Ascot Park Christmas at the Races
A sea of festive marquees fans out in front of you as glamorously dressed partygoers mingle in the Southland sun. Welcome to Christmas at the Races.
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Explore Southland’s fantastic line-up of unmissable events "You won't Want to Miss". Appreciate reading each event’s tale, told through the eyes of a storyteller and enjoy a sneak peek highlight which is sure to entice you to come along.
No matter the season, Southland has an events calendar packed with colour, fun and adventures “you won’t want to miss”. Events explore every angle of what it is to be alive and what better time than now to discover the region’s stunning seasonal showpieces. Get together, go solo and look on in awe, have a go – we’re only limited by our imagination, and in Southland, the sky is most definitely not the limit.
A sea of festive marquees fans out in front of you as glamorously dressed partygoers mingle in the Southland sun. Welcome to Christmas at the Races.
An unrivalled gathering of the best and brightest Kiwi country music talent and sway the week away at NZ’s Country Music Festival.
Southland’s most famous export, the Bluff oyster, is celebrated in style at the annual Bluff Oyster and Food Festival.
The life of the legendary motorbike racing legend Burt Munro is celebrated every year in Southland with the Burt Munro Challenge.
If you love your tennis served with a side of world-class scenery, the Distinction Hotels Te Anau Invitational has the ticket for you.
See the historic town of Edendale transform into one of New Zealand’s biggest annual vintage machinery events.
If you’re looking for an event that sums up New Zealand - Fiordland’s The Big 3 will hook you for sure.
There’s no better way to put an awesome exclamation mark on the summer holidays than attending the Fiordland Summer Beerfest in Te Anau.
Fire up your sense of nostalgia at the George Begg Festival held in Invercargill.
Southland’s most popular family event is jam-packed with hundreds of hands-on activities, rides and experiences for kids of all kinds.
See some of the best darts players in New Zealand — each entering the arena to the sounds of their unique walk-on music. There’s a huge party atmosphere coming to the Ascot Park Hotel in October.
Let the mountains wrap their arms around you as you embrace New Zealand’s premier mountain run.
Immerse yourself in an era of elegance and be transported to an age of open cockpit flight and steam-powered railway journeys.
Laugh your way to a newer you at the Men’s Muster Fiordland. The annual event is set in the picturesque lakeside location of Te Anau, with the majestic and jaw-dropping World Heritage Area of Fiordland as your backdrop.
Spectacular backdrops, stunning scenery and a vibe that can’t be beaten - it has to be the Hydro Half.
7,000 tamariki take to the stage for this powerful week-long festival celebrating the sights and sounds of the pacific every year.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, but those up for the challenge to road race 120KM on the Milford Road are in for the ride of a lifetime.
The eyes of the fashion world turn south every July where prestigious judges grace the panel and winners often go on to glittering careers in the fashion industry.
There’s a little bit of magic waiting for you at the MLT Moonshine Trail. Grab the running shoes or mountainbike and take to the saddle for the day.
Indulge your soul in everything from bluegrass to roots as musicians from throughout New Zealand converge for a weekend in the heart of the beautiful Catlins.
It's the gala dinner of the year bringing road transport legends together from all corners of the country. Throw in a charity auction and a visit to the spiritual home of the wheel - and it’s clear there’s a lot to love…
Conquer one of New Zealand’s famous Great Walks in a single day. The country's southern-most trail run is the ultimate weekend getaway.
The Revenant is an unsupported individual or two person team Ultra Adventure Run covering more than 190km and about 16,000m of vertical ascent.
It’s a celebration of all things organic and natural - in a magical Western Southland setting, under the Takitimu mountains at Mangapiri Downs Organic stud Farm, a pioneering organic stud sheep, cattle and forestry farm.
A 10-day iconic exhibition attracting some of New Zealand’s finest artists to showcase their outstanding artwork at a majestically curated visual feast.
Enjoy an absorbing wholesome weekend retreat in the charming township of Riverton to celebrate Southland’s home harvest where you will be welcomed and wowed.
Travel with your fellow athletes by helicopter or on the highway by bus to run over New Zealand’s world-famous Routeburn Track in one day.
A festival, celebrating Southland’s tastiest dishes, beverages and our outstanding accommodation at locations all over Southland.
More than 100 riders. Over 800 kilometres. 7 action-packed days. This is one of New Zealand’s largest, toughest and most prestigious cycling events.
Thousands converging on paddocks showcasing ag machinery and innovations from New Zealand and around the world.
If you think you know A&P shows, you might be in for a surprise. On the first Saturday of March each year, the Southland A&P Show bursts into spectacular life at picturesque Donovan Park in Invercargill.
Southland Beer, Wine and Wild Food Festival, the world’s southern-most craft beer festival, showcases Southland’s unique brand of laidback sophistication.
Take a trip through the diverse flavours, sights and sounds of Southland’s epic Multicultural Food Festival.
Take your seat for a lunch like no other. It’s a gala atmosphere with a funky restaurant vibe, as Te Anau’s finest restaurants serve up heavenly dishes.
The Te Anau Enduro is probably the most laidback, active fun you’ll ever have. Complete as many laps as you can on and around beautiful Lake Te Anau.
The Stabicraft Marine Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic, held every Labour Weekend, is the perfect opportunity to soak up majestic views of Fiordland and the Te Anau Basin.
Visitors from near and far converge to let their inner highlander loose every Easter to celebrate the strong Scottish ancestry of the south.
The 3x3 Cup will be held at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill featuring impressive teams in non-stop action over the four days!
For those who want to get off the beaten track, Southland is the ideal place to visit. One of the largest regions in New Zealand, Southland’s vast array of lakes, rivers, mountains and open plains make it a place of incomparable and unique beauty. Its rugged coastline, stretching a staggering 3,400 kilometres is one of Southland’s most treasured assets. Home to countless species of native wildlife, it invites visitors back to nature in tranquil surroundings.
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