KEY POINTS:
By MEGAN GIBB AND CATHY ARONSON
Traffic snarl-ups made the trip to the Big Day Out slow for many but they were rewarded for the wait at Ericsson Stadium by an aural assault from the venue's six stages.
Despite a smaller crowd of 30,000 at the ninth Australasian touring rock fest compared with its millennium party record of 45,000, the strong line-up of talent from New Zealand and around the world was as good as the weather.
The downside was horrendous traffic after a water main burst and flooded Great South Rd near Big Day Out, shutting it off to traffic all day.
By 3pm two of the four lanes were open after pumps cleared part of the road.
Metro Water struggled to stop the flood of water even after isolating the main and shutting the valves because staff found an extra leak and worked into the night to fix it.
Sergeant Tim Lockwood said it had caused major queues in Penrose and delays on the motorway.
The flooding also nearly washed across the railway line, but it wasn't able to stop what must be Tranz Rail's busiest day as trains ran until 12.30am instead of 6.30pm to carry festival goers.
Many locals, including two 12-year-old boys, seemed to be doing good business offering parking on the road surrounding the stadium, with the going rate about $10.
Once inside, the air came alive with sound with metal band 8 Foot Sativa taking the stage in front of an already hyped-up crowd filling the mosh pit.
Strange fashions, coloured hair and costumes abounded throughout the predominantly under 25-year-old crowd.
Food stands, clothing stalls and carnival rides dotted around the venue were all part of the fun.
The rides kept rolling all day and the queues never stopped despite one girl throwing up on the gravitron.
With many opting for the smallest pieces of clothing, little shade and the sun beating down, pharmacies are sure to be selling a good amount of sunburn cream.
A tunnel with water spray jets, run by a bottled water company, offered a cooler option for those trying to escape the heat.
Many had blankets stretched out on the grass, and the stall selling fresh watermelon and pineapple slices attracted long queues.
By 3pm police had not made any arrests and a spokesman said they were pleased by the crowd's calm nature. St John had treated approximately 80-100 people, mainly for blisters and headaches, and said there had been no significant injuries.
Herald feature: Big Day Out
