New Year's Eve is just around the corner and tickets for some of the most popular events are already beginning to sell out.
The best choices for families are the Glo Festival in Rotorua and Whangamata's New Year's Eve party, both of which are free, alcohol-free and suitable for all ages. The Glo Festival features a number of award-winning local Rotorua bands and wraps up with a fireworks display. Whangamata's New Year's Eve party is the fourth of five free evening events and features The Dozen, an Auckland covers band.
For one-night events close to Rotorua, there is the Waihi Beach Summer Festival which features the Jordan Luck Band, with Hello Sailor and Faith No More. This is an R18 event and costs $65 for general admission and $110 for VIP.
The Exodus New Year's Eve Party in Papamoa has two stages, 19 bands and six DJs. Headlining acts include legendary band Herbs, Katchafire, 1814, Three Houses Down and Cornerstone Roots. The event runs from 12.30pm to 1.30am, is R18 and costs $65 earlybird general admission or $130 earlybird VIP.
The Quit the City festival will be an affordable option. An R18 event, the festival is held in Whitford,, approximately 45 minutes out of Auckland and has two stages, 18 bands and 12 hours of live music from bands such as 1814, David Dallas, dDub, J Williams, Kidz in Space, PNC, Savage, Sir-Vere, Tahuna Breaks and The Black Seeds. It runs from 2pm to 2am, earlybird tickets cost $45 and it is $70 for the R22 area.