Taupo Winter Festival
Welcome to the eighth annual Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupo Winter Festival.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Taupo for the 2023 July School Holidays where we have 30+ events on from 30 June - 16 July.
Aurum Trio
Friday 5 July 2024
The Aurum Trio are Barbara Hill (flute), Robert Ibell (cello) and Michelle Velvin (harp). They will be playing pieces composed for Flute, Cello and Harp by Ravel, Debussy, Bizet, Villa- Lobos, and others.
St Andrews Chruch
Get Live! with Great Lake Music Co. and Tiki Taane
Friday 12 July 2024
Do you play an instrument? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a professional musician touring with bands and building a career playing the instrument you love? Then this is the event for you! Open to ALL ages and ALL abilities, Great Lake Music Co. are bringing Tiki Taane to Taupō to showcase his music, chat about his extensive career in the music industry and have a jam with you!
Great Lake Centre Hall
Laser Kiwi - Rise of the Olive
Friday 12 July 2024
Join Laser Kiwi, the world’s BEST and ONLY surreal sketch circus troupe, on a wild ride as they bring people closer together, one olive at a time. “A show of unbridled fun and contagious laughter” (See Do Eat Review - Adelaide 2023) that has sold out numerous times all around the world. This is a show you don’t want to miss out on!
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Gin & Jive presented by DPA Accountants
Saturday 13 July 2024
Picture yourself in a classic diner with the jukebox playing your favorite hits as you sip on our specially crafted gin cocktails that perfectly capture the essence of the era.
This truly international band is in Taupō for one night only and with just one mission – giving you a night of entertainment and for those that want to, a bloody good boogie!
Join us for a night of retro fun, where the music is swinging, the gin is flowing, and the vibe is pure 50s cool. Dust off your poodle skirts and leather jackets, and get ready to jive the night away.
Tickets include four Gin tastings on arrival.
*GA means there are no designated seats. Some bar stools and chairs will be provided around the outside of the room on a first in first served basis, more can be brought on upon request for anyone that needs one.
Food on the night will be provided by the fabulous Constables Kitchen.
Great Lake Centre Hall
Taupo Live
Sunday 14 July 2024
Join us in supporting the young original musicians of Taupō as they showcase their art. With a wide range of acts from soloists to full bands, you might just discover your new favourite act! Performance slots are open to anyone under the age of 18 who writes and performs their own songs.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Mocktails and Menopause
Saturday 20 July 2024
Join Petra Bagust and Niki Bezzant for a fun and empowering evening out, where we blend delicious mocktails with candid conversations about navigating midlife and menopause.
Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo
NZTRIO: States of Mind
Sunday 9 July 2023
NZTrio: States of Mind
NZTrio performs a mix of contemporary and classical pieces, featuring works by Kenji Bunch, Rachel Clement, Schnittke, Stuart Greenbaum, and Brahms. The concert promises to deliver an energetic and captivating performance that blends familiar and fresh pieces.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Singing Workshop with Sunny Ray
Between Friday 7 July 2023 and Sunday 9 July 2023
Join us for an exciting and interactive vocal workshop hosted by Sunny Ray! Discover the joy of vocal games, exercises, and learn to sing popular songs as a group. Get ready to explore your voice, improve your singing skills, and have a blast with fellow music enthusiasts. We'll also have percussion resources available, such as shakers, tambourines, and small drums, to add rhythm and excitement to our group singing experience.
Creative Igloos
Captain Festus McBoyle's Theatre Show Presented by MORE FM
Sunday 9 July 2023
Join Captain Festus McBoyle and his ragtag crew for a wild and wacky travelling variety show that’s sure to delight audiences of all ages. With a mix of music, comedy, magic and more, this high energy performance will have you laughing, clapping and singing along in no time.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
PAK'nSAVE Pancake Breakfast
Sunday 9 July 2023
The legendary and ever-popular PAK'nSAVE Pancake Breakfast is back for its eighth year.
