The Top 5 Music Festivals To Attend In New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. This country is home to breathtaking views, lots of volcanoes, and crystal clear waters. Additionally, the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in New Zealand. So, not only can those traveling to New Zealand visit Hobbiton, but they can also enjoy some of the country’s great music festivals. Keep reading to learn about the top five music festivals in New Zealand. They are sure to be the perfect addition to your trip!
1) Rhythm and Vines
New Zealand’s largest music festival is located in the city of Gisborne. Rhythm and Vines is an internationally known festival that takes place over the course of three days. Most commonly, the festival takes place on New Year’s Eve weekend. However, the next edition of the festival is set to take place over Easter weekend. Attendees have the choice to buy single-day passes or weekend passes. Camping and hotel/motel packages are available for those staying for all three days. Furthermore, some locals in Gisborne even rent their houses out during the festival so that attendees can stay the weekend in style. Rhythm and Vines has previously hosted world-famous artists including RL Grime, Disclosure, and Juice WRLD.
2) Homegrown
Jim Beam’s Homegrown is a one-day festival at Wellington Waterfront. Known as “Kiwi Music’s Biggest Party” this festival celebrates music and community. Over 40 bands and DJs take to five massive stages to perform music of varying genres. For example, attendees can expect to hear reggae, hip hop, pop, drum & bass, and more. Music isn’t the only thing to enjoy here. Delicious food options and carnival rides help everyone kick off festival season with a bang. Unfortunately, the 2022 edition of Homegrown had to be cancelled. 2023 will most likely sell out, so those hoping to attend should secure their tickets soon.
3) Bay Dreams
Bay Dreams merges music and art in a truly beautiful place. This annual music festival is held in two different locations each year. 20,000 to 30,000 people attend the festival each year, making it one of New Zealand’s largest festivals. Artists that have previously performed at Bay Dreams include Flux Pavilion, Flume, Netsky, and many more.
4) Splore Festival
Splore Festival is a perfectly unique festival that takes place on the shores of Tāpapakanga Regional Park. This three-day boutique festival calls itself “Aotearoa’s greatest dress up party”. Splore Festival doesn’t just focus on music each year. Yes, it hosts a variety of musical acts, but it also focuses on art and surprises to delight each and every attendee. Discover workshops, flash mobs, and more around every turn. Additionally, each year has a theme that everyone can dress up to if they so desire. And, Saturday night is always the most extravagant, focusing on carnival and color!
5) WOMAD New Zealand
WOMAD stands for World Of Music, Arts, and Dance. Known as “the world’s festival”, WOMAD New Zealand takes place over three days. This festival features musicians, artists, speakers, dancers, and more. One of the missions that WOMAD New Zealand has is “to excite, to inform, and to create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society”. This family-oriented festival continues to bring camping, vendors, and more to attendees every single year.
Conclusion
If you love arts, music, camping, and memories made to last a lifetime, you’ll surely love the music festivals that New Zealand has to offer. Local performers as well as world-renowned acts make appearances at these music festivals each year. One of the best parts about attending a music festival in New Zealand is getting to explore this beautiful country while there! Volcanoes, crystal clear water, and even movie sets are part of what makes New Zealand so special. We definitely recommend adding one or more of these amazing music festivals to your list!
Photos by Bay Dreams, Homegrown, Rhythm and Vines, Splore Festival, WOMAD New Zealand
