Soundsplash is New Zealand's most beloved family-friendly music festival, held each January at the beautiful Wainui Reserve in Raglan on the west coast of the Waikato. Set on the edge of the Raglan Harbour with native bush at its back and the surf beaches of one of New Zealand's most iconic surf towns nearby, it offers a three-day camping festival experience that combines great music with a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere that welcomes all ages and backgrounds.
Since its founding, Soundsplash has built its reputation on a programme that spans reggae, roots, world music, hip hop and electronic sounds alongside family activities, food and the kind of community spirit that makes it feel genuinely different from larger commercial festivals. The Raglan setting is central to the festival's identity — a town known for its surf culture, its creative community and its easy-going character that perfectly matches the festival's own values.
For families in particular, Soundsplash offers something rare in the New Zealand festival landscape — a genuinely welcoming event where children and parents can experience live music together in a safe, beautiful environment. For music lovers of all ages, a January weekend in Raglan with Soundsplash is one of the warmest and most enjoyable ways to start the New Zealand festival year.