In the South West of Pacific Ocean is this stunningly beautiful country called New Zealand. You must have heard of the happening festivals in New Zealand organized in different parts of its two mainlands – North and South Islands. New Zealand is a treat to the eyes with diverse scenic beauty having mountains, wide green pastures, lakes, rivers, beaches and even volcanic zones.
Just like its name, indicating a “new zeal” or new excitement, the country’s spirit is reflected in its hundreds of festivals celebrated throughout the year. These festivals are usually a celebration of New Zealand’s culture and its openness to other cultures. An amalgamation of great music, crazy food & beverage, vivid forms of performing arts and activities setup amidst breathtaking scenic beauty.
11 Best New Zealand Festivals
New Zealand’s incredible scenic beauty plays host to some of the amazing music, food, cultural and vintage festivals throughout the year. Below are 10 most happening and best festivals in New Zealand to add to your bucket list.
- Rhythm & Alps
- WOMAD
- Rhythm And Vines
- Homegrown
- Marlborough Wine Festival
- Hokitika Wildfoods Festival
- Wellington On A Plate
- Marchfest
- Victorian Fete
- World Buskers Festival
- Earth Beat Festival
Top Music Festivals In New Zealand
Here’s a list of the major music festivals in New Zealand for letting your hair down till the sun sets and wakes up again. Take a look!
1. Rhythm & Alps
Are you crazy about mountains and music? Rhythm & Alps fest is kind of festival you can road trip to. It is one of a kind camping and summer festival in New Zealand that brings together world-class bands, DJ’s and festival-goers to witness the new year’s eve together. The camping facilities includes hot showers, food village, chill zone, swimming hole, phone charging and much more. Come to Rhythm & Alps fest to be rewarded with one of the most unique New Zealand music festivals on the planet.
Major Attractions: Matt Corby, The Cat Empire
When: Update Soon
Entry Fee: INR 5000 – 34000
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2. WOMAD
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WOMAD – World of Music, Arts and Dance is an internationally established festival that celebrates the world’s many forms of music, arts and dance. The festival’s central aim is to excite, inform, and create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society. An interesting twist you would see during this festival is ‘Nova Energy Taste The World’ where artists swap instruments and microphones for cooking utensils and unusual ingredients. This celebration has surely become one of the traditional festivals in New Zealand now.
Major Attractions: Artists CD signing sessions, global village, living library
When: Thu, May 11, 2023 – Sun, May 14, 2023
Entry Fee: INR 15000 – 18000
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3. Rhythm And Vines
Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the the New Year, as it is on New Zealand’s East Cape. A 3 day long international music festival, Rhythm and Vines, is the first festival in the world to welcome in the first sunrise of the new year. If you are someone who can’t live without music, it is one of the best music festivals in New Zealand you should be looking forward to.
Major Attractions: Previously featured artists like SET MO, Soaked Oats, Jack Berry, Netsky, Wilkinson
When: Dec 29 to Dec 31
Where: Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
Entry Fee: INR 20500 – 34000
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4. Homegrown
Jim Beam Homegrown is probably one of the longest-running and popular music festivals in New Zealand with 5 stages and about 50 bands rocking the stages each year. This is the ultimate festival to check local Kiwi music in New Zealand’s happening capital, Wellington. We are pretty sure that you’d have a gala attending this celebration and it’ll make you fall in love with music all over again.
When: Sat, Mar 18, 2023
Where: Wellington Waterfront, NZ
Entry Fee: INR 5500 – 9600 (excluding booking charges)
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Best Food Festivals In New Zealand
Here’s a list of the famous food festivals in New Zealand where you can treat your taste buds to the best cuisines of the country. Take a look.
5. Marlborough Wine Festival
Some say that ‘Wine is a bottled poetry’. If that’s true for you then the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival is your must-attend event. This is New Zealand’s original and longest running wine festival, held in its largest wine-making region. Enjoy the opportunity to sample a unique selection of world-class wines, delicious local cuisine along with some music. All in one of Marlborough’s oldest and most picturesque vineyards – Brancott Vineyard where 40 local wineries get together for a huge party.
When: 11 February, 2023
Where: Update Soon
Entry Fee: INR 4000
6. Hokitika Wildfoods Festival
If you are the kind who can go to any extent to have the real experience of different cultures then Hokitika Wildfoods festival is of your interest. This is a celebration of all things wild from the West Coast, which makes it one of the best food festivals in New Zealand. The festival brings in usual wild treats with other exciting gourmet options on the menu, with the aim to expose your palate to something new. Some of the mouthwatering dishes include marinated tuna, whitebait patties, gourmet sausages, smoked salmon, an assortment of game meats, a traditional Maori hangi and various international cuisines. The festival also includes a Feral Fashion Competition, After Party and music performances by various famous artists on the Mainstage.