1200 tickets are available online over the 4 different sessions
Bookings are essential and will be open available here from 1 June 2022.
Up for an extra special morning out? Check out the family show in the theatre at 10:30am too! Tickets to Captain Festus McBoyle presented by More FM will give you automatic entry into the 9:30am pancake session (so you don't need to book again!)
Great Lake Centre Hall
Daiquiris & Divas Presented by DPA Accountants
Saturday 8 July 2023
Get ready to experience the magic of two musical legends on stage!
New Zealand’s own Annie Crummer is joined by vocal tour de force, The Lady Killers (Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross & Suzanne Lynch). Together these divas will present a bespoke show of soul, rock, pop and R&B that’s sure to have you up and dancing the night away.
Includes a complimentary Daiquiri cocktail.
Great Lake Centre
Winter Wonderland Crafts with Taupō Youth Arts Trust
Friday 7 July 2023
Come and join us for the celebration of the "WINTER WONDERLAND CRAFTS" combination of T-shirts with Neon pens, Snow cones, Snowflake mobiles and other bits and bobs.
$5 - T-shirts with Fabric Paint and Pen
Snow Cones - Koha and will need to supply own jar with lid
Salt Snowflakes - Koha no equipment needed.
T-shirts can be purchased on site for $5 each.
3 Sizes available (Small, Medium, Large)
If you are making a snow cone, you will need to supply your own jar with LID.
Limited to 30 people. Ages 6+ or an adult to assist with crafts for younger children.
Waipahihi Hall
A Trojan War Presented by Korio Marketing
Thursday 6 July 2023
Five flirtatious “French” performers meet you at the door. They bring you in, they show you to your seat, they flirt with you. Maybe they fall a little bit in love with you. Then they tell the story – with you.
Like a wild dress-up party, this show combines theatrical magic, twisted pop songs and explosive wit. The most charming performers you can hope to meet play a revolving repertoire of outrageous characters.
Created and performed by A Slightly Isolated Dog, this New Zealand theatre company delivers a frantic and hilarious mash-up in the style of Python meets The Boosh. Leave your inhibitions at the door and play.
Starring Cherie Moore, Jack Buchanan, Jonathan Price, Susie Berry and Andrew Paterson with sound design from Sam Clavis and direction from Leo Gene Peters.
The Trojan War was created with support from Creative NZ and Wellington City Council.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Sunday Jazz with Neon Quaver and The Great Lake Big Band
Sunday 17 July 2022
Join us for an afternoon of great music as we are treated to the amazing talent from The Great Lake Band and visiting quartet, Neon Quaver (Auckland).
Neon Quaver originated in the 1980s for a number of years. After following separate international careers in music, painting and education, band members reformed to make a new CD Roundhead studios in 2018.
Taupō’s Great Lake Big Band as a 15-member ensemble with an extensive repertoire of swing and jazz standards.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Dream Garden. Presented by MORE FM
Sunday 17 July 2022
Step into our dreams! This beautiful, skillful and surreal gamily theatre performance combines aerial circus, projection art and comedy. You can’t be sure what’s real and what’s dream, so sit up the front, get a good view and enjoy the show! Exploring the dream world through movement, physical comedy and gentle audience interaction.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
PAK'nSAVE Pancake Breakfast
Sunday 17 July 2022
The legendary and ever-popular PAK'nSAVE Pancake Breakfast is back for its seventh year.
1200 tickets are available online over the 4 different sessions
Bookings are essential and will be open available here from 1 June 2022.
Up for an extra special morning out? Check out the family show in the theatre at 10:30am too! Tickets to Dream Garden presented by More FM will give you automatic entry into the 9:30am pancake session (so you don't need to book again!)
Great Lake Centre Hall
Bubbles & Pop. Presented by Le Pine & Co.
