There’s something a little bittersweet about finally ticking a festival off your bucket list… only to find out it’s the last one ever. After years of saying, “Next summer I’ll go,” I finally made it to Splore in 2026 — for its final edition. And, honestly? I can’t imagine a more fitting farewell.
Getting There & Settling In
Like most major multi-day festivals in New Zealand, early entry was available the day before for an extra fee. A tempting option if you wanted to avoid traffic and set up camp without the rush. We drove from Auckland’s city centre, which took about two hours in peak traffic. Outside of rush hour, you’re realistically looking at closer to an hour. Not bad for a coastal escape that feels worlds away from the CBD.
Carpooling was actively encouraged, with a $50 refund offered to drivers carrying three or more passengers. It’s a simple initiative, but one that fits Splore’s conscious, community-driven ethos.
Camping perched at the top of a hill above the festival grounds is included in all festival tickets. From there, you’ve got two options: wander down the gravel road at a relaxed pace, or take on the infamous “Goat Track.”
The Goat Track is steep — there’s no sugarcoating that — but it’s also one of the most beautifully decorated entrances to a festival I’ve experienced. Art, lights, and little surprises lined the pathway all the way down. It genuinely felt like you were descending into another world.
The Splore Festival Experience
Splore has always felt like the ultimate expression of a New Zealand summer. Set on the east coast within the beachside surrounds of Tāpapakanga Regional Park, the festival blends sea breeze, rolling green hills, art installations, and electronic music into something that feels uniquely local. Sun-soaked days, barefoot dancing, and the sound of waves behind the bassline.
During the daytime, the beach itself became part of the festival. If you felt like escaping the dance floors for a while, you could cool off with a swim at the beach. If you were feeling a little more adventurous, you could swim out to a large floating raft anchored offshore. Perched on top was a DJ playing Drum and Bass under the blazing summer sun, turning the water into an unofficial dancefloor. Some people floated nearby, others climbed onto the raft to dance, and plenty simply drifted in the water listening to the music. It was one of those effortlessly fun moments that perfectly captured the spirit of Splore.
Art Installations
Splore has always been as much about art as it is about music. I recognised some of the light features and soundtracks from the TSB Festival of Lights. Some of those pieces were cleverly integrated along the Goat Track, adding immersion before you even reached a stage.
One of the most striking moments of the weekend came on Friday night, when the large-scale artwork Te Wheke A Muturangi by Lisa Reihana was featured on the Main Stage. Seeing a monumental art installation presented in a festival context — framed by ocean and twilight — was powerful and uniquely Splore.
Wendy’s Wellness
If you needed a reset between dance sets, Wendy’s Wellness was the place to go. Housed in a large tented area, this calming zone offered workshops throughout the day, plus bookable wellness sessions. It created a softer, grounding counterbalance to the festival’s high-energy dance floors.
Rumpus Room & Not So Big Top
Splore has always been proudly family-friendly, and the Rumpus Room alongside the Not So Big Top provided a dedicated kids’ area with a full programme of activities. It’s not something you see at every music festival — and it’s part of what made Splore feel inclusive rather than exclusive.
Te Kanikani Stage
You arrive at Te Kanikani almost immediately after descending the Goat Track — and the energy hits you straight away. Upbeat techno pulsed through LED screens behind the DJ booth, creating a high-impact welcome into the main festival grounds.
Lagoon Stage
Follow the coastal trail beyond the Main Stage and you’ll find the Lagoon — a smaller, scaffolding-built stage tucked near the water. More techno ruled here, amplified by an impressive laser lighting setup that gave the space a slightly underground, after-dark feel.
Lucky Star
Lucky Star was the wildcard zone. Live bands, cabaret, experimental performances — including a mozzarella cheese rave. The area was decorated with vintage furniture, strange props, and interactive elements that felt delightfully chaotic
Main Stage
Positioned right alongside the beach, the Main Stage offered one of the best natural amphitheatre settings I’ve seen. A hill to one side allowed for seated viewing with a panoramic perspective, while the flat area below was perfect for dancing.
Across the weekend, a varied lineup of singers and DJs kept the crowd moving. With the ocean behind and the sunset ahead, it was hard not to feel a little emotional knowing it was all coming to an end.
On Saturday night, the Main Stage transformed for Mortal Fever Dream, the final Splore Cabaret — A surreal blend of dance and acrobatics, it was elegant, ethereal, and slightly otherworldly. and it felt like stepping into a surreal, glittering hallucination. Set against the backdrop of the ocean and the fading pink tones of dusk, the production unfolded as a seamless blend of contemporary dance, aerial acrobatics, theatrical costuming and live performance.
Performers moved with an elegance that felt both ethereal and slightly unhinged, shifting between moments of softness and sharp, high-impact choreography. It was dramatic without being overdone, strange without losing its beauty — the kind of show that makes you stop mid-conversation and just watch. As the last official cabaret in Splore’s history, it carried an added emotional weight, closing out the night — and the festival’s legacy — with something bold, dreamlike, and completely unforgettable.
Food & Drink
There were two primary food truck areas — one near the camping and market zone, and another located between Lucky Star and the Main Stage. The selection was solid, covering everything from classic festival fare to more substantial options. In terms of value for money, the Paella Pan easily won our unofficial “best dollar-to-portion ratio” award.
One feature I particularly appreciated: every bar had its own aesthetic, seating and shaded areas. In the height of a New Zealand summer, that’s not just a luxury — it’s essential.
- Hyoketsu Bar – Next to Te Kanikani, decked out in Japanese-inspired branding with umbrella-shaded seating opposite the stage. All current Hyoketsu RTD flavours were available.
- Alba Bar – The margarita hub, serving flavoured margarita RTDs.
- Secret Bar – Tucked at the top of the Goat Track near a lookout point. Hidden within a small maze, this alcohol-free bar featured exclusive mocktails, mushroom-shaped tables and chairs, and a compact dance space in front of a DJ booth. It felt like stumbling across a tiny enchanted afterparty.
- Corona Bar – Located at the top of the hill near the Main Stage, there were even a few lounge areas to watch the show from.
A Final Farewell
There was something undeniably special about attending the final Splore. It felt thoughtful, creative and slightly chaotic in places.
Splore wasn’t just a music festival — it was a celebration of art, wellness, whānau, and summer itself. Being there for its last chapter felt like witnessing the end of an era in New Zealand’s festival scene.
Interested in Working Similar Events?
If festivals like Splore are your thing — whether as an attendee or someone keen to work behind the scenes — there are still incredible events on the New Zealand calendar. Check out Shipwrecked – New Zealand Music & Arts Festival or AUM New Years Music Festival for similarly community-driven, music-focused summer experiences.
Because while Splore may have had its final dance, the spirit of New Zealand’s festival culture is far from over.
