Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.

Join us for the Wanaka A&P Show 2027 on 12-13 March at Wanaka Showgrounds, New Zealand. Experience a vibrant celebration of agriculture, community, and entertainment.
Dates
12–13 Mar 2027
City / country
Wanaka, New Zealand
Venue
Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park
Time
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Are you the organiser of this event?
Event overview
The Wanaka A&P Show 2027 is set to be one of New Zealand's largest agricultural events, taking place on 12-13 March at the Wanaka Showgrounds. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the show, celebrating rural heritage with a variety of attractions including livestock competitions, equestrian events, and local artisan goods.
With over 40,000 expected visitors, the show promises fun for all ages, featuring rides, food trucks, and the popular Jack Russell race. Wanaka A&P Show 2027 takes place.
TL;DR
Experience the best of New Zealand's agricultural and pastoral heritage at the Wanaka A&P Show. Dates and Venue: The Wanaka A&P Show 2027 takes place on 12-13 March at Wanaka Showgrounds. Scale and Focus: This iconic event attracts over 40,000 visitors and features livestock, equestrian competitions, and local produce. Buyer Authority: Attendees include farmers, families, and industry professionals from across New Zealand.
Exhibiting at the Wanaka A&P Show provides unparalleled access to a diverse audience of farmers, families, and industry leaders. Showcase your products and innovations to thousands of engaged visitors, enhancing your brand visibility and community connections. Meet qualified buyers and partners including Agricultural technology companies, Local food producers, Craft and artisan vendors. Position your offer across livestock and animal products, agricultural machinery.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Wanaka, New Zealand
Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park in Wanaka typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park in Wanaka typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Event days & opening times
2 Day Ticket
1 Day Ticket
Family Ticket (2 adults / 2 youths)
How the last edition performed
This edition
—
Visitors: 40,000
Next edition
Not announced yet
New this edition
—
The organiser had not published a confirmed list of new features for the 12-13 March 2027 edition at the time of writing. Check wanakashow.co.nz/schedule closer to the show for any new ringside classes, trade-site layout changes or added family attractions rather than relying on previous-year formats.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
Attending Wanaka A&P Show 2027 on 2027-03-12 to 2027-03-13 in Wanaka lets buyers and specifiers benchmark suppliers, see live demonstrations, and compress months of vendor meetings into one focused trade visit — worthwhile when your category roadmap aligns with the official exhibitor profile.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Haka House Wanaka
Free Wi-Fi, paid parking, kitchen in some rooms, accessible and kid-friendly, smoke-free. Dorm beds at the low anchor, private rooms at the high anchor. Estimate - confirm rates for 12-13 March 2027.
The Brownston Hostel
Central location flagged as excellent in captures, with a discount flag of about 26% below usual rates at the time of capture. Estimate - confirm for show dates.
Hampshire Holiday Parks - Wanaka
Powered sites, cabins and units; free Wi-Fi, free parking, kitchen in some rooms, kid-friendly. Low anchor is a campsite, high anchor a self-contained cabin. Estimate - confirm for show dates.
Mountain View Backpackers Wanaka
Free Wi-Fi, free parking, breakfast, kitchen facilities, smoke-free; practical for exhibitor crews and budget visitors. Estimate - confirm for show dates.
Wanaka Hotel
Breakfast available for a surcharge, free Wi-Fi, free parking, restaurant, kitchen in some rooms, kid-friendly; rated 4.0 with an excellent location in captures. Estimate - confirm for show dates.
Wanaka motel or serviced apartment (town-wide)
Fallback band for self-contained units and two-bedroom apartments when the named properties are full; useful for exhibitor teams sharing a unit. Estimate - confirm for show dates.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Walk
Captured properties sit 280-690 m from the showgrounds, so walking is the default for show-day visitors staying in town. Pavements and gravel approaches are manageable in sturdy shoes.
Taxi / rideshare within Wanaka
Short town hops only. Ride-hailing supply in Wanaka is thinner than in Queenstown, so book a local taxi or arrange a pickup time for the end of the day. Confirm live fares with the operator.
Pre-booked shuttle (Queenstown Airport to Wanaka)
The usual non-driving option for fly-in visitors; journey is approximately 1-1.5 hours via the Crown Range or Kawarau Gorge. Book ahead for show week and confirm whether the drop-off is at your accommodation or the venue.
