Yes, it might only be a teeny bit of the size, but Splore Festival captures the creative, anything-goes energy of Glastonbury that I love so much. Plus it’s set on a beach in a beautiful regional park – what more could you ask for?
Our 2020 gang
What is Splore?
Splore is a three-day music, arts and cultural festival, staged in Tapapakanga Park, a stunning regional park just south of Auckland. It has a mindful, community-focused ethos, and throws one hell of a party!
Brass Against rocking out the main stage
Who plays Splore?
For me, part of the beauty of Splore is discovering new artists I’d never heard of, like the Dub Pistols in 2019, and Parov Stellar in 2020. I’ll admit, it doesn’t have the big name appeal of Glastonbury, but there’s always a couple of great acts you already want to see, and many many more for you to discover!
Rocking out at the DJ stage
It only takes a few minutes to get between stages, thanks to its perfectly proportioned size, so you can be dancing to a DJ down at Crystal Palace, then meet up with friends to watch burlesque at the Living Lounge, before heading into the teeny Portal to dance some more!
And possibly the best part of all – you can swim in the sea while watching acts at the Main Stage!
Paradise in music festival form!
What else can I see at Splore?
Splore is so much more than just a music festival. There’s an art trail, roaming performers, talks, arts activities and so much more. One of the areas I want to explore next year is Wendy’s Wellness, which hosts everything from laughing yoga to talks on replenishing gardens to cacao ceremonies!
Larrikins
I also love checking out the art works dotted around the festival site. The Living Lounge is dedicated to different kinds of performance through the day and night, so you can see burlesque, acrobats, circus and so much more.
Partying in the Portal
And don’t forget the food – there’s a huge range of tasty food options, catering to all sorts of dietary and late-night craving requirements. The coffee is also excellent – a huge bonus in the mornings!
Plus there’s bars to hang out in, some with their own DJs, and lots of options from ciders and RTDs to wines, beers and spirits.
Who goes to Splore?
Everyone! It’s true – Splore is a great place for families as well. There’s tons of activities for kids, dedicated family-camping areas, and thanks to its small size, it’s good for little legs to get around too.
Hanging with my friend’s gorgeous bubba near the main stage. Photo: Kate Hursthouse
Unlike some of the other New Zealand summer festivals, Splore isn’t over-run by 18 year olds (bless them) – it’s a true mix of ages and party-goers.
What do I wear to Splore?
Whatever you feel like! Splore definitely has the anything-goes attitude of Glastonbury, mixed up with the ultimate-dress-up-party vibe of Bestival.
There’s a theme every year, usually very open to interpretation, and on the Saturday everyone goes wild with their costumes. Spotting all the different ways people have interpreted, or left far behind, the theme is one of my favourite activities!
What are the Splore values?
One of the things I love most about Splore is that the festival prides itself on creating a mindful attitude. Sustainability, being good to the earth, and respecting this beautiful place are key values of the festival. Splore has eliminated single-use plastic sold, encourages costumes that are reused and recycled, and mandate respect for the land and its Māori guardians.
They encourage party-goers to think about what they pack, what they wear, and how they party, so that we can ensure Tapapakanga Park stays protected and awesome for many years (and festivals!) to come.
Have I sold you on Splore? Come check it out next February! Click here for more info on this stunning little festival – I’ll see you there 🙂
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