28 Best Performing Arts in New Zealand

This Auckland Council-funded gallery is off-the-beaten art track in the Otara Town Centre, but it's well worth visiting for the extraordinary work it shows. Emerging artists, many from the Pacific, test boundaries not only in materials used, but also with content and techniques. The space is also used by the South Auckland Poets' Collective for performance poetry that plays to packed houses.

The grand lady of Christchurch's theater scene, dating back to 1908, was fully restored in 2014. This opulent setting, complete with an intricate painted ceiling dome and marble staircase, hosts some of New Zealand's best touring shows including ballet and music. It is also home to a giant screen for the New Zealand International Film Festival, held every July. Get dressed up and enjoy the glamour of a bygone era in the comfort of today's plushest seating. There are stylish bars on every level for a drink before the show or during intermission.

Auckland's main venue for the performing arts and medium-size conferences is in the center of the city and often mounts free art exhibitions in its public spaces. There is a good café on the steps leading into the main foyer. The New Zealand Opera performs three annual main-stage seasons here, accompanied by either the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra or the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Check the website to find out what's on.

The New Zealand Symphony and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestras perform here in the Great Hall, which holds up to 1,529 people on three levels. Some say it has some of the finest acoustics in the world. It also features the largest musical instrument in the country, the Town Hall Organ. More intimate concerts take place in the Concert Chamber. Check the website for the latest concert schedule.

Wellington's long-standing source for experimental, sometimes off-the-wall theater hosts a range of performances throughout the year, including stand-up, dance, and theater. There are three performance spaces and a small bar on site.

In odd-numbered years, the city hosts a late-winter, month-long arts festival, featuring everything from dance and theater to comedy, visual art, and cabaret.

The Christchurch Town Hall underwent a NZ$167 million restoration after being damaged in the earthquakes. It opened in stages with the main auditorium, foyer and function rooms in February 2019, followed by the James Hay Theatre and facilities for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra later that year. With superb acoustics, the 2,500-seat auditorium is recognized as one of finest concert halls in the world.

The local institution, three-screen Cinema Paradiso is not your usual movie house—its seating includes couches, recliners, pillows, and even a yellow Morris Minor car or two. During intermission you can snack on homemade ice cream and warm cookies (straight out of the oven) or even have dinner with a glass of wine. Check the local paper or website for film details, and make sure you book ahead.

Catch contemporary New Zealand pieces along with established masterworks from Harold Pinter to Oscar Wilde. It's on the wharf next to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

This theater hosts many performances by international touring companies and artists. Check the website for the most up to date schedule.

Every year, New Zealand's largest outdoor arts and music festival transforms the capital's cool Cuba Street for a weekend in late March. This free, family-friendly event is packed with an extraordinary variety of programmed entertainment. Quality food stalls from local restaurants also line the streets.

It may not have a flashy marquee, but Dorothy Brown's Boutique Cinema and Bar is a memorable movie house. The theater doesn't seat many people, but the chairs are cushy and have plenty of legroom. Better yet, you can get a glass of wine at the fireplace bar and bring it with you, along with a cheeseboard to nibble from, and if you run out, all screenings have an intermission. The schedule mixes Hollywood releases with art and international films, and they have 3D screenings here, too. Book ahead---it's popular.

Marlborough's climate and soils encourage great gardens and this is one of the country's most popular garden festivals. For five days in November you can wander through inspiring and beautifully kept gardens, and partake in workshops and social events. Watch the website for bookings; tickets go on sale at least a couple of months ahead.

In late May or early June, Māori New Year begins with the first new moon after the appearance of Matariki (Pleiades). To celebrate, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa hosts nine days of music, storytelling, and dance performances; events kick off with a ceremony at dawn.

Named after a former long-standing mayor, this venue regularly hosts shows ranging from the New Zealand Ballet to orchestral and pop concerts.

A top music and performance event is the Nelson Arts Festival, usually held in October. It's a magnet for top-notch Kiwi and international acts.

New Zealand's oldest music school is known for its excellent acoustics. Each year it hosts musical performances, local productions, and top national and international tours. Check the website for upcoming events that coincide with your visit.

Wellington's century-old Opera House has plush carpets and tiered seating. As the capital's main mid-size venue, its line-up consists of stage performances, musicals, and international comedy.

A historic building hosts large-scale musicals as well as dance and theater performances and those of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. It is also the scene of the New Zealand Film Festival and the World Cinema Showcase each year.

The ornate, turn-of-the-20th-century St. James Theatre hosts dance performances, musicals, and opera. This is the official home of the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the New Zealand Opera.

The country's major art showcase is held February through March on even-numbered years at venues across the city. A huge array of international talent in music, drama, dance, and visual media descends upon Wellington. Events fill up quickly; check online for program information, and book a month in advance if you can.

If you're in the mood to catch a bit of the youth culture the city is known for, check out what's going on in this independent and alternative music venue. Bands routinely use the studio space to rehearse, but there are also regular shows open to the public, with acts and times listed on the venue's website. It's an all-ages place, so there's no alcohol served: the nonprofit society that runs the place is all about the music. You'll need a sense of adventure because the bands that play here don't tend to be household names.

Buy tickets for local performances at this spot between the Michael Fowler Center and the Town Hall.

Tickets for many performance venues and concerts are sold through Ticketek online.

This is the central ticket agency for all theater, music, and dance performances, as well as for major sporting events and it advertises its content months ahead of time. It offers a smart phone app and tickets are delivered by app, email, or collection at the venue.

Devoted to the hedonist's holy trinity, this festival occurs on the third Sunday of November. Thousands of tickets are typically sold within hours of their first release—you can get yours online through Ticketek ( www.ticketek.co.nz).

Headlining tours head to this large indoor venue on the waterfront.

Wellington's annual food festival hosts over 100 events, with local and visiting chefs creating special menus and experiences. New Zealand's largest beer festival, Beervana, kicks off the two-week festival in early August. A major component of the festival is Burger Wellington, which sees more than 200 eateries competing to be ruled the Best Burger.