CMC Rocks QLD turns 20 in 2027, and the festival is coming back to Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich from Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 March 2027. The first two days are for campers only, with the main festival running Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March. If you are a big country music fan, don’t miss out on the 20th anniversary edition. Grab your mates or the family and start planning now.

Not everyone wants to camp for five days, and not everyone manages to get a camp site before they sell out. If you would rather finish each night with a proper bed, a hot shower and air conditioning, staying in Ipswich is a practical option. Central Motel Ipswich is one of the official CMC Rocks festival bus stops, with the bus zone right out the front of the motel. If you hold festival bus tickets, you can leave the car parked at the motel and let the bus handle the trip to Willowbank and back. Bus tickets are limited, so check availability before you book (more on that below).

This guide covers everything you need to know: dates, the lineup, ticket and bus prices, parking rules, camping versus a motel stay, what to bring and how to get to the festival from Ipswich.

CMC Rocks QLD 2027 at a Glance

All prices are in Australian dollars, include GST where applicable and are subject to a $6.95 per-order handling fee through AXS. Check the official CMC Rocks tickets page for current availability before you book. Details in this guide are taken from the official CMC Rocks website as of November 2026 and may change before the festival.

Celebrating 20 Years of CMC Rocks

From Thredbo to Willowbank

CMC Rocks started in Thredbo in 2008, moved to the Hunter Valley in 2011, and settled at Willowbank Raceway in 2015. Ipswich has been its home ever since, and organisers have already confirmed the festival will return to Willowbank in 2028.

The 2027 event marks the festival’s 20th year. Organisers have said they are planning a special anniversary program for the weekend.

What CMC Rocks Means for Ipswich

CMC Rocks is one of the biggest events on the Ipswich calendar. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the festival generated more than $13 million for the local economy in 2026. Accommodation, restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops across the city all get busier over festival week. It’s one of the reasons rooms in Ipswich go quickly in March.

CMC Rocks QLD 2027 Lineup

The 2027 lineup was announced in September 2026. It brings together international country acts and Australian and New Zealand performers across the main stages and the Tailgate Stage.

Headliners

Three acts lead the 2027 bill:

• Eric Church, performing in Australia for the first time.
• Brooks & Dunn, making their CMC Rocks QLD debut on their first trip to Australia in nearly 20 years.
• Ashley McBryde, returning to CMC Rocks after appearing in 2019 and 2023.

The Rest of the Lineup

Joining the headliners are Kameron Marlowe, Parker McCollum, Turnpike Troubadours, Blake Whiten, 49 Winchester, Randall King, Lanie Gardner, Zach John King, Colby Acuff, Tyler Nance, Kaylee Bell, Lily Meola, Tyce Delk, Kassi Ashton, Lane Pittman, Liam St. John, Kruse Brothers, Zac & George, Rachael Fahim, Jade Eagleson, Tori Darke, Dear Tommie, Sons Of Atticus, Loren Ryan, Jack Biilmann, Ethan Calway, Piper Butcher, Sarah Grace Buckley, Bianca Joulianou, Caillin Malley, Dee Jaye Bux, Willie Pake and Ladies Love Country. For 49 Winchester, it will be their first visit to Australia.

Set Times and Lineup Changes

Set times are usually released closer to the festival. Lineups can change, so check the official CMC Rocks lineup before you plan your days around a particular act.

Festival Dates and Schedule

Camping Days: Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 March

The festival site opens to campers on Wednesday and Thursday before the main event. All campgrounds are scheduled to open at 9am on Wednesday 17 March. This is subject to final approval of the festival’s traffic management plan, so keep an eye on the official site for any changes.

Main Festival Days: Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March

The music runs across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Single day tickets are available for each of these three days. Full festival tickets cover all three.

Gate Opening Times

The festival publishes its gate opening times on the official CMC Rocks website. Check them before you choose which festival bus to catch from Ipswich, so you arrive in time for the acts you want to see.

