Whenever you happen to be visiting, there’s likely to be some kind of festival or celebration in full swing. Here are a few to look out for:

Scallop Festival

(Whitianga, Aug) A celebration of Coromandel seafood and cuisine coinciding with the opening of the scallop season (www.scallopfestival.co.nz).

Air New Zealand Fashion Week

(Auckland, Sep) This world-class fashion event offers the best of New Zealand’s fashion, music and design (www.nzfashionweek.com).

Montana World of WearableArt Shows

(Wellington, Sep) Featuring the amazing wearable creations of designers from New Zealand and abroad presented in an unforgettable choreographed show (www.worldofwearableart.com).

Seafest

(Kaikoura, Oct) Kaikoura’s premier food and wine festival, Seafest is a celebration of the region’s abundance (www.seafest.co.nz).

Ellerslie Flower Show

(Auckland, Nov) Internationally renowned five-day garden show showcasing superb display gardens (www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz).

Toast Martinborough Wine, Food and Music Festival

(Martinborough, Nov) Wine, food and music event set amongst the picturesque vineyards of the Wairarapa region (www.toastmartinborough.co.nz).

Speight’s Coast to Coast

(West Coast – Canterbury, Feb) New Zealand’s iconic multi-sport event sees competitors cycle, kayak and run from the West Coast to the East Coast of the South Island (www.coasttocoast.co.nz).

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival

(Hokitika, Mar) An unforgettable event featuring totally unique foods and live entertainment (www.wildfoods.co.nz).

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow

(Wanaka, Mar/Apr) For three days over Easter weekend, Lake Wanaka is centre-stage for an aerial extravaganza (www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com).

Silverstone Race to the Sky

(Queenstown, Mar/Apr) This international motorsport event starts from the floor of the Cardrona Valley and runs 15 kilometres to the top (www.racetothesky.com).

Bluff Oyster & Southland Seafood Festival

(Bluff, Apr) Celebrating the local delicacy – Bluff Oysters (www.bluffoysterfest.co.nz).

New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards

(Gore, May) Attracting country artists from around the world (www.goldguitars.co.nz).

New Zealand International Comedy Festival

(Various, May) In Auckland, Wellington and on tour, this festival features over 250 international and local comedians (www.comedyfestival.co.nz).

Tai Tokerau Matariki Festival

(Northland, Jun) A month of events celebrating the Maori New Year (www.taitokerau.co.nz/matariki).

Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival

(Queenstown, Jun) Queenstown’s famous celebration of winter attracts thousands of visitors eager to experience dozens of entertaining events, from the wacky to the spectacular (www.winterfestival.co.nz).

Christchurch Arts Festival

(Christchurch, Jul – Aug ) This celebration of artistic talent features performers from New Zealand and abroad (www.artsfestival.co.nz).