Pasifika Festival is set to be the biggest celebration yet, marking the 20th anniversary. It will be held at Western Springs Lakeside Park, Western Springs. (Friday–Saturday, 9th & 10th March)

Take a short drive from Auckland on Great North Road for this cultural fest – if you’re hungry and like music and dance with your holiday experiences.

Pasifika showcases unique food, contemporary and traditional music and dance from 10 cultures in the South Pacific.

The free festivities will kick off with the opening night concert on the Friday evening. The following day the park will be transformed into 10 “villages,” each representing an individual Pacific island.

• Pasifika Web and Facebook
• Auckland Event Finder
• Gay Welcoming Auckland Accommodation
• Auckland Activites

YOU vs WILD is Guided Walks New Zealand’s version of the popular TV series on outdoor survival.

Be introduced to the rugged New Zealand bush and wild backcountry and learn a few of the skills that you will need to stay alive in in the wilderness and mountains.
You’ve seen it done on the television survival series, as the host flies into the middle of nowhere by helicopter, dropped into the wilderness and left to survive with nothing but what he’s carrying and whatever he finds on his journey back to civilization.

For something different when in Queenstown, you can give You vs Wild Drop Zone a go. You’ll fly across Queenstown’s Breathing Lake Wakatipu and then high above the mountains, in and out of valleys, above ancient native rainforests until you reach the Drop Zone deep in the wilderness. You game?

Don’t like to fly? Take the half-day walk and learn how to make a fire, how to build a bivouac shelter, what plants to eat, how to make a pain relief drink, how to find north the celestial way and how to filter water so that it’s safe to drink. These are a few of the skills that you will need to stay alive, in the back country of New Zealand – Aotearoa.

A bit of history

For Peter Hitchman working as a Personal Body Guard for an 80’s pop group in the UK with two ex SAS soldiers, playing survival games in the forests & mountains at any given opportunity was their way of letting off steam. When Peter arrived in New Zealand 15 years ago he was able to use some of the skills that he’d learned, as well as formalizing them at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre, to lead survival camps for teenagers and corporate groups.

“Introducing people to the wilderness in a way that’s different, letting them explore and find out how simple it is to play survival games and learn new tricks is a passion of mine. I believe everyone has it in them to become a survivalist.” – Pete

• For tour details, see You vs Wild website
• Guided Walks NZ is a Rainbow Tourism Approved operator and will be the Snowshoeing Tour provider during Gay Ski Week this winter.

You Vs Wild Video

Drop Zone Video

Not only is Wellington the nation’s capital, it’s also New Zealand’s creative capital. It’s home to visual-effects company Weta Digital, film-makers like Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, several professional theatres, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and – last but not least – New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa.

Te Papa National Museum

First time visitors

First-time visitors, don’t miss our exhibition highlights – from the story of Māori in New Zealand to seeing the heaviest colossal squid ever caught and the only complete one on display in the world (but only through August 2012).

• Preview the museum with 2-minute video tour.

Plan your visit

• Gay Wellington 
• Accommodation

Sightseeing Suggestions:

• Wellington Capital Views Helicopter Flight
• South Coaster Helicopter Flight from Wellington
• More sightseeing ideas

The 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival, including more than 300 performances over 24 days, takes over the capital from late February through March. Hot tickets include theatre, dance, music, visual arts, writers & readers and the Festival Club.

If you’re searching for the heart of the festival action, then look no further the TelstraClear Festival Club. The tent is situated in the thick of things in Odlin’s Plaza on the Wellington waterfront. Check out live music in the evening, catch our late night theatre cabaret spectacular Cantina, or hang out in the bar. Open from early evening, the Club precinct is the perfect place to soak up the Festival atmosphere; meet before or after a show, grab a drink, a bite to eat, and mingle with visiting artists, crews and performers.

Among the international acts are New Zealand’s own lesbian duo, The Topp Twins. These women are national treasures and have performed around the world as an original country music and comedy duo for more than 25 years. Known for their vast array of personas and ability to re-invent themselves on stage, they change character, musical styles and gender with ease. Armed with guitar, mouth-harp and spoons they deliver original songs, audience participation and comedy in a fast-paced and hilarious entertainment experience. Tickets are expected to sell out fast for the 27 February performance.

• Wellington International Arts Festival 24 February to 18 March
• Visit wellingtonnz.com to plan your visit to Wellington.
• Visit Rainbow Tourism Wellington. You’ll find loads of information on gay-owned and gay-welcoming accommodation, activities, and places to eat and drink – and more.
• Rainbow Tourism Places to Stay

Mark your calendars now because we are expecting the day to be bigger, gayer and better than ever before!

The Durex Main Stage line up is headlined by ZOWIE and MANTHYNG, and will also feature Dmynority (Hip Hop Dance Crew), Pearlz of Meganesianz, Titch Marvel and the Paparazzi Dolls.