Pack-Up and Departure on Monday 22 March

Campers can’t move their vehicles until the official departure windows at the end of the festival. These are between 9pm and 10pm on Sunday 21 March via Paynes Road, or between 6am and midday on Monday 22 March. If you are staying in a motel, none of this applies. You simply head back to the motel on Sunday night and check out when you are ready.

Tickets and Prices

Full Festival Tickets

A full festival ticket covers Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

• Adult (18+): $479
• Youth (15–17 years): $479
• Junior (4–14 years): $239
• Toddler (0–3 years): free, no ticket required

Single Day Tickets

• Adult (18+): $279
• Youth (15–17 years): $279
• Junior (4–14 years): $159
• Toddler (0–3 years): free, no ticket required

A single day ticket does not let you camp on site. This is one of the main reasons single day ticket holders look for nearby accommodation.

Kids and Age Categories

CMC Rocks is an all-ages event, but anyone under 18 must be with a responsible adult at all times. Ticket categories are based on age as at 17 March 2027, not age at the time of purchase. Tickets for minors can only be bought alongside an adult ticket. Proof of age may be required at the gate. A birth certificate or digital ID is accepted, but screenshots are not.

Where to Buy Tickets

AXS is the only official ticket seller for CMC Rocks QLD 2027. Tickets bought from other websites, resale platforms or social media groups are not guaranteed to be valid. If you can’t attend, use the AXS Official Resale rather than selling privately.

A few other ticketing points worth knowing:

• You can buy up to eight festival tickets and eight bus tickets per transaction.
• PayPal Pay in 4 is available at checkout through AXS, for orders between $30 and $2,000.
• There are no concession, pensioner or group discounts.
• VIP tickets are scheduled to go on sale closer to the festival.

General public tickets went on sale on 25 September 2026. Availability can change quickly, so check the AXS CMC Rocks QLD 2027 ticket page for what’s currently available.

Camping at CMC Rocks vs Staying in a Motel

What Onsite Camping Involves

CMC Rocks runs six official campgrounds in and around the Willowbank Motorsports Precinct: Ace, Buck, Cowboy, Denim, Eagle and Fox. Each camper needs a full festival ticket, and each group needs one camp site ticket. Camp sites come in four classes:

Prices range from $249 for an unpowered Class A site up to $1,139 for a powered site at The Ranch. Pre-pitched tents at The Inn run from $509 to $1,209, and a deluxe bell tent at The Glampstead is $3,999. Extra vehicles need a $100 overflow parking ticket for the campground you are staying in.

There are rules to be aware of before you commit to camping. BYO alcohol is not allowed in the campgrounds or the festival site, and vehicles may be searched. Once your vehicle is parked at your camp site or in overflow parking, you can’t move it until the departure windows at the end of the festival.

Why Some Festival-Goers Choose a Motel Instead

Camping suits plenty of people, but a motel room is a better fit for others. Consider staying in Ipswich if:

• You have single day tickets. Single day ticket holders can’t camp on site.
• Camping sold out. Camp sites often sell out well before the festival.
• You are bringing young kids. A quiet room and a proper bed after a long day can make the weekend easier for families.
• You want the comforts. Air conditioning, a private bathroom and a hot shower without a queue.
• You want flexibility. Your car isn’t locked in place for five days, and you can head into Ipswich for breakfast or supplies whenever you like.
• You don’t want to buy or haul camping gear. No tents, swags, extension leads or generators to organise.

Camping vs Motel: Quick Comparison

Staying at Central Motel Ipswich for CMC Rocks

Official Festival Bus Stop Out the Front

Central Motel Ipswich is listed on the official CMC Rocks transport page as one of the Ipswich Motels bus stops. The pick-up point is the bus zone out the front of the motel, at the corner of Limestone Street and Thorn Street. The motel has been a stop on the festival’s motel bus route in previous years too.

Bus tickets are bought through AXS, either with your festival ticket or later. On the day, you walk out of your room to the bus zone, ride to Willowbank, and catch a scheduled return bus back to the motel. Check the timetable for return times so you know when the last bus leaves. There are no festival parking fees, no designated driver needed and no queuing to get out of the day car park.

At the time of writing, the official CMC Rocks tickets page shows both the Single Day and Full Weekend festival bus tickets as sold out. Before you book a room on the basis of catching the bus, check current bus ticket availability on AXS in case the allocation is exhausted or tickets come back through resale. If you can’t get bus tickets, the fallback options are pre-purchased day parking at the festival, or getting dropped off and picked up at the festival’s drop-off zone at Albert Theaker Park.

Getting to Willowbank by Car

Willowbank Raceway is a short drive south-west of the Ipswich CBD via the Cunningham Highway. That suits anyone who prefers to drive on some days, or who wants to explore the region on the days before the festival starts. Traffic around the Willowbank precinct is heavy on festival days, so allow extra time.

Rooms for Couples, Families and Groups

Central Motel Ipswich offers a range of motel rooms to suit different festival crews. There are standard queen, twin and corporate motel rooms for couples or solo travellers, and two-bedroom family rooms for families or mates sharing. If you are organising a bigger group, we cover booking several rooms together in our guide to group accommodation in Ipswich.

Travelling With Your Pet

Central Motel Ipswich offers pet-friendly accommodation in Ipswich. Please note any pets must be checked in to reception on arrival.

Keep in mind that a festival day means a long time away from your room. CMC Rocks welcomes registered assistance animals, so check the festival’s rules before assuming a pet can come in. Speak with our reception team when you book about the motel’s pet rules and how they apply to your plans over the festival days.

Walking Distance to Ipswich Essentials

The motel sits on Limestone Street, a short walk from Queens Park and the Ipswich CBD, with Ipswich train station around a 10-minute walk away. That makes it easy to grab breakfast before the bus, pick up supplies, or catch a train in from Brisbane.

Parking for Guests

Guests have on-site parking at the motel. You can drive in, park the car and leave it there for the whole festival weekend if you are using the festival bus, or drive to the festival if you have a day parking ticket.

Getting to CMC Rocks From Ipswich

Festival Bus From Ipswich Motels

The Ipswich Motels festival bus picks up and drops off at four listed motels, including Central Motel Ipswich. Prices for 2027 are:

• Single day return: $26
• Full weekend return (Friday to Sunday): $78

Bus tickets must be pre-purchased through AXS, and they are only valid with a festival ticket. Wait at the actual bus stop listed for your motel. For Central Motel Ipswich, that’s the bus zone out the front. The departure and return times are on the Ipswich Motels bus timetable.

Bus tickets were showing as sold out on the official tickets page at the time of writing, so check AXS for current availability before you rely on this option.

Festival Bus From Ipswich Station

There is also a festival bus from Ipswich train station at the same prices, $26 single day return and $78 for the full weekend. If you are arriving in Ipswich by train, this route gives you another option, subject to ticket availability on AXS. On Monday 22 March, there is also a one-way bus from the festival to Ipswich Station for $13.

Driving and Day Parking

If you decide to drive, day parking must be pre-purchased through AXS:

• Friday, Saturday or Sunday: $50 per day
• Full weekend: $140

If day parking is still available on the day, it costs $65 per vehicle, per day. The day car park is open from 8am to 11:55pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each parking ticket allows a single entry only, with no pass-outs or re-entry on the same ticket. Tailgating, overnight parking, sleeping in vehicles and towing trailers or caravans into the day car park are not allowed. Organisers also warn that long delays are likely when leaving the car parks.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zone

If someone is dropping you off, the only drop-off and pick-up zone is at Albert Theaker Park, with entry off Champions Way. You can’t be dropped at the festival entrance or at a campground, and heavy traffic is likely in the precinct.

Rideshare and Taxis

A rideshare and taxi zone will be set up, with the location confirmed closer to the festival. Rideshare and taxi options in the area are limited and long waits are likely, especially after the last act finishes. If you can get festival bus tickets, the bus from the motel is the easier choice. If not, pre-purchased day parking is the more reliable fallback.

