Crank It Up Batemans Bay 2026: Rockabilly Weekend From Malua Bay
From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026, Crank It Up turns the Batemans Bay waterfront into a rockabilly and classic car festival, with a Show n Shine along Clyde Street, live bands, dance floors, car cruises and a retro market. The daytime festival site is free to attend. Here is the weekend day by day, plus parking, night shows and beach mornings from Malua Bay, about 13 kilometres down the coast.
Key Takeaway
Crank It Up runs 20 to 22 November 2026 at Foreshore Park on Clyde Street, Batemans Bay. Daytime entry is free; the international headline nights at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club are ticketed. Malua Bay sits about 13 kilometres south of town, close enough for an easy run in and far enough away to sleep in quiet.
Before You Book
A few decisions are worth making weeks ahead rather than on the day.
1Night shows: Pick the Friday or Saturday headline concert and buy tickets through the festival's links.
2Limited extras: The Rusty Pinto Clyde River cruise is capped at 60 guests, so book it early if it appeals.
3Accommodation: The organisers say much of the in-town accommodation is booked a year ahead, so lock in your base now.
Build The Weekend Around Three Moments
You do not need to be at the festival site from open to close. Pick the parts that matter most to your group.
1The cars: The Show n Shine fills the closed main street on Saturday and Sunday.
2The music: Free daytime stages on the foreshore, ticketed headliners at night.
3The coast: A Malua Bay beach morning before you drive in, or a slow Monday before you drive home.
What Crank It Up Batemans Bay Actually Is
Crank It Up is a three-day festival of rockabilly music, classic and custom vehicles, retro fashion and social dancing, held on the Batemans Bay foreshore beside the Clyde River. The 2026 festival runs from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November, with the main event site at Foreshore Park on Clyde Street.
The organisers' 2026 What's On page lists 14 live bands including international acts, a Show n Shine with more than 280 vehicles, car cruises, dance demonstrations and workshops, retro market stalls, food vendors, dress-up themes, car awards and a kids' zone with jumping castles and face painting. Their event parking page calls it the biggest annual festival in Batemans Bay, with an average of 8,500 attendees.
It is not only for car owners. The music, the dance floors and the retro outfits draw plenty of visitors who have never owned a hot rod.
Crank It Up is a free waterfront festival by day and a ticketed rockabilly concert series by night. Plan the two halves separately.
The 2026 Weekend At A Glance
The 2026 festival guide was listed as coming soon at the time of writing, so these are the times already confirmed on the official site and ticketing pages. Check the final program before planning around any one session.
Friday 20 November
The Coast and Country Cruise leaves Corrigans Beach at Batehaven from 11am and ends at the historic Bodalla pub. The Poker Run follows, finishing at JJ's at the Marina in Batemans Bay in the late afternoon. At night, The Go Getters from Sweden headline with Smokin Firebirds at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, 6:30pm to 11pm.
Saturday 21 November
Show n Shine on the closed main street, rockabilly dance workshops from 11am, the Rusty Pinto Clyde River cruise from 11:30am to 1:30pm, the Sydney Swing Katz on the main stage and the Town Rumble Cruise in the afternoon. At night, The B-Shakers from Switzerland and Rusty Pinto play the Soldiers Club, 6:30pm to 11pm.
Sunday 22 November
A second day of Show n Shine, beginners swing at 10:30am and intermediate swing at 11:45am, more live music on the foreshore, then the Sunday night Afterparty from 6pm at the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen.
The Show n Shine: Where The Cars Are
The Tyre Torque Show n Shine is the heart of the daytime festival. On Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, the organisers close the main street of Batemans Bay for two days so entrants can park up their cars, bikes, customs and rods along the festival site.
The display is split into zones, which makes it easier to find what you came to see:
Hotrod Alley
Hot rods from the 1930s to 1950s: T-buckets, street rods, chopped roadsters and rat rods.
Rock n Roll Cars
Near the main stage, focused on the cars of the 1950s and early 1960s, with plenty of chrome, fins and whitewalls.
Vintage
Early model vehicles, either restored or kept in original condition.
Classics, Bikes And Customs
Chrome-bumper cars, classic bikes, old trucks, American muscle and customs, set up under the bridge near the second stage.
The under-the-bridge zone also has a second music stage running all weekend, car memorabilia displays, food and a dance floor. It is a good place to set up a chair if your group wants music and cars in one spot.
