Rhythm and Alps

View on map
MusicWanaka
DatesDates TBA · Usually WinterCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsRhythm and Alps set itself apart from most
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NZD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Rhythm and Alps in Wanaka

Rhythm and Alps is a New Year's Eve festival at Robrosa Station in the Cardrona Valley near Wanaka, the South Island sister event to Rhythm and Vines. Founded in 2011 and moved to its permanent alpine site in 2013, its 2025 fifteenth-anniversary edition drew record crowds of around 7,000 on opening day alone.

Rhythm and Alps began in 2011 as the South Island counterpart to the established Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne, giving organisers a second New Year's Eve event that could draw on a different geography and a different segment of festivalgoers, those looking for a mountain setting rather than a coastal vineyard.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Rhythm and Alps set itself apart from most New Zealand summer festivals by locating in the Cardrona Valley, an alpine setting near Wanaka where organisers explicitly warn attendees that overnight temperatures can drop to single digits Celsius even after a hot day, a contrast most beach-based New Zealand New Year's festivals do not have to manage

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival runs strictly cashless, with no bring-your-own-alcohol permitted and confiscation enforced at entry, and requires attendees to bring specific gear, including a rubber mallet rather than a metal hammer for tent pegs, reflecting a tightly managed approach to safety and site logistics

03

The city starts moving

Past headliners spanning Grandmaster Flash, Carl Cox, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and BENEE reflect a lineup that blends dance and electronic music with broader alternative and pop acts

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

No specific cultural tradition underpins the festival

Water and renewal

Living ritual

its identity centres on New Year's Eve celebration in an alpine South Island setting as the sister event to Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually Winter

Getting around

For Rhythm and Alps, plan transport around the exact Wanaka venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Summer festival wear for daytime and warm layers for overnight, since the alpine valley setting can swing from hot afternoons to near-freezing nights even in December and January.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Rhythm and Alps, stay near the part of Wanaka you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

NZD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map44.70 S, 169.15 EOpen in Google Maps

Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand

Nearest airportZQN — Queenstown
TransportFor Rhythm and Alps, plan transport around the exact Wanaka venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Rhythm and Alps, stay near the part of Wanaka you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Wanaka via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Wanaka, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearSummer festival wear for daytime and warm layers for overnight, since the alpine valley setting can swing from hot afternoons to near-freezing nights even in December and January.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for New Zealand and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Rhythm and Alps?

Rhythm and Alps is listed for Multiple months · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Rhythm and Alps take place?

The festival is listed in Wanaka, New Zealand. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLrhythmandalps.co.nz
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually Winter
Source statusOfficial source linked
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