🐝 WellyBuzz: Full Moon Drums, Summer Racing & Donut Days

👋 Happy New Year Wellington!

The year is officially finding its rhythm, and this weekend is a beauty. Think classic Kiwi race days, lavender fields in full bloom, wildlife encounters, live music across the city, sunrise science, and long, lazy afternoons by the water.

Whether you’re easing into 2026 gently or packing your days with colour and curiosity, there’s something here to pull you out the door. From full moon drumming to Sunday jazz, here’s what’s on across Wellington and beyond this weekend. 🐝

🎉 Events: Your Weekend Lineup

Friday 2 January:

🐎 Tauherenikau New Year Race Day
A classic Kiwi summer race day with live racing, live music, kids’ activities, bouncy castles, a magician, on-track games and a full family-friendly festival vibe to kick off the New Year.
📍 Tauherenikau Racecourse, Kahutara | 🕙 Racing from 11:00am | 💰 $20 adults, kids 16 and under are free | 🎟 All Ages

💜 Lavender Magic – Pick Your Own Lavender
Escape the city for a dreamy summer outing picking fragrant lavender among mountain views, buzzing bees and blooming country gardens.
📍 Lavender Magic, 61 Blakes Rd, Mt Holdsworth (Carterton) | 🕙 10:00am–3:00pm | 💰 $5 entry (kids under 12 free) | 🎟 All Ages

🌿🌙 Lavender & Flower Farm PYO (Evening Session)
Soak up golden-hour calm as you wander fragrant lavender rows, pick fresh flowers and enjoy a peaceful summer evening among mountain views.
📍 Lavender Magic, Mt Holdsworth (Carterton) | 🕕 6:00pm–9:00pm | 💰 $5 entry | 🎟 All Ages

💜 Pick Your Own Lavender – Summer at Lavender Abbey
Slow things down with a fragrant summer wander through blooming lavender fields, perfect for picnics, photos and a peaceful family day out.
📍 Lavender Abbey, 351 Dalefield Rd, Carterton | 🕙 10:00am–3:00pm | 💰 $5 entry | 🎟 All Ages

🪦 Tiptoe Through the Tombstones
Ease into the New Year with a fascinating guided walk through Wellington’s historic cemetery, uncovering stories of notable lives and heritage landmarks.
📍 Bolton Street Cemetery (Seddon Memorial start) | 🕑 2:00pm–3:30pm | 💰 $10 (kids under 12 free) | 🎟 All Ages

🎬✨ Summer at Wētā Workshop Experiences
Step behind the scenes of movie magic with late-night summer tours and daily hands-on creative workshops - from sculpting and leatherwork to special effects makeup.
📍 Wētā Workshop Experiences, Miramar | 🕘 Daily (late nights until 8pm) | 💰 From $65 | 🎟 Ages 12+

🏹🎭 Robin Hood – The Pantomime
A laugh-out-loud, family-friendly panto packed with sword fights, big dance numbers and classic Circa cheek as Robin takes on the Sheriff.
📍 Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street | 🕡 6:30pm–8:30pm | 💰 From $25 | 🎟 All Ages

🥁🔥 Full Moon Drumming Wellington
A magical, alcohol-free community gathering under the full moon with drumming, dancing and fire - fully participatory and open to everyone, weather permitting.
📍 Princess Bay, Wellington | 🕢 From 7:30pm | 💰 Free (dry firewood as a koha is welcome) | 🎟 All Ages

🏃‍♂️ Pre-Colgate Games Mini-Meet
A friendly but competitive warm-up meet for Athletics Wellington–registered Colgate Games athletes, offering one final hit-out before the Island Colgate Games begin.
📍 Newtown Park, Wellington | 🕙 10:00am–2:00pm | 💰 Free (registration required) | 🎟 Registered athletes only

Saturday 3 January:

🐑💚 Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary Open Day
Meet the rescued animals, hear their stories and enjoy a relaxed sanctuary tour followed by vegan afternoon tea, all while supporting a great local cause.
📍 Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary, Ōtaki | 🕐 1:00pm–4:00pm | 💰 Flexible pricing - see weblink | 🎟 All Ages

🏇🍾 TAB Telegraph Day – Wellington Cup Carnival
Kick off the Wellington Cup Carnival with one of NZ’s fastest sprint races, big-field thrills and classic summer racing vibes on the Champagne Turf.
📍 Trentham Racecourse, Upper Hutt | 🕛 Gates open from 12:00pm | 💰 Free GA (hospitality from $30) | 🎟 All Ages

🃏✨ Magic: The Gathering – Standard Showdown
A competitive but friendly Standard-format Magic tournament with exclusive promos and booster prizes, perfect for sharpening your deck and meeting fellow players.
📍 Bea DnD Games, Petone | 🕚 From 11:00am | 💰 $15

🐦 The Early Bird Catches the Worm…
Start your day at Staglands and be rewarded - arrive early, enjoy the wildlife, and score a free return visit with your morning entry.
📍 Staglands Wildlife Reserve, Upper Hutt | 🕤 9:30am–10:00am | 💰 From $12 | 🎟 All Ages

🧘‍♀️🌊 Beach Yoga at Freyberg
A gentle, all-levels beach yoga session with guided stretching and deep relaxation, followed by optional swims and a relaxed picnic vibe by the sea.
📍 Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay | 🕙 10:00am–11:15am | 💰 Koha ($10–$20 suggested) | 🎟 All Ages

