7 New Zealand Spring Events Not to Miss
Spring is the perfect time to experience a few ‘must see’ events in New Zealand. When the weather begins to warm up so do numerous events from the tip of the North Island to the bottom of the South. We love springtime here at Kiwi Holiday Parks and Accommodation (KHPA) and look forward to welcoming you to our parks when you’re attending spring events anywhere in NZ. Here are a few of our favourites:
North Island Spring Events
“it!” Bay of Islands Food & Wine Festival — Paihia
6 October 2018
Now in its ninth year this boutique festival’s catch phrase of “Love it! Cook it! Drink it! Bite it! Sing it!” sums it up nicely. Along with fabulous food, award winning wine and craft beers you can also entertain the crowd by entering ‘Kina Sucking’, ‘Oyster Shucking/Eating’ and ‘Pie Eating’ competitions! Located across from the ocean on the green of Marsden Road it’s a short trip from the Bay of Islands Holiday Park and Camping Grounds.
PowerCo Taranaki Garden Festival
26 October – 4 November 2018
The Taranaki Garden Festival is the perfect spring time festival! Now in its 31st year, and formerly known as the Rhododendron Festival, the event now includes entry to Taranaki’s awesome regional gardens, 40 glorious privately owned gardens along with 30 gardens that form the annual Sustainable Backyards Trail — inspiring people to live more sustainable lives. A wide range of events are on offer within the festival including garden tours, walks, workshops, art exhibitions and celebrity speakers. Two Kiwi Holiday Parks fall right on the festival trail — but you’ll want to book early as this festival is internationally recognised and accommodation fills quickly.
Running at the same time as the Taranaki Garden Festival is the complementary Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival — ‘Real Gardens for Real People’ now in its 14th year, which showcases 61 Taranaki gardens or places of interest.
World of Wearable Arts (WOW) — Wellington
27 September – 14 October 2018
This year WOW, an internationally renowned design competition will be celebrating its 30th year! From its humble beginnings as a local competition in Nelson, to the vibrant theatrical display that now attracts competitors from over 40 countries throughout the world, WOW is set to truly wow everyone who attends with a display that must be seen to be believed. Base yourself at Wellington’s Kiwi Holiday Park and take the short trip by road or train into the city — but get in fast as tickets sell quickly.
South Island Spring Events
New Zealand Cup and Show Week — Christchurch
10–17 November 2018
New Zealand’s largest spring festival takes place towards the end of spring in the middle of November in Canterbury. With three Kiwi Holiday Parks in close proximity to all of the action, you may want to consider booking ahead of time so as not to miss out! Show Week as it’s known to the locals is an annual event that ‘celebrates all things racing, fashion, family fun, agricultural innovation and the best of the region’s food and beverage offerings’. Tickets are on sale now and if you need a little guidance on what to wear, here is the Beginner’s Guide to the Cup and Show Week.
Victorian Fete — Located in Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct
18 November 2018
A short half-hour drive from Moeraki Boulders Kiwi Holiday Park is the town of Oamaru and the location for the Network Waitaki Victorian Fete, a must see for anyone interested in stepping back in time and enjoying the nostalgia of the Victorian era in this region. Enjoy being entertained by jugglers, street performers, magicians and stilt walkers clothed in Victorian attire. A range of artisan stalls selling fine Victorian wares and street food is sure to entice. Visitors are encouraged to dress in Victorian costume —hire your outfit from the Victorian Wardrobe and really get into the spirit.
Alexandra Blossom Festival
21–24 September 2018
This is a must do for anyone travelling as far south as Central Otago over the spring time. Only a 2.5 hr drive from Dunedin, Alexandra is a must-see in the third week of September as New Zealand’s longest-running festival (dating back to 1957) gets underway. Alexandra’s lifeblood lies in the summer fruit and wool industries, which are celebrated in various forms throughout the festival. Base yourself at one of our two Kiwi Holiday Parks in Dunedin and take the scenic drive to Alexandra and experience the opening night ‘Mardi Gras’ and Saturday’s ‘Grand Procession’, featuring an array of colourful handcrafted floats, that leads you through to the ‘Saturday in the Park’ festivities including live music and fun for the whole family.
Even if you miss the festival, you can still enjoy events that carry through until the 30 September including the famous Blossom Drive where the town and surrounds of Alexandra are swathed in the pink and white of the cherry blossom trees. Check out the official 2018 programme here.
Whilst you’re staying in Dunedin over this period you might also like to check out some of the theatre, visual arts, music and dance events happening during the Dunedin Art Festival.
We hope you have fun experiencing some of New Zealand’s not-to-be-missed events. Travel safely through our beautiful country and don’t forget your Kiwi Card to make excellent savings on the different types of accommodation KHPA offer.
Images:
‘The River Flat Tupare Gardens’ by Taranaki Regional Council
‘Susan Holmes 2’ by Tony Hisgett under CC BY 2.0.
‘Victorian Fete’ by Victorian Oamaru
‘low angle photo of cherry blossoms tree’ by Arno Smit on Unsplash