Ask before touching any vehicle and keep bags and small hands clear of the paintwork; most of these cars are someone's long-term project.
The Cruises: Best Chances To See The Cars Moving
Three organised drives let you see and hear the cars moving.
Coast and Country Cruise, Friday. The festival opens with a cruise that starts at Corrigans Beach in Batehaven, following the lead truck out from 11am. The organisers describe a drive along the coastline and beaches, then back along the Moruya River into Moruya, finishing at the historic pub at Bodalla. There is no cost for the car cruise, but entrants are asked to register so the organisers know numbers.
Poker Run, Friday afternoon. After the cruise, participants drive between five stops around the Eurobodalla, drawing a playing card at each one. It starts at the Bodalla Pub and finishes at JJ's at the Marina in Batemans Bay late on Friday afternoon; check the final program for the cut-off time. Cards can be bought ahead, and purchases on the day are cash only.
Town Rumble Cruise, Saturday afternoon. After a day parked for the Show n Shine, the cars take slow loops around town. The published route heads from under the bridge along Clyde Street, left onto Beach Road and down to the roundabout at Bavarde Avenue, then back into town via Perry Street and onto Clyde Street. Find a safe spot on the footpath along that loop, keep children well back from the kerb and follow any marshal directions.
Watching rather than driving?The Friday cruise starts at Corrigans Beach in Batehaven, which is on the way into town from Malua Bay. Check the final start time and give yourself time to park before 11am.
The Music: Free Stages By Day, Headliners By Night
Crank It Up spreads its music across six locations. Two are on the festival site itself: the Main Stage at the southern end of Clyde Street and the Bridge Stage at the northern end, under the bridge overpass. The Batemans Bay Soldiers Club at 6 Beach Road hosts the night-time headline shows in its auditorium, with an alternative program in the lounge. JJ's at the Marina, 27 Beach Road, has music on the grass by the water, and the Steampacket Hotel at Nelligen has bands on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The two international headliners are the drawcards for 2026:
Friday: The Go Getters
The Swedish band headline Friday 20 November with Queensland's Smokin Firebirds opening, at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, 6:30pm to 11pm. The festival says the band headlined the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Festival in 2026.
Saturday: The B-Shakers
The Swiss band play Saturday 21 November with Rusty Pinto, at the Soldiers Club, 6:30pm to 11pm. The organisers say it is their only Australian show.
Both nights are ticketed through Humanitix, and the ticket pages state a no-refunds policy, so be sure of your dates before you buy. Ticket prices were not shown on the event pages when we checked, so look at the booking page for current pricing.
On Sunday night the festival winds up with its Afterparty at the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen from 6pm. Organise a driver or a shuttle for that one.
Learning To Dance At Crank It Up
The dance floors are one of the most entertaining parts of the festival, even if you only watch. For 2026 there are structured workshops at the Starfish Function Room and free short lessons on the festival dance floors. Booking details for the workshops were listed as coming soon, so check the dancing page before you travel.
On Saturday 21 November, Bruce Elder of Swing To It Sydney and Melinda Jane teach rockabilly: Beginners at 11am, Intermediate 1 at 12:30pm and Intermediate 2 at 2pm. On Sunday 22 November, the Sydney Swing Katz teach Lindy Hop: Beginners at 10:30am and Intermediate at 11:45am. The beginner classes need no partner and no experience.
The free lessons cover four-step rock n roll and rockabilly basics on the Bridge Stage dance floor and the Rockabilly Stroll, a solo line-style dance, on the Main Stage dance floor. Times and teachers were still listed as to be announced, so check the program on the day. The Rockabilly Stroll is the easiest entry point without a partner. The Sydney Swing Katz also perform on the Main Stage on Saturday.
Dance floor tipThe organisers suggest comfortable dancing shoes, a water bottle and a spare shirt. Several floors are outdoors, so a hat and sunscreen matter during the day.
Markets, Food And Drink Around The Festival Site
The festival says it has more than 60 vendors across retro clothing, automotive stalls, jumping castles, local artisans, food and a beer truck. The 2026 vendor list is updated as stalls are approved; the 2025 list gives a fair idea of the mix, from vintage and rockabilly fashion and dancing shoes to slow-cooked barbecue, pizza, hot dogs, gozleme, a coffee van, Japanese food, local ice cream from the Clyde River Berry Farm and Broulee Brewhouse beer on tap.
Bring both cash and card. The organisers recommend both for food, drinks, merchandise and market stalls, and the Poker Run takes cash only on the day.
