The Maniototo hosts many events throughout the year so plan your trip around one (or more)! Celebrate our rural way of life at an annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show, enter one of many biking and endurance events, dress in 1920′s costume for our Art Deco Festival or ‘go country’ at the Waipiata Country Ute Muster. Maniototo Curling International hosts many curling events and test your ‘brass’ at the mid winter Brass Monkey motorbike rally in Oturehua.
Maniototo Events Calendar 2010
Maniototo Events Calendar 2011
Maniototo Events Calendar 2012
Maniototo Events Calendar 2013
February Events
Agricultural & Pastoral Shows
A & P Shows are an intregal event in any rural community. Amongst the traditional horse and sheep events, machinery displays and, always the favourite, the Grand Parade there’s candfloss, a variety of food and retail stalls, and, depending on the weather, a kids ‘slippery slide’. A truly rural experience! Check out the Maniototo A & P Association on Facebook. The A & P Association will also be hosting the Golden Fleece Awards in 2012.
Ranfurly’s Art Deco Weekend
Celebrated over the last weekend of February each year. The 2012 ART Deco Festival will be held on Friday the 24th, Saturday the 25th and culminates with a church service of the era on Sunday the 26th of February. Dress up a little, wander the markets and food stalls, enjoy a Central Otage wine out on the street and celebrate Ranfurly’s colourful history (more)
April Events
Maniototo Markets
On the Saturday of Easter and Labour weekends the Ranfurly Railway Station hosts the Burn 729am Maniototo Markets. From locally grown products, traditional crafts, community raffles and baking to art and sculptures. There could be live music or an auction too! This is a major fundraiser for our local community radio station and supports many community groups. Call (03) 444 9729 to book your stall.
Bards, Ballads & Bulldust
The annual Easter weekend event, Bards, Ballads & Bulldust festival is the only one of its kind in the country, where the emphasis is on the spoken word in the form of bush poetry. Bush balladry has been an integral part of our national heritage since the 1890s, but its profile has remained small, going largely un-noticed and un-recognised until the birth of Bards Ballads & Bulldust …. (more)
May Events
Duck Shooting Season Opening Weekend
The first weekend of May is the official start to Duck Shooting Season. It is a big weekend in the Maniototo. Maimai’s are created, ponds are fed, decoys put out, committees formed, trophy’s engraved and the hunt for the duck begins. A local tradition and many return from overseas or from around NZ to shoot. This is a must for the lads!
June Events
Brass Monkey Motorbike Rally
Motorcyclists from all over New Zealand converge on a paddock in the Ida Valley expecting bitterly cold temperatures to attend the annual Brass Monkey Rally. Stand around massive bonfires, keep warm will a wee dram and ‘harden up’ – it’s a weekend out not to be missed. Cold enough to freeze the balls off a ….. (more)
July Events
Naseby Ice Festival
SLIDE into the school holidays & enjoy a combination of free and low priced ice events such as curling in the indoor rink, ice skating, luging and snow park excitement. Take a ticket in the exciting luge ball race. Stay the night and experience the Maniototo in it’s true wonder. Music, giveaways and ice adventure is all here for you to explore ….. (more)
August Events
A unique New Zealand Ultramarathon event being held in Central Otago. Less than an hour from Alexandra, or an hour and a half from Queenstown, Naseby is a great jumping off point for a trip to the adventure playground that is the Maniototo. This year, in the pre-dawn gloom at 6:00AM, runners in the 100km event will leave the start line and head through the forests around Naseby … (more).
September Events
Jazz ‘n Jocks - A Quintessential Central Otago Tour
Hosted by 2 Central Otago communities, Maniototo and Cromwell, Jazz ‘n Jocks is a celebration of our way of life and we encourage you to plan your Central Otago experience around our all encompassing event. A culmination of culture and sports – this weekend will give all the family something to enjoy. Whether you’re travelling from Dunedin or Queenstown take the alternative route through the Maniototo and enjoy true country hospitality and unique Kiwi celebrations … (more)
October Events
Burn 729am Maniototo Markets
The Maniototo Markets will start Labour Weekend off from 10am – 2pm outside the Ranfurly Railway Station. Browse the stalls while enjoying music and sunshine. Regulars include Jewellery, Kids Toys, Sewing Equipment, Prenzel, Clothing, Wood Crafts, Cakes and Bennys Honey, Cheese Rolls & Sausage sizzle. If you would like to take the opportunity to fundraise or sell your goods/products at the markets phone Quentin McIntosh (03) 4449 729 to book a stall site for only $15. Simply bring along your table and a gazebo (food stalls have the option of being up on the station veranda) and we’ll show you where to set up. The more the merrier and you’ll be supporting Burn 729am – Maniototos community-run radio station.
November Events
Burn 729am Maniototo Community Cup
This ‘top town’ type event is a lot of fun and is only in it’s second year. First held at Labour Weekend 2011 in conjunction with the local radio stations 20th Anniversary celebration, it was hosted in Ranfurly. The townships of the Maniototo enter teams to compete in different (and somewhat amusing) challenges of both physical. GIMMERBURN took away the Maniototo Community Cup for 2011. When Waipiata hosts in 2012 who will it be?
December Events
The inaugural Oturehua Community Fete will be held this year (2011) on Saturday the 3rd of December with plans to hold it each year. Only 2 hours from Dunedin and just under an hour from Alexandra, this is the perfect spot for a day of sun, shopping and stunning views. Country markets will gather opposite the Oturehua Town Hall beside the Oturehua Railway Hotel. With a selection of food and accommodation options available why not make a weekend of it and explore the entire Maniototo. For more information contact Chris McDiarmid on (03) 444 5002.
All Year Events
Maniototo Curling International
Naseby has an indoor curling facility open to all! Come and ‘Have A Go!’ You’ll be surprise how quickly you will pick it up. Any ability and age are very welcome (wheelchairs too)!
