May is late autumn in New Zealand, and the event calendar moves indoors. It is a strong month for comedy, writing and food, and it finishes with the King's Birthday long weekend at the start of June.
The events below run every year. Confirm dates with each organiser before you book.
Annual May events
NZ International Comedy Festival
Most of May is given over to stand-up, improv and comedy galas in Auckland and Wellington, with a nationwide tour of selected shows. A night at the comedy festival is a popular work social, and group bookings are common.
Auckland Writers Festival
Authors, journalists and thinkers from New Zealand and overseas speak at venues in central Auckland in May. School groups often attend the schools programme.
Bluff Oyster and Food Festival
Southland celebrates the start of the Bluff oyster season with a one-day festival in Bluff, usually in late May. The festival's future has been uncertain in recent years, so check that it is going ahead before planning a trip.
Steampunk Festival, Oamaru
Oamaru's Victorian precinct hosts costume parades, markets and displays over King's Birthday weekend at the end of May or start of June.
Snow Fest, Queenstown
A new community celebration to mark the start of winter in Queenstown, held over King's Birthday weekend with events in town and at Coronet Peak.
May sport
- Rotorua Marathon: a lap of Lake Rotorua, usually held in early May.
- Hawke's Bay Marathon: a scenic course through the wine country, held in May.
- Super Rugby Pacific: the regular season continues, with play-off games in late May and June.
Getting your group there
Big May 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
Where is the NZ International Comedy Festival held?
The main festival runs in Auckland and Wellington, with some shows touring to other towns.
When is King's Birthday weekend?
King's Birthday is the first Monday in June, so the long weekend usually starts on the last Saturday in May or the first Saturday in June.
Book group transport for May 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.