🌌✨ Star Trek Laser Tour (Stargazing)
Explore the night sky with a laser-guided stargazing tour, uncovering constellations, planets and celestial stories above Stonehenge Aotearoa.
📍 Stonehenge Aotearoa, 51 Ahiaruhe Rd, Carterton | 🕙 10:00pm–11:30pm | 💰 From $63.30 | 🎟 All Ages

🥕🌿 Wairarapa Farmers’ Market
Start your Saturday with fresh local produce, artisan treats, live music and laid-back market vibes under the redwoods at Solway Showgrounds.
📍 Solway Showgrounds, Masterton | 🕘 9:00am–1:00pm | 💰 Free Entry | 🎟 All Ages

🥬☕ Crop Up Greytown
A relaxed Saturday morning pop-up for ultra-fresh local produce, great coffee and friendly community vibes in the heart of Greytown.
📍 Truckstop Greytown, 102 Main Street | 🕘 9:00am–11:00am | 💰 Free Entry | 🎟 All Ages

🐦🌿 Have a Pūkaha Summer
Enjoy a classic summer day out with forest walks, wildlife encounters, kids’ activities and relaxed café stops at this much-loved conservation sanctuary.
📍 Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, Mount Bruce, Masterton | 🕘 9:00am–5:00pm | 🎟 All Ages

🎶 Quite Some Company – Live Music
A high-energy night of classic crowd-pleasing covers from the 70s–90s (plus a few surprises), served with plenty of laughs and dancefloor fun.
📍 Petone Working Men’s Club, 47 Udy St | 🕖 From 7:00pm

Sunday 4 January:

🌅☀️ Perihelion Sunrise – Witness Earth’s Closest Point to the Sun
Start 2026 with a rare, reflective dawn experience, marking Earth’s closest approach to the Sun with astronomy storytelling and safe solar viewing.
📍 Star Safari Observatory, 1169 Ponatahi Rd, Carterton | 🕠 5:30am–7:00am | 💰 $55 | 🎟 All Ages

🍩🎉 Donut Decorating Day – Donut Express Turns 21!
Celebrate Donut Express’s 21st birthday with a free, hands-on donut decorating session for kids and the young at heart - icing, sprinkles, fairy dust and plenty of sweet fun.
📍 Brewtown Farmers Market, Upper Hutt | 🕘 9:00am–2:00pm | 💰 Free | 🎟 All Ages

🐕 Small Dog Social Walk – Petone
A relaxed, friendly meetup for small dogs and their humans, with off-lead play, a beach walk, and plenty of tail-wagging social time. Puppies welcome.
📍 McEwan Park (back field), Petone Beach | 🕞 3:30pm–4:30pm | 💰 Free | 🎟 All Ages (dogs & humans)

🎨🧒 Cardboard Creations at Te Papa
A free, hands-on creative session for tamariki to build imaginative cardboard structures inspired by Yona Lee’s Kit-set In-Transit installation.
📍 Te Papa, Wellington | 🕙 10:00am–12:00pm | 💰 Free | 🎟 All Ages (caregiver required for children)

🎷 Sunday Jazz
Ease into your Sunday afternoon with smooth, swinging jazz classics in the cosy, book-lined setting of The Undercurrent.
📍 The Undercurrent, 118 Tory Street | 🕞 3:30pm | 💰 $15 | 🎟 All Ages

🎸🕺 The Young Once – New Year Dance Party
Kick off 2026 with an afternoon of toe-tapping 1950s and 60s hits, live music, dancing, and classic feel-good vibes for all ages.
📍 Petone Working Men’s Club, 47 Udy St | 🕓 4:00pm–7:00pm | 🎟 All Ages

🎤 Jodie Acoustic Session – Live at The Borough
An easy-going Sunday session with Jodie covering everything from ’60s classics to today’s Top 40 - perfect for a relaxed drink or a sneaky dance.
📍 The Borough, 162 Main Rd, Tawa | 🕑 2:00pm–5:00pm | 🎟 All Ages

🪐 Low Sensory Hour
A calm, welcoming hour at Space Place with reduced lights and sounds, a gentle planetarium experience, chill-out spaces and hands-on crafts.
📍 Space Place at Carter Observatory, 40 Salamanca Rd, Kelburn | 🕙 10:00am–11:00am | 💰 $0–$16 | 🎟 All Ages

🎶 Cam & Sam – Sunday Acoustic Sessions
A laid-back waterfront Sunday with live acoustic covers, big singalongs and feel-good classics from award-winning duo Cam & Sam.
📍 St Johns Bar & Eatery, 5 Cable St, Wellington Waterfront | 🕑 2:00pm–5:00pm | 💰 Free Entry | 🎟 All Ages

🌈 The Not-So-Straight Artists’ Walk Tour
A fascinating guided walk uncovering Wellington stories linked to Rainbow LGBTI+ artists, writers and musicians - from Katherine Mansfield to hidden queer landmarks.
📍 Meet at the Cenotaph (Bowen St & Lambton Quay) | 🕐 1:00pm–2:30pm | 💰 Free (registration required) | 🎟 All Ages

🎨🌿 Paint in the Park
A relaxed, outdoor painting session in the park, drawing inspiration from nature and enjoying a creative afternoon in the fresh air.
📍 Speldhurst Park, Lower Hutt | 🕓 From 4:00pm | 🎟 All Ages

Whether you’re chasing fresh air, live music, good food, curious conversations, or just a great excuse to get out and explore, this weekend has you covered.

As always at this time of year, plans can shift, so it’s worth double-checking event details with organisers before heading out.

Enjoy the long summer days, look after each other, and we’ll see you back here next week.

Ngā mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve 🐝