Free Travel Newsletter : January 2011
Written by Steph Kendall
Brought to you by New Zealand Tourism Guide www.tourism.net.nz.
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Forget lying around on the beaches this summer – there are action-packed events happening all over the country including some of the best multi-sport events in the world. These sporting festivals offer testing challenges for athletes of all ages and ability, as well as offering great entertainment for spectators. Māori culture also gets competitive with the national kapa haka dance-off in Gisborne, whilst light relief is on hand in the streets of Christchurch at the annual world-acclaimed Buskers' Festival.
Find out about:
- World Buskers Festival, 21st - 31st January
- Blue Lake Multisport Festival, 29th - 30th January
- 2011 New Zealand Masters Games, 4th - 14th February
- Speight's Coast to Coast, 11th - 12th February
- Te Matatini (Kapa Haka) National Festival, 17th - 20th February
- Off the Beaten Track to... Morere Hot Springs
- New Zealand Fast Facts
World Buskers Festival, Christchurch, 21st - 31st January
The World Buskers Festival, now in its 18th year, features over 500 live shows featuring performers from all over the world... it's free, freaky, fantastic and fun.
For more information, view the World Buskers Festival website or find out more about Christchurch and last year's festival.
Blue Lake Multisport Festival, 29th – 30th January
The Blue Lake Multisport Festival in Rotorua celebrates its 25th year with an aquathon (run/swim), triathlon (swim/cycle/run) and forest fun run/walk. A beautiful destination for athletes and spectators near one of New Zealand's premier attractions... (more)
2011 New Zealand Masters Games, 4th - 14th February
The 2011 New Zealand Master Games in Wanganui (situated between Rotorua and Wellington) celebrates participation in over 65 different sports. Over 550 sporting events will be held, as well as non-sporting entertainment themed around a tropical beach party... (more)
Speight's Coast to Coast, 11th - 12th February
The Coast to Coast is one of the world's premier multi-sport events. This endurance race traverses the South Island, 243 kolometres by foot, bike and kayak from Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean... (more)
Te Matatini (Kapa Haka) National Festival, 17th - 20th February
Join the world's largest celebration of Māori performing arts in Gisborne (North Island) this February. Held bi-annually, this festival attracts over 30,000 participants and visitors as forty-two kapa haka teams compete for top honours. Be prepared for the hair to stand up on the back of your neck... (more)
Off the Beaten Track to... Morere Hot Springs
On State Highway 2, about 60 kilometres southwest of Gisborne, you'll find Morere Hot Springs, a lovely mineral pool complex set in a conservation reserve with a network of hiking tracks. A great opportunity to soak up a natural rainforest environment... (more)
New Zealand Fast Facts
Kapa haka is the term used to describe the performance of Māori song. Kapa meaning to stand in a row and Haka to dance. Kapa haka includes: waiata tira (warm-up song), whakaeke (entrance song), waiata-ā-ringa (action song), haka (challenge), pou or mōteatea (old-style singing), poi (co-ordinated swinging of balls attached to cords) and whakawātea (closing song). Sports fans may be familiar with the spine-tingling haka (challenge) as performed by the All Blacks rugby team.