Summer Event Guide
Florence Hill Lookout, The Catlins

Summer Event Guide

December - February

Southland’s book-end long summer days are packed with fantastic events. Take your pick from our summer offerings of outdoor activities—sweat it out or set it out picnic style. Iconic walking tracks done differently provide an undiluted sense of achievement when they’re accomplished. They also provide both excitement and discovery for kids while you take a well-earned break from your everyday.

There’s motorsport offerings, music festivals, adventure races and more with picturesque backdrops, and hidden corners to explore. Tributes to homegrown heroes and being transported to another age. Stress melts away under the summer sun as you marvel at rural technology and innovation, bumping into old friends and making new ones along the way.

Dive in, read each event’s tale told through a storyteller’s eyes and enjoy a sneak peek video highlight, which is sure to entice you into coming south this summer.

BROWSE SOUTHLAND'S FEATURED EVENTS IN

DECEMBER

BROWSE SOUTHLAND'S FEATURED EVENTS IN

JANUARY

BROWSE SOUTHLAND'S FEATURED EVENTS IN

FEBRUARY

ALL UPCOMING SUMMER EVENTS

Things to do in Southland in Summer

With long sunny days, a diverse landscape, great food and drink and plenty of outdoor activities, Southland is the perfect summer destination. Home to five of New Zealand's Great Walks, two multiday cycle trails, a multitude of summer events and the best driving route in New Zealand, you are spoilt for choice to keep you entertained you might just have to come back next summer too, to finish off this list of the Top Southland Summer Experiences.

People jumping of boat in Doubtful Sound

Summer in Southland

Summer is all about outdoor adventures and long, sun-filled days. December to February Temperatures between 15°C and 25°C With long sunny days, a diverse landscape, great food and drink and plenty of outdoor activities…

Where to eat & stay in Southland

When it comes to food, Murihiku Southland's abundance knows no bounds. The region's fertile plains and coastal waters produce many New Zealand delicacies, from world-famous meat and game to succulent seafood and the freshest, crunchiest vegetables. Take your pick of exceptional tasting, grass-fed lamb, prime pasture-fed beef, and the finest Fiordland venison, and we can't forget our humble Southland Cheese Roll. Divine dishes that are uniquely Southland, created by talented chefs across vibrant cafes and bakeries, picturesque country pubs and fine-dining restaurants in down-to-earth settings.

And accommodation is no different, as there are options for all budgets, from luxurious lodges and hotels to budget-friendly hostels and motels. Plenty of camping and caravan parks exist for those who prefer to be closer to nature. You can expect a warm welcome, plenty of tasty food options, and comfortable accommodation to suit your visit.

Couple eating seafood in Bluff

Food & Drink

From the finest ocean fare to fantastic farm fresh produce — Murihiku Southland is a food lovers’ paradise. With the perfect amount of sunshine and rain, the region’s fertile plains and coastal waters produce many New…

Prospect Lodge
Prospect Lodge, Fiordland

Accommodation

Southland has an abundance of places to stay, offering plenty of variety no matter your itinerary or budget. In every region there are locals keen to share their slice of paradise with travellers through their B&B’s, homestays and…

Southland Events