YESTERDAY'S temperatures saw thousands flock to the Lorne foreshore, with the final wish for 2007 just to stay cool. Thousands attended the Falls Festival.

Thousands more used makeshift shelters -- and plenty of water -- to battle the heat as they rocked along with top Australian and international acts at the Falls Festival.

While the road from Melbourne to Lorne has been at a crawl for the past week, plenty of sun-seekers made the trek from further afield.

Sydney girlfriends Jennifer Cullen, Jemma McFarland, Daisy Ford and Aimee Finley packed clothing for four seasons.

"We knew we had to be prepared for anything. We packed swimmers and fleecy stuff and raincoats," Ms McFarland said.

In the end they needed only their bathers as they joined thousands of festival-goers who descended on Lorne beach hoping to cool off.

Falls Festival organiser Simon Daly said it was one of the hottest years for the annual event, with temperatures at the bush site reaching 38C at noon.

However Mr Daly said crowds coped well.

More than half the festival's 14,500 fans came from interstate.

"A lot of the crowd from up north are used to heat, and I think that's helping with us coping so well," Mr Daly said.

Punters in the mosh-pit were kept cool with regular hosing, while sprinklers also operated in the main arena.

While festival staff patrolled camp grounds to warn people to keep hydrated during the hot day, Mr Daly said some of the best stay-cool initiatives came from resourceful rockers.

"It's been fantastic to see fields of people walking through the camp grounds carrying their tarps, and setting up shade in front of the stage," Mr Daly said.

While Mr Daly said that a lot of people had forsaken beer in favour of water in the heat of the day, others weren't letting anything stand in the way of their party.

On the foreshore, signs threatened on-the-spot $125 fines for anyone caught drinking alcohol in public.

However lifeguards reported most of the day's casualties were the result of too much beer in the sun.

Police and emergency services geared up for Lorne's biggest night of the year, but they were hoping a cool change that came with cloud cover at 4.30pm would calm the festivities.

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Dean Webster said that while crowds had been huge for the area, authorities were expecting well-behaved crowds for free entertainment on the foreshore from 9pm.

I resolve to ...

To dream the POSSIBLE dream for once.

Andrew O'Keefe

Never kept one yet, so may just save myself the bother this year!

Melissa Doyle

My girlfriends are sick of my lack of culinary skills and are planning a "Recipe Tea" for me, so hopefully I can whip my cooking into shape!

Catriona Rowntree

To try to keep last year's!

Bert Newton

To get fitter for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Ky Hurst

To keep enjoying what I'm doing, life's good!

Rob Mills

To entertain at home more.

Giaan Rooney

To keep working hard for my dreams and to appreciate the little things more.

Jaime Wright

To continue enjoying what I do and have a healthy, happy and successful year ahead but mainly to STOP eating so much chocolate!

Delta Goodrem

Stay calm, it'll get easier.

John Waters

I don't make resolutions . . . I have short-term and long-term goals keeping me very busy!

Christine Anu

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