The Ayrburn Classic announces dates for 2026

7 May, 2025

The scenic landscapes of Arrowtown, nestled near Queenstown, came alive this past summer with the dazzling debut of the Ayrburn Classic.
Hosted at the luxurious hospitality precinct of Ayrburn, this three-day celebration of motoring mastery, culinary excellence, and live entertainment captured the imagination of thousands – and left them wanting more.
Now, following the overwhelming success of its inaugural event, the Ayrburn Classic is back — and it’s shifting into an even higher gear.

Save the date: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February 2026
That’s right. The Ayrburn Classic returns next February for what promises to be another world-class celebration, scheduled slightly earlier on the calendar to bask in Central Otago’s long golden evenings and late-summer glow. This festival will once again transform Ayrburn into a playground for car enthusiasts, food lovers, and seekers of high-end hospitality alike.
The 2025 edition set an incredibly high benchmark, and is fast becoming one of the leading reasons to visit Queenstown – amongst New Zealanders and international travellers alike. With over 250 classic and contemporary luxury vehicles on display – collectively worth more than $250 million – the festival was a visual and visceral feast for attendees.
Standouts included an $8 million LaFerrari, the latest Aston Martin Vanquish, and a fleet of dream machines from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and more. The event’s unique blend of elegance and accessibility attracted both seasoned collectors and casual admirers aplenty.

But that was just the beginning
The 2026 Ayrburn Classic will feature exciting new additions, turning the volume up on what’s fast becoming a landmark event. On Friday, the inaugural Tour d’Elegance will showcase the finest cars in motion, as they glide through the Wakatipu Basin’s breathtaking surroundings.
On Saturday, we open our gates to the public, judging begins, and the famed Ayrburn hospitality starts to flow. In the evening, a gala dinner will bring guests together for an exclusive night of fine food, conversation, and celebration.
By popular demand, Sunday sees the debut of Ladies’ Day, a most elevated celebration of women and motoring. This elegant Sunday feature will include a luxurious long lunch, Fashions in the Field, and a curated car exhibition – a nod to design, innovation, and heritage, with a distinctly feminine twist. Sunday is all about dressing up and indulging in world-class style, alongside world-class vehicles.

One of the premier reasons to visit Queenstown
More than a festival of motoring, the Ayrburn Classic is a weekend of lifestyle and entertainment for all.
For CEO Chris Meehan, the vision for the event is clear:
“This will be one of the premier reasons to visit Queenstown. The momentum is building, and we’re only just getting started.”
As an attendee of the 2025 event, you’ll be first in line when tickets go on sale and car registrations open. So keep a keen eye on your inbox – because 2026 is set to be even bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking.
The Ayrburn Classic 2026 is calling. Come along for the ride – again.

“Gotcha!’’ The continuing tale of a Nissan/Datsun tragic – part two

8 May, 2026

In 1996, I was on a mission to buy a suitable pavement scorcher and visited the now-defunct Manukau City Car Fair. Unbelievably, among the sea of four-door utilitarian Japanese compacts was the absolute jewel in the crown, my automobile wet dream — a 1985 two-door R30 RS Nissan Skyline FJ20 Turbo five-speed manual in nice condition. The owner wanted $10,000 — a great deal.
But what did I do? I bailed out, paralysed by indecision. The money would have been a stretch, but it was the worst automotive choice I ever made. Instead, I went for a rusty Toyota Sprinter 8 Valve Twin Cam Coupé, which was pretty terminal from the get-go. I know. We’ve all done it, but there was really no excuse for passing up the Skyline, and I was haunted by that for years.

Last Tango in the Fast Lane

30 April, 2026

In the mid ’80s, I locked into a serious Nissan/Datsun performance obsession. It could have kicked off with my ’82 Datsun Sunny, though this would have been a bit of a stretch of the imagination, given its normally aspirated 1.2-litre motor — not the sort of thing to unleash radical road warrior dreams. But it did plant a seed, and it was a sweet little machine and surprisingly quick, in contrast to all the diabolical English offerings I had endured.
I was living in South Auckland at the time and was an unrepentant petrolhead. Motor racing was my drug of choice, and I followed the scene slavishly. Saloon car racing, with the arrival of the international Group A formula, was having a serious renaissance here and in Australia and Europe. There was suddenly an exotic air in local racing that had been absent for 15 years.
I was transfixed by this new frontier of motor racing that had hit our tracks in 1985–87 and the new array of machinery on display. In 1986, the Nissan Skyline RS DR30 made a blinding impression on me. The Australian Fred Gibson-run, Peter Jackson-sponsored team of George Fury and Glenn Seton were the fastest crew of the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship. But Kiwi legend Robbie Francevic snuck through to win the Aussie Championship in his Volvo 240T after a strong start and consistent finishes.