Rental car / private vehicle
The most flexible option for exhibitors and visitors combining the show with the wider Southern Lakes. Showgrounds parking is marshalled on show days; arrive before mid-morning. Confirm hire rates and one-way fees.
Intercity coach
Coach services run into Wanaka town rather than the showgrounds; complete the final leg on foot, by local taxi or with your accommodation shuttle. Confirm timetables against show opening hours.
Bicycle
Wanaka is a cycling-friendly town and the showgrounds are flat and close to the centre; secure your bike at the venue racks rather than leaving it at the gate.
taxi
taxi
Weather
March is early autumn in Wanaka: mild, often sunny days with cool mornings and evenings, and a real chance of a short sharp shower or strong north-west wind. Typical daytime highs sit around 17-23 C and overnight lows around 6-10 C, with colder snaps possible near the lake and in the surrounding high country. Check the MetService Wanaka forecast in the week before 12-13 March 2027. These are climatological estimates, not a fixed forecast.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
New Zealand's main mobile networks provide 4G coverage in Wanaka township and around the showgrounds, but coverage thins on the Crown Range and Kawarau Gorge roads and in the surrounding valleys. Buy a local SIM or travel eSIM on arrival at Queenstown Airport if your roaming plan is expensive, and download the show programme and an offline map before leaving town. Do not assume venue-wide public Wi-Fi; plan to use mobile data for EFTPOS and lead capture.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Rural show etiquette
Wanaka is a working rural district, not a resort-only town. Ask before photographing livestock, breeders or competitors, keep children back from ring rails during judging, and do not enter the arena between classes. Stewards in the rings are the people to ask for directions.
Farm biosecurity basics
If you have visited other farms or arrived from overseas, clean your boots and equipment before walking around livestock areas. This is standard New Zealand rural practice and protects the stud stock and working animals on display.
Local pace and cash
The Upper Clutha runs on a relaxed, community-first rhythm. Many food stalls and small craft stands take EFTPOS, but a little New Zealand cash helps for quick purchases and raffles. Expect friendly queue-chat rather than big-city rush.
Weather and sun
Southern Lakes sunlight is strong even on mild March days, and the weather can switch from still and warm to windy and wet within an hour. Locals dress in layers and always carry a shell jacket - do the same for a full day outdoors at the showgrounds.
Tikanga and local respect
Wanaka sits within the rohe of Kai Tahu and the Upper Clutha has a strong conservation and outdoor-recreation culture. Follow signage around the lake and reserves, keep to tracks, and treat the showgrounds and Pembroke Park as shared community spaces.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Book to Queenstown (ZQN), the realistic air gateway for Wanaka, then add a rental car or pre-booked shuttle for the approximately 1-1.5 hour road leg. Captured domestic fares on the Queenstown routes started around NZ$180 Auckland-Queenstown and NZ$221 Queenstown-Auckland, with Christchurch-Queenstown around NZ$253 and the return around NZ$266; trans-Tasman legs captured at around NZ$728 Queenstown-Sydney and NZ$651 Christchurch-Sydney. Those capture prices were not dated to 12-13 March 2027 and are directional only - search again for the actual show dates, book the road transfer at the same time, and remember that Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the usual operators on the main domestic trunk routes into Queenstown. If Queenstown fares spike, compare Dunedin (DUD) plus a 3.5-4 hour drive before committing.
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use the nearest international airport serving Wanaka; Metro, train or taxi links are typically available to the venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park: Central Wanaka: Haka House Wanaka; Central Wanaka: The Brownston Hostel; Wanaka: Hampshire Holiday Parks - Wanaka.
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing is far thinner in Wanaka than in Queenstown, so do not build your show-day plan around an app car arriving in five minutes. Local taxi companies and pre-booked shuttles are the reliable fallback, particularly for the evening after the show closes. If you are an exhibitor moving stock or display equipment, book a vehicle with load space in advance and confirm the pickup point outside the showgrounds rather than inside the gate area.
