs of slowing down, organisers have decided the risk of going forward with the festival is too great. This means punters will miss out on catching acts like RÜFÜS DU SOL, Hilltop Hoods, Matt Corby, The Veronicas and more over New Year’s. Devo’d right?

Well, there is a silver lining on this cloud of smoke – you now have some free dates and $420 to spend on whatever you want. The possibilities are endless, so we narrowed it down to the five best options below:

1. Go to another fezzy

Still craving a music festival fix? There’s no shortage of epic festivals happening in NSW over New Year’s. You can head up to Falls Festival in Byron Byron and catch Playboi Carti, Halsey, Yungblud bringing the fire to the masses. Or get your hip-hop/rap fix at Wildlands on December 28th or Field Day in Sydney on January 1st with Tyler, The Creator, Rufus and RL Grime. And/or hit NYE In The Park for Hermitude, Young Franco, Safia, and Crooked Colours.

2. Cheap flights to Bali?

Ok, so you’ve got a $420 refund for your ticket, right? We found last minute flights to Bali for $700 which means you only need to fork out a little more to be spending New Year’s in the land entitled Aussies think is our holiday playground. Sipping cocktails by the beach does sound like a pretty tasty way to bring in 2020. Peep the flights right here.

3. Pack the car for a camping holiday

You already have all the necessary stuff for camping prepped for the fezzy, right? Why not get the crew and head up or down the coast and set yourself up at one of NSW’s beautiful camp spots. Of course, make sure anywhere you go has been approved by NSW Nation Parks & Wildlife Service and that you check your Fire Near Me app. Have a look at some NSW camping spots right here.

4. Staycation/detox

Let’s face it, festivals are a dangerous space if you are a beer, burger, or ciggie. So instead of polluting your body with these guys, you now have the opportunity now to start 2020 as the healthy person you always dreamed of being – plus you’ll be $420 richer for the experience.

5. Airbnb it

There’s still plenty of places up for grabs in NSW for you to host your own festival on Airbnb. Get your pals together, pool your refunds, and you could live it up over new years at a place like one of the ones below:

Show On Airbnb Tallows Beach House

Show On Airbnb Luxury Family Entertainer Minutes From Manly Beach

Show On Airbnb Cinque Terre Beach House

*Bonus: donate your $420

Look, I think most of us can agree that our government should be doing a lot more to help RFS firies and brave volunteers who are battling away to try and protect people’s homes, our wildlife and nature, and our lungs. But if you feel like you could spare a little bit of your refund, why not help out these legends, or give to The Salvos who are helping people who have lost everything get back on their feet. Every little bit helps!

Image by Nathan Edwards //