With a winter chill still in the air, the summer festival season might seem far away but according to 2012 Falls Music & Arts Festival official travel partner lastminute.com.au, now’s the time to heat things up in the planning and preparation department if you want to bag a travel bargain and make sure your festival experience is also a sensational holiday.

Every summer without fail, music lovers flock to see their favourite acts perform at festivals like The Falls Music and Arts Festival held over New Years in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as the Big Day Out, Harvest Festival and many more.

According to The Falls Music & Arts Festival Director, Simon Daly, even if it is only a small side trip, festivals encourage music lovers to discover Australia and make the most of their holiday by exploring what else the regions they visit have to offer.

“The Falls Music & Arts Festival is a music lover’s getaway, with just under 50 per cent of all patrons travelling across water and borders, whether it be Marion Bay or Lorne each year. With both locations beset with natural beauty, it’s a special time of year for people to get out and explore Australia with friends.”

Interstate patrons coming to The Falls Music & Arts Festival stay in Tasmania or Victoria stay an average of just over eight nights, signifying an extra three or four nights spent separate to the music extravaganza.

Kirsty Harrison, General Manager at leading travel and lifestyle site lastminute.com.au encourages festival fans to start thinking about their travel plans now and factor in extra days on either side of their chosen festival to discover more of Australia.

“Music festivals provide a great boost to tourism and we’re proud to be associated with The Falls Music & Arts Festival which provides even more incentive than usual to explore two amazingly beautiful spots in Australia,”

“Festivals are a great reason to travel but why go all the way to Lorne or Marion Bay and not explore beyond the campgrounds? By adding a few extra days to your itinerary, you’re making the most of your journey, seeing more of what Australia has to offer and giving yourself an amazing holiday. Keep in mind though, with the summer festivals falling over the busiest times of year for travel, it’s a good idea to start planning now to get the best deals,” said Kirsty.

Tips for nabbing travel deals and making the most of your Falls experience

• Explore some (more) of Oz – You’ve made the effort to head to Lorne or Marion Bay so why not extend your trip and explore what else the State has to offer? From the iconic Great Ocean Road to the vineyards of the Yarra Valley in Victoria, to Cradle Mountain and the spectacular Wineglass Bay in Tasmania, there is so much to see and do while you are in town.
  
  
• The early bird catches the worm - If you’re choosing to fly to Victoria or Tasmania, sign up to newsletters from travel brands and ‘Like’ their Facebook pages to get a heads up on hot flight deals. Be warned though, this is a super busy time for travel so manage your expectations on what a ‘good’ deal is.
  
  
• Road trip! If hitting the highway for a good ol’ road trip is part of your festival plan, get booking your hire car now (especially if a little hatchback maybe won’t be the best option for you and five mates). It might seem like there’s always heaps of hire cars at the airport but they do book out during peak periods. You’ve been warned.
  
  
• Don’t underestimate the joy of a hotel bed - A few days of festival fun and camping can prove exhausting, even for the most dedicated music fans. Even if you choose not continue the holiday by venturing to other parts of the State, even one night in a hotel or apartment with a good night’s rest could be just what you need before heading back to reality.

lastminute.com.au’s top things to do in Victoria

1. Treat your exhausted self to some serious pampering in Melbourne. And shop up a storm while you’re there.
2. Drive the Great Ocean Road and see the Twelve Apostles.
3. Go skydiving over the Yarra Valley or tick an adrenalin activity that you’ve always wanted to do off the list.
4. Go surfing in world-famous Torquay, the surf capital of Australia.
5. Spend a day sampling the finest wines that Victoria has to offer in the Yarra Valley.

lastminute.com.au’s top things to do in Tasmania

1. Indulge your inner wino with a food and wine tour in Hobart.
2. Depart on a day tour of the spectacular Cradle Mountain.
3. Bring out your inner history buff with a ghost tour of Port Arthur and scare yourself silly.
4. Burn off the rest of that festival adrenalin by going abseiling.
5. Break the rules and eat as much Cadbury chocolate as you like. Mmm...