The Best New Zealand Music Festivals To Attend In The Summer
Stopping by a few music festivals is a great way to make the most of your Aotearoa New Zealand van trip.
Here’s a list of some of our favourite festivals in the country!
Splore, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
When it’s on next: February 23-25, 2024
Love a dress-up party? Splore is an epic three-day festival where party-goers get a chance to let loose and be totally themselves. Here you’ll find music, art, workshops, installations, and beautiful people - all set at Tapapakanga Regional Park (just an hour’s drive from Auckland), making it one of the most scenic festival settings in the world.
Electric Avenue, Ōtautahi Christchurch
When it’s on next: Saturday February 24, 2024
Electric Avenue is one of the best and biggest music festivals in the South Island. Crammed into one day, you get 12 hours of partying to 25 acts across three stages. This celebration of art and music is hosted at Hagley Park, and artists like Lorde, L.A.B., Flume, and Synthony will be there.
WOMAD, New Plymouth
When it’s on next: March 15-17, 2024
You might have heard of or visited WOMAD before - it’s one of the most well-established festivals worldwide, having been held in 27 countries since 1982! Make your way to the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands in Taranaki for a three-day vibrantly artistic, multicultural, and family-friendly experience (and take a pic of your Mojo Sleepervan there for us 😉).
Pasifika Festival, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
When it’s on next: March 9-10, 2024
Don’t miss Aotearoa’s biggest celebration of Pacific culture. It is a people-oriented, family event that brings communities together, showcasing a range of different events, including music, performances, fashion shows, games, and more.
Northern Bass, Mangawhai
When it’s on next: December 29 - 31, 2023
Enter the new year with three days of filthy wubs and mind-bending beats. Northern Bass brings in some of the world’s best electronic musicians, like Ladi6, Chase & Status, Salmonella Dub, and Lee Mvtthews at their last event! Plus, Northern Bass has a great campsite and loads of easy amenities, including food stalls, hot showers(!), and bars.
Twisted Frequency, Golden Bay
When it’s on next: December 30, 2023 - January 3, 2024
If you’re looking for the ultimate outdoor festival experience, Twisted Frequency has you sorted. Super close to the beach and surrounded by native forest, this is a place where you can enjoy five days of connection, community, art, and music in one of the most stunning parts of the country. Twisted Frequency creates a platform for experimental and underground electronic musicians who are changing the game in Aotearoa’s music scene.
Aum, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
When it’s on next: December 30, 2023 - January 2, 2024
Aum is a beautiful three-day music and art festival that will totally inspire your creativity coming into the new year. It is a place where you can dance like nobody’s watching to the tastiest beats, form meaningful connections with cool people, and feel safe partying in a space that emphasises consent and respect for the environment.
Laneway Festival, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
When it’s on next: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Music lovers from around the country come to Auckland just for Laneway Festival. The 2024 line-up is set to be epic and includes the likes of Stormzy, Steve Lacy, Dominic Fike, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and so much more.
Auckland Folk Festival, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
When it’s on next: January 26-29, 2024
Auckland Folk Festival is a vibrant festival that brings together local and international artists, traditional and contemporary folk music, the young and the old, as well as chill vibes and amazing boogies. Absorb yourself in traditional folk music from a wide range of cultures, including Māori, Celtic, Scandinavian, and Latino - music for the people.
Hot Tips for Festivals in New Zealand
We’ve heard a lot of people say that music festivals in New Zealand are different from the ones you’ll find overseas.
One, they’re smaller - so the community element is a lot stronger. Two, many of them (including Aum, Splore, and more) have a strong Leave No Trace policy - proper care and respect for the environment. Not all of them have as much of an emphasis on the Leave No Trace message, but it’s something we are really passionate about here at Mojo Campers.
So, to make the most of your time at the festival in a way that is considerate to the environment and the people around you:
● Bring your own rubbish, recycling, and compost bags.
● When you leave, take everything with you.
● Read up on consent and boundary setting at festivals before you go, and research the kind of care that will be available at the you want to attend.
● If the festival allows you to, bring a big water container, gumboots, a wheelbarrow, and a bike. Trust us.
● Reapply sunblock every 2 hours - New Zealand has a hole in the ozone layer right above us, so the sun hits different!
● Hire a Mojo Camper for easier, more comfortable camping.