Friday Five: Your Wellington Anniversary weekend, planned

1. Pack a picnic and enjoy live music at the Botanic Garden

The iconic Gardens Magic Concert Series has been filling the summer nights with sounds from some of the capital’s vivacious talent! Head to the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā early to nab a good picnic spot before the show kicks off.  The line-up includes:

• Friday 19 January – Rock 'n' roll with a Feet With Heat Dance Class before Dave De Luxe
• Saturday 20 January – Jazz with Hannah Fraser and Adriana Calabrese
• Sunday 21 January – Country/folk music with Nick Hyde and Jenny Mitchell
• Monday 22 January – Rain day.

Afterwards, stick around for the stunning Light Display!

If you’re looking for something to do with the whānau during the day, you can check out the Kids Garden Trail where you can discover hidden scenes in the Botanic Garden, enjoy photo opportunities at each station, and complete the activities.

Check out the full Concert Series programme and all the event details here.

2. Nab yourself a beveragino at Gindulgence

Enjoy the celebration of New Zealand Gin with New Zealand's original single-site gin festival at Frank Kitts Park. Indulge in an afternoon of all things gin including free tastings, distiller talks, cocktails, great local food and live entertainment. This festival will be on both Saturday 20 and 21 January.

Get your tickets on the Gindulgence website.

3. Check out the newest exhibitions

Dive into the immersive installations spanning Marvel’s 85-year history at Tākina, the Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, with Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition / Marvel: Te Whakaaturanga Mārohirohi o Te Ao! This all-new experience takes audiences on a journey through the Marvel Universe, where you can see rare artefacts, memorabilia and more. Visit WellingtonNZ to find out more.

Just across the street from Tākina is Te Papa, so why not pop over to see a giant 30-metre-long dinosaur in the exclusive blockbuster exhibition Dinosaurs of Patagonia? The family-friendly exhibition takes you on a journey through time to discover what life was like in the desert of Patagonia with precise replica skeletons made using 3D scanning. Visit the Te Papa website for more information.

4. Watch the action at a sports match

It’s an exciting weekend of sport in the city with cricket matches at the Basin Reserve and football at Sky Stadium.

Start your long weekend watching the Wellington Phoenix A-League men v Melbourne Victory at 7pm on Friday 19 January. Get your tickets on Ticketek. 

Then on Monday 22 January, get ready to park up at the Basin Reserve to see Wellington Blaze v Magicians at 12.30pm and Wellington Firebirds v Kings from 4pm. Book your tickets on the Cricket Wellington website.

5. Make the most of our outdoor pools

Khandallah Pool is hosting a Back to School Party for all to enjoy on Saturday 20 January! Have some fun in the sun while you enjoy music from our live DJ and tasty kai from the BBQ. Jump off the diving board, challenge yourself on the inflatables, join in our fun games, or play your way in the pool.

Starting this Sunday 21 January, Thorndon Pool will be open for Sundaze Sessions every second Sunday from 4pm to 6pm. Jam to some great Kiwi music, soak up the sun and make the most of the summer. Check out the Facebook event.

Some of our facilities and services have reduced opening hours during holiday periods, so make sure to check out holiday hours page before heading out.

Watch out each Friday for a fun list of five great activities to do, places to explore, or things to discover in our awesome city.