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Montana World of WearableArt

2005 Multiple Award Winner - click for more.

Cosi Fan Tuti and Ruffles by Chloe McGlashen

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Featured Driving Route

WELLINGTON-NELSON

Starting in Wellington you'll catch the Interislander ferry through the spectacular Marlborough Sounds before arriving at Picton. Experience the magnificent wines, gourmet food, superb kayaking and the wide range of activities.

Featured Presentation

GOURMET GARDEN

Recent word of mouth from travellers has been effusive about the epicurean experiences that New Zealand offers. They talk about the quality and freshness of the ingredients and the intense flavours of the wine. Let our experts share their knowledge with you about New Zealand wine, food, flora and fauna.

Featured Walk

ABEL TASMAN COASTAL TRACK, NELSON

The Abel Tasman Coastal Track in Nelson is a beautiful walk that takes you to a series of wilderness beaches. Between beaches you’ll hike through native forest and around high coastal bluffs. Huts and campsites provide accommodation along the way, or you can enjoy a day trip by arranging a water taxi ride back to Marahau or Kaiteriteri.

Photo credit: Ian Trafford

Featured Region

WELLINGTON SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

Check out the sights that you shouldn't miss when you visit Wellington. From beaches to wildlife sanctuaries and historical buildings - the diversity of the attractions in Wellington is huge.

While Wellington now hosts the annual WOW event, Nelson is the birthplace of the concept. Explore both of these regions - their wine, arts and amazing scenery.

Wellington

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and its geography has created a compact city. The central city, only 2 kilometres wide, is nestled between the harbour and the hills. Wild, untouched landscapes can be found within minutes of your city hotel.

The city itself bulges with cafes and galleries, nightlife, energy, great shopping and great restaurants. It is also home to many of New Zealand's most significant heritage attractions. No visit to Wellington is complete without exploring Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum. You can also view the original Treaty of Waitangi at the National Archives or stroll around the grounds of Parliament.

Strolling from the city to Oriental Bay is one of Wellington's most popular free entertainments.

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Wellington is the perfect place to base yourself if you want to explore some of New Zealand's most rugged coastlines and world renowned wines. Marlborough is just a short ferry ride away where you can discover the complexity of the region's famous sauvignon blanc while a short drive will allow you to experience the spicy characteristics of the Wairarapa's pinot noir. Hire a bike and pedal around the vineyards tasting the wines, or stop off for brunch at one of the winery restaurants.

The Kapiti Coast to the west and the Wairarapa Coast to the east, provide breath taking vistas and pounding surf. You will also discover world-class wildlife sanctuaries, fantastic golf courses, hiking and mountain biking trails and gourmet food experiences.

Nelson

The Nelson region, covering the top northwest corner of the South Island, is a diverse region renowned for its arts and crafts, kayaking and its three distinct national parks.

Kayaking, Abel Tasman National Park

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Nelson's creative community provides many opportunities for you to experiment with art. Workshops include glassblowing, pottery, bone carving, sculpture, authentic Maori flax weaving and cooking. The World of WearableArt™ and Classic Cars Museum enables you to experience the WOW concept all year round.

For kayaking enthusiasts, the waters and coastline of Nelson are truly spectacular. Emerald blue waters and white sandy beaches meet with the bush clad hills at the water's edge. Hire a kayak and explore the inlets, bays and islands; or take a guided tour that can last from a few hours to a multi-day adventure.

Three diverse national parks located within 90 minutes of the city centre make the region a hiker's paradise. The famous Abel Tasman Coastal Track is one of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand and over 3-5 days you can expect to see golden beaches, tranquil lagoons, rolling forest and a plethora of wildlife, from native birds to dolphins and seals.

The Kahurangi National Park is the second largest in the country containing over 570km of trails, including the beginning of the Heaphy Track. A multitude of hiking options are available, lasting from hours to several days. For bird lovers and alpine enthusiasts, the Nelson Lakes National Park is a must. Beech forests, valleys, isolated glacial lakes and craggy peaks are mixed with a chorus of native bellbirds and kaka.

Step into a world where art and the human form combine; where dance, music and lighting tell a story of the body as a canvas; where the lines of fashion and art blur and merge as one…

First shown in 1987, World of WearableArt™ originally began as a promotion for a rural art gallery in Nelson. Nelson sculptor Suzie Moncrieff had the vision to exhibit art in the form of a live theatrical show and WOW has since grown to receive international acclaim, with the annual event now held in Wellington.

A WOW show can be difficult to describe, hard to define and utterly impossible to forget. A montage of theatre, dance, colour, movement and art, simply put, the WOