ALL THE DETAILS…

SCHEDULE

11.30am - Buses begin to depart from the Gisborne i-Site (209 grey St)

11.30am - Bus departs from Wainui

12pm - Venues open

1.30pm - Buses start transferring between the two venues

2pm - Last bus from Gisborne i-Site to the venues

5pm - First bus back to the Gisborne i-Site

5.30pm - Last bus between venues.

6.30pm - Bars close

7pm - Festival ends

7.30pm - Last bus back to the Bright St Bus Stop (near McDonalds)

7.30pm - Bus departs Bright St (near McDonalds) for Wainui

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Wristband entry to the First Light Wine & Food Festival

  • A First Light Wine & Food Gisborne souvenir globelet glass

  • Access to hop on and off the bus transfer service

  • Return pass to and the Gisborne i-Site out to the venues and back to the Bright St Bus Stop

  • Access to two gorgeous private vineyards

  • Delicious food options at each vineyard

  • Over 10 different wine varietals and award-winning wines

  • Live music - multiple bands playing all afternoon

The VIP ticket also includes

  • private bar area

  • one free glass of wine from each venue

KEY INFO

The Festival is open from 12pm through to 7pm with the bar closing at 6.30pm.

 

VENUES

Matawhero Wines - 189 Riverpoint Road

TW Wines - 869 Back Ormond Road

 

TICKETS

Tickets are available from Eventfinda. General Admission cost $70.00 or VIP is $100.00 per ticket, both plus booking fee. This includes entry to two venues and includes your bus ticket and a glass.

Tickets will be scanned at the first winery you visit so please print out your tickets and bring them with you, or you can show them on your phone.

Once your ticket has been scanned and you have been through bag and ID-check you will be issued  with a Festival Glass and a wristband.

Please do not buy or sell tickets on our Facebook page as it is all scammers.

You can resell your ticket through Tixel. There is no need for name changes on the tickets.


NO CHILDREN

The Festival is R18. No under-agers will be allowed into the venues including babies and newborns.  This is a rule of our License which we cannot bend. Please do not bring children.

 

ID ON ENTRY

Your ID will be checked – so PLEASE BRING YOUR ID FOR AGE VERIFICATION WITH YOU.

No ID, no entry.

 

Entrance will be refused to any customer for the following reasons

  • Unable to produce adequate ID

  • Under the age of 18

  • Intoxicated

  • Invalid ticket

  • Unauthorised

Patrons entering the Festival will need proper ID. These are the forms permitted:

Current & valid NZ Driver’s License

Current & valid Passport

Current & valid HANZ 18+ Card


WRISTBANDS

You do not need a wristband to get on the bus at the Gisborne i-site.

You will get your wristband at the first winery you visit after bad and ID-check.

 

CASH/EFTPOS

There is Eftpos available from each venue but there is often a queue.

Cash is only accepted at Matawhero Wines.

TW Wines is EFTPOS only.

 

BUSES

 

MAIN BUS SERVICE to WINERY VENUES

Buses depart from the Gisborne I-Site (209 Grey St) between 11.30am and 2pm.

There will be no more buses to the wineries after 2pm.

The buses will move between the venues from 1.30pm through to 5.30pm.

Buses will start returning to town to the Bright Street Bus Stop from 5pm until the end of the Festival.

  

WAINUI BUS SERVICES

There will be a bus leaving from the Wainui Store this year at 11.30am sharp.

 The bus will take you to the Gisborne I-site where you can join the rest of the buses heading out to the winery of your choice.

 At the end of the Festival there will be a bus departing from the Bright Street Bus Stop to Wainui at 7.30pm. This will be the only bus going to Wainui if you wish to head out that way so don’t miss it.

 

 SUN PROTECTION

The weather is often very hot so please wear sunscreen and bring a hat to protect yourselves. There is some shade at the venues provided but still remember to protect yourself.

It also can be windy at TW Wines so bring something warm!

It is imperative you drink more water on such a warm day when consuming alcohol so please utilise our hydration zones!!

 

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

We wish we didn’t have to say it but we are all hoping for a safe and happy experience at the Festival so we ask you to drink responsibly and please DO NOT PRELOAD.

The Police will be dropping in and we have a large security team keeping everyone safe – if you arrive at the Festival having consumed too much alcohol prior to arrival you will not be allowed into the Festival.

 

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

There will be non-alcoholic beverages available at each venue.

·        Sparkling Orange or Lime Juice or Soda

·        Bottled water

·        2 x low alcohol beer (below 3%) (Gisborne Gold and Heineken Light) or a wine spritzer (4%)

 As well as free drinking water stations around the venues and water available on each side of the bar, there will be free drinking water outside the licensed area in the hydration zone.

You are welcome to bring your own water bottle provided it is EMPTY at bag check. Any liquids in the bottle will need to be tipped out if you wish to bring the bottle into any of the venues.


FOODIES

There is food available at each venue.

Please enjoy their beautiful dishes, they are meant to be enjoyed with the wines and the foodies go into a lot of effort.

TW Wines                          – TBC

Matawhero Wines           – TBC

 

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

There are bands and entertainment playing at all three venues throughout the afternoon.

Matawhero Wines - TBC

TW Wines - TBC

 

AFTER PARTY

There are NO official after parties for the First Light Wine & Food Festival. We encourage you to be safe and make your way home or to a restaurant or pub straight after the Festival.

 

 BAR SERVICE

 Wines will only be served in our 475ml festival glass with a pour line to 150ml.

Wine will be served as a 150ml standard serve.

There will NOT be any bottle sales.

All drinks will be available to purchase by the glass.

DISABILITY SERVICES

Both venues will have disability bathroom options in 2024. The Matawhero bathroom is locked until required for use, so please ask any staff member on site to show you to the amenity and open it for you.

TW Wines will have a specific disability toilet so please ask any staff member where you are able to locate this amenity.

 

 Some other general housekeeping rules to be aware of are:

The First Light Wine & Food Festival is a licenced liquor event operating under strict regulations. We reserve the right to refuse entry if suitable photo ID cannot be presented on request.

We reserve the right to remove any individuals from the festival whose behaviour prevents other visitors from having a good time. Unacceptable behaviour includes, but isn’t limited to, intoxication, fighting and rudeness.

Alcohol sales are closed strictly 30mins before the end of the festival, an announcement will be made reminding you that sales are going to end.

Also..
• Children and babies are not permitted under the event restricted liquor license (no exceptions).
• Safe transport options home will be available, if you need a taxi please ask any staff member.
• No furniture, animals, minors, food or drink can be brought into the Festival.
• Alcohol cannot be taken outside the Festival.
• You can bring blankets or picnic mats.
• The postponement day as per the terms and conditions.
• Remember sunscreen, sun hats, rainwear (if required) and warm clothing (no pass outs).
• If you lose your Festival glass, this will be replaced at an extra charge ($10) and you need to prove you broke your last glass.
• Buses will begin to depart from the Gisborne i-site 30 mins before the festival starts. Buses will return ticket holders to the Bright Street bus stop at the end of the Festival.
• Use the correct lane on entry to the festival, to speed up your experience. Ensure you have your ticket and ID ready.