1. Rhythm & Alps
Are you crazy about mountains and music? Rhythm & Alps fest is the kind of festival you can road trip to. It is one of a kind of camping and summer festival in New Zealand that brings together world-,class bands, DJs and festival-goers to witness new year’s eve together. The camping facilities include hot showers, a food village, a chill zone, a 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:Rhythm & Alps is celebrated in the month of December every year.
Where: Robrosa Station, Wanaka, South Island
2. WOMAD
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: Artist’s CD signing sessions, global village, living library
When: WOMAD is celebrated in the month of march every year.
Where: TSB Bowl of Brookland, New Plymouth
3. Rhythm And Vines
Gisborne is the first city in the world to see 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 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: Rhythm and Vines are celebrated in the month of December every year.
Where: Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
4. Homegrown
Jim Beam Homegrown is probably one of the longest-running and most 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: Homegrown is celebrated in the month of march every year.
Where: Wellington Waterfront, NZ
Best Food Festivals In New Zealand
5. Marlborough Wine Festival
Some say that ‘Wine is 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: Marlborough Wine Festival is celebrated in the month of may every year.
Where: Brancott Vineyard, Marlborough
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: Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is celebrated in the month of march every year.
Where: Weld Lane, Hokitika Beach Front
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: Wellngton On A Plate festival is celebrated in the month of Novermber every year.
Where: Wellington (various venues)
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: Marchfest festival is celebrated in the month of March every year.
Where: Founders Heritage Park, Nelson-Tasman
Top Cultural Festivals In New Zealand
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: Victorian Fete is celebrated in the month of November every year.
Where: Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct, Oamaru
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: World Buskers Festival is celebrated in the month of january every year.
Where: Otautahi Christchurch