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking is available for vehicles displaying a valid disability parking permit, but you still need to pre-purchase a day parking ticket. After buying your parking ticket, submit the festival’s Accessible and Companion Card request form so the organisers can send you location and access details.

Pass-Outs: Plan Your Day Before You Leave the Motel

Pass-outs for general festival patrons are only available in extenuating circumstances. In practice, once you head through the gates, plan on staying until you are ready to go home for the night. Before you catch the bus, make sure you have everything you need for the day: ID, sunscreen, medication, a charged phone and something warm for the evening.

What to Bring to CMC Rocks

The Essentials

• Valid photo ID if you plan to buy or drink alcohol. Digital licences are accepted if you open the app in front of security, but screenshots are not.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
• An empty plastic or metal water bottle. Free drinking water is available across the site.
• A raincoat or poncho and a warm layer for the evening
• Flat, comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Steel-capped boots are permitted.
• A fully charged phone, with your tickets loaded in the AXS app

Chairs and Prams

Chairs are allowed if they meet the festival’s chair guidelines. They are not permitted in the chair exclusion zone in front of the Rebel and Stampede stages, in the VIP bar or on the accessible viewing platforms. Prams are welcome if they meet the pram guidelines. Wagons and carts are not allowed into the festival site.

What Not to Bring

• Food, drinks or eskies. The festival site is fully licensed.
• BYO alcohol. It will be confiscated and you may be removed without a refund.
• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards and similar
• Professional camera gear, such as detachable lenses or telephoto lenses over 20cm, unless you have media accreditation
• Valuables you don’t need for the day. Leave them safely at the motel.

Bag searches are a condition of entry. Check the full prohibited items list on the official website before you head out.

Bringing Medication

Medication is allowed, but it must be declared at the gate. It needs to be in its original, unopened packaging, stored in a clear resealable bag, with a copy of your script. Festival site visitors can only bring one day’s supply. This is another advantage of staying at a motel, because you can leave the rest of your medication safely in your room. If you need to bring medical equipment, the festival has an exemption form you can submit before the event.

Festival Facilities

Food and Bars

CMC Rocks is a licensed event, and you must be 18 or over with valid photo ID to buy or drink alcohol. Food and drink vendors operate across the site, and a full vendor list, including dietary options, is published closer to the festival.

Facilities for Families

There is an air-conditioned Parent Pod with a baby change table, nappy bin, feeding chairs and a microwave. Because of the sound levels, the organisers strongly recommend ear protection for small children.

Medical and Crowd Care

Medical services are available during festival hours, and Red Frogs Crowd Care is on site helping people stay hydrated and safe.

Phone Charging and Lockers

Mobile charging stations and lockers will be available during festival hours. Lockers are located near the main festival entrance. Booking details are released closer to the event.

Accessibility

CMC Rocks provides accessible viewing platforms in front of the Rebel and Stampede stages and the Tailgate Stage. There is also a sensory room for patrons who need a quiet space. Companion Card holders may be eligible for a complimentary companion ticket. Registered assistance animals are welcome. The festival site is mostly grass with some uneven areas, and it can get muddy after rain. Accessibility questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Weather in Ipswich in March

March in South East Queensland is usually warm and humid, with the chance of afternoon storms and rain. The festival is outdoors on grass, and the organisers note the site can become very muddy in wet weather. Pack for both sun and rain. Coming back to a dry room at the end of the night, with somewhere to air out wet boots and ponchos, is one of the practical benefits of staying in a motel over the festival weekend.

Making a Weekend of It in Ipswich

If you arrive a day or two early or stay on after the festival, Ipswich has plenty to keep you busy.

Queens Park and the Nature Centre

Queens Park is a short walk from the motel and a good spot for a morning walk before the bus. The park is also home to the Ipswich Nature Centre. We cover more about Queens Park in Ipswich in a separate guide.

Breakfast and Coffee

A decent breakfast before a long festival day makes a difference. We cover our picks of cafés in Ipswich for coffee, breakfast and brunch in a separate guide.