Saturday 16 July 2022
Enjoy a selection of the very best bubbly beverages from around the world and then enjoy the amazing live music of False Heights followed by the legendary misfit band, Badly Stuffed Animals playing all the classics from the 80s and 90s.
Includes five taste sized drinks and two live bands!
Great Lake Centre
Hot Off The Press with Kate De Goldi.
Saturday 16 July 2022
Presented by Millennium Hotel and Resort – Manuels.
Enjoy an afternoon with esteemed author, Kate De Goldi. Kate has published a range of short stories, collections and novels for adults and children. Her novel The 10pm Question (2008) was published to critical acclaim both in New Zealand and overseas, quickly becoming an iconic piece of New Zealand literature.
Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo
Modern Maori Quartet, Garage Party! Presented by DPA
Wednesday 13 July 2022
The hilariously funny Modern Māori Quartet are bringing their take on the quintessential Kiwi garage party to the Great Lake Centre Theatre for the first time ever!
This one night only performance will overflow with laughter, cheeky banter and hearty harmonies as we celebrate life, love, food and all-around good times.
One thing’s certain: you won’t want miss out on all the laughter and warmth that these four men bring with them as they belt their way through Kiwiana classics!
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Michael Houstoun with the Rodger Fox Big Band
Sunday 25 July 2021
Two of New Zealand’s best-loved musicians - Michael Houstoun and Rodger Fox ¬– bring their acclaimed concert series to Hamilton and Taupo featuring special guest, supreme jazzs vocalist Erna Ferry.
Hear brand new jazz adaptations of classic pieces by Gino Vannelli arranged by acclaimed composer Bill Cunliffe.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
A Classical Afternoon with Amalia Hall and Stephen De Pledge
Sunday 18 July 2021
Amalia Hall and Stephen De Pledge combine for a very special afternoon of Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Falla and Gershwin.
Concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington and violinist of the NZTrio, Amalia made her solo debut at the age of 9 with the Auckland Philharmonia. Pianist Stephen De Pledge also performs locally and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician.
Ferner Galleries
A Chaotic Cargo Ship Circus
Sunday 18 July 2021
‘Fool Steam Ahead’ is setting sail, full of pure imaginative joy for children and adults alike.
Three distractible deckhands are faced with a ship to clean, a raucous audience and a pesky seagull - it’s a miracle they get any work done at all. Expect daredevil stunts, incredible acrobatics and most importantly loads of belly laughs!
Created for 5 - 10 year olds - and joyous for all who are young at heart!
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Kids Circus Workshop
Saturday 17 July 2021
Enjoy an hour of circus workshops focused on adagio (partner acrobatics), tumbling and juggling with some of NZ’s young circus superstars. This is an open level workshop! The performers are also experienced teachers and will accommodate to all skill levels.
You child will have lots of fun and face some new challenges in this safe and creative environment!
TBC
Gin and Jive presented by Le Pine & Co.
Saturday 17 July 2021
Enjoy a selection of fabulous gins from around the world before being thoroughly entertained by the award-winning band HALO!
The team from the Merchant will be there with a selection of the best gins (and your favourite mixers) on offer.
Based out of Auckland HALO have been consistently rated one of the top covers bands for the past 10 years. Featuring Taupo home-grown favourite Michael Murphy, their playlist from the 70s, 80s and 90s will have you up singing, jiving, jumping and dancing.
Great Lake Centre
A Conversation with Witi Ihimaera
Saturday 17 July 2021
Spend an hour in the company of esteemed author Witi Ihimaera (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Tūhoe, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), as Ruby Solly converses with him about his latest book ‘Navigating the Stars. Māori Creation Myths’.
His best-known novel is ‘The Whale Rider’, which was made into a hugely, internationally successful film in 2002. His first book, ‘Pounamu, Pounamu’, has not been out of print in the 40 years since publication.
Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo
Kids Circus Workshop - Session Two
Saturday 17 July 2021
Enjoy an hour of circus workshops focused on adagio (partner acrobatics), tumbling and juggling with some of NZ’s young circus superstars. This is an open level workshop! The performers are also experienced teachers and will accommodate to all skill levels.
You child will have lots of fun and face some new challenges in this safe and creative environment!
TBC
Creation Station - Matariki Star Mobile
Thursday 15 July 2021
Join us for some FREE creative fun and make your own Matariki Star Cluster Mobile.
Great Lake Centre Hall
Harcourts Taupo Presents - Life's a Bitch
Wednesday 14 July 2021
The hilarious Bitches’ Box duo are back with their latest offering “Life’s A Bitch”, a hilarious comedy told through the eyes of two Swiss ex-circus dogs who’ve emigrated to Neuseeland to become ‘WOOFers’.
Fresh out of quarantine and off on their big adventure, the campervan Heidi and Helga are traveling in loses a wheel, miles from anywhere. Whilst they seek the services of the local garage (with adjacent mechanic), they are introduced to an array of funny dogs, who are also passing through.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Shakespeare on the Domain
Between Saturday 10 July 2021 and Sunday 11 July 2021
Come along for an evening of merriment and joy, supporting three local actors travelling to London to perform on the renowned Globe Theatre next year! The best of Shakespeare’s plays, his funniest moments, interpreted in new and exciting ways.
Join us for an enjoyable evening as we celebrate the Bard and bring new life to the stage!
Mercury Tent, Tongariro Domain
Harcourts Taupo Who Dunnit’ Murder Mystery Dinner
Between Saturday 10 October 2020 and Sunday 11 October 2020
“Aiden Abet” the leader of the Tracy Gang, developed a scam that netted him $1m. However, once his victims caught on, he became a hunted man. The $1m was hidden in the Tracy Speakeasy and when it strangely reappears it leads to murder! Unravel the mystery of the dead man walking, the letters from William Shakespeare and the literary weekend!
Please note: Due to the nature of the entertainment (ie. no stage), there is no table layout to show you. All tables will be great!
Taupo Funeral Services
New Zealand String Quartet with Millennium Manuels Taupo
Sunday 11 October 2020
The New Zealand String Quartet are bringing Beethoven back on his 250th birthday on their 2020 National Tour.
This is your chance to rejoice in these charismatic and distinctive works, played heart and soul by the NZSQ. Written throughout his life, Beethoven’s string quartets remain, like his symphonies, some of the most remarkable classical music ever composed. Don’t miss this extraordinary music on tour.
Come and partake in afternoon tea and join the NZSQ for an unforgettable programme.
Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo
An Author's Tale with Hilton Lake Taupo
Saturday 10 October 2020
Enjoy the luxurious surroundings of The Terraces while you listen and converse with recent award winning author, Becky Manawatu. Becky’s short story ‘Abalone’ was long-listed for the 2018 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and her essay ‘Mothers Day', was selected for the Landfall anthology 'Strong Words'. 'Aue', her first novel, won the novel of the year prize at this year's Ockham NZ Book awards. This will be an intimate event with the opportunity to get close and ask questions.
Hilton Lake Taupo
Captain Festus McBoyles Travellin’ Variety Show
Saturday 10 October 2020
A Vaudevillian Musical Comedy Show for the whole family. From the ashes of a 25 year non-illustrious Rock n Roll career comes the unwashed, semi toothed and slightly uncouth Piratical ‘cheese’ Captain Festus McBoyle.
Armed with just his cheeky humour and the sharpened hooks of his songs, the Captain is joined on stage by Miss Lucy Drawers and Ebeneza Strong and together become more fun than a squirrel up ya jumper!
Ticket includes entry into the PAK'nSAVE Pancake Breakfast (9.30am)
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Crafty Covers presented by Le Pine & Co
Friday 9 October 2020
We are proud to deliver this event in association with Hospice. $10 of every ticket will go directly to Taupo Hospice.
