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Home / Travel

The best festivals to kick off 2023 in NZ and Australia

Anna Sarjeant
By Anna Sarjeant
Deputy Lifestyle and Travel Editor, Audience·NZ Herald·
17 Dec, 2022 05:30 PM2 mins to read

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Check out some of the latest festivals happening in Aotearoa and beyond. Photo / Auckland Unlimited

Check out some of the latest festivals happening in Aotearoa and beyond. Photo / Auckland Unlimited

Each week in Reset Travel, we check out some of the latest happenings from Aotearoa and beyond to inspire your next adventure.

Waipu Highland Games, January 1

Come January 1, air your dusty head from the night before at Waipu’s 150th Highland Games, one of the longest-running Scottish gatherings in the Southern Hemisphere. Caledonian Park will be awash with bagpipers, Highland dancing, food and drink stalls, as well as family-friendly events. Don’t miss the Heavyweight Games, where pretty much anything weighty is tossed, including an 18-foot-long tree trunk coming in at 58kg. waipuhighlandgames.co.nz


2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the Waipu Highland Games. Photo / John Stone
2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the Waipu Highland Games. Photo / John Stone
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Matakana Food and Beer Festival, January 28

Stay ahead of the curve and score tickets to the first-ever Matakana Food and Beer Festival. Springing up at Matakana Country Park on Saturday, January 28, it’s pitched to be a winning combination of food trucks, locally-crafted beer, and all-day entertainment. Tickets start from $44. matakanafoodbeerfest.com

Auckland Gin Festival, February 3-5

It’s new and GIN-credible, coming to Auckland for three days from February 3, the Gin Festival will take over The Cloud. Taste a selection of 300 gins (some would call it a choice, others a challenge) and purchase all your favourites to take home. From free-flowing samples to demos and tutored tastings, it’s a no-brainer for the avid gin drinker. aucklandlive.co.nz/show/auckland-gin-festival

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It’s new and GIN-credible, the Auckland Gin Festival arrives on February 3.  
Photo / Getty Images
It’s new and GIN-credible, the Auckland Gin Festival arrives on February 3. Photo / Getty Images

Sydney Festival, January 5-29

January is a great month to be Sydney-side, notably for the 24-day-long Sydney Festival. Commencing January 5, experience the city at its creative best with exhilarating art - and artists - to impress every attendee. Next year’s highlights include a multi-sensory Frida Kahlo exhibition and the Maho Magic Bar, a neon-lit Japanese-inspired bar featuring magicians, it’s both a venue and a performance. sydneyfestival.org.au

The 2023 Sydney Festival includes a multi-sensory Frida Kahlo exhibition. Photo / Sydney Festival
The 2023 Sydney Festival includes a multi-sensory Frida Kahlo exhibition. Photo / Sydney Festival

Palm Tree Music Festival, Australia March 10-12

Debuting in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in March 2023, the Palm Tree Music Festival is already an international hit in the US, Mexico and Croatia. Headlining high-profile DJs such as Kygo and Tiesto, the new festival kicks off in Sydney on March 10 and plays in Brisbane and Melbourne in the days following. palmtreemusicfestival.com


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