ACAT RockFest - Waipari
Event description
The Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust (ACAT) is stoked to present RockFest - Waipari, being held at Waipari crag from 29-31 March 2024!
This 3-day festival welcomes climbers from across Aotearoa to camp onsite at Waipari, uniting the community and providing a unique opportunity to have a whole lot of fun sending some epic routes whilst meeting new friends.
RockFest is about more than just climbing, this epic celebration has a load of extra activities on offer to make it a truly unforgettable experience… Clear your mind with some guided yoga, try your hand at slacklining, dance the night away with some epic beats, get competitive at the climbing competition, learn more about climbing access and advocacy from guest speakers, and much, much more.
There is truly something for everyone!
RockFest - Waipari is a "Leave no Trace" event - let's have a great time, connect with the climbing community, and afterwards, leave NO TRACE that we were ever there.
Camping options
Camping onsite at Waipari is available for the duration of the festival (Friday - Sunday night, 3 nights total), at just $10 per person per night. For families and those wanting a quiet space, we recommend camping just up the road at the Wharepapa South School. Bookings for these two options are available via the ticketing check-out process.
You can also make your own off-site accommodation arrangements if you wish (check out Bryce's cabins).
All proceeds from RockFest - Waipari support ACAT's crucial access work to help keep New Zealander's climbing.
Climbing and bouldering clinics
We will be providing climbing and bouldering clinics at Rock Fest! Climbing clinics are provided by experienced instructors on a volunteer basis. Clinics are free for festival attendees but a donation to ACAT is encouraged to help support our access work.
Strictly limited spaces. Contact assistant@acat.org.nz to register!
| Progression to Outdoor Leading Clinic | Saturday 10am – 12pm Content: Learn to lead climb safely outside, specifically how to remove anchors and descend a climb. Prerequisites: You must be a competent indoor lead climber. Personal climbing gear needed: harness, helmet, personal anchor chain (aka safety sling), slings, carabiners, ATC and prussic. Bring a lead rope if you have one. 12 places available |
| Northern Rocks Bouldering Clinics | Session 1: Saturday 11.00am – 12.30pm Session 2: Saturday 1.30pm – 3.00pm Content: Learn to boulder safely outdoors, including practicing your mat placement, dismount, and spotting technique. For beginner to intermediate climbers. Boulder mats will be provided, but please bring climbing shoes and a bouldering mat if you have them. Bonus high fives if you bring your own mat! 10 places available per session |
| Multipitch Self-rescue Clinic | Sunday 10:30am – 12.30pm Content: This clinic will explore risk management, problem avoidance, and self-rescue skills. We will cover planning, preparation, equipment, and communication. Problem avoidance: reducing the risks in the first place. Basic rescue knots, hitches, and tie offs. Load transfers. We will look at some simple raising systems and explore the physics behind mechanical advantage raises. Prerequisites: You must be a competent outdoor lead climber, but climbers of all experience levels will take away something from this clinic. Personal climbing equipment needed; harness, personal anchor chain (aka safety sling), ATC and prussic, slings and carabiners. Bring a lead rope and any rope-capture devices if you have them. 12 places available. |
| Top Rope Clinic | Sunday 1.30pm – 3.30pm For beginners - No previous climbing experience necessary. All equipment will be provided, but bring your own harness and shoes if you have them. 12 places available |