February brings the warmest settled weather of the year and the busiest festival calendar. Kids are back at school, so weekends fill up fast with music festivals, arts festivals and endurance races. These are the events that return every February.
Dates shift each year, so use this as a planning guide and confirm details with each organiser.
Annual February events
Waitangi Day, 6 February
New Zealand's national day is marked at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in Northland and at community events around the country. The Treaty Grounds draw large crowds on the day, so arriving by coach saves a lot of parking stress.
Laneway Festival, Auckland
The Auckland leg of the touring indie music festival is held at Western Springs. In 2027 Auckland hosts the final stop of the tour.
Art Deco Festival, Napier
Napier celebrates its 1930s architecture over a long weekend in mid to late February, with vintage cars, period costume, dances and more than 200 events. Many visitors travel in from around the North Island as a group.
Electric Avenue, Christchurch
Two days of international and local acts in Hagley Park in late February. Tickets sell out months ahead, and getting a group to and from the park is far easier with a pre-booked drop-off.
Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa
Ten days of theatre, music, comedy and family events, mostly inside Hamilton Gardens, in late February.
BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival
Held over four evenings around the end of Lunar New Year celebrations at the Manukau Sports Bowl, with hundreds of handmade lanterns, performances and food stalls. Entry is free but tickets are required. Depending on the lunar calendar it can fall in late February or early March.
NZ Fringe Festival, Wellington
More than three weeks of independent theatre, comedy and performance across the Wellington region, running from mid February into early March.
Te Matatini (every two years)
The national kapa haka festival is held every second February. The 2027 festival is at Hopuhopu in Waikato from 22 to 27 February.
February sport
- Coast to Coast: the multisport race across the South Island from Kumara Beach to New Brighton, held in mid February.
- Southern Cross Round the Bays: fun runs in Wellington and Christchurch in February, with Auckland following in March.
- Challenge Wānaka: a triathlon festival on the shores of Lake Wānaka, with the main race on the Saturday.
- New Zealand Open: the national golf open at Millbrook Resort near Arrowtown, usually in late February.
Getting your group there
Big February events bring road closures, limited parking and long taxi queues at the end of the night. A private minibus or coach keeps your group together, gets you to the official drop-off zone and takes everyone home at a set time.
- Book early for long weekends and the biggest festivals, as coaches in the host town are often fully booked weeks ahead.
- Check the event's transport page for the bus drop-off point before you confirm pick-up times.
- Allow extra time after the last act or final whistle for crowds to clear.
- For multi-day festivals, ask about a return trip on each day or a single drop-off and pick-up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest music festival in New Zealand in February?
Electric Avenue in Christchurch is one of the country's largest, with tens of thousands attending over two days in Hagley Park.
Is Waitangi Day a public holiday?
Yes. 6 February is a national public holiday. When it falls on a weekend, the holiday moves to the following Monday.
Book group transport for February events
Bus Hire NZ arranges minibuses and coaches for groups of all sizes, from 11-seat minibuses to 53-seat coaches, with professional drivers who know the venues, the drop-off points and the event traffic plans.
Tell us your event, date and group size through our quick quote form, and we will come back with options.