• Big Gay Out 2012 –  an LGBT Fair Day for Auckland
• Get it On! - We’re building a condom culture across NZ.
• Rainbow Tourism Approved Auckland Accommodation
• Auckland Bars and Venues

This year’s Auckland Seafood Festival will be held 28-30 January at Wynyard Quarter.

This three-day extravaganza of New Zealand’s best seafood, musical acts, live demonstrations and competitions is set in the heart of Auckland’s fishing industry, with some amazing views of the Waitemata Harbour.

The festival was created six years ago to celebrate Auckland’s Anniversary weekend and New Zealand seafood. The event has always been a community project with all proceeds going to charity. More than 20,000 tasters will enjoy amazing lobster, fish, shrimp, oysters and mussells plus musical acts and cooking demonstrations.

• Seafood Feastival Programme
• Handy Accommodation

Out in the Square, Wellington’s famous gay and lesbian fair., will take place on Saturday 21 January.

The annual event – now in its 25th year – is an all-day event for the whole family, featuring stalls, food, entertainment, and fun in the sun.

In past years, around 15,000 celebrated in Wellington‘s highly visible Civic Square.

In the event of rain it will be held on Sunday, followed by the Glitter Gay Dance Party. Everything that GLITTERS is definitely GAY at Out Wellington’s dance party on Sunday 22 January. The next day is a public holiday so get out Sunday night from 9 pm.

The upstairs foyer area of Wellington’s glamorous Opera House will be transformed into the ultimate gay dance party, complete with three hot DJs (Steven Oates, Ramon Te Wake and DJ Juzi) and special performances.

Need a place to stay while in Wellington for these events?

• Check out the Rainbow Tourism Approved accommodation
• Out in the Square website.

Where will you be NYE? Like celebrating with thousands? Here’s something new in Queenstown worth adding to your South Island holiday itinerary.

Celebrate New Years Eve in beautiful Queenstown at the sweetest music festival in the country. The first-ever Earthonz NYE Music Fest will be the coolest place to celebrate New Year’s Eve with 30 hours of music starting at 2pm on 30 December through 3am on the 1st.

The concert on the 31st features an international lineup of stars playing electronica, hip hop, dubstep, breaks, drum and bass, beatbox and progressive dance music from Tommy Lee (of Motley Crue) and DJ Aero’s wicked house set, the legendary Crystal Method, from Cypress Hill DJ Muggs, the UK’s Freestylers, from Holland innovators Kraak & Smaak, Asian dub Queen Ana Sia, beatbox hero Heatbox, Boombox, Planet of the Drums and New Zealand’s own Minuit.

The Edge Base Camp on the 30th features pop rock, funka nd soul, dubstep, alternative and reggae from Kiwi artists The Rhythmonyx, Knights of the Dub Table, Station Agents, DubSide, The Fletcherz, Simple Thieves, Ghettoblaster and Hunting Bears.

Earthtonz is set at the majestic Gibbston Valley Winery, just outside Queenstown, with a backdrop of the Kawarau River and the Crown Range. Rainbow Tourism Accreditated accommodation can be found in Arrowtown, Queenstown and surrounds, if you don’t avail yourself of the luxury camping amenities.

• Earth to NZ gathering
• The camping will sell out, so book now if you want a hotel bed.
• Queenstown & Arrowtown Accommodation
• New Year’s Day Guided Walks

International travel authority Lonely Planet has chosen New Zealand’s vast Southern Lakes region as one of the world’s ‘Top 10 Regions to visit in 2012’.

The Southern Lakes, which includes three major New Zealand tourist destinations – Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Fiordland – is ranked at #8 for its year-round activities and spectacular scenery.

The region offers a diverse blend of adventure tourism, family holidays and accessible wilderness experiences, along with exclusive luxury lodges and fine dining to match the world class wines produced in the vineyards of Central Otago.

Rainbow Tourism has compiled a list of the gay welcoming accommodation and tour operators on the South Island, including Queenstown and surrounds.  All the more reason to visit NZ now – or again.

Visiting Auckland at the end of November? Start planning now to take the ferry across to Waiheke Island for the Olive Festival, 26-27 November.

Waiheke is known for some of the most awarded olive oils. The olives ripen during the island’s Mediterranean-like climate of long warm summers, harvested in autumn the oils are ready to taste and enjoy in spring. Four Waiheke Island olive producers and ten local artisan food producers will showcase their products for a taste of Waiheke.

The two-day festival is set in the stunning surrounds of Rangihoua Estate olive grove and gardens.- a great spot to relax with music, jazz, song and wine. Music includes rock to jazz including Five Mile Town, Chocolate Fish, Sassy & the Pocket Books and Nairobi Trio.

• Waiheke Olive Festival 2011
• Places to stay on Waiheke Island
• Moana Vista B&B