Dancing barefoot on a beach under a sky full of stars, the ocean humming behind the beats is what I remember most about my first Splore Festival in 2008.
It was just months after arriving in Aotearoa from the UK with my partner and two young children. Discovering the boutique festival in the middle of a New Zealand summer was a dream and it also felt like a homecoming to my soul.
Fast forward to 2017, when I stepped into a new role of curating Wendy’s Wellness – Splore Festival’s dedicated wellbeing zone – I felt it was destiny. It’s where all the threads of who I am as a yoga teacher, life coach, event curator, and DJ intertwine. It’s a space that allows me to weave together sound, movement, healing, community, and heart into something that feels alive and deeply needed.
What makes Splore so special is the contrast. There’s the glitter, the pulsing bass, the kaleidoscope of costumes. Nestled within that vibrancy is a quiet invitation to slow down, breathe, and reconnect. Wendy’s Wellness embodies this invitation, offering early morning yoga, breathwork, bodywork, soulful workshops, and inspiring talks. Every year, I marvel at the dedication of those who roll out of their tents to meditate at sunrise. They come because the magic is real.
Being the first zone to open on Thursday afternoon at Splore Festival gives Wendy’s Wellness its own special energy. While festivalgoers set up camp, they wander into the tent to stretch, ground, and exhale. There’s a buzz of anticipation, like the moment just before the bass drops, setting the tone for the entire weekend.
Watching the space fill with people resting, laughing, moving, and simply being is deeply fulfilling. Repeatedly, people tell me how much this sanctuary means to them within the larger festival whirl. It’s a reminder that wellness doesn’t sit apart from the party. It’s part of it, making every moment richer.
And when night falls, the magic morphs. After dark comes alive with DJs, acoustic sets, dreamy visuals, and late-night offerings that blur the edges between chill and celebration. Warm chai in hand, festivalgoers sink into cushions, sway to the music, or lose themselves in conversation. It’s intimate, electric, and utterly unique.
Every year, a circle of beautiful humans co-creates this sanctuary with me. Their love and energy infuses every workshop, every song, and every shared moment.
Then there’s the setting itself: Tāpapakanga Regional Park. It’s breathtaking with its pōhutukawa trees, sweeping beach, and sunrise over the water. There’s a magic in swimming between workshops and bands, dancing under the stars, and watching art and nature blend into something transcendent. Each time I walk through the gates, I feel the land’s energy welcoming me back.
I watch the site awaken, flags unfurling, structures rising, sound systems roaring to life. By the time the crowd pours in, the air is fully alive with anticipation.
The post-Covid years have tested festivals everywhere, but Splore’s heartbeat is strong. As Splore Festival director John Minty says, “We took a breath so we could build a future, strengthen the foundations, tend to our roots.” You can feel this evolution across the board, from fresh music programming and artist development to smarter camping and greater accessibility. Wendy’s Wellness is evolving too. The curation for the 2026 programme promises something for everyone. Whether you’re dipping your toes into wellness or diving deeper into your path.
Over the years, I’ve collected moments that shine like treasures: Erykah Badu, the soulful sounds of Fat Freddy’s Drop, the raw poetry of Kae Tempest, ecstatic dance led by Arnivan Deva, the hypnotic flow of Dance Plant, and my own late-night DJ sets in Orchard Thieves. Each year, the art trail, the workshops, and the people remind me why we do this.
Splore is not just a festival. It’s a pilgrimage, a playground, a pulse, a place where music, art, nature, and wellness converge to create something unforgettable. I’m endlessly grateful to be part of its beating heart.
Splore Festival, 20-22 February 2026, Tāpapakanga Regional Park.
