Free Travel Newsletter : October 2011

Written by Steph Kendall

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

Lucky Subscriber

Congratulations to Jude Clarke of the UK, this month's lucky Free Travel Newsletter subscriber, winning "The Ultimate New Zealand DVD".

Spring really is one of the best times of the year for putting on your boots, packing a rucksack and heading to the hills for hiking, fishing, mountain biking or horse-riding adventure. But whilst our urban dwellers and visitors explore off the beaten track destinations, country folk come to towns throughout New Zealand to enjoy one of the most traditional Kiwi celebrations of rural living: A&P shows. This month, read more about those remote destinations, rural shows and what life is like for New Zealand's gypsy road-folk.

Find out about:

• A&P Shows in New Zealand
• Housetrucking Gypsies
• Off the Beaten Track to... Sumner Lake Forest Park
• Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in New Zealand
• New Zealand Fast Facts

A&P Shows in New Zealand

Rural communities come to towns throughout New Zealand for traditional Kiwi A&P shows which display and celebrate the best of rural and farming life. Typically they include livestock displays and breeding competitions, live entertainment, children's farmyards and competitions for tractor pulling, wood chopping, bull riding, baking, sheep dog trials and more...(more)

Housetrucking Gypsies

There is a small number of Kiwis who have chosen a non-conventional gypsy (semi-nomadic) lifestyle. They are known as housetruckers and often live in colourful, ingenious and slightly rickerty converted trucks or schoolbuses. You can meet Kiwi gypsies and see some of the housetruck homes designed and built by these roadfolk at gypsy traveller fairs held throughout New Zealand...(more)

Off the Beaten Track to... Sumner Lake Forest Park

This beautiful area characterised by lakes, beech-clad mountains, wide rivers and natural hot springs is only 100 kilometres north-west of Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island. However, due to its remote location and difficult vehicle access, it offers outdoor enthusiasts a quiet, uncrowded haven for walking, hunting, fishing, mountain biking and kayaking...(more)

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in New Zealand

Choosing bed and breakfast accommodation is a great option for travellers who like to start the day with a good meal after a comfortable night's rest and who want to keep their day free without being constrained by dining room opening times. Bed and breakfast accommodation is often advertised as 'B&B' or 'B and B'.

If you haven't used B&B accommodation before, here are some of things you can typically expect from the experience:

• Accommodation in the house of your hosts
• Bedroom accommodation suitable for couples, single travellers and depending on the size of the house, small groups
• Bathroom access (often private en-suites)
• Use of a common lounge (or guest lounge) and garden area
• Breakfast – either continental-style (e.g. breads, cereal, fruit, tea, coffee) or cooked (e.g. eggs, tomatoes, bacon, sausages, hash browns)

You may also find that your hosts can pick you up from airports, bus or train stations. Internet access is usually (but not always) available. Some B&B owners also offer their guests 'extras' such as evening meals, gourmet and home-cooked baking, use of bikes, private kitchen and if they are farm-based, the opportunity to meet the animals. You may find that some accommodation is offered in separate apartments or studios – although this means you do not spend quite as much time with your hosts, this may suit you if you prefer a more private, secluded stay. Payment options vary with each B&B, so please check when you book or arrive with some cash before you arrive at the gate.

Find out more about bed and breakfast accommodation in New Zealand.

New Zealand Fast Facts

There about 13,000 sheep and beef farms in New Zealand and about 90% of its sheep and beef is exported overseas. Other animals farmed in New Zealand include: pigs, deer, goats, alpacas, llamas, water buffalo, ostriches and emus. Many other animals were introduced to New Zealand by settlers including: zebras, bandicoots, raccoons, mongooses, wallabies, hedgehogs, squirrels, possums, stoats, ferrets, chipmunks, gnus, and bharals (blue sheep).

Wallabies released in the South Island in 1874 are now shot to control their numbers and one enterprising businessman even began to make and sell wallaby pies. Pies to watch out for...