Dinner and Drinks

If you are in town on the Wednesday or Thursday before the festival, the Ipswich CBD has restaurants, pubs and takeaway options. We cover our picks of the places to eat in Ipswich in a separate guide, and you’ll find more local options in our guide to the Ipswich CBD.

More Events at Willowbank

Willowbank isn’t just about CMC Rocks. The motorsport precinct hosts drag racing and other events throughout the year. If you’re coming back for a race weekend, our page on Willowbank Raceway accommodation covers staying in Ipswich for events at the raceway.

Booking Tips for CMC Rocks Weekend

Book Your Room Early

CMC Rocks draws thousands of visitors to Ipswich each March. If you have your festival tickets sorted, book your accommodation straight away rather than waiting until closer to the date.

Check Bus Ticket Availability Before You Book

Festival bus tickets have to be pre-purchased through AXS, and you need a festival ticket for them to be valid. Bus tickets were showing as sold out at the time of writing, so check AXS for current availability, including any tickets released through resale, before you book a room on the basis of catching the bus. If buses aren’t available, plan on pre-purchased day parking or the drop-off and pick-up zone at Albert Theaker Park instead.

Think About Your Arrival and Departure Days

If you are travelling from interstate or regional Queensland, arriving on Thursday gives you a relaxed start before the music kicks off on Friday. Booking Sunday night as well means you won’t be driving home tired after the last act.

Contact Reception for Late Arrivals

If you expect to arrive outside reception hours, contact the motel ahead of time so your check-in can be arranged.

Frequently Asked Questions About CMC Rocks 2027

When is CMC Rocks QLD 2027?

The main festival runs from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March 2027. Campers can arrive from Wednesday 17 March, and Wednesday and Thursday are campers-only days.

Where is CMC Rocks held?

CMC Rocks QLD is held at Willowbank Raceway, 38 Champions Way, Willowbank QLD 4306, in the Ipswich region.

Is there a festival bus from Central Motel Ipswich?

Yes. Central Motel Ipswich is listed as one of the official Ipswich Motels festival bus stops, with pick-up and drop-off at the bus zone out the front of the motel. Bus tickets were showing as sold out at the time of writing, so check availability on AXS before you book.

How much is the CMC Rocks bus from Ipswich?

The Ipswich Motels and Ipswich Station buses cost $26 for a single day return or $78 for a full weekend return. Tickets must be pre-purchased through AXS and are only valid with a festival ticket. Check AXS for current availability, as bus tickets were showing as sold out at the time of writing.

Can I camp at CMC Rocks with a single day ticket?

No. You need a full festival ticket and a camp site ticket to camp on site. Single day ticket holders who are staying overnight need to arrange accommodation elsewhere.

Is CMC Rocks all ages?

Yes. Children 3 and under enter free, juniors are 4 to 14 and youths are 15 to 17. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

Can I bring alcohol to CMC Rocks?

No. BYO alcohol is not allowed in the festival site or the campgrounds. Alcohol is available to buy on site for adults with valid photo ID.

How much is parking at CMC Rocks?

Pre-purchased day parking is $50 per day or $140 for the full weekend. If parking is available on the day, it costs $65 per vehicle, per day.

Can I leave the festival and come back?

Pass-outs for general patrons are only available in extenuating circumstances. Campers can use the festival shuttle bus to leave and return during gate hours, as long as they keep their wristband on.

Book Your CMC Rocks 2027 Stay at Central Motel Ipswich

If you are heading to the 20th anniversary of CMC Rocks QLD, sort your accommodation as early as you can. Central Motel Ipswich gives you a comfortable room, on-site parking and an official festival bus stop right out the front for guests holding bus tickets. You can enjoy the music all day and still come back to a proper bed at night. Travelling with a pet? Speak with reception about the motel’s pet rules when you book.

Rooms in Ipswich book out quickly over CMC Rocks weekend, so don’t leave it too late. View our motel rooms and book your CMC Rocks stay today.