Free Travel Newsletter : March 2010
Written by Steph Kendall
Brought to you by New Zealand Tourism Guide www.tourism.net.nz.
Lucky Subscriber
Congratulations to Helen Breen of Australia, this month's lucky Free Travel Newsletter subscriber, winning "The Ultimate New Zealand DVD".
Typically March is a settled, sunny month, so make the most of being outdoors before the nights draw in and enjoy New Zealand's natural playgrounds: its beaches, lakes, rivers, oceans, hills, mountains, glaciers, rainforests, fiords and wonderful, wide open spaces. This month you can also enjoy festivals of flowers, sails and sky with our pick of March events in New Zealand below.
Find out about:
- Auckland Festival of Sailing, 2nd - 25th March
- Festival of Flowers, Christchurch 19th Feb - 14th March
- Ellerslie Flower Show, Christchurch, 10th - 14th March
- Balloons over Waikato, 24th - 28th March
- Off the Beaten Track to... The West Coast
- Travelling Around New Zealand
- New Zealand Fast Facts
Auckland Festival of Sailing, 2nd - 25th March
Auckland, the largest city on New Zealand's North Island is often referred to as the 'City of Sails' and attracts world-class sailors, regattas and races to its shores. The inner city lies on the shores of the beautiful Waitemata Harbour, which merges into the Hauraki Gulf enabling yachting to be very much part of the Auckland lifestyle. With sailing events all year round, there is never a bad time of year for yachties to visit, but in March there are three major international sailing events... (more)
Festival of Flowers, Christchurch 19th Feb - 14th March
Get in the mood for the biggest horticultural event in New Zealand, the Ellerslie Flower Show, with Burst, a festival of flowers, also being held in Christchurch, the 'Garden City'. Located in Christchurch Cathedral (8.30am – 7.00pm daily, except during service times), you can step through the doors to experience displays including a floral carpet and designs celebrating all things floral. The festival also includes music, food, storytelling, garden tours, photography, calligraphy, Ikebana, flax weaving and the New Zealand tree climbing competition.
Ellerslie Flower Show, Christchurch, 10th - 14th March
The largest show yet in the Ellerslie Flower Show's fifteen year history includes highlights such as two international feature gardens by award-winning landscape and garden designers, landscape design, flower bed and photographic competitions and displays including the latest trends and designs in horticulture, flowers and landscaping. This is New Zealand's premier horticultural event and is considered to be one of the best in the world... (more)
Balloons over Waikato, 24th - 28th March
Last year's Balloons over Waikato was enjoyed by an estimated crowd of 80,000, who watched over 30 hot air balloons from around the world take to the skies above Hamilton and the Waikato area. Balloons Over Waikato is New Zealand's premier hot air ballooning event and is free for all spectators. It features a mass ascension of spectacular and fun-shaped balloons, a dawn ballooning event broadcast on national television, school visits by balloons and pilots, a balloon parade and the highlight of the festival for spectators, with live music, the orchestrated Balloon Glow Show and fireworks.
View the Balloons Over Waikato Web site for details of the flying programme, tickets and location information.
West Coast
Photographer: Gareth Eyres
(www.exposure.co.nz)
Off the Beaten Track to... The West Coast
The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island has a reputation for its wild side and is one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions in the country. Although the conditions and environment can be extreme, there are plenty of easy recreational opportunities for all abilities and ages offering access to the West Coast's mountains, rivers, lakes, podocarp forest, coastal forests, wetlands, glaciers, beaches and caves... (more)
Travelling Around New Zealand
If you're wondering about the best way to travel around New Zealand's North and South islands, then check out our transport listings. You'll find a wide choice of transport options available including: rental cars, motorbikes, cycles, motorhomes and campervans, airlines, buses, coaches, ferries, water taxis and trains.
If you want to make your life even simpler, you can also opt to see New Zealand on a tour, a great option for travellers with a limited amount of time and who enjoy the company of like-minded people.
Find out more about the variety of transport options and tour options available.
New Zealand Fast Facts
Did you know that New Zealand has its fair share of world record holders including: Mark Holyoake for Most Rotations on a Pommel Horse (in 60 seconds), Terry Morris for Most Icecream Scoops Balanced on a Cone, Shay Horay for Most Rubber Bands Stretched Across the Face in One Minute and Rebecca Wright, Longest Time to Sing Suspended Upside Down. Some may say, we have too much time on our hands!
