Free Travel Newsletter : July 2013

Written by Steph Kendall

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

Lucky Subscriber

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

Fabulous food, fantastic film, tough sports challenges and tons of adrenalin-packed fun this winter in major cities and centres throughout the country. Whether it's deep-sea sports fishing, falling from the skies at 12,000 feet or racing through the mud, there's something for everyone into physical pursuits. And for those preferring a quieter life, there's food, wine and jazz.....man.

Find out about:

• The Food Show, 1st - 3rd August, Auckland
• New Zealand International Film Festival, 1st - 18th August, Christchurch
• Tough Guy and Gal Challenge, 3rd - 17th August, Rotorua
• Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, 9th - 11th August, Paihia
• 10 Top Adrenalin Rushes
• Deep Sea Fishing for the 'Big One'
• Off the Beaten Track to... Muriwai Beach
• New Zealand Fast Facts

The Food Show, 1st -3rd August, Auckland

Calling Foodies everywhere! The Food Show has grown to become New Zealand's annual must-attend culinary event, with fabulous shows in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year.

The Food Show is where everyone can come to taste and buy from a huge range of local and international foods, wines, beers, coffees, and much more. If it's edible and delicious, you'll find it at The Food Show.

You'll also find fascinating live cooking demonstrations from superstar chefs, all the latest kitchen equipment and gadgetry, chef master classes and incredible show-only specials that have to be tasted to be believed.

Find out more at The Food Show website. (Be warned one visit will make you hungry!)

New Zealand International Film Festival, 1st - 18th August, Christchurch

The best and brightest of world cinema straight from the international circuit to the giant screens of New Zealand - all yours to enjoy in Christchurch, gateway city of the South Island. Find out more about the programme and bookings at the NZIFF website.

Tough Guy and Gal Challenge, 3rd - 17th August, Rotorua

Good, clean dirty fun! You've got to be quick if you want in on this tough, physical (and very muddy) challenge. Lakes Ranch in Rotorua is a magnificent course with spectacular scenery for the ultimate experience. It includes water trails, net climb, crawl under barb wire obstacles, swamp crossings, native bush trail, wobbly water bridge, open paddock running, hurdles, wire rope bridge and tunnels. (A six-kilometre (one lap) or 12-kilometre (two laps) options are available.) Think you're tough enough?

Visit Tough Guy and Gal Challenge to find out more. Other courses and dates available.

Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival, 9th - 11th August, Paihia

Top acts from New Zealand and Australia for three days for $50... Be in the Bay of Islands as it comes alive with the sounds of smooth jazz and sultry blues. Three days of music, over 150 hours of quality jazz and blues. Six fantastic venues in Paihia, Haruru Falls and Russell.

Find out more at the Jazz and Blues Festival website.

10 Top Adrenalin Rushes

In a country known for its outdoor adrenalin activities in some of the world's most perfect scenic locations, it was always going to be a tough job to pull out just ten from the many on offer. Never one to shirk a challenge, however, we have selected the following adrenalin-filled experiences to whet your appetite for a New Zealand holiday that can be as action-packed as your energy and nerves can stand!

1. Canyon into another world near Wanaka - Challenge yourself in ways you've have never dreamed of. Plunge down water polished chutes and abseil down waterfalls. Jump off cliffs! Climb, swim and float through an amazing world of water- sculpted rock, deep clear pools and spectacular waterfalls. Try canyoning near Lake Wanaka.
2. Experience the world's longest flying fox - The Nelson Skywire is the first of its kind set high on forest hills. Soar like a bird for over 3km and experience high speeds mixed with absolute quiet while admiring the 1000 shades of green below.
3. Flight over too tame? Go for the soviet jet experience in Christchurch - Feel the adrenalin rush of flying a sortie in a legendary soviet jets over some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery. These L-29 aircraft are characterised with high speed and manoeuvrability.
4. For Big Water thrillseekers - it has to be Murchison - Rafting and kayaking in New Zealand's whitewater capital Murchison with access to rivers that cover all the grades. From gentle family rafting tours to the extremes of West Coast heli rafting and everything in between.
5. Go jump, Sky Jump. Jump off Auckland's spectacular Sky Tower – sort of a base jump whilst attached to a wire. You'll fall very fast – 85kph for around 11 seconds. This is not bungy, this is New Zealand's highest jump at 192 metres.

6. Mud-tastic Off Road Adventure - Go Greymouth - Off road quad biking and off road adventure tracks through masses of puddles, mud and rainforest. Go-kart in an off-road buggy, alone or with a partner in grime, or experience an extreme off-road adventure in the Hagglund or on the 8WD Argo.
7. See the mountains by snowmobile – Explore the heart of the Southern Alps of New Zealand by snowmobile and enjoy encompassing breathtaking views of the world renowned Mt Aspiring as you thrill through the snow.
8. Sky dive over Lake Taupo - Fall out of a perfectly good aeroplane at 12,000 feet and fly through the air attached to a complete stranger? That's got to get the adrenalin pumping! Surrounded by snow tipped mountains and New Zealand's largest lake – you'll want to take photos on the way down too.
9. Skyline Luge - 800 metres of fast-paced freedom in Queenstown. Hurtle down a winding downhill track, race through the bends, or pull in for a breather and enjoy the panorama from one of the stopping bays. Burn it up on the advanced track or cruise sedately down the scenic track.
10. The highest tandem hang gliding experience in New Zealand - Combine adrenalin and a sense of freedom with over 5,000 feet of pure adrenaline and captivating beauty over the Abel Tasman National Park.

p.s. Did we forget to mention bungy jumping.....? New Zealand is the home of modern bungy jumping: Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Taihape, Taupo, Hanmer Springs, Turangi Find out more from the originals - A J Hackett, Queenstown adventure (madness) at its best. (Don't overthink it, just do it.)

Deep Sea Fishing for the 'Big One'

Did you know that New Zealand enjoys some great marlin and sport fishing, particularly around the islands and harbours of the North Island? Whilst striped marlin have traditionally been the main species in New Zealand, catches of the mighty blue marlin have steadily increased over the last 10 years. On the eastern coast of the North Island, blue marlin are consistently caught and most are of large-average sizes.

If you want to enjoy marlin fishing in New Zealand – considered by many anglers to be the pinnacle of sport fishing due to the size and power of the species, then head to Auckland (winter season) or Whangaroa (in the summer). Whangaroa is regarded as the 'Marlin Capital of New Zealand.' Here, you'll find specialists in big game Northland fishing here, who provide chartered fishing trips aiming to catch marlin, shark and tuna, as well as numerous other species.

Check out the Reel Awesome website for a taste of marlin fishing Kiwi-style – you'll also see pictures of very happy fishers with their 'big one'.

Off the Beaten Track to... Muriwai Beach

This North Island beach is a close neighbour to Piha and Karekare and located 42 kilometres northwest of Auckland. It is well known for its gannet colony – nesting gannets can be seen from March to August – and surfing. Although busy during the summer months, it is an ideal 'off the beaten track' destination outside of those months...(more)

New Zealand Fast Facts

Bill Hamilton was a New Zealander who developed the modern jetboat and was founder of what is now the world's leading water jet manufacturing company - CWF Hamilton Ltd. Hamilton never claimed to have invented the jet boat. He once said "I do not claim to have invented marine jet propulsion. The honour belongs to a gentleman named Archimedes, who lived some years ago." What he did was refine the design enough to produce the first useful modern jet boat. In 1960 a Hamilton jetboat became the first boat to travel up through the Grand Canyon.

Find out more about jet boating experiences in New Zealand.