Everything you need to know about Splore Festival 2018

17 February 2018

By Fashion Quarterly

All it takes is a little preparation and a lot of planning to help you make the most of this year’s festivities.

Next weekend hails the start of Splore Festival 2018, where a collective and creative community will gather together to celebrate and enjoy the arts. Situated on the lush Tapapakanga regional park, this three day festival hosts a range of musicians, artists, food trucks and wellness programs that provides something for literally everyone.

Setting the tone this year is the theme Mystic Ritual, which promises to supply a magical weekend full of fun and excitement. And as the anticipation builds, we’re becoming more and more aware that making the most of this festival’s jam-packed lineup will take some serious strategic planning.

So in order to make this year’s Splore the best ever, we’ve compiled everything you need to know in order to help you and your friends relax, be stress-free and make the most of the festivities, all while enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings.

So get ready to pack your bags, don your best Splore attire and simply enjoy the magic…

Everything you need to know pre-Splore

Travel:
First and foremost getting there is key but before you rush ahead and fill your car up with petrol, there’s a couple of things you need to know about getting to Splore:

We’re all about reducing emissions and so is Splore. Join the Splore Carpool Club and help the environment by taking a car load of people with you to the festival. As an added benefit you’ll be given a discount on your parking pass on arrival.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer not to do the driving, why not catch a ride to Splore via the Splore Express? Tickets are $10 each way and buses depart from Auckland CBD.
Splore welcomes boaties. So if you’d prefer to turn up to this beach-side festival on a boat all you need to do is pre-register. Mooring is free but everyone on board must have a Splore ticket on hand.

Accommodation:
Arranging your accommodation is a must as your home base will set the scene for your entire weekend. Stay on site at the free camping zones – but get in quick as it’s a case of first in first served. The gates are opening the day before at 2pm on Thursday 22 February.

Unfortunately if you were thinking of booking a camper van spot, they’re all booked out. However, if you’re looking to stay somewhere a little more upmarket, then perhaps book a Wildernest glamping tent starting from $1,370.

What to wear:
Take note people: Splore is not called New Zealand’s greatest dress up party for nothing! So be inspired and dress to the Mystic Ritual theme (hot tip: check out the Splore website for some costume ideas!) Otherwise think festival, beach vibes and just general wackiness – the more out-of-the-box the better – it’s a festival after all! If you’re still struggling for inspiration, check out our gallery of favourite outfits from Splore 2017 to spark that creativity.

What to bring:

Ticket
Festival map and schedule (see below)
Camping gear
Sun protection ie hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
Friends
A positive attitude and an open mind
Water bottle
A small rubbish bag or two for collecting rubbish (Splore is all about enjoying and celebrating the local environment so don’t leave anything behind!)
A spare battery for charging your phone.

What NOT to bring:

Glass is not allowed in accordance to Auckland Council park regulations. Please bring any necessary items in plastic containers.
Bringing alcohol is prohibited, but can be purchased at bars on site.
Cash is not king. Splore is a cash-free festival and you’ll be provided with a AWOP wrist band to pay with instead.

Here’s how to plan Splore

Festival planning can be tricky – especially when there’s seven music and performance zones, and a wellness centre and visual art installations on top of that. Timing when to see which act while making sure you and your friends get to see everything on the wishlist is going to take skill and compromise – but when carefully planned, Splore can easily fulfil everyone’s needs.

So grab your festival friends, get the schedule in front of you and write down your ultimate festival to-see list. And just in case your phone dies, don’t forget to bring a printed copy along with you.

Everything to do at Splore

Music:

Once again Splore brings a plethora of musical acts to the festival ranging from international superstars to local home-grown bands.

The international line-up boasts acts like ultimate MC Dizzee Rascal of ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’ fame plus reggae star Chronixx. Another must-see is the New York-based trio Too Many Zooz who shot to fame after a clip of the band busking went viral. Unique and original, their music combines a saxophone, trumpet and percussion in such a way that is sure to move you.

Local acts that are worthy of a look include New Telepathics who push the boundaries of music by combining the sounds of jazz, soul, punk and electronica – to just name a few genres. Other acts include the likes of local MC duo Aroha and Tali and up-and-coming Wellington act Stretchfoot.

And if you’re after a combination of international and New Zealand artists make sure you check out Omar with Mark de Clive Lowe. UK-based Omar lends his soulful tunes to New Zealand-born Mark de Clive Lowe’s dancefloor beats. This is one collaboration you don’t want to miss with the tunes guaranteed to get you on the dance floor.

Food:

Food equals fuel and so is a must at any festival to ensure you and your friends are at peak performance. No one wants to be too hungry or lacking energy to the point that they miss out on all the fun or their favourite performing acts.

And while you may be eating as a means to an end, make it all the more enjoyable by hitting up one of our favourite food vendors found at Splore:

Art and culture:

Once again Splore takes the overarching festival vibe even further by promoting various art installations, pop-ups and workshops throughout the weekend.

The Wellness Centre is set to return again this year providing relaxation and nourishment for the soul. Participate in workshops and learn techniques like the Indian Head Massage, Soul Laundry Yoga or Flower Essence Therapy or book a one-on-one treatment with a specialist.

An event not to be missed is the dress-up cabaret party at the Yealand’s Living Lounge on Saturday night. This year’s theme is ‘The Temple of Midnight Mantra’ and it promises to be the ultimate party with a range of bands, DJs and entertainers playing all through the night.

Ticket’s to Splore Festival 2018 are still available at iticket.co.nz