Glaciers in New Zealand
Maori children
Northland, New Zealand
Queen Charlotte Sound
Routeburn Track
Boating in Taupo
Tongariro, New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand

Free Travel Newsletter : September 2017

Written by Steph Kendall

Brought to you by New Zealand Tourism Guide www.tourism.net.nz.

Lucky Subscriber

Congratulations to Toby Jasper, this month's lucky Free Travel Newsletter subscriber, winning a "Kiwi Country New Zealand" DVD.

From little penguins to big fashions, from operatic tenors to Bollywood dance-offs, from volcanoes to gourmet food, this newsletter once again celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of New Zealand's natural, scenic and cultural landscapes. With so much to choose from this spring, we have highlighted a few events that caught our eye – and ignited our imagination - but there are many more to review on the Events section of our website – check them out, it's a great way to shape your travel itinerary.

Read more about:


Sol3 Mio End of Year Concerts

Sol3 Mio End of Year Concerts

Location: Wellington, Christchurch, Havelock North, Auckland, Queenstown, Kerikeri, Whangamata, Tauranga
Date: 14 Dec 2017 - 6 Jan 2018

The Samoan trio from Auckland, Sol3 Mio, consisting of two tenor brothers and their baritone cousin, continue their traditional end of year concert season, with an eight-date tour in December 2017 and January 2018 celebrating Christmas and the beloved kiwi summer. This tour will mark the first performances in 2017/18 for the trio, and they welcome fans of all ages - kids under 12 are granted free entry at most shows.

This tour promises the unique, iconic and musically top-shelf live show that has seen them pack in the crowds.

More Info


World of WearableArt 2017

World of WearableArt 2017

Location: TSB Bank Arena, Queens Wharf, Wellington
Date: Until 8 October 2017

It's dubbed WOW for good reason with over 60,000 people enjoying the spectacle every year. This is where fashion, art, and theatre collide, with WOW being New Zealand's largest and most technically-challenging theatrical production. The show is made brand-new every year, in collaboration with some of New Zealand's best theatrical talent. Marrying sound, dance, light, and colour into a production that shows off hundreds of cutting-edge artworks from around the globe, WOW gets bigger every year.

More Info


"It!" Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival

It! Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival

Location: Village Green, 60 Marsden Rd, Paihia, Bay of Islands
Date: Saturday 7 October 2017, 11am – 6pm

This boutique food and wine festival celebrates its 8th year in the Bay of Islands – and it's a successful recipe of fantastic food, wine, music (Avalanche City, Tiki Taane, 5k and more), entertainment and friendly locals all mixed up together with unique Kiwi competitions such as "Kina Sucking", "Oyster Shucking and Eating" and of course "Pie Eating" – it's in Pai-(pronounced pie) -hia after all.

This is a family-friendly festival with a children's area and entertainment including bouncy castles, face painting and a magician. Under 5s are free.

More Info


Auckland Diwali Festival 2017

Auckland Diwali Festival 2017

Location: Aotea Square, Queen St, CBD, Auckland
Date: 14 – 15 October, 12pm

This free, family-friendly festival offers the flavours, sights and sounds of Indian culture in the heart of Auckland. Join the celebrations of traditional and contemporary Indian culture in its many forms, with live music, dance (including international guest performers, lavani dance company, Kalika Kala Kendra), street theatre, food and craft stalls, the hotly contested Radio Tarana Bollywood dance competition and activities for kids.

This festival, which draws people from all ethnic backgrounds, is also New Zealand's largest vegetarian festival, with a vast range of Indian foods and sweets. The two-day festival is capped off with a fireworks display on Sunday night.


New Zealand - Events

New Zealand - Events

Every month, we highlight a few of the almost countless events being held in New Zealand to whet your appetite for unique Kiwi experiences, to help you plan an itinerary and to inspire you to travel to our beautiful regions. But did you know that on our website, you can find out more about hundreds of events in two very user-friendly ways: either by event type in a Category search, or by Location search. Two very straightforward ways to find out what's going and where.

You can refine your search by the dates you are interested in too. As we say in New Zealand, "easy as."


