Travel Articles

Northland Festivals

January
  • Waipu Highland Games
    Scottish music, dance and sports are performed at this tiny Scottish settlement.
  • Bay of Islands Tall Ships Race
    Tall ships, square riggers and classic yachts compete in this race departing Russell in the Bay of Islands.
  • New Zealand Game Fishing Challenge
    The country's premier game fishing tournament.
February
  • Waitangi Day
    New Zealand's national day is celebrated with a public holiday and festivities at its birthplace in Waitangi.
  • Whangaroa One Base Tournament
    Big game fish competition based at Whangaroa.
  • Whangarei Wine & Food Festival
    Wine, beer, food and fun from 11am-6pm at Whangarei's Barge Park.
  • Northland Field Days
    New Zealand's second largest agricultural and horticultural display featuring farm and exotic animals, competitions, food, stalls and helicopter rides. Dargaville showgrounds, entry $7.
March
  • Endless Summer Festival
    Whangarei celebrates during March with performing arts, crafts, opera, theatre and family entertainment, including street busking and puppets. Various venues.
  • Bay of Islands Arts Festival
    Ten days of comedy, dance, theatre, classical jazz and pop music, film, literature and visual arts at the historic village of Russell.
  • The Snapper Classic
    Cash prizes totalling $250,000 at Ninety Mile Beach.
  • Te Houtaewa Challenge
    The annual Ninety Mile Beach marathon commemorates the feats of the legendary Maori athlete Te Houtaewa, who ran the length of Ninety Mile Beach. Categories include the full 60km ultra-marathon, a 42km marathon, a 21km half marathon, a 5 person relay and a 6km fun walk.
April
  • Far North Country Fair
    Kerikeri high street is transformed into a street market offering arts and crafts, food and produce, along with music and entertainment.
  • Kauri Coast Kumara Festival
    Diverse entertainment to mark the kumara (sweet potato) including the Kumara Triathlon from the Kai Iwi Lakes to downtown Dargaville.
May
June
July
  • Kilwell Sports Kai Iwi Lakes Trout Fishing Contest
    A trout fishing tournament on the beautiful Kai Iwi lakes near Dargaville.
August
September
  • Kowhai Summer Festival
    An annual event at Warkworth, north of Auckland, featuring stalls, crafts, parades, family entertainment and a food and wine festival.
  • Russell Oyster Festival
    Russell celebrates the start of its oyster harvest with a day of entertainment including a street parade, floats, live music, dancing, and food and drink stalls.
October
  • Bay of Islands Wine & Food Festival
    A 3-day festival with entertainment, including wine games, wine tasting, a charity wine auction and a wineries tour.
  • Dargaville River Festival
    A festival with German influence including a bierfest.
  • Lindauer Coastal Classic
    This annual regatta for classic yachts takes place at Labour Weekend over a course that runs from Auckland to Russell.
November
  • Kerikeri Half Marathon
    Walk or run from Okaihau to Kerikeri. 
  • Whangarei Garden Discovery
    Live music, local art and food in the city's gardens.
  • Tutukaka Saltwater Fly Fishing Tournament
    A fly fishing competition off the spectacular Tutukaka Coast, near Whangarei.

Auckland & Northland Route PlannerDecember
  • Christmas Jackpot
    A billfish competition at Whangaroa, Northland.

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