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Smiling young music fans cheerfully wave their arms as they dance to entrancing beats, surrounded by the lush trees and undergrowth of the tranquil forest setting.

Others relax nearby snapping photos of themselves in costumes ranging from Egyptian gods to medieval knights, TV and movie characters, a full set of Deal Or No Deal suitcase girls - or just strategically-placed glitter.

Suddenly, the happy, chilled-out vibe is shattered as up to 10 police officers muscle their way in with a sniffer dog in tow to check the revellers for drugs.

Secret Garden, held on Friday to Sunday this weekend on a wooded farm southwest of Sydney, is the latest example of the NSW Government's heavy-handed approach to music festivals

Daily Mail Australia doesn't suggest any revellers photographed at the event took drugs or did anything illegal

Secret Garden, held on Friday to Sunday this weekend with 5,000 people on a wooded farm southwest of Sydney, is the latest example of the NSW Government's heavy-handed approach to music festivals.

'All these police around really ruins the vibe, it's like [they think] we're all criminals and we get self-conscious about having fun and can't enjoy it,' one reveller said.

Daily Mail Australia doesn't suggest any revellers photographed at the event took drugs or did anything illegal. 

The long-running event, which has raised more than $500,000 for charity with its profits since 2009, announced the 2019 edition would be its last, due to massive government-imposed costs.

Heavy police presence, in response to five deaths at festivals over the summer, was apparent from the moment revellers arrived at the front gate.

Heavy police presence, in response to five deaths at festivals over the summer, was apparent from the moment revellers arrived at the front gate

At least 30 officers man the entrance, most of them simply standing around, and with the help of a sniffer dog check each car as it arrives along with its occupants

A young woman was led away to be checked after the sniffer dog sat down to signal it smelled drugs, but she was found to be innocent and let go

Another reveller is checked, but the sniffer dog determined she wasn't carrying anything of interest

At least 30 officers man the entrance, most of them simply standing around, and with the help of a sniffer dog check each car as it arrives along with its occupants.

Any car that sets off the dog is driven to a holding area by an officer and patrons taken inside a demountable for an invasive search. Those found with drugs are then given a court summons.

Inside the festival, officers conduct sweeps of the numerous areas dotted across the forest, playing different dance music along with films, comedy acts, and even a kissing booth and catwalk.

They seemed to have plenty of time on their hands, however, as several officers posed for photos with a series of revellers as they sat down among the trees.

Similar checks are also made of the campgrounds, where many revellers relax in the morning and between acts, and whole tents searched.

Patrons suspected of having drugs are taken inside a demountable to the right of this police setup for an invasive search

Any car that sets off the dog is driven to a holding area by an officer to be check thoroughly along with those inside it

Those found with drugs are given a court summons, unless they have enough to be charged with sell and supply

Police seemed to have plenty of time on their hands, however, as several officers posed for photos with a series of revellers as they sat down among the trees. It is not suggested she has done anything wrong

On the first day of the festival, officers searched about 300 people and 109 vehicles, leading to 40 people being caught with MDMA, cocaine, and marijuana. There were many more on Saturday.

'It's alarming that, on average one in one hundred revellers were already detected with illegal drugs at this festival. There is no such thing as a safe party drug and revellers are putting their lives at risk,' Detective Superintendent Ward Hanson said.

Anyone suspected of having drugs on them is frogmarched through the whole festival grounds by a squad of police for searches and criminal charges alongside those caught at the gate.

Two men looked on as their friend was searched after running from his tent at the first sign of a sniffer dog - with a single MDMA capsule in his pocket.

'What are they achieving by catching a guy with one pill?' a frustrated friend said.

'People are going to do drugs, if you kill festivals it will go underground and more people will die. Don't ban it, just manage it.

'He was stupid to run, though. I'll bet they catch more people who try to run away before they get checked that the dogs actually catching them.'

Inside the festival, officers conduct sweeps of the numerous areas dotted across the forest. Here they question a man before leading him away

Anyone suspected of having drugs on them is frogmarched through the whole festival grounds by a squad of police for searches and criminal charges alongside those caught at the gate - even if they're dressed like Jesus

Meanwhile, young woman was led away to be checked after the sniffer dog sat down to signal it smelled drugs, but she was found to be innocent and let go.

Those who got their drugs through the gate said they hid them deep inside their car or taped to their genitals, and felt the checks were ineffective as 'most people here are on drugs'.

One reveller said several women she knew each smuggled in 15 MDMA capsules hidden internally, one person taking the risk for the group who were handed their share once inside.

MDMA is the top drug at Secret Garden, but LSD is also popular with its up to eight-hour psychedelic effects mixing well with the festival's hippie atmosphere.

Some revellers spoke of how they took cocktails of supplements like zinc and magnesium so they would wake up in the morning with no after-effects.

The Dancewize tent, an organisation of volunteers who help out festival-goers who are struggling but don't need medical attention, even has a huge table that summarises the effects of mixing different drugs. 

The Dancewize tent even has a huge table that summarises the effects of mixing different drugs - green for low risk up to red for dangerous combinations that could kill you

Dancewize also had a sign pleading with revellers to label their drink bottles to prevent others from accidentally ingesting LSD that may be stored in them

Despite the drug arrests, no one has ever died at Secret Garden, and there were no reported overdoses on the first two days this year. Medical staff said they had little to do besides a few cuts and bruises

Dancewize also had a sign pleading with revellers to label their drink bottles to prevent others from accidentally ingesting LSD that may be stored in them. 

