Queenstown heats up for an action-packed summer with new international concerts, New Year’s Eve celebrations, food and wine festivals, street parties, free community events, and sporting matches.

New Year’s Eve goes off with a bang in central Queenstown with a spectacular lakeside fireworks display, live music and parties in the streets. The celebrations kickstart the month-long Summerdaze Festival filled with sporting, arts, cultural, musical and family entertainment.

This New Year’s Eve, Queenstown plays host to a new annual music festival EarthTonz featuring more than 30 hours of live music over two days. On 30 December there’s a great line up of Kiwi bands at Gibbston Valley Station while on New Year’s Eve the big guns come out with Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) & DJ Aero, big beating Americans Crystal Method, British break beat band The Freestylers, DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill), Kraak & Smaak, AK 1200/DJ Dara/MC Messinian (Planet of the Drums), Boombox, Ana Sia, Heatbox, NZ’s own Minuit, and other international dance and electronica acts.

January is full of events action, beginning with the Glenorchy Race Day. This iconic event has been running for more than 40 years and is a true southern Kiwi experience. Locals turn out in force to cheer on the competitors, many of whom are local horse trekking staff and stockmen/women, so competition is fierce!

The hugely popular and colourful national Rugby Sevens tournament is also on in January, and is considered one of the sporting highlights on the summer calendar. The two-day event in central Queenstown is famous for its fun, laidback atmosphere and attracts capacity crowds. 

Town meets country each January at the Lake Hayes A&P Show. This is a great family day out with heaps of attractions including a petting zoo, parades, show jumping and wool shearing as well as live music, a BBQ cook off and a variety of food, wine and craft stalls. Comedian Te Radar is back by popular demand as MC.

Wine and food enthusiasts come together in late January for the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration, which showcases Central Otago’s best wine, cuisine and scenery.

Music lovers are spoilt for choice in February with several major international acts performing around Queenstown.  Legendary rock bands the Doobie Brothers and Little River Band will play all their greatest hits against the stunning backdrop of Gibbston Valley Winery, one of Central Otago’s most internationally recognised vineyards, while Australian roots band the John Butler Trio and funky American soul singer Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme will perform at Peregrine’s award-winning winery.  And after their hit concert last year, Creedence Clearwater Revisited will return for a gig at Queenstown Events Centre.

Browse the site for a full calendar of events, how to get to Queenstown and where to stay, play, shop, eat and drink  - see you soon!