At a glance
- When
- Saturday 31 October 2026. Gates 12:30pm, first act 1:10pm, Australian Crawl 8:15pm to 9:30pm
- Where
- Roche Estate, corner of Broke Road and McDonalds Road, Pokolbin
- Tickets
- Sold out on the tour’s page; Ticketmaster is the only official seller
- Parking
- Limited, on site off the Broke Road entry; the organiser warns of delays getting in and out
- Buses
- Rover Coaches from $30; Newcastle City, Charlestown, Central Coast and lakes routes are full
- Bring
- Camp chair, sealed still water, rain poncho. No picnic rugs, umbrellas, alcohol or pass-outs
- Who it’s for
- Ticket holders for the Hunter Valley show, and anyone deciding how to get there or home
- What to do now
- Book a Rover Coaches seat if you do not want to drive, and pack the camp chair and poncho
- Last checked
- Monday 26 October 2026, against the tour’s Hunter Valley page and the Rover Coaches event page
- Not yet confirmed
- On-site parking price and number of spaces; traffic arrangements on Broke Road
The Red Hot Summer Tour plays Roche Estate in Pokolbin on Saturday 31 October 2026, with gates at 12:30pm and Australian Crawl on stage from 8:15pm. The tour’s own page lists the Hunter Valley show as sold out, so this guide is for people who already have tickets and need to sort out the day: set times, buses, parking, what you can carry in and what happens if it rains. Times are New South Wales local time, which is on daylight saving in October.
Everything below comes from the tour’s Hunter Valley event page, the Rover Coaches event page and Roche Estate’s own site, checked on Monday 26 October 2026.
What time does the music start, and when is Australian Crawl on?
The tour page lists gates at 12:30pm and the first act at 1:10pm. Rover Coaches prints the same set times but shows gates opening between 12:00pm and 12:30pm, so allow for either. Both pages say the line-up and playing times are subject to change.
| Act | On stage |
|---|---|
| Gates open | 12:30pm |
| Ella Hooper | 1:10pm to 1:40pm |
| Boom Crash Opera | 2:05pm to 2:45pm |
| Vika & Linda | 3:10pm to 3:50pm |
| Eskimo Joe | 4:15pm to 5:00pm |
| Birds of Tokyo | 5:25pm to 6:15pm |
| Men at Work | 6:45pm to 7:45pm |
| Australian Crawl | 8:15pm to 9:30pm |
The Fast Pass and Rock Bar tickets use an Express Entry gate that opens 30 minutes before general admission. The Box Office is at the concert entry point and opens 60 minutes before gates, staying open until the headline act starts. Have your ticket downloaded and your phone brightness turned up before you reach the gate.
Are there still tickets?
The tour’s page marks the Saturday 31 October Roche Estate show as sold out. The face values it lists are $169.90 plus fees for general admission, $219.90 plus fees for Fast Pass early entry, and $339.90 plus fees for Rock Bar, which adds a $25 merchandise voucher, a BBQ dinner served at 5:30pm and a concourse with views of the stage.
The organiser says Ticketmaster is the official agency. Tickets bought from third parties such as Viagogo, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or eBay are bought at the buyer’s own risk, and fraudulent tickets will not be honoured. There are no refunds or exchanges once a purchase is completed, and the event is strictly 18+.
Can I park at Roche Estate?
Yes, but the supply is limited. The tour page says limited parking is available on site off the Broke Road entry, a short distance from the main gates, and that traffic will be at a premium, so there will be delays entering and leaving the venue. It does not give a parking price or the number of spaces, so treat both as unconfirmed and check the tour page again on the morning of the show.
Unreserved accessible parking is also off the Broke Road entry. Follow the signs and the directions of traffic staff. Once inside, an accessible viewing area is on the concourse at the rear of the site, with accessible bathrooms close by. The area is reserved for disabled patrons and their immediate accredited carer.
Roche Estate’s own FAQ says the estate is open every day except concert dates and Christmas Day. If you were planning a cellar door visit at the estate on the day, it will not be open as normal. Roche Estate’s separate event page for the tour still shows text from a 2024 show, so rely on the tour’s page for 2026.
Which Rover Coaches routes still have seats?
