The Great Trentham Spudfest Day Trip by V/Line

Join me for a relaxed day trip to The Great Trentham Spudfest on Saturday 2 May.

Spudfest is Trentham’s annual celebration of food, local produce, music, makers, community, and all things potato. Saturday is the Street Fair day, with different precincts across town, plenty of food to try, live music, local stalls, activities, and a lively regional festival atmosphere.

We’ll meet at 8:40am outside the V/Line Tickets and Information office on the Ground Floor at Southern Cross Station. The plan is to catch the 9:01am V/Line service from Southern Cross Station, then return on the 5:44pm V/Line coach from Trentham.

Once we arrive, we’ll explore the festival at a relaxed pace, grab food, walk around the different areas, and enjoy the day. You’re welcome to stay with the group, split off for parts of the festival, take photos, browse stalls, or meet back later.

This is a casual, low-pressure day trip. It should suit people who are happy with a full day out by public transport and a relaxed festival atmosphere.

Links
Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zKpb8eQovKoEJAvq5
Festival website: https://www.trenthamspudfest.org.au/
Program PDF: https://86866130-1986-463f-8051-3f94276dc998.filesusr.com/ugd/c07cff_edd908aeec7a49ddbf7ec6d3bb4e839e.pdf
Saturday program: https://www.trenthamspudfest.org.au/saturday
Street Fair map: https://www.trenthamspudfest.org.au/map-street-fair
FAQ page: https://www.trenthamspudfest.org.au/faqs
Last year’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KmgT8CYoNo

Rough timeline

• 8:40am — Meet outside the V/Line Tickets and Information office at Southern Cross Station
• 9:01am — Planned V/Line departure from Southern Cross Station
• Late morning — Arrive and head into Spudfest
• Late morning to afternoon — Explore the Street Fair, food stalls, music, makers, and different precincts
• 5:44pm — Planned return V/Line coach from Trentham
• Evening — Return to Melbourne

A Few Things I’m Keen to Try
There are a few Spudfest activities I’m personally hoping to join or try during the day.

I’m planning to participate in the Spud Olympics, possibly including several of the different races or competitions if timing works out. The festival currently lists Spud Olympics races from 10:00am to 3:00pm, with Tough Spudder at 3:00pm, at the Railway Precinct.

I’m also keen to have a go at The Great Peel Off, which is the potato peeling competition. The festival currently lists heats from 2:00pm at the Railway Precinct, and says it is open to all with peelers provided.

I’d also like to try the Devonshire Tea, which is listed as a potato scone Devonshire Tea at the Railway Precinct. Please note this one is currently listed as $10, so bring cash/card if you’d like to try it too.

You’re welcome to join me for any of these, or explore the festival at your own pace. We don’t all need to do the same activities the whole time.

Tickets
Spudfest Street Fair entry is free, but some activities or special events may be ticketed or paid.

Everyone attending will need to pre-purchase their own V/Line ticket. I’ve already purchased my own ticket.

Please check your own public transport ticket, connection details, and live service updates before travelling.

What to bring

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Water bottle
• V/Line ticket
• Phone power bank if needed
• A small bag for anything you buy
• Cash/card for food, stalls, and any paid activities

What to expect

• Distance: Light walking around the festival precincts
• Difficulty: Easy, but it is a full day out
• Pace: Relaxed and social
• Vibe: Casual, friendly, low-pressure, and welcoming to solo attendees

Important notes
Please arrive on time because we’ll be aiming to catch the planned V/Line service.

This event involves public transport, so delays or service changes are possible. Please check your own V/Line/PTV travel details before the day.

Some festival areas may be busy, especially around food stalls and popular activities.

Other info
Saturday is the main Street Fair day, with multiple festival precincts across Trentham.

The festival runs during the day, so this is intended as a full day trip rather than a short local meetup.