Rhythm and Alps in the Cardrona Valley has become a cherished end-of-year tradition. Photo / George Heard
Rhythm and Alps in the Cardrona Valley has become a cherished end-of-year tradition. Photo / George Heard
One of the country’s most southern New Year’s events, Rhythm and Alps, is back for another year of fun.
Set to welcome 10,000 people to its Cardrona Valley location, the annual event has become a cherished end-of-year tradition — even more so than promising to finally stick to your resolutions in 2024 — so, what will this year bring? Even more stars, even more fireworks and, most hilarious of all, absolutely no “bad vibes”, according to the festival’s website.
With a performance from one of New Zealand’s biggest country music stars, Kaylee Bell, to the one and only Benee, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Synthony and all the bars and food trucks in between, it’s set to be a pretty impressive experience — especially if the weather holds up.
Here’s everything you need to know before the festival:
The festivities officially kick off on December 29, with check-in for campers available from noon and closing at 10pm. If you’re one of the lucky ones who scored an Airbnb in Wānaka, Queenstown or Lake Hāwea, though, the music festival will have acts from 4pm running all the way to midnight.
If you’re a medium-level party-goer choosing a two-day stay in the valley, check-in for campers opens at 10am on December 30 and shuts at 11pm. As for day trippers, you can head along to the festival from noon.
The same for those heading along on December 31.
Stars of the show
It’s going to be three days of singing, dancing and good times — especially because Kaylee Bell, Benee, Sachi and Sythony are coming in hot so you can come into the new year even hotter.
If you’re planning a roadie with your mates before camping at the festival, it’s good news. Unlike the parking battle in Central Otago, the campers carpark is a short 2 or 3-minute walk from the campsite — and if you’ve got a campervan you can even drive into the campsite (after purchasing a campervan upgrade).
As for anyone staying other than for R&A and you’re drinking, don’t drive. There are plenty of options to get home safely including having a sober mate drive, getting mum or dad to come pick you up or booking your transport with Yello, the local bus and taxi companies, or private transport.
How your wristband works
R&A is a fully cashless festival, which is an ideal situation for the one friend who always loses their Eftpos card but bad news for that one friend who deals in only cash. Fortunately or unfortunately, you have no choice but to live, laugh, and wristband your way through the bars and food trucks.
To make sure you aren’t the one friend who promises to get your mate a drink, waits in line for 30 minutes then realises you have to pay with the electronic chip on your wristband — which you are given at check-in — top up here.
Rhythm and Alps draws 10,000 festival punters every year. Photo / George Heard
What to bring
No one likes to arrive at a festival and realise they’ve left an essential item at home — especially when said festival is a 40-minute drive from Wānaka, so to save any meltdowns, here is everything you need to bring, according to the festival organisers themselves.
Must bring valid photo ID — by law the only forms of ID that R&A can and will accept are valid NZ driver’s licences, Hanz 18+ ID cards, Kiwi Access cards, and overseas or NZ passports.
Have your ticket on you, either a printed copy or on your phone.
Cash or Eftpos to top up your wristband
An empty plastic water bottle to reuse and top up at our free water refill stations
Warm clothes for when the sun goes down
If you’re a camper, be sure to bring all your necessary camping supplies, a sturdy tent you can reuse and will stand up to the Cardrona elements, sleeping bags, the works
Rhythm and Alps is a cashless festival this year. Photo / George Heard
What not to bring
The much-loved festival once again has a no-BYO policy this year, with any alcohol brought in set to be confiscated — and that’s not the only rule. The website also states a series of items you aren’t allowed to bring in, including:
Weapons of any sort
Drugs or any drug paraphernalia
Gas cookers, BBQs (any form of cooking facilities)
Fireworks
Gang insignia
Glass (including non-alcoholic drinks)
Tent mallets and hammers (bring rubber mallets instead)
Drones
Laser lights
And last but undoubtedly the most hilarious, absolutely no “bad vibes”.
Make sure to bring your sunscreen to Rhythm and Alps because the weather is expected to be dry and hot. Photo / George Heard
Weather
It’s tough to find the exact weather forecast for Cardrona Valley so we’ve gone with Wānaka’s weather outlook to give you an idea of what to expect this New Year’s.
According to MetService, it’s not looking too shabby for R&A punters with sun, warm temperatures and potentially a bit of rain. December 29 is forecast to be mostly cloudy, with a low of 14C and a high of 25C. December 30 is looking slightly worse with a low of 11C and a high of 22C and a few showers turning to rain in the evening.
As for December 31, it’s forecast to be a low of 9C and a maximum of 20C with rain in the morning before clearing later in the day. So, if you’re packing anything, make sure it’s your jersey and a waterproof poncho.
While we’ve tried to cover everything in this article, we are only human so if you’ve still got unanswered questions, head to the R&A website here.
Lillie Rohan is an Auckland-based reporter covering lifestyle and entertainment stories who joined the Heraldin 2020. She specialises in all things relationships and dating, great Taylor Swift ticket wars and TV shows you simply cannot miss out on.
