Auckland Events

Whether it’s the summer, winter, spring or autumn, Auckland’s events calendar is in a constant state of revolution. Though it’s a good idea to check the events calendar for the dates of your vacation so to see what pop-up stores and one-off festivals your trip coincides with, there are a handful of Auckland events which you can count on every year. If you’re unsure of event dates and locations feel free to chat with the friendly staff at out CBD and Auckland Airport rental car branches.   

Bring in the Summer with the Taste of Auckland Festival, held in late November each year. Taste of Auckland is a favourite with those serious about their gastronomy, and invariably manages to lure household names from the food world. For something a bit more active, the ASB Classic – New Zealand’s premier tennis tournament – is not to be missed. Taking place every year in January at the ASB Tennis Arena, this sporting event draws some of tennis’ leading international talent (not to mention a thousand-strong crowd). Watch the court action, soak up the sun – the perfect summer activity!

St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is another favourite event in the hotter months and arrives in Auckland in the midst of the great Kiwi summer. A touring festival, Laneway features the hottest Australasian and international artists of the moment, and its chill vibe makes for the perfect day out. For a slightly more intimate festival, Splore is the ticket: held in a beautiful ocean-adjacent location in Orere Point, just south-east of Auckland, Splore is a three-day-long arts and music festival famous for its dress-ups. Public transport is available to get you to Orere point, or collect a rental car form Omega’s Auckland Central car hire branch, or from our Auckland Airport location. 

Auckland is New Zealand’s own city of lights, and its Lantern and Diwali Festivals certainly justify that moniker. Held in the Auckland Domain, the Auckland Lantern Festival is the best way to bring in the Chinese New Year; along with its handmade lanterns, you can experience cultural performances, Chinese art, and Asian delicacies. Auckland Diwali Festival is another of the city’s most popular cultural events and sees Aotea Square transformed into a veritable Indian bazaar. The Pacifica Festival, too, is a wonderful way to celebrate Auckland’s island people and their cultures.

Auckland Pacifica Festival

Image: Google

A further event on the Auckland calendar is New Zealand Fashion Week, now in its 17th year. An integral week for any fashion enthusiast, NZFW takes place in winter, and promotes an exciting mix of up-and-coming and established national designers. And if all that runway pouting’s a bit serious for you – or if you just want to round out your trip to Auckland with a good laugh – then make sure to book tickets the NZ International Comedy Festival, a week-long event which recruits some of the best and brightest comedic talents from near and far. 

Fashion Week