Tauranga primed for massive New Year's Eve

Mount Vibes New Year's Music Festival organisers Morgan Dynes and Pato Alvarez are pleased with ticket sales so far. Photo / John Borren.

Tauranga is gearing up for a big New Year's Eve with two events set to attract crowds to the city.

Mount Vibes New Year's Music Festival will be held at Baypark with camping facilities and has already sold about 20 per cent of its tickets, with eight weeks to go.

Organiser Morgan Dynes said he was pleased with the sales so far.

"We never expected it would go this well, especially when we still have eight weeks to go. It could be sold out.

"If it does sell out, it means that next year will definitely be bigger."

Mr Dynes said he and fellow organiser Pato Alvarez hoped to surprise Baypark with the success of the festival.

Forty per cent of the camping sites had already been sold, Mr Dynes said.

"We're happy with that because it means we will keep people off the roads."

Tauranga City Council is also readying for New Year's Eve.

City events team leader Penny Mitropoulos said there would be two stages set up on Mount Main Beach.

The first stage is on the street in front of the tennis courts on Marine Parade and the acts are Jessie Matthews, The Generators and Kara Gordon, and MCs will be Bridget and Will from the Classic Hits breakfast show.

Ms Mitropoulos said the "beach stage" on the beach toilet block will be MC'd by I Heart Radio and DJ Candy will provide the music.

The bands for this stage are RPM and Triple J Band.

Park n Ride will run again from the old Cossie Club on Kawaka Street in Mt Maunganui from 11am on New Year's Eve to 2am on New Year's Day.

Ms Mitropoulos said road closures will start from 2pm from Grove Ave to Adams Ave within the whole Mt Main Peninsula. Letters to residents and retailers will be going out in early December letting them know of the road closures and vehicle passes for the New Year's period.