Free Travel Newsletter : July 2009

Written by Steph Kendall

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

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When you visit New Zealand, you'll soon come to appreciate its diversity, not only of its natural environment, but of its cultural landscape too. If you're starting your tour of New Zealand this July, why not make time to celebrate its great rivers, abundant wildlife, unique art and everyone's favourite soul food, chocolate...

Find out about:

• Dunedin's Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, 11th - 17th July
• New Zealand Affordable Art Show, 31st July - 2nd August
• Off the Beaten Track to... Farewell Spit
• Brass Monkeys Kayaking Series, June - August
• New Zealand Fast Facts

Dunedin's Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, 11th - 17th July

Dunedin offers visitors a host of attractions and entertainment to enjoy no matter what time of year it is, but July offers an extra magical flavour, especially for anyone mad about chocolate. The local Cadbury chocolate factory opens its doors as usual, but during its chocolate carnival week (Saturday 11th July to Friday 17th July), it also rolls over 30,000 chocolates (jaffas) down the steepest street in the world. You have to be there to see it.

The carnival week is packed full of chocolate-themed events for all the family to enjoy including: chocolate therapy, chocolate cooking classes, chocolate frogs and lizards, chocolate sculpting, chocolate painting, magic and music shows, talent contests and tasty chocolate treats.

Find out more about Dunedin and its famous Chocolate Carnival.

New Zealand Affordable Art Show, 31st July - 2nd August

Don't miss the New Zealand Affordable Art Show at the TSB Bank Arena on Queens Wharf in Wellington from Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August. With artwork from over 800 New Zealand artists on display, this is a great opportunity to take home an original piece of art from either a new, emerging or established New Zealand artist.

Artwork is all priced under NZ$5,000, with most pieces in the $500 price range. Art is available to buy and take home on the day. Choose from a variety of art styles, genres and mediums including: oil, water colour, pastel, acrylic, pen and ink, sculpture, glass, photography, mixed media and more.

View more about the New Zealand Affordable Art Show.

Off the Beaten Track to... Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the New Zealand and can be found at the wild and windswept northernmost point of the South Island. The Spit is regarded as a Wetland of International Importance and as such is protected by New Zealand's Department of Conservation. No private access is permitted, although you can join organised tours.

Highlights of the area include bird and seal watching, horse-trekking and mountain biking. The journey over the Takaka hills towards Farewell Spit is breathtakingly beautiful, as it's also worth making a short side trip to Pupu Springs, which holds the world record for fresh water clarity.

Find out more about Farewell Spit.

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Brass Monkeys Kayaking Series, June - August

Kayaking in the New Zealand winter is not for the faint-hearted. If you're looking for a kayaking challenge, however, then grab your kayaking gear, wrap up warm and head to the Waimakariri River, just north of Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island. Over four Sundays, (21st June, 5th July, 19th July, 2nd August and 16th August) the Brass Monkey's kayaking race series takes place, which are 12 kilometre time trails along a grade 2 braided river. Equipment and safety regulations apply, so please see Brass Monkey Kayaking Series for more details.

View more information about the Brass Monkey races and kayaking in New Zealand.

New Zealand Fast Facts

It's estimated that over 120 million chocolate bars are sold in New Zealand and that each New Zealander consumes an average of 4 kilograms of chocolate every year. Cadbury, the country's largest chocolate manufacturer uses a staggering 33,000 litres of milk every day for its chocolate production.