Free Travel Newsletter : May 2011

Written by Steph Kendall

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

Lucky Subscriber

Congratulations to Sarah Zhao from New Zealand, this month's lucky Free Travel Newsletter subscriber, winning "The Ultimate New Zealand DVD".

Winter days in New Zealand tend to be crisp, bright and sunny and there's nothing better than enjoying an early morning outdoors armed with a warm jacket and hot coffee in hand. Head down to Queenstown in the South for a huge knees-up to celebrate the start of winter or enjoy one of many farmers' markets being held up and down the country, find out more about the rugby and how to plan a self-drive holiday the easy way.

Find out about:

• Queenstown Winter Festival 2011, 24th June - 3rd July
• Farmers Markets
• Counting Down To World Cup Rugby 2011
• Off the Beaten Track to... Rere Falls
• Planning a Drive Holiday in New Zealand the Easy Way
• New Zealand Fast Facts

Queenstown Winter Festival 2011, 24th June - 3rd July

In 1975, one Queenstown local decided that the arrival of snow meant a great excuse for a party and some light-hearted racing on the mountains. The Festival has now evolved to become one of the major events on the winter calendar with visitors arriving from all over New Zealand and the world to join in the fun...(more)

Farmers Markets

If you are planning on self-catering whilst holidaying in New Zealand, then stock up on fresh produce and local specialties at one of the many farmers' markets held in towns and cities throughout the country. Local growers, craftspeople and producers of specialty food and drink create lively, bustling atmospheres which welcome both locals and visitors. (Much more fun than supermarket shopping and just the thing for meeting people out and about on a gloriously crisp winter day.) Check out North Island markets in Mt Maunganui, Auckland, Parnell, New Plymouth and Feilding; and on the South Island: Oxford, Rangiora and Christchurch.

Counting Down To World Cup Rugby 2011

The eagerly-anticipated and long-awaited World Cup Rugby tournament for 2011 is only a few months away with the first match kicking off in Auckland at the Eden Park stadium on Friday 9th September. If you are still planning your holiday to New Zealand around the rugby and key games, then our guide to the Rugby World Cup 2011 is essential reading. Find out more about the dates and games, the venues, the teams, the history and the latest news, plus details of accommodation, tours, transport, activities and attractions local to the games and beyond!

Planning A Drive Holiday in New Zealand the Easy Way

If you want to hire a car for your holiday in New Zealand and enjoy the freedom of the open road, you may want to check out some suggested driving routes. We've put together some suggestions which depart from major town and cities including Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown. We've even outlined the routes you need to take to follow in the tyre-tracks of Frodo and Ex-Prime Minister, Helen Clark!

Off the Beaten Track to... Rere Falls

If you're heading up to Gisborne during your New Zealand holiday, then make a detour to the Rere Falls. Popular with the locals, this is a beautiful picnicking spot and on a hot, sunny day a great place to enjoy some free river rocksliding...(more)

New Zealand Fast Facts

The oldest living genus of reptile is the native New Zealand tuatara. It is estimated that Tuataras can be traced back 190 million years to the Mesozoic era. Tuataras resemble greenish-brown lizards and measure up to 80cm in length. They can weigh up to 1.3kg and have a spiny crest along their backs. This crest gives them their name, "tuatara" meaning 'peaks on the back' in the Māori language. Tuatara reproduce very slowly, taking ten to twenty years to reach sexual maturity and their average life span is 60 years, although they can live to 100 (or even as much as 200 in captivity).