If you want to step away from the stalls, the festival's own visitor page lists places to eat by distance from the site. Seafood is the obvious choice beside the Clyde River: the organisers point to Wray Street Oysters as a short walk from the festival and describe November as peak season for local seafood. They also list waterfront and town options such as Starfish, the Bayview Hotel, JJ's at the Marina and Stingrays, with Corrigans Cove about eight minutes away.
If a sit-down dinner matters on festival weekend, book it, and check opening hours directly before relying on any one venue.
The Clyde River Cruise With Rusty Pinto
One of the most distinctive extras this year is a two-hour acoustic set on the water. Rusty Pinto, billed by the festival as one of Australia's finest rockabilly blues performers and playing what the organisers call his final performances ever, joins Jordan on double bass and Justin on percussion aboard the MV Escapade.
The cruise runs on Saturday 21 November from 11:30am to 1:30pm, heading from Batemans Bay up the Clyde River towards Big Island. It departs from Innes' Boatshed beside the festival site and returns with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day. Numbers are capped at 60 guests, and there is even a small dance floor on board.
The festival notes the vessel is not wheelchair accessible, has no accessible toilet, and boarding involves steps and a narrow ramp. Take that into account for older guests or anyone with limited mobility.
If the festival cruise sells out, the Escapade's regular Clyde River lunch cruise runs daily except Christmas Day and Anzac Day, boarding from 11am at the T-Wharf beside The Boatshed and returning at 2:30pm. Clyde River Cruises lists prices of $75 for adults, $70 concession and $45 for children 5 to 14, with under-5s free, including fish, chips and salad. Check current prices and availability before you go.
Getting From Malua Bay Into Batemans Bay
Malua Bay sits on George Bass Drive, about 13 kilometres by road from the town of Batemans Bay. It is an easy run into town along the coast road through the beachside suburbs, and Batehaven, where the Friday cruise starts, is on the way.
Parking in town is the main headache on festival weekend. The organisers list six parking areas within about five minutes' walk of the main site:
Larger car parks
P3 Mackay Park, P4 Flora Crescent and P5 Camp Street and Commercial Lane are each listed with more than 100 spaces. Mackay Park is described as an easy walk to the site.
Smaller options
P1 Woolworths has very limited parking, P2 Village Centre offers undercover parking and P6 Old Punt Road is limited but has easy access.
For the night shows, think about how everyone gets home. The organisers say both the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club and the Steampacket Hotel at Nelligen run a shuttle bus that you call to book, and they list Batemans Bay Taxis, an A2B passenger service and Uber. Public transport in Batemans Bay is very limited and there is no train, so a designated driver or a booked shuttle is the realistic choice for a big night.
Arrive early on SaturdayWith the main street closed for the Show n Shine, the closer car parks fill first. Arriving mid-morning and walking from one of the larger car parks, such as Mackay Park, is likely to be easier than circling the town centre at lunchtime.
Crank It Up With Kids
The festival is family-friendly by design. The 2026 What's On page lists a kids' zone with jumping castles and face painting, and the 2025 vendor list included free face painting, Mr Whippy and an airbrush tattoo stall.
Two demonstrations tend to grab children's attention. NSW Fire and Rescue cut up a car in a simulated crash rescue, which the organisers present as a car-safety awareness demonstration. The new Garage Creeper Races, held under the bridge, pit racers against each other on mechanics' creepers in what the festival calls a hilarious test of speed and skill.
The organisers specifically recommend ear protection for children because the engines and bands can get loud. Add hats, sunscreen, water and a picnic rug or folding chair, and agree on a meeting point near one of the stages in case anyone gets separated in the crowd.
If the children need a break from the noise, Mogo Wildlife Park on Tomakin Road at Mogo is close to Malua Bay and opens 9am to 4pm daily. Check ticket prices through the park's booking system.
What To Wear And What To Bring
Dressing up is half the fun. The organisers suggest your best rockabilly style, with pompadours, polka dots, denim and leather, and the program lists best-dressed awards. Dress up as much or as little as your group enjoys; the cars, music and markets are just as good in ordinary beach clothes.
The festival's general public packing list is practical:
1Cash and card: For food, drinks, merchandise and stalls.
2Sun protection: Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for a day on an open foreshore.
3A chair or picnic rug: To settle in near a stage.
4Reusable water bottle: Late November days can be warm and the site is busy.
