Accessibility at the Festival

Auslan interpreters (from Auslan Stage Left) will be present at the following stages on Sunday 16 February:

• Main Stage (all day)
• Optus Stage at O'Donnell Gardens (all day)
• New Music Stage (all day)
• Catani North Stage (4:15 pm onwards)
• Carani South Stage (5:15 pm onwards)

Performances on Saturday 15 February will also be Auslan interpreted on the Main Stage.

You can view which artists will have Auslan interpreters on the Artists & Bands page from 11 am Wednesday 15 January. Artists and bands will be tagged with 'Auslan interpreted'.

Haptic Vests

The Festival is thrilled to offer use of Music: Not Impossible haptic vests at the Main Stage on Sunday 16 February. 

The Newmarket Collective's vibro-tactile haptic bests made by Music: not Impossible are a wireless wearable system that creates vibrations in perfect synchronisation to music. 

Consisting of a body pack, wrist and ankle bands, patrons can experience the music of each instrument through vibrations across 24 touch points on the body. Vibrations flow through the body with great precision, providing a state-of-the-art, high-definition surround sensory experience. 

Pre-book a vest to avoid disappointment by emailing Kylie@thenewmarketcollective.com. 

There is a viewing platform for the Main Stage located in the St Kilda Beach Area.

A wheelchair charging station is also located here.

Accessible toilets are located throughout the Festival Precinct:

Accessible Carpark
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Cleve Gardens
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Catani Gardens 
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Catani Gardens (Catani North Stage) Please note these toilets are located in an 18+ area.
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Catani Gardens (Catani South Stage) Please note these toilets are located in an 18+ area.
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Upper Esplanade
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South Beach Reserve
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Pier Road
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St Kilda Life Saving Club
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O’Donnell Gardens
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Belford Street
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Cavell Street
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Map references, as well as links to these toilets on Google Maps, will be available mid-January.

Located in the Victorian Pride Centre, the Quiet Zone is open from 10:30 am to 9 pm Sunday 16 February. 

Various sensory items will be available for use inside the Quiet Space.

Water will also be available in the Quiet Space.

Accessible trams

View the tram service map

Route 16 is partly serviced by low-floor trams.

The last accessible stops are:

• Stop 38 Balaclava Station (from Kew to St Kilda)
• Stop 29 Union St/St Kilda Road (from Melbourne University to St Kilda)
• Stop 143 Park Street (Spencer Street to St Kilda)
• Stop 132 St Kilda Station (East Brunswick to St Kilda)

Routes 3a, 12, 64 and 67 are not currently serviced by low-floor trams.

Passengers needing an accessible service can consider:

Route 96 trams travelling to and from Stop 132 St Kilda Station

A buggy service from Stop 29 Union Street/St Kilda Road to the Festival (Fitzroy Street)

Please contact Yarra Trams Customer Service staff if you need help with your journey or to find out when the next low-floor tram is due at your stop.

Accessible buses

Bus routes 600, 606, 623 or 922 are the closest services to the Festival Precinct and are wheelchair accessible services.

Trains

Passengers needing an accessible service can consider catching a train to Balaclava Station on the Sandringham Line which has a minibus shuttle service directly to and from the Festival.

For information on accessible public transport please visit the PTV website or call 1800 800 007.

A dedicated Festival accessible carpark is located at the St Kilda Sports Club (access off Fitzroy Street from Lakeside Drive).

Entry is strictly limited to permit holders. Vehicles must have an Australian Disability Parking Permit to enter the checkpoint.

St Kilda Sports Club - 66 Fitzroy Street

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• 23 accessible car spaces available, entry subject to capacity
• Vehicles to enter via the Area C checkpoint (via Lakeside Drive)
• Please show your Australian Disability Parking (ADP) Permit to the Checkpoint Officer
• Proceed through the Area C checkpoint and turn right into Fitzroy Street
• Drive 200m and turn right into the access road at 66 Fitzroy Street leading to the car park
• Enter the car park to the right to locate the accessible car spaces

Vehicle drop off zones are located at either end of the Precinct foreshore area, at the edge of the pedestrian-only zones at:

Marine Parade

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Beaconsfield Parade

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Shuttle bus and buggy transfer services are strictly for guests with accessibility requirements and carers.

Shuttle bus

A shuttle bus between Balaclava Station (Sandringham Line) and Shakespeare Grove is operating on Sunday 16 February between 1 pm and 7 pm.

Public transport is available between Balaclava Station and the Festival Precinct on Saturday 15 February, with Carlisle Street trams (route 3 and 16) operating on their usual timetables.

Buggy transfers

A buggy service is operating continuously on Sunday 16 February from 9.30 am to 11.30 pm on these routes:

Fitzroy Street & The Esplanade – stops at St Kilda Rd/Fitzroy St tram stop #131, Accessible Carpark, St Kilda Station/Woolworths, Cleve Gardens, Alfred Square, O’Donnell Gardens.

On demand: stops at St Kilda Junction tram stop #30 via request to Yarra Trams staff on arrival or request to your buggy driver for departure.

Jacka Boulevard – stops at Shakespeare Grove, Rotary Park, Main Stage area.

The minibus and connection buggies are free services available to all Festival patrons. For further information regarding the minibus and connection buggies at St Kilda Festival, please contact Travellers Aid at 0498 023 959 or booknow@travellersaid.org.au. 

Map references, as well as links to these buggy stops on Google Maps, will be available mid-January.