5 fantastic festivals to look forward to this summer
Are you ready for an epic summer? Beautiful sunshine, great food, fantastic music and gorgeous scenery – our iconic festivals bring together all the very best things about life in Aotearoa New Zealand. So, give that campervan a service, fill up the water tank and the bottled LPG, and head out on the road for the perfect Kiwi summer experience! Five fantastic festivals the Rockgas team has picked for you to check out this summer.
- WOMAD
Bring your sunscreen, your water bottle and your beach chairs – WOMAD is the place to be in March. WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, and this international festival takes place in Taranaki every year, with 45,000 attendees in 2024. You can expect an eclectic line-up across eight stages, including award-winning global music, incredible artists and inspiring speakers.
This is a culturally diverse, family-friendly festival with a relaxed and accepting vibe. It’s a real destination, attracting a huge number of campervans, tents and even an option for glamping if you’re feeling a little bit fancy.
Put it in the calendar: 14 to 16 March, 2025, New Plymouth.
- Rhythm and Alps
Close out the year in style in gorgeous Cardrona at the Rhythm and Alps festival. Back for its 14th year, the 2024 edition has UK EDM sensation Becky Hill headlining a brilliant line-up of musicians, including local legends Shapeshifter. More than 10,000 people attend each year, enjoying three days of music, fireworks, and Wanaka’s legendary food trucks.
Just like WOMAD, Rhythm and Alps is fully set up to welcome campervans and tents – but this time leave the kids at home.
Put it in the calendar: 30 and 31 December, 2024, Wanaka.
- Wildfoods Festival
For 35 years, Wildfoods has been serving up unusual eating experiences for curious Kiwis and international travellers. Where else can you taste huhu grubs, lamb testicles, or snout on a stick? There’s also more conventional food, music, local fundraising and costumes.
Kids have their own ‘Wild Child’ category in the Feral Fashion competition, so why not bring the whole family? Camping is available right by the Hokitika River, so load up the campervan or grab your tent and head for the West Coast.
Put it in the calendar: 8 March 2025, Hokitika.
- Rhythm and Vines
Since 2003, Rhythm and Vines has been known worldwide as the first festival in the world to welcome the New Year. Now, more than 20 years later, it has grown to become a legendary event on the summer calendar, drawing up to 25,000 revellers to the Waiohika Estate vineyard in Gisborne. This year the headliner is Grammy-nominated US rap superstar Ice Spice, who will be joined by another nearly 100 artists on the line-up.
Along with the music, festivalgoers get to camp among the vines and take part in activities like waterslides, helicopter rides, garden bars and more. You can choose from a wide range of camping options, from RV tickets to tents to premium glamping.
Put it in the calendar: 29 to 31 December 2024, Gisborne.
- Dimension
Described as ‘New Zealand’s premier psychedelic festival’, Dimension is a celebration of art, music and the culture of Northland. It focuses on psytrance, dnb, progressive, dubstep and house music, with a relaxed trance vibe and a uniquely colourful style.
Every ticket includes camping at one of three campgrounds, or upgrade to a vehicle camping pass if you want to bring your campervan. Early tickets are already sold out, so if you’re interested you’ll need to move fast.
Put it in the calendar: 31 January to 3 February 2025, Northland.