5Light jacket: It can cool down in the evening by the water.
6Ear protection for children: Engines and amplified bands can be loud.
Show car entrants have their own list on the festival site, covering registration details, a cleaning kit, display gear, basic tools and a fire extinguisher.
Keep Room For Malua Bay Beach Mornings
One reason to stay in Malua Bay rather than in town is that the beach is right there when the festival is not. A morning swim or walk before driving in gives the weekend a slower rhythm.
Malua Bay Beach is the closest option, and the area also includes Mosquito Bay, Garden Bay and McKenzies Beach, with McKenzies known locally for surfing. Spring conditions vary from day to day, so check the forecast, surf conditions and patrol information on Beachsafe before you swim, and swim between the red and yellow flags whenever a patrol is operating.
A beach morning in Malua Bay and an afternoon at the Show n Shine is about the best way to split a Crank It Up Saturday.
Why Book Early For Festival Weekend
The organisers are direct about this: much of the accommodation within Batemans Bay is booked a year in advance. Their accommodation guide lists suburbs to search in order of distance from the event, from North Batemans Bay, Catalina, Surfside and Batehaven through to Malua Bay, Mogo, Tomakin, Durras, Broulee and Moruya.
That makes Malua Bay a sensible choice if you are booking now: close enough to drive in each morning, away from the late-night noise and parking pressure beside the festival site.
The headline concerts carry a no-refunds policy, and the Rusty Pinto cruise is limited to 60 people, so it makes sense to secure accommodation and your must-have tickets at about the same time. The festival notes Batemans Bay is around four hours from Sydney and two hours from Canberra, so most visitors drive and arrive on Friday.
Why Skyes Beach House Suits A Crank It Up Weekend
Skyes Beach House, Whole Property Downstairs Stay is listed for up to six guests across two bedrooms and one bathroom: a downstairs king bedroom and a bunk room with two sets of bunks. That suits a couple with children, two couples sharing, or a small group of friends coming down for the festival.
The location is the first practical advantage. The listing places the house about a two-minute walk from Malua Bay Beach, which makes those beach mornings genuinely easy, and Batemans Bay is a short drive up the coast for the festival.
The second is what you come back to. The listing shows two hydrotherapy spas and a five-person outdoor infrared sauna with red light therapy in the backyard wellness area, which is a good way to recover after a day on your feet or on the dance floor. There is also a backyard entertainment area with a BBQ, smoker, gas pizza oven and outdoor dining space, so a festival weekend does not have to mean fighting for restaurant tables every night.
The games room suits a car festival weekend: two linked Daytona racing machines with 151 racing games, a four-player shooter arcade, a virtual pinball machine with 1,300 games and digital darts. Downstairs there is a separate living room with TV, a second kitchen with fridge, sink and bench space, and a dining area. The listing also shows fast Wi-Fi, an EV charger, a travel cot on request and a digital house guide with local recommendations.
The listing shows the house as pet-friendly. If your dog is coming, confirm approval and house rules when booking, and check current council rules before taking a dog to any beach or into a busy festival crowd. Because this is a downstairs stay within a larger beach house, check the live listing for exactly which spaces and facilities are included with your booking.
About this stay
Where Skyes Beach House fits your Crank It Up weekend
Skyes Beach House puts you a two-minute walk from Malua Bay Beach and a short drive from the festival on the Batemans Bay foreshore, with room for up to six guests in a king bedroom and a bunk room.
After a day at the Show n Shine or a night on the dance floor, the listing shows two hydrotherapy spas, an outdoor infrared sauna, a games room with linked Daytona racing machines and a backyard BBQ and pizza oven to come home to.
Featured stay
Skyes Beach House | Whole Property Downstairs Stay
Couples and friends who want the nights out. Two couples can split the king room and bunk room and take turns as designated driver for the headline shows.
Families with car-mad kids. Spend the daytime at the Show n Shine and the kids' zone, then come back to the beach, the games room and a pizza oven dinner. The bunk room gives children their own space, and a travel cot is available on request.
Car owners and entrants. If you are bringing a show car, staying slightly out of town means a quieter base and an easy drive to Corrigans Beach for Friday's cruise start. Check parking and driveway arrangements with the host before you arrive with a trailer or a low-slung car.
People who like the music but not the crowds. Choose one big day in town and keep the rest of the weekend local: beach, coffee, a slow lunch and a spa in the evening.
