Things to do over the King’s Birthday Weekend

Via @lumaqueenstown

LUMA 23

The winter light festival of the Southern Hemisphere is back, bigger and better than ever! LUMA is a multisensory experience that celebrates arts and culture under Queenstown’s alpine nightscape. 

WHERE: Queenstown Gardens, Otago

WHEN: Kings Birthday Weekend (1st-5th June), 5pm-10pm

TICKETS: $25 (13 years old and over)

                 12 years old and under are free

Via @shop_silly_billy

Central Flea Market

Visit Balmorals vibrant, open-air markets full of vintage goods, antique dealers, designers, artists, food trucks and live music. 

WHERE: 170 Balmoral Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
WHEN: Sunday 4 June, 8am - 1pm

Via @thelulainn

King’s Birthday Big Bottomless Brunch at The Lula Inn

The Lula Inn is hosting a bottomless brunch fit for a king (or queen)! Accompanying the food, endless bubbles and mimosas is a DJ spinning Brit classics and Abbey Road, NZ’s premier Beatles cover band who will be playing the hits live and loud. 

WHERE: The Lula Inn, 149 Quay Street, Auckland CBD

WHEN: Sunday 4 June, 10am - 1pm

TICKETS: $59.90pp

Via @nzballet

Romeo & Juliet Ballet

Watch Shakespeare’s greatest love story return to life in all of its splendour by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The timeless performance of Romeo and Juliet is refreshed with spontaneity of young dancers that will grace the stage and your hearts. 

WHERE: Regent on Broadway, 53 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North

WHEN: Saturday 3 June, 7:30pm

TICKETS: From $37.50pp

Via @beaufortandco

Doughnut Decorating Class with Cocktails

Get hands-on and turn your creativity on to enjoy a perfect sweet treat, decorated by you! Get in quick as this class is ever so popular. 

WHERE: Beaufort & Co, 52F Oteha Valley Road, Oteha, Auckland

WHEN: Friday 2 June & Saturday 3 June, 6:30pm-9pm

TICKETS: $72.30pp 

Via @lilmallrat

MALLRAT - The Butterfly Blue Tour w/ Special Guests

Slip your dancing shoes on for a night of indie pop music by Brisbane singer song-writer, Mallrat. A magical night of angelic tunes sprinkled with electric pop is on the cards this King’s Birthday Weekend. 

WHERE: Hollywood Avondale, Auckland

                  Meow, Wellington

WHEN: Friday 2 June, 8pm

                Saturday 3 June, 8pm

TICKETS: $50

Via @foodtruckcollectivenz

Food Truck Collective

Indulge in Auckland’s best street food all in one place! Gather your friends and family for a trip around the world through vibrant menus, bursting with flavour. 

WHERE: Huapai Domain, Tapu Road, Huapai, Auckland

                     Martyn Wilson Fields Remuera, Auckland

WHEN: Friday 2 June, 3pm-8pm

                  Saturday 3 June, 4pm-8pm

Via @studioone.toitu

Artists on Artists Exhibition

Studio One Toi Tu is showcasing a creative group portraiture exhibition where each artist is the subject of another artist's work. With an all Aotearoa lineup of established and emerging artists, this exhibition shines a light on the artists and puts them in the frame as a subject. 

WHERE: Studio One Toi Tu, 238 Karangahape Road Auckland, Auckland 1011

WHEN: Thursday 1 June, 5pm-7:30pm

Harbourside High Tea

Get a group together to enjoy a chic time with sweet and savoury delights. 

WHERE: Harbourside, Ferry Building Level 1/99 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1001

WHEN: Saturday 3 & Sunday 4, 12-3pm

TICKETS: $75pp

Via @kinkybootsnz

Kinky Boots - The Musical

The unmissable, big-hearted, Broadway musical extravaganza has strutted into Auckland. Embrace your differences and enjoy a story filled with glitter and glam that shows us how we can change the world with our minds.  

WHERE: The Civic, Cnr Queen & Wellesley Sts, Auckland CBD, Auckland

WHEN: 1st - 3rd June, 7:30 - 10pm

               3rd - 4th June, 2pm - 4:30pm

TICKETS: From $63.50 each

Via @matakanavillage

Matakana Village Farmers’ Market

Relax by the riverside to live local music and stock up on fresh produce, flowers, breads, deli treats and sweets at Matakana on Saturday. 

WHERE: Matakana Village Market Square, 2 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana, Auckland

WHEN: Saturday 3 June, 8am-1pm

Sunday Jazz - Bella Florence and Silk Road

Groove to a range of beloved jazz standards from the 50s and 60s with a Wellington based jazz band, Silk Road. It is only divine timing that the night should be a full moon so you can get your moon glow on at Rogue. 

WHERE: The Rogue and Vagabond, 18 Garrett St, Wellington

WHEN: Sunday 4 June, 5pm

Via @theparnellmarket

Parnell Saturday Market

If you’re looking for an easy stroll, artisanal food and seasonal produce, Parnell is the place for you. Wind down and soak in the authentic and communal energy of the market. 

WHERE: Parnell Quarter, 69 St Georges bay Rd, Parnell, Auckland

WHEN: Saturday 3 June, 8am-12pm

Via @painvineuk

Paint and Sip

Get your creative juices flowing and your brush strokes going on the first day on the King’s Birthday Weekend. With a brush in one hand, a drink in the other, you will end the night with a new painting ready to hang up on your wall!

WHERE: Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

WHEN: Thursday 1 June, 2pm-4pm

TICKETS: $47pp