Automotive Festival
2027 Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival
Why You Should Go
Show sheds, club park ups, swap sites and drag car start ups across three days in West Auckland
Format
Three Day Car Show
Crowd
Large summer crowds, thousands of cars on show
Vibe
Hot rods, swap sites and live bands in midsummer
About This Event
More than 4,000 classic cars and hot rods from around New Zealand fill Kumeu Showgrounds over three days in January, by the organiser's count. The top cars sit inside the show sheds for People's Choice voting, car clubs park up outside, and the swap and trade sites run from crate engines to second hand accessories.
1What to Expect
Friday runs 1pm to 7pm, Saturday 7am to 6pm and Sunday 8am to 1pm. Car clubs move in on the Thursday, the day before the public opens.
The cars are hot rods, classic cars and custom builds, spread across the show sheds, the outdoor car club area and the public display.
Visitors vote for the People's Choice car in the main show shed.
Show all 5
Away from the cars there are drag car start ups, a vintage caravan park, the Very Vintage Mini Market, live bands on the main stage and a Kids Hot Rod Race.
Mid January is midsummer in Auckland, and the show sheds are the indoor shelter from the sun.
2Best Way to Experience It
- Saturday has the longest hours, 7am to 6pm, which is enough for the show sheds, the club area, the swap and trade sites and the bands on the main stage in one visit.
- Friday, 1pm to 7pm, is a shorter afternoon and evening session for the show sheds and club displays.
- Sunday is a morning only, 8am to 1pm, and the car clubs pack up after the 1pm close.
- The vintage caravan park and the Very Vintage Mini Market sit alongside the swap sites, so they fit between laps of the car displays.
About the Venue
3Nearby Accommodation
While you're in the area
Experiences near Kumeu Showgrounds
4Logistics
Getting thereDriving, Public transport, Rideshare and taxis, Best value route
Driving
- Kumeu Showgrounds is at 35/41 Access Road, Kumeu, northwest of Auckland and about 20 km from the CBD (venue figure).
- The festival's routes are State Highway 16 to Kumeu, Waitakere Road via the Taupaki Roundabout, or Swanson Road and Waitakere Road to the back of the showgrounds.
- Public parking is free and signposted along Waitakere Road.
Public transport
- Auckland Transport buses 122, 123 and 125 run to Kumeu from Te Waiarohia Westgate (timetable from 13 September 2026).
- No festival shuttle is published for 2027.
Rideshare and taxis
- Uber operates in Auckland.
- The festival publishes no rideshare drop off point, so the Access Road address is the destination.
Best value route
- Driving in, because public parking is free.
- Without a car, the Auckland Transport bus through Te Waiarohia Westgate is the published public option.
Tickets and entryTickets, Cash and cards, Bringing things in
Tickets
- From NZ$25 per adult for 2027, with children under 12 years free.
- Tickets are sold through the festival's ticket site, which showed online bookings closed in October 2026, and the organiser takes enquiries on 0274 397463.
Cash and cards
- There are two EFTPOS cash withdrawal points, near The Tower at the end of Route 66 and at the end of the Show Sheds opposite the Food Court.
Bringing things in
- No dogs, except registered support dogs.
- Motorbikes are not allowed inside the grounds: secure bike parking is in the community hall car park on Access Road, through the Hall Gate.
On the dayFood and drink
Food and drink
- A food hall and food stalls run on site.
5Frequently Asked Questions
?Suitable for kids?
Children under 12 years get in free, and there is kids entertainment and a Kids Hot Rod Race. The organiser runs it as a family event.
?When should I go to beat the queues?
Saturday is usually the busiest day, with parking queues. A motoring writer at the 2026 festival drove straight in on Friday afternoon and found the public display barely half full (Autotrader NZ, March 2026).
?Worried about rain?
The show sheds are indoors. In 2026 the Sunday was cancelled for the first time because of weather and surface flooding (Autotrader NZ, March 2026).
?Want to show your car or sell parts?
Car clubs are admitted on the Thursday and car display entrants use Gate 6, beside the public parking entrance. Swap and trade sites are booked through the organiser on 0274 397463. Camping on site is only for participants: swap and trade site holders, car clubs, car display entrants and food vendors.
6Cost Breakdown
| 2027 prices | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult entry | NZ$25 |
| Children under 12 years free | |
| Public parking free |
Last verified: 19 October 2026Official link: kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz
Tags
Car DisplaysMulti Day EventLive MusicAutomotive FestivalFood and DrinkFamilies
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Tickets
From NZ$25