Public transit: Wanaka has no metro or suburban rail network, and local bus coverage is limited compared with Auckland or Wellington. Intercity coach services connect Wanaka with Queenstown and Christchurch but drop in the town centre, leaving a short walk, taxi or accommodation shuttle to the showgrounds. For most visitors the practical mix is: coach or flight into the region, then walk, rental car or pre-booked shuttle for the final leg.
Parking: Event parking operates in and around the Wanaka Showgrounds, with marshals directing traffic on the day. Aim to arrive before mid-morning, follow the signed entrances rather than parking on nearby residential streets, and note your gate for the return walk. Exhibitors with trailers or machinery should confirm vehicle access windows and dedicated parking with the organiser before build day. Any parking charge should be confirmed at the gate or on wanakashow.co.nz, as pricing was not captured.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: March 2027 (early autumn in the Southern Lakes; the show falls on 12-13 March)
Temperature: Typical March band in Wanaka: daytime highs around 17-23 C and overnight lows around 6-10 C. Cold snaps can push mornings to about 3 C and warm north-west days can reach the mid-20s C. Treat these as climatological estimates and check the MetService forecast for show week.
Seasonality: March is a transition month: settled, sunny spells alternate with fast-moving fronts and gusty north-west winds. Wanaka is one of the drier parts of the Southern Lakes, so long washouts are unlikely, but short heavy showers and cool changes are common. Plan for sun and wind as much as rain, and keep a flexible schedule for outdoor ring events.
Packing: Pack layers rather than a single heavy coat: a base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a waterproof windproof shell. Add a wide-brim hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen for the strong Southern Lakes sun, plus sturdy closed shoes for grass, gravel and stock areas around the showgrounds. Bring a refillable water bottle, a small daypack and a power bank, and if you are exhibiting on open ground include groundsheets, weights and side walls for wind.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at Wanaka A&P Show 2027 usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
14 days out: buy show tickets online (one-day, two-day or family) and check whether your ticket is scanned on a phone or collected at the gate.
14 days out: reconfirm accommodation in Wanaka - March is still an active lakes season, so central rooms near the showgrounds sell out first.
12 days out: book the Queenstown (ZQN) flight and a rental car or shuttle transfer to Wanaka, and note the approximately 1-1.5 hour road leg.
10 days out: check the show programme on wanakashow.co.nz for ring times, livestock judging schedules and equestrian classes you want to watch.
10 days out: if you are meeting suppliers, email them before the show to set a time at their trade site rather than relying on chance encounters.
7 days out: check the MetService forecast for Wanaka and pack layers, a waterproof shell, a sun hat and sturdy footwear for grass and gravel.
5 days out: download an offline map of Wanaka and mark the showgrounds, your accommodation and the parking entrances.
3 days out: confirm transfer or shuttle pickup times if you are not self-driving, and check whether the operator runs extra services on show days.
2 days out: charge phones and a power bank, since拍照 and schedule checking drain batteries across a long outdoor day.
2 days out: draw some New Zealand cash for food stalls and small craft purchases, even though many stands take EFTPOS.
1 day out: check gate opening time and aim to arrive before mid-morning to ease parking and entry queues.
Show day: wear sun protection, carry water, and plan a meeting point at the showgrounds entrance if your group splits up.
Registration and hall orientation at Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park
Supplier meetings and product demos
Final negotiations and follow-up
Wanaka A&P Show 2027 registration concourse
Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget

Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · 2 Day Ticket
USD 45 / per person
visitor_ticket
visitor · 1 Day Ticket
USD 25 / per person
visitor_ticket
visitor · Family Ticket (2 adults / 2 youths)
USD 65 / per person
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | 2 Day Ticket | USD 45 / per person | organiser_published | |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | 1 Day Ticket | USD 25 / per person | organiser_published | |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | Family Ticket (2 adults / 2 youths) | USD 65 / per person | organiser_published |
Decision
Use this quick check to decide whether Wanaka A&P Show 2027 fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Agriculture solutions and benchmarking suppliers at Wanaka A&P Show 2027 in Wanaka.
Min. budget
$515.00
Timeline
4–8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change — confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Agriculture products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$2,317.00
Timeline
3–6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall — confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Wanaka show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
Gallery
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
1 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
2
References
1
Publishers
0
Date checked
Wanaka A&P Society
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.