Free Travel Newsletter : November 2016

Written by Steph Kendall

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

Lucky Subscriber

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

This month it's Northland's turn in the spotlight. This region covers more than 13,940 square kilometres, extends north to the tip of the Northland Peninsula and offers a packed programme for travellers of all ages, interests and budgets. /p>

There's always a lot happening during December throughout New Zealand, it's a great festive time for families especially - we've highlighted a few Yuletide options, but there are literally hundreds of Christmas events throughout the country. Look at the local press or search online for details of more. Alternatively, escape from Christmas and enjoy all New Zealand has to offer - remember, book accommodation well in advance during school summer holidays (16 December - end January 2017) especially for campsites near popular beaches and lakes.

Sir David Attenborough - A Quest for Life

Location: The Civic, Cnr Queen & Wellesley Sts, CBD, Auckland
Date: Thursday 2 February 2017, 8:00pm-10:00pm

Naturalist and television personality Sir David Attenborough is the father of the modern nature documentary. Attenborough has written, produced, hosted and narrated countless award-winning nature-focused programs and he has devoted his life to celebrating and preserving wildlife.

Attenborough will travel to New Zealand to appear with Australian journalist Ray Martin for a live show titled Sir David Attenborough - A Quest for Life at The Civic, Auckland. The show will cover a career dedicated to the natural world, the changes he has witnessed since first filming Zoo Quest in the 1950s right up to today and the environmental challenges the natural world now faces.

Sir David Attenborough is arguably the world's best-known natural history film-maker, a much-loved naturalist and broadcaster whose career has spanned nearly six decades. Audiences are urged to book immediately so not to miss out on this unique opportunity to share Sir David's experiences in person with the great man himself.

Got to the website for further information and to register for pre-sale tickets.

Zirka Circus

Location: Kyle Park, Waterloo Road, Hornby, Christchurch
Date: Now to 4 December, 7pm onwards

Zirka Circus has successfully been entertaining visitors and families in New Zealand for more than six years and this all new show takes it to whole new level of entertainment. Performing arts, theatre and showtime all wrapped up in a world-class performance with more than 20 top performers showcasing death-defying acrobatics and amazing illusions, with light relief from hilarious clowns.

Zirka Circus remains a family friendly and animal-free circus, so you can enjoy the action and keep your social conscience completely intact..

LEGO Christmas Tree

Location: Aotea Square, Auckland
Date: Now to 27 December, 7pm onwards

Taller than a two-storey house and built from over half a million LEGO bricks, the LEGO Christmas Tree is lighting up Aotea Square in Auckland.

The jaw-dropping giant LEGO Christmas Tree stands over 10 metres tall, weighs 3.5 tonnes and took more than 1,200 hours to build. Decorated with some distinctly kiwi-themed festive additions including a kiwi, a pukeko and a surfing Santa, the spectacular Christmas star alone has 13,195 LEGO bricks and 3,456 LED lights, making it the ultimate tree topper. See it ablaze in Aotea Square every evening in a spectacular light and sound show from 7pm onwards.

Christchurch Christmas Lightshow

Location: 650 Shands Road, Christchurch
Date: 2 - 30 December 2016 8:30pm - 12:00am

A Christmas Lightshow like no other with over 500,000 lights and a lightshow synchronized to popular rock and classical music. There are also great Christmas displays, several trains running and even a Halloween Witches Cove display.

Rotorua Christmas Parade & Festival

Location: Soundshell and Village Green, Memorial Drive, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Date: Saturday 3 December, 4:00pm

Starting at 4pm, the Parade waves its way through the CBD and finishes off at the all new festival on the Village Green with a varied mix of exciting interactive sites featuring entertainment and activities, food vendors, some Christmas retail therapy, a short prize giving for our amazing winning floats, a Christmas Movie on the big screen and a Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony just as the sun goes down.

NZ Information at Your Fingertips

Click on our search icon (magnifying glass) at the top of our website page to find the information you need about New Zealand - its destinations, culture, accommodation, activities, climate and much more. This is what other users have looked for: Pet Friendly Camping, Kiwi Fruit Farm, Hard Rock Cafe, Pet Friendly Camping South Island, Sheep Farms, Powered Site, Penguins North Island, Tipping And Taxes, Coromandel Peninsula, Sheep Shearing Show, Auckland Motels With Spa Pool In Room, Fruit Orchard, Water Temperature, Webcam, Sheep Shearing, Sea Water Temperature, Honey Farm, Southern Alps, Campervan Sites, Kiwi Fruit Farm Tour Camping activities, sheep and water activities seemed popular!

Visit https://new-zealand.tourism.net.nz/ for some great search hints on the best ways to find what you're looking for. Advanced Search and "…" can be very useful and save time.

Go See... Cape Kidnappers, Hawke's Bay

The fish hook shape of the Hawke Bay coastline adds to the imaginative legend of Cape Kidnappers origin in which Maui-tikitiki-a-Taranga, a famous mythical hero, was fishing with his brothers and decided to show them his supernatural powers. He chanted his prayer, broke his nose and smeared the blood onto a magical jawbone. With it, he fished up the North Island or as the Māori name it, Te-Ika-a-Maui, the Fish of Maui. After Maui departed, his brothers attached the fish with their weapons, hacking it into pieces and helping to form the mountainous terrain of the North Island. The sacred jawbone used as the hook was left to form what is now known as Hawke Bay.

In 1769 Cook traded with local Māori but a dispute over the taking of a Tahitian boy resulted in some Māori being killed and the boy swimming back to Cook's ship. Cook then named the area where this occurred as Cape Kidnappers.

Nowadays the area is notable as the home of the Australasian gannet (takapu) that have been nesting at Cape Kidnappers since the 1870s. Numbers have steadily increased to 6,500 pairs, which makes it the largest and most accessible mainland colony in the world.

Where to go: Getting to the Cape is half the fun. You can either walk via the beach at times of low tide or use commercial transport along the beach. From Scotmans Point at Clifton allow at least 5 hours for a comfortable return walk along the beach. This can only be down at low tide, with the best times of departure being no sooner than three hours after high tide and departing from the Cape no later than 1.5 hours after low tide.
When to go: The best time for viewing the gannets is between early November and late February. Note that public access to the gannet colonies is closed between July and October.

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

The best time for viewing the gannets is between early November and late February. Note that public access to the gannet colonies is closed between July and October.

Find out about pioneering settlers and the history of kauri at the Kauri Museum
Scuba or snorkel at Poor Knights Island, one of the world's best dive locations
Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the important historic site where in 1840 New Zealand's founding document was signed
Swim with dolphins in the Bay of Islands
Go sand boarding down Te Paki dunes
Visit the Stone Store at Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand's oldest surviving stone building
Take a boat trip through the 'Hole in the Rock' on Motukokako Island
Journey along the 90 Mile Beach by coach
Sample award-winning Chardonnays, Pinot Gris, Viogniers, Syrahs, Cabernet / Merlot, Pinotages and Chambourcin in the country's oldest wine-growing region
Enjoy a round of golf at one of the many coastal courses.

What Did You Do and See in Northland?

If you enjoyed an activity during your stay in Northland, 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 the Northland 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

Tickets to UK singer Adele's first two Auckland concerts on 23 and 25 March (2017) went on sale at midday 24 November, selling out in a record breaking 23 minutes. A third show announcement on 26 March swiftly followed, with general release tickets selling out in a just under 30 minutes.

This confirms global superstar Adele as the new record holder in New Zealand for:

The fastest selling tour in New Zealand by an artist
The most number of shows sold for performances by any artist at Mt Smart Stadium
The highest number of tickets sold in one day - more than 100,000.

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