Adopt a Penguin. A Little Penguin

Adopt a Penguin. A Little Penguin

Were you enchanted by or lucky enough to see Little Penguins during your visit to New Zealand? The largest Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand live at Pohatu Marine Reserve, a small coastal bay on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury (South Island) in a penguin and habitat conservation area.

Pohatu Penguins offer guided tours to view the penguins in their natural habitat and now are offering an adopt a penguin scheme to help with: intensive predator control, which protects the penguins in their natural habitat, financing food and medications for penguins that come into rehabilitation and establishing nesting boxes to help new penguin couples settle down in a new home. Your donations can also help fund research programs.

Find out more about Adopt a Penguin and how you can help with the conservation of a very special species. For all contributions you receive a certificate of sponsorship, a penguin specie card and 'Adopt a Penguin' sponsors receive a cute little penguin toy.


What There Is to See and Do In... Ruapehu

What There Is to See and Do In... Ruapehu

The Ruapehu district is located in the central North Island, approximately halfway between Auckland and Wellington.

Ruapehu's main settlements are the ski towns of National Park and Ohakune, and the rural service centre of Taumarunui, nestled on the banks of the Whanganui and Ongarue rivers. Local knowledge and expert guides make it easy to discover the region's famous hiking trails, fishing spots, kayaking, canoeing, horse riding and mountain biking experiences. The Ruapehu region is also home to the Tongariro National Park, the Whanganui National Park and the Whanganui River. It is a four-hour drive from Auckland or Wellington and close to Waitomo Caves, Rotorua and Taupo.

Highlights of the region

  • Kayaking on the Whanganui River - This is New Zealand's longest navigable water way and perfect for kayaking or canoeing. Suitable for absolute beginners although it's essential to be equipped with proper equipment and supplies due its remoteness.
  • Ruapehu Crater Walk - Experience the Ruapehu Crater walk with a guided tour, which leaves from the Whakapapa ski-fields. From the 'Top o' the Bruce' use chair lifts before a one hour hike to the Dome Shelter for incredible views of the crater.
  • The Bridge to Nowhere - This concrete road bridge spans the Mangapurua Stream in Whanganui National Park and was built to provide access to farming land for pioneering farmers. All that remains of settlement is the bridge, accessible by boat and by walking track.
  • The Raurimu Spiral - This internationally-recognised engineering achievement was built to negotiate a 215 metre escarpment on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. Railway enthusiasts come from all over the world to see it. You can ride the Spiral, either on scheduled services or on vintage steam train excursions.
  • The Round-the-Mountain Track (up to 5 days) - Extend your stay in the Tongariro World Heritage National Park with a longer hike that can last three full days for fit walkers or six days for those with more time.
  • The Tongariro Crossing - A renowned and highly recommended one-day hike that takes in alpine meadows to mountain summits with plenty of volcanic features along the way including lunar landscapes and coloured lakes. All highly photogenic.
  • The Tongariro River - Whether you're into white water or trout fishing, this river offers an abundance of rapids and trout.
  • Tongariro World Heritage National Park - Not only does this national park showcase three magnificent volcanoes, but it is treasured as New Zealand's first National Park, and the first park in the world to be created by a gift of land by an indigenous people.
  • Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields - Two of New Zealand's premier ski fields with chairlift access in summer and winter, making the huge views accessible all year round.

What Did You Do and See in Ruapehu?

If you enjoyed an activity during your stay in Ruapehu, why not let other NZTG readers know about it? You can share with the Instagram community or post on the New Zealand Tourism Guide Facebook page. We look forward to seeing your news and views.

Find out more about New Zealand's Ruapehu region.

Share Your Experience

If you have had a particular experience during your stay in New Zealand unlike anything else, why not let us know. We've picked out a few to give you some ideas!


New Zealand Fast Facts

Little penguins (Eudyptula minor) are the smallest of penguin species, at 33cm tall and 1kg in weight. Little penguins – or little blue penguins - breed in colonies along the southern coastlines of Australia and New Zealand. Populations in New Zealand are declining. They are also known by their Māori name: kororā.

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The largest range of escorted & small group tours

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Explore NZ on a custom self-drive package holiday

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