Major Attractions: Sons of Zion, My Baby, The Slacks, The River Jesters, Dee May And The Saints and New Zealand Army Band.
When: March 11th 2023
Where: Cass Square
Entry Fee: INR 3000
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7. Wellington On A Plate
Wellington on a Plate (WOAP) is an epic food festival in New Zealand which is not limited to just one place or one day. It’s a region-wide culinary takeover. Wellington’s restaurants, venues, laneways, and even car parks become hosts to this wild celebration of food and beverage. Burgers are a popular food choice in Wellington. The Wellington Festival has exclusive set menus with experimental burgers, creative cocktails, a variety of Garage Project wines, over 100 exciting events and pop-ups.
Major Attractions: hands-on masterclasses, free food-themed ‘grammable’ exhibitions, international chef collaborations, multi-course preparations
When: Update Soon
Where: Wellington (various venues)
Entry Fee: No tickets needed
8. Marchfest
MarchFest is a unique craft beer and music festival set in a beautiful environment. Unlike other beer festivals, all the beer that is brought in Marchfest are exclusively made for the fest and have never been tasted before. Top North and South brew10 Cool Festivals in New Zealand To Make Your Tour A Celebration series participate in the event and over 20 brand new beers are introduced in the event. The festival features a strong music line up.
Major Attractions: Kids Zone and the Brew Zone
When: Date to be announced soon
Where: Founders Heritage Park, Nelson-Tasman
Entry Fee: INR 3000
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Top Cultural Festivals In New Zealand
New Zealand is full of cultural celebrations that’ll take you by surprise. Here’s a list of top most popular festivities that you must attend on your trip.
9. Victorian Fete
New Zealand has a history of being a British colony. Though its regions are “coming out” to the world, there are occasions when they look back and remember the gone days. The Victorian Fete is one such occasion during which they take a step back in time and sample the nostalgia of the Victorian era right in the heart of the Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct. The festival-goers show up in vintage – style victorian full-dresses during the procession. You can try your hand on riding a Penny Farthing. Have a leisure time enjoying amazing food, wine, beer, and world-class whisky at one of the exciting New Zealand traditional festivals. You can also shop for traditional and antique craft pieces.
Major Attractions: Activities: Book Binding, mask making, Morris Dancing displays – a parade
When: 15-19 November 2023
Where: Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct, Oamaru
Entry Fee: INR 700
10. World Buskers Festival
The Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival is one of a kind event that brings up world famous busking pitches to world – class programme of local, national and international acts. A large number of street performers, comedians, fringe artists, musicians and visual artists from NZ and abroad come together in this entertainment festival. The World Buskers Festival is organised in various parts of NZ and world.
When: September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Where: Update Soon
11. Earth Beat Festival
Earth Beat is one of the most cultural festivals in New Zealand that primarily focuses on nurturing and nourishing the mauri of Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa, the land, and the people. The Grassroots Festival in Tāmaki Makaurau is all about experimentation in arts, music, culture, and self-expression. From workshops to boost guests’ intellect to several entertainment programs for families, the festival is a treat for travellers of all age groups. Another prime focus of the festival is to showcase robust sustainability and māori values mingled with the theme of the festival. A hangi workshop and a Treaty of Waitangi workshop, as well as permaculture, regenerative planting, etc., are some intriguing elements of the festival that will keep the guests entertained.
Further Read: 15 Fun Things To Do In New Zealand
There’s a saying, “If you want to buy a slice of heaven, you need to make New Zealand your home.” You will agree! Just google the place on your smartphone right now, and find yourself falling in love with New Zealand right then. This destination has the potential to satisfy the wanderlust in you. New Zealand is calling to celebrate life, where are you?
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Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In New Zealand
What are the spring festivals in New Zealand?
Tauranga Arts Festival, Handkerchiefs at Dawn in Whangamata, Hastings Spring Festival, Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge are some of the New Zealand cultural festivals held in Spring.
What are festivals in New Zealand in September?
Whitianga Scallops Festival, West Coast White Bait Festival, Hastings Spring Festival, World of Wearable Art Award Show are held in September in New Zealand.
A writer at TravelTriangle, Elin, enjoys putting her travel experiences into words. She is a lover of cats and coffee and believes in the idea of ‘Live and let live’.