A Three-Day Crank It Up Itinerary From Malua Bay
Friday: Arrive, Watch The Cruise, Choose Your Night
Drive down in the morning if you want to see the Coast and Country Cruise leave Corrigans Beach at Batehaven from 11am. Otherwise, arrive in the afternoon, check in and get your bearings with a walk to Malua Bay Beach. If you have tickets for The Go Getters, head to the Soldiers Club for the 6:30pm start, with your transport home already sorted.
Saturday: Beach Morning, Festival Afternoon
Start with a swim or beach walk if conditions suit. Head into Batemans Bay mid-morning, park at one of the larger car parks and walk the Show n Shine before it gets crowded. Pick from the beginners rockabilly class at 11am, the Rusty Pinto river cruise from 11:30am, the Sydney Swing Katz on the main stage and the Town Rumble Cruise in the afternoon. Come home to rest or stay on for The B-Shakers from 6:30pm.
Sunday: Slow Start, Second Look, Afterparty Or Early Night
Take a slow morning, then head back to town for the second day of the Show n Shine, a swing class at 10:30am or 11:45am and the foreshore stages. Finish with the Afterparty at the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen from 6pm, or keep the evening for the BBQ and spas.
Monday: A Gentle Finish
If you can stay an extra night, finish with a last beach walk or a morning at Mogo Wildlife Park before the drive home.
Before Leaving Home: Your Crank It Up Check
1Program: Check the official Crank It Up site for the final festival guide, stage times and any changes.
2Tickets: Book headline shows, dance workshops or the river cruise ahead, remembering the no-refunds policy on concert tickets.
3Transport: Decide on a designated driver or book a club shuttle for any night show.
4Parking: Plan to use Mackay Park, Flora Crescent or Camp Street rather than hunting near the closed main street.
5Beach: Check the forecast, surf and patrol information before swimming.
6Packing: Cash and card, hats and sunscreen, a chair or rug, a jacket for the evening and ear protection for children.
FAQs About Crank It Up Batemans Bay And Staying In Malua Bay
When is Crank It Up Batemans Bay in 2026?
Crank It Up runs from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026. The organisers also mention live music starting on the Thursday before the main weekend, and the festival ends with a Sunday night Afterparty at the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen from 6pm.
Where is Crank It Up held?
The main festival site is Foreshore Park on Clyde Street, Batemans Bay, beside the Clyde River. Night headline shows are at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, 6 Beach Road, and other music venues include JJ's at the Marina and the Steampacket Hotel at Nelligen.
Is Crank It Up free?
The festival site is free to attend. The Friday and Saturday headline concerts at the Soldiers Club, the Rusty Pinto river cruise and Poker Run cards are paid extras. Check booking details for the dance workshops, and bring money for food, drink and stalls.
Who is headlining Crank It Up 2026?
The Go Getters from Sweden headline Friday 20 November with Smokin Firebirds, and The B-Shakers from Switzerland play Saturday 21 November with Rusty Pinto. Both shows are at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club from 6:30pm to 11pm and are ticketed through Humanitix.
When is the Show n Shine on?
The Tyre Torque Show n Shine runs on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, with the main street of Batemans Bay closed to display more than 280 vehicles in zones including Hotrod Alley, Rock n Roll Cars, Vintage, and Classics, Bikes and Customs.
Where should I park for Crank It Up?
The organisers list six parking areas within about five minutes' walk of the site. Mackay Park, Flora Crescent and Camp Street with Commercial Lane each have more than 100 spaces, while Woolworths and Old Punt Road are limited and the Village Centre has undercover parking.
How far is Malua Bay from Batemans Bay?
Malua Bay is about 13 kilometres by road from the town of Batemans Bay, an easy daily drive in to the festival.
Can I learn to dance at Crank It Up without a partner?
Yes. The beginners rockabilly class on Saturday at 11am and the beginners swing class on Sunday at 10:30am need no partner or experience, and the free Rockabilly Stroll lesson teaches a solo dance you can join whenever the slower songs come on.
How many guests can stay at Skyes Beach House for the festival?
The Skyes Beach House Whole Property Downstairs Stay is listed for up to six guests, with a downstairs king bedroom, a bunk room with two sets of bunks and one bathroom. Check the live listing for the latest configuration and what is included with the booking.
Can I bring my dog to Skyes Beach House?
The listing shows the house as pet-friendly. Confirm approval, fees and house rules when you book, and check current council rules for beaches and public areas.
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