Rhythm and Alps is New Zealand's premier alpine music festival, held each New Year's Eve in the stunning Cardrona Valley near Wānaka in the South Island. Set against one of the most dramatic mountain backdrops in Aotearoa, it brings together thousands of festival-goers for a two-day celebration of electronic, hip hop, indie and live music that culminates in a New Year's Eve countdown beneath the Southern Alps.
As the South Island counterpart to Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines, Rhythm and Alps has carved out its own distinct identity — one defined by the extraordinary natural setting, the intimacy of the valley location and the particular magic of welcoming the new year surrounded by mountains, stars and the clean air of Central Otago. The festival draws a mix of domestic and international visitors, many of whom combine it with skiing at nearby Cardrona Alpine Resort or exploring the Wānaka and Queenstown region.
For music lovers and adventure seekers alike, Rhythm and Alps offers a New Year's experience that is hard to match anywhere in the world. The combination of world-class music programming, the dramatic alpine environment and the genuine warmth of the New Zealand festival community makes it one of the most memorable ways to farewell the old year and welcome the new.