National Launch Day Cancelled Due to Weather

National Launch Day

Sunday March 3rd 2024

Experience the sight and sound of New Zealand's largest amateur rockets in action! Accelerating from zero to hundreds of kilometers an hour in just a few seconds, propelled skywards on a massive flame with the same signature crackle and roar as full size rockets.

This annual public launch event attracts hundreds of visitors to a fun afternoon watching rockets launch. National Launch Day has been entertaining and educating New Zealanders since 2001.

Location is 1 hour 15 minutes from Auckland, 20 minutes from Hamilton on Arthur Alan Thomas's farm. Bring something to sit on and sunscreen. Toilets and free parking on site. Food and drink vendors on site.

Gates open 11am. Flights from 12pm to 4pm.  Tickets purchased through Eventfinda or at the gate via cash or EFTPOS. 

Check the front page of this website at 8 am on the day for cancellations.

Tickets 

New Zealand Rocketry Association is a not for profit community organisation.

Food and drink vendors on site (cash preferred)

Bring something to sit on, a hat, sunglasses, water, sunscreen.

This is a working dairy farm, no pets allowed. Bring a rubbish bag to remove your rubbish. 

Site is 1hr 20 minutes from Auckland, 20 minutes from Hamilton. Maps Link 

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/nzrocketry/

See the bottom of this page for driving instructions and map.

2024's Feature Flights 

See some of the most spectacular flights planned for the day by clicking the link 

Build a 'have a go rocket'

Kids or adults keen to give rocketry a go can build and launch a small rocket on the day from between $ 20 and $40

Ready to Launch

Liftoff

From Auckland: Instructions below. Travel time is about 1hr 20min. Kneebone road is not sealed so please drive slowly on it to minimise dust. 

From Hamilton:  Travel time is about 30min. Take the Gordonton turnoff from SH1 at Taupiri. Hang a left turn at Orini Rd and go down to Rutherfurd. Left on Rutherfurd and right on Kneebone and your are there at the launch site a little ways down the road!

See NZRA event page for maps and weather.

National Launch Day Videos

From Auckland 1-2

Take the motorway south and continue on past Meremere and the Rangiriri Tavern until you reach the turnoff at Ohiniwai Tahuna. Turn left at the stop sign then straight through the roundaboout to continue for 8 minutes (11km) along Tahuna Road.

From Auckland 2-2

11km down Tahuna road turn right into Rutherfurd Road in the middle of the sweeping left hand bend (photo left). Drive for 3 minutes (4.6km) down Rutherfurd Road and then turn left into Kneebone road. Entrance to the launch site is opposite the quary hill.