The tour’s page names Rover Coaches as its transport partner, with bookings through rovercoaches.com.au. Rover says all buses leave 30 minutes after the concert ends. If Australian Crawl finishes at 9:30pm as listed, that is about 10pm. Rover also says tickets and transport are non-refundable and that any change to a booking costs a $12 administration fee. Its office phone is (02) 4990 1699, open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Pick-up times below are the first and last stops on each run, and fares are return prices. This is the position on Rover’s page on 26 October; seats can sell out at any time.
| Route | Pick-ups | Return fare | On 26 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local hotels (Cypress Lakes, Harrigans, Rydges, Spicers, The Vintage and others) | Every half hour, about 11:30am to 4:30pm | $30 to $35 | Seats available |
| Cessnock, Pokolbin, Lovedale and Branxton routes 1 to 5, 8 and 9 (A and B runs) | A runs about 10:45am to 11:55am; B runs about 1:15pm to 2:00pm | $35 | Seats available |
| Maitland and Rutherford (A and B) | A from 10:50am; B from 1:20pm | $40 | Seats available |
| Kurri Kurri, Abermain and Neath (A and B) | A from 10:55am; B from 1:25pm | $40 | Seats available |
| Singleton (A and B) | A from 10:30am; B from 1:00pm | $40 | Seats available |
| Newcastle Heights and West (Merewether, Adamstown, Lambton, Jesmond, Wallsend) | 9:50am to 10:30am | $50 | Seats available |
| Newcastle City, Charlestown, The Central Coast, East Lakes, West Lakes, Tuggerah Lakes | 9:15am to 11:05am | Not shown | No seats available |
| Broke, Green Hills, Largs and Gillieston Heights, routes 6 and 7 (A and B) | From about 10:30am (A runs) and 1:00pm (B runs) | Not shown | No seats available |
Two of the routes that still have seats serve the Maitland and Kurri Kurri areas. The Maitland run picks up at the Maitland Railway Station bus zone on Railway Street and at a bus zone on the New England Highway near Hungry Jack’s, and the Kurri Kurri run starts at the Station Hotel Motel. Rover’s page lists every stop with its time, so check your own stop before you book.
What can I bring in, and what is banned?
The tour page says you may bring:
- A camp chair
- Sealed still bottled water (not carbonated)
- A rain poncho
- A non-professional camera, with no professional lenses or video cameras
Rover’s page also lists snacks as permitted, which the tour page does not, so keep any food small and sealed. Items the tour page says are strictly prohibited:
| Category | Prohibited items |
|---|---|
| Seating and shade | Picnic rugs, shade structures, tents and canopies |
| Drink | Alcohol, soft drink and any non-alcoholic drink apart from still sealed water |
| Kitchen items | Glass including glass jars, metal cutlery, cheese knives |
| Weather and wheels | Umbrellas, bicycles, scooters, trolleys |
| Other | Pets, offensive clothing, MC Club attire |
Bags, chairs and belongings are inspected by security on entry, and anyone found with contraband such as alcohol is refused entry without a refund. There is a no pass-out policy, so plan for the whole day once you are inside.
What if it rains?
The organiser says the show proceeds rain, hail or shine and will only be cancelled if Event Management, Venue Management and Emergency Services judge the site unsafe. If that happens, ticket holders will be told by SMS, email and social media. Its advice is to bring a poncho, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and suitable footwear, and the site is an open-air venue with uneven surfaces. Umbrellas are on the banned list, so the poncho is the one to pack.
What food, drink and help is on site?
The tour page says there is a large range of food and drink outlets open all day, plus a public bar serving beer, wine, cider, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks. All vendors accept cash or card. The merchandise truck is next to the main bar. First aid is on site for the full event, and anyone feeling unwell can go to the First Aid Marquee.
Can I walk from where I am staying?
Roche Estate says the Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens and Harrigan’s Hunter Valley are a short walk from the estate. Harrigan’s is also a Rover pick-up on the local hotels route, at $30 return. Roche Estate says it has no accommodation of its own, and that it is just over a two-hour drive from Sydney. If you are staying elsewhere in Pokolbin, check whether your accommodation is one of the stops on the Rover list before you plan to drive.
Who do I contact?
For concert questions, Roche Estate’s FAQ says to contact the promoter directly. The tour’s page names Face To Face Touring as the promoter. Roche Estate’s general contact is enquiries@rocheestate.com.au, and the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association lists the venue’s phone as (02) 4998 4098. For bus bookings, call Rover Coaches on (02) 4990 1699 during office hours.
The tour moves to the Gold Coast the next day. If you are travelling with it, our Coolangatta getting-there guide covers the Sunday 1 November show.
Sources
- Red Hot Summer Tour — Hunter Valley, NSW event page (set times, tickets, parking, prohibited items, weather policy; checked 26 October 2026)
- Red Hot Summer Tour — 2026 tour dates (sold-out status; checked 26 October 2026)
- Rover Coaches — Red Hot Summer Tour event transport (routes, fares, pick-up times, seat availability; checked 26 October 2026)
- Roche Estate — FAQs
- Hunter Valley Wine Country — Red Hot Summer Tour listing (venue address and contact)
Featured image: Vineyards in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales (photo: thinkrorbot / Public domain) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Roche Estate, Face To Face Touring, Ticketmaster or Rover Coaches. Set times, bus availability and event rules can change; check the tour’s event page and Rover’s page before you go.