Free Travel Newsletter : November 2009

Written by Steph Kendall

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

Lucky Subscriber

Congratulations to Brad Lamb of Canada, this month's lucky Free Travel Newsletter subscriber, winning "The Ultimate New Zealand DVD".

November is a great month in which to visit New Zealand—the weather is usually warm, sunny and settled, providing a great backdrop for the country's many natural attractions and activities for locals and visitors alike. The countdown to Christmas also begins...

Find out about:

• New Zealand Cup and Show Week, 7th - 14th November
• Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, 28th November
• Christmas Festivities in New Zealand, November - December
• Off the Beaten Track to... Oamaru
• Family Holidays in New Zealand
• New Zealand Fast Facts

New Zealand Cup and Show Week, 7th - 14th November

The biggest show in New Zealand this Spring is Canterbury's Cup and Show Week. Country comes to town for a week of activities and events including racing, fashion, cooking demonstrations, wine and food tasting, woodchopping competitions, sheepdog trials, agricultural shows, rural parades, farmyard and carnival rides, live music and international rodeo. Find out how to join in with the fun!...(more).

Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, 28th November

Riding 160 kilometres around Lake Taupo in the centre of New Zealand's North Island has become one of the biggest cycling events in the southern hemisphere. Over 11,400 riders from all over the world will be taking part in endurance, solo and relay races around New Zealand's largest lake...(more).

Kiwi Christmas and Santa Parades, November - December

Christmas in New Zealand is less about snow, mulled wine and fireside festivities and rather more about having fun in the sun with barbecues and chilled beer on the menu. You can enjoy Santa Parades, outdoor candlelit carol services, Christmas trees, decorations and lights, plus pavlova, turkey and much more.

Find out how to celebrate Christmas in true blue Kiwi-style.

Off the Beaten Track to... Oamaru

Oamaru is one of the South Island's most interesting towns from a cultural point of view and well worth an overnight stay. This small town, with a population of about 12,000, is often visited by travellers and tourists keen to see the colonies of blue and yellow-eyed penguins that make Oamaru their home. However, it is also of interest for other attractions. The locals are friendly and welcoming, the cuisine is excellent...(more).

Family Holidays in New Zealand

New Zealand is an excellent destination for families with young or teenage children with many activities and attractions nationwide focused on the young (or the young at heart). Children are welcomed by most accommodation providers, tour and trip organisers and restaurants.

• Family Friendly Accommodation (hotels, motels and campgrounds, etc) – Many accommodation providers welcome families to their establishments and often provide child-safe furniture, self-catering options (for easy meal-times), playgrounds, swimming pools, toys, games and videos, child-minding services and great family deals.
• Kids Activities – New Zealand offers a wide range of activities that are safe, as well as exciting and fun, for kids of all ages including: sailing, archery, kayaking, white-water rafting, quad biking, go-karting, horse-riding, zoos and animal sanctuaries, aquariums, paint balling, climbing, skiing, tenpin bowling, glowworm caves and much much more. There are also plenty of activities that are free (or low cost) such as swimming, camping, fossicking and hiking. View more about family friendly activities.
• Family Friendly Dining – Many restaurants in New Zealand welcome children along, although you may want to avoid 'boutique' dining venues, especially in the evenings. Highchairs and nappy changing facilities are usually available and in 'family restaurants' paper and crayons and even playgrounds are often provided. Breastfeeding mothers in New Zealand are discreet, but breastfeeding in public places is quite usual.

Find out more about the accommodation, tours, activities and attractions that you and your family can enjoy in New Zealand.

New Zealand Fast Facts

There are over 1.3 million cyclists in New Zealand today and cycling is proven to be safe, healthy and economical. There are excellent cycle routes throughout the country already, including the popular Otago Rail Trail. In April 2009, the New Zealand government proposed plans for a national cycleway dubbed, New Zealand Great Rides, consisting of linked tracks and trails from North to South.