Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
February
The sun is shining, the nights are long, and the sav blanc and pale ale are chillin' in
the fridge: this is prime party time across NZ. Book your festival tickets (and beds) in
advance!
Waitangi Day
On 6 February 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between Maori chiefs and the Brit-
ish Crown. The day remains a public holiday across NZ, and in Waitangi itself (the Bay of
Islands) there are guided tours, concerts, market stalls and family entertainment.
New Zealand International Arts Festival
This month-long spectacular (
www.festival.co.nz
) happens in Wellington in February to
March every even-numbered year, and is sure to spark your imagination. NZ's cultural cap-
ital exudes artistic enthusiasm with theatre, dance, music and visual arts, and there are in-
ternational acts aplenty.
Fringe NZ
More music, theatre, comedy, dance and visual arts in Wellington, but not the mainstream
stuff from the New Zealand International Arts Festival. This festival (
www.fringe.co.nz
)
highlights the more unusual, emerging, controversial, low-budget and/or downright weird
acts.
Splore
Explore Splore (
www.splore.net
), a cutting-edge outdoor summer fest in Tapapakanga Re-
gional Park, southeast of Auckland. Contemporary live music, performance and visual arts,
safe swimming, pohutukawa trees, and the company of very laid-back locals. Come here to
chill out.
