Gisborne
The excellent, artful Dome is located inside the charming old Poverty Bay Club building (1874): beanbags and art-house flicks now occupy the glass-domed…
Must-see entertainment in New Zealand
The Wairarapa
An urbane addition to workaday Masterton's cultural life, the Screening Room is a top spot to catch a movie (two plush 60-seat cinemas) or sip wine on the…
Wellington
Wellywood’s cinema mother ship is an art-deco darling, built in the 1920s. Today she screens mainly mainstream films with state-of-the-art sound and…
Rotorua
Modestly proclaiming itself one of the 10 best experiences in the world, Tamaki offers a 3½-hour twilight Māori cultural experience in its recreated…
Queenstown & Wanaka
This is what a cinema should be like: wide, ultra-comfortable seating with fine local wine, cheese boards and olives available to accompany the mostly art…
Christchurch
This century-old dear survived the quakes and emerged restored to full glory in 2014. Its heritage features are enjoyed by patrons venturing inside for…
Napier
A vision in purple, this boutique 45-seat cinema screens art-house flicks in a sumptuous lounge, with ready access to pizza and dumpling snacks from a…
Auckland
Exciting and educational kids' shows are performed at this innovative theatre in Henderson – expect extreme fun and irreverence – and the whole shebang…
Kingsland & Mt Eden
This stadium hosts top rugby (winter) and cricket (summer) tests by the All Blacks (www.allblacks.com) and the Black Caps (www.blackcaps.co.nz),…
Wanaka
How very Wānaka that an art-house cinema should adjoin an indoor climbing wall. Channelling a lush New York or Shanghai vibe, Ruby's has a whiff of cinema…
Rotorua
This family-run outfit offers a popular three-hour evening event with a concert, hāngi and glowworm bush walk. The experience starts with the arrival of a…
Christchurch
Adjacent to the Brewery in Woolston, Blue Smoke is Christchurch's best small live-music venue. There's often a folk, roots music or Americana vibe to the…
Te Anau
In between regular showings of the excellent Ata Whenua/Fiordland on Film (adult/child $12/6), essentially a 32-minute advertisement for Fiordland scenery…
Dunedin & Otago
First opened in 1907 and now beautifully restored to its original glory, Ōamaru's opera house hosts a variety of shows, including music, dance, theatre…
Taranaki & Whanganui
When Stratford's fine old picture house opened on the last day of 1917, movies were still silent, King George V was on the throne back in London and New…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This restored 1920s theatre, run by volunteers, has been redeemed as Opunake's cutural beacon, with couches downstairs and regular movie theatre seats…
The Wairarapa
Martinborough has its own stylish art-house cinema – a mod, micro-sized complex with two comfy studio theatres and a cafe opening out on to a sunny,…
Whanganui
Whanganui's magnificent white weatherboard opera house (1899) is New Zealand's (and some suggest the southern hemisphere's) last working Victorian-era…
Wanaka
Sprawl on a comfy couch, or recline in a dentist's chair or an old Morris Minor at this Wānaka institution, screening the best Hollywood and art-house…
Wellington
Truly the cat’s pyjamas, Meow goes out on a limb to host a diverse range of gigs and performances: country, ragtime, DJs, acoustic rock, jazz, poetry… At…
Whanganui
The first Friday of every month is club night here; that means a scheduled performance from local and international stars, and even open mic earlier on…
Christchurch
Christchurch's original Court Theatre was an integral part of the city's Arts Centre, but it was forced to relocate to this warehouse after the…
Hawke's Bay
The long-derelict Gaiety has been architecturally redeemed, and exudes gaiety once again! Art-house and mainstream movies on the Wairoa riverside and…
Queenstown
The faux-Tudor motel architecture might have you expecting lutes and folk ballads, but the Sherwood is Queenstown's go-to spot for visiting musos. Many of…
Whanganui
Nightly new-release blockbusters selling out faster than you can say ‘bored Whanganui teenagers’. Arthouse films screen too, plus a new 20-seat boutique…
Wellington
The city's major concert hall stages regular performances by the NZ Symphony Orchestra (www.nzso.co.nz), Orchestra Wellington (www.orchestrawellington.co…
Napier
Not only the city’s largest venue for the likes of rock concerts, dance and drama (1000 seats), but also one of the world’s few working art-deco theatres…
Rotorua
The Novotel's 2½-hour Māori cultural experience includes a performance of traditional song and dance followed by a hāngi. It's held in a separate building…
Wellington
Tucked away near the top end of Cuba St, this small, stylish cinema throws a range of mainstream, art-house and foreign films up onto the screens in three…
Gisborne
Reopened in 2019 after earthquake strengthening, the versatile, 250-seat Lawson Field Theatre hosts everything from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to…
Wellington
This grand old heritage theatre hosts big-ticket productions such as the Royal NZ Ballet (www.rnzb.org.nz) and NZ Opera (www.nzopera.com), plus the odd…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
New Zealand's best indie bands, emerging overseas acts, drum-and-bass DJs and the occasional burlesque show all feature at this versatile upstairs venue…
Nelson
Built in 1878, this charmingly restored heritage theatre hosts a full roster of local and touring drama, dance and musical productions. Check the website…
City Centre & Britomart
This elegant Edwardian venue (1911) hosts the NZ Symphony Orchestra (www.nzso.co.nz) and Auckland Philharmonia (www.apo.co.nz), among others. Also used…
Wellington
This much-loved, midsize music venue wheels out craft beer and smoky, meaty food to go along with the rock. Dancing is near mandatory, and the balcony…
Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
The ASB Waterfront Theatre is used by the Auckland Theatre Company and also for occasional one-off shows and concerts. A good selection of bars and…
Christchurch
A hip combination of live-music venue and bar, Darkroom has lots of Kiwi beers and great cocktails. Live gigs are frequent – and frequently free.
City Centre & Britomart
Stand-up performances most nights, with legendary late-night shows during the annual Comedy Festival.
Blenheim
Opened in 2016, this large, modern theatre presents a wide programme of concerts and performances. Check the website to see what's on.
Christchurch
This delightful two-screen art-house cinema can be found within the long-standing and excellent Alice In Videoland DVD library.