Beefed-up security measures did not go down well with festival staff, who said it cost them at least $50,000, or their patrons who felt it killed the mood.

'All these cops just aren't necessary for Secret Garden. We're just here to have fun and chill out, I know it goes wrong at other festivals but that's not what we're about,' one reveller said.

'Everyone is so welcoming and looks after each other, there's never any drama and people don't go over the top with their drugs.'

Secret Garden is the epitome of modern hippie culture, with vegan and 'sodium nitrate-free bacon' never far away and the festival's desire for 'good vibes' ever-present.

Just past the main entrance is a set of seats with 'applause' written behind them where people cheer at costumes as they go past, and a kissing booth stands around the corner.

Secret Garden is the epitome of modern hippie culture, with vegan and 'sodium nitrate-free bacon' never far away and the festival's desire for 'good vibes' ever-present

One of the many puns the festival's quirky nature is fond of, along with many others

There's puns a-plenty too, with areas like 'Tower of Fundon', 'Big Bender', and 'Funkingham Palace' and a group carting around a big cardboard bus with 'Transport for Fundon' written on the side

Secret Garden is the fourth festival to be done in by harsh new laws that come in on March 1 that will slug many events with hundreds of thousands of dollars for dozens more police and more expensive licences

There's puns a-plenty too, with areas like 'Tower of Fundon', 'Big Bender', and 'Funkingham Palace' and a group carting around a big cardboard bus with 'Transport for Fundon' written on the side.

Despite the drug arrests, no one has ever died at Secret Garden, and there were no reported overdoses on the first two days this year. Medical staff said they had little to do besides a few cuts and bruises.

Joe Ireland, lead singer of Joseph Liddy and the Skeleton Horse which played on Saturday afternoon, articulated the frustration of many paying customers.

'Who here has been searched by the cops this weekend?' he said between songs. 

'The war on drugs has been fought and lost, it's time to stop punishing people.'

Ireland later told Daily Mail Australia of how the constant gaze of police deeply hurt the festival atmosphere. 

'I found coming into the festival the police presence was quite traumatic, it was really horrible. It started off the whole day with a feeling of fear,' he said. 

'Festivals do need some police to deal with some issues, but this was just ridiculous.

'It makes people feel anxious and fearful, like someone is ready to punish you at any moment just for having a good time.

'There were drugs everywhere at Secret Garden so their mission was a complete failure. That money could have been better spent anywhere else.' 

Ireland said his day job working with drug and alcohol issues showed him drugs should treated as a health issue not a criminal one. 

'We need to be looking at pill testing and educating people on how to use recreational drugs responsibly,' he said.

Smiling young music fans cheerfully wave their arms as they dance to entrancing beats, surrounded by the lush trees and undergrowth of the tranquil forest setting

The long-running event, which has raised more than $500,000 for charity with its profits since 2009, announced the 2019 edition would be its last, due to massive government-imposed costs

Beefed-up security measures did not go down well with festival staff, who said it cost them at least $50,000, or their patrons who felt it killed the mood

Secret Garden is the fourth festival to be done in by harsh new laws that come in on March 1 that will slug many events with hundreds of thousands of dollars for dozens more police and more expensive licences.

Mountain Sounds and Psyfari pulled the plug on their upcoming events, and award-winning Bluesfest said it would consider moving its 2020 event out of NSW.

Fourteen festivals have been designated 'high risk' and have to pay more expensive licences and for numerous new security requirements.

Secret Gardens instead decided to go out with a bang. 

PICTURED: SIX YOUNG REVELLERS WHO DIED FROM SUSPECTED PARTY DRUG OVERDOSES IN JUST FIVE MONTHS  

MARLI CARTMER-CONGIU 

Marli Cartmer-Congiu took liquid ecstasy for the first time at a house party in Sydney's inner-east on Saturday night, her friends said. 

A short time later, she collapsed. Her friends called an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital, but she couldn't be saved. 

ALEX ROSS-KING

Alex Ross-King, 19, died in hospital on January 12 after attending the FOMO festival at Parramatta Park.

The Central Coast teenager's family have pleaded with the NSW government to introduce pill testing reigniting the debate over its effectiveness.

JOSHUA TAM  

 

Joshua Tam, 22, died in hospital on December 29 after attending the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford.

His family have helped set up a clothing label in the young rugby league player's memory with proceeds going towards drug education for young Australians. 

CALLUM BROSNAN

Callum Brosnan, 19, died after attending the dance music festival Knockout Games of Destiny on December 9.

He was found at a train station near the festival at Sydney Olympic Park but later died in hospital.

JOSEPH PHAM

Callum Brosnan (pictured left) and Joseph Pham (pictured right) both died after suspected drug overdoses at festivals late last year 

Joseph Pham, 23, from western Sydney died in hospital from a suspected drug overdose on September 15 after the Defqon.1 festival.

Weeks before his death he shared a Facebook post from a group called 'Sniff Off' who advocate for no sniffer dogs, pill testing and drug legalisation.

DIANA NGUYEN

Diana Nguyen, a 21-year-old from Melbourne, also died after Defqon.1 on September 15 from a suspected drug overdose.

Ms Nguyen was engaged after her finance had proposed in Hawaii during her 21st birthday in April.

A coronial inquest has been launched to investigate the five deaths which occurred at music festivals.     

Two more deaths may be examined at the inquest.