Enjoy tasting a selection of New Zealand’s most delicious craft beer and cider before kicking up your heels with one of New Zealand’s hottest covers band, White Chapel Jak.
You’ve never seen anything quite like White Chapel Jak. They're a high energy acoustic Kiwiana band that will have you groovin’ with their fresh and funky approach to songs you all know and love.
Great Lake Centre
A Traveller's Guide to Turkish Dogs
Thursday 8 October 2020
A spellbindingly inventive retelling of a beautifully simple true story – one of friendship, adventure, loyalty, and truth. A Traveller’s Guide to Turkish Dogs is the story of a dog and her man. A journey across continents. It’s the true story of a mad historian, immortal fishermen, and the Mother of Wolves; border crossings, buried treasure, and the value of companionship.
It’s an OE like you’ve never seen or heard. All brought to life by a pack of NZ’s most captivating shape-shifting actors.
Great Lake Centre Theatre
Giggle TV Onesie Funsie Runsie
Saturday 11 July 2020
Grab your onesie and come and join us for a winter fun run / walk / jog like no other.
Tongariro Domain
Afternoon Tea with The 2019 Adam Troubadours
Sunday 14 July 2019
Formed under the mentorship of the New Zealand String Quartet, the 2019 Adam Troubadours are an exciting new group of players with a fist full of awards between them.
Come and partake in afternoon tea, lap up the lake views and listen to Violinists Claudia Tarrant-Matthews, Sofia Tarrant-Matthews, Violist Grant Baker, and Cellist Olivia Wilding as they present a selection of their favourite music by Hayden, Debussy, Shostakovich, Dvorak and New Zealand composer Gareth Farr.
Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo
Rum and Rock
Saturday 13 July 2019
Enjoy rum tasting from the team at Merchant of Taupo, then kick up your heels with New Zealand's hottest Rockabilly bands, Boom! Boom! Deluxe.
You’ll be enjoying authentic high energy 1950's Rock n' Roll seasoned with a selection of surprising modern classics, all given the Rockabilly treatment.
Bring your dancing shoes and be ready for an extremely fun night out!
Great Lake Centre
Death by Doughnuts
Saturday 13 July 2019
There must be a corpse. The deader the better and the more complicated the solving of the crime, the more the reader is hooked.
New Zealand has its own rich history of crime writers and the Taupo Winter Festival is delighted to deliver its first writers event.
Come to the perfect setting, nibble on a doughnut, sip mulled wine and listen to Paddy Richardson and Fiona Sussman, two of New Zealand’s acclaimed crime authors talking about what lies behind the criminal mind.
Taupo Funeral Service
Mrs Krishnan's Party
Between Thursday 11 July 2019 and Friday 12 July 2019
Indian Ink continues to bridge cultures and expand boundaries with this utterly disarming new comedy that seats the audience around the dining table and at the kitchen bench in the back room of Krishnan’s Dairy.
Now her son is grown up Mrs Krishnan is thinking of selling the shop. It’s Onam, a time to celebrate life, death and rebirth and Mrs Krishnan has to throw the party of her life.
Enjoy this is a joyous and heart warming show.
Great Lake Centre
Creation Station - Wizards, Wands and Winter Magic
Thursday 11 July 2019
Join us for some FREE creative fun as we make wands and wizard hats. Wear them to the Taupo Talent Quest that night.
Great Lake Centre Hall
Degustation Dinner With Guest Chef Martin Bosley
Saturday 6 July 2019
Join us for this five course culinary delight with matching wines, presented by one of New Zealand’s finest chefs, Martin Bosley.
Martin has worked in and owned a number of award-winning restaurants and now has his own range of food products.
His delicious cuisine will be matched with award-winning wines from Clearview Estate Winery.
Their full bodied reds and iconic whites are long acknowledged amongst the best in New Zealand.
Taupo Yacht Club
