In the prime location and with a line-up that has something for everyone (and I mean everyone), Splore Festival was the magical weekend escape I expected it to be.
We were lucky enough to load into the festival on Thursday, a day before the festival officially kicked off, and the Wendy’s Wellness Tent was already sending a steady beat through the trees upon our arrival.
To backtrack, it’s important to mention the happy team of volunteers and crew that welcomed us into the festival.
To backtrack even further, on our 1.5-hour drive into the festival, it was amazing to see the number of people cycling in on bikes packed with camping gear. I’ve always wanted to go bike camping and maybe Splore 2025 will be the year to do it.
However, biking or driving to the festival aren’t the only options. Some dedicated festival-goers sail into the bay. Now that’s travelling in style!
After we had filled up our water supplies, gotten friendly with our extremely cool neighbours, and set up our tent and much-needed sunshade, we headed to the upper festival sites for a little nose around.
After all, this was our first Splore and we were bursting with excited curiosity. Unfortunately, but understandably, we weren’t allowed down to the beach for a swim as the crew was still testing and setting up the larger stages across the main festival site.
Cue our extremely cool neighbours who showed us the cold-water showers, which proved crucial for a great time at Splore.
Freshly showered and hungry for a boogie we wandered over to the last bit of Mia Kober’s set in the Havana Lounge, followed by the hilarious Beatles Dub Club who kept us up well after our bedtime.
Beatles Dub Club sounds exactly what you’d think they sound like. Put the iconic music from the Beatles in a blender with Reggae, Dub, and Drum ‘n Bass, and you get one fantastic dance party.
Friday was a long and beautiful day. After a big group hug to finishing off some of the most intense Pilates and relaxing yoga with Meg Bell, we went for a few dips in the cold stream towards the end of the beach.
Yep, you heard that right, Splore managed to host the festival in the perfect location. A calm beach, a freshwater stream, plenty of fields for people to camp on, and a bunch of native bushes, magically enhanced by the lighting and props crew, make Splore truly special.
Not to mention the art trail (best viewed at night) featuring works from incredible local visual artists, Lisa Reihana’s amazing geckos being my favourite.
Everybody gathered at 4 p.m. on Friday for the pōwhiri, an impressive ceremony where the tangata whenua welcomed all attendees onto the festival grounds and honoured the festival’s organisers and several key artists.
Goosebumps shot over my arms and down my spine as a mutual feeling of respect and gratitude could be felt when silence came naturally to everyone gathered.
The rest of Friday night saw an abundance of music. From the absolute madness of Sydney’s Party Dozen and Shepherds Reign fusing traditional Samoan Pātē and lyrics with blast beats, and a spectacular keytar in the Naked Eye stage, which felt like a monstrously oversized dive bar, to Lady Shaka bumping tunes on the main stage while featuring every island in the South Pacific.
Greentea Peng was one of the standout artists for me.
Somehow all members of the band were playing in a different genre. The singer Aria Wells, singing R&B lines, while the guitarist ran jazzy skat-like solos, and the rhythm section explored afrobeat territories.
Saturday was much the same, except hotter, dustier, and more caffeinated.
This time we managed to attend some of the beach yoga with Summer Knight, washing the sweat off in the ocean and creek straight after.
Wellington-based Skram blasted us into the afternoon with their exuberant performance, opening the main stage and drawing people in.
Their music lives somewhere between the home-hitting words of Coldplay and the theatrical live show of Queen. The band heavily leaned in on the festival’s motto to Be Yourself.
Throughout the festival I had too many Double Dutch Fries not to mention them. They provided the perfect snacks while taking in tunes from Honeybee and lounging at one of the many shady spots at the Lucky Star stage.
Or while swaying in the waves to Hemi Hemingway playing the main stage.
Yoko Zuna, Sampha, and Mr Bruce, were all standout artists for me on the festival’s second day.
Yoko Zuna brought on guests including the superb Chaii, and somehow every song hit harder than the one before.
Sampha had an almost dreamscape-like set and yet had grounded grooves throughout his music. His entire band faced him, standing on the highest platform on the stage which made for an epic performance.
And Mr Bruce, where do I even start? Stage diving, absolutely wild dance moves, and hugely energetic tracks were but a few points to mention about his performance.
Flamingo Pier kept us up well into Saturday night and Straw People made us brave the Sunday rain a little bit longer.
The festival also saw a range of fantastic roaming artists, from tap dancers to sword swallowers, roller-skaters to dry water synchronised swimmers.
Throughout the day it became harder and harder to tell the performers and attendees apart as the costumes finally came out.
Unfortunately, we missed out on the ASMR and consensual peep shows happening in the Not Very Big Top, but this leaves something to be desired for next year.
Beyond all that, Splore welcomed an amazing Cabaret show, featuring sensual lap dancing, daring rope dancing, and even more radical glass-walking and chainsaw action.
Oh, and did I mention the bedtime stories, hilarious laughter yoga, twerk workshops I wish I had attended, or the fact you can get married at the festival?!
Most artists, Kiwi and international, including Wednesday, Greentea Peng, Sampha, and Melodownz, couldn’t help themselves from mentioning how beautiful Splore is. Not only for its location but for its welcoming energy as well, from the costumes to the pōwhiri.
I couldn’t agree more. Whether you’re there to wear your best and see your favourite artists, or you’re a parent wanting to introduce your kids to their first festival experience, or you’re simply hungry for a never-ending boogie to the constant doof doof at the Crystal Palace and Te Kanikani stages, there’s space for everyone.
Splore Festival, you were an absolute treat. See you next year!
Koen Aldershof
Thanks for the post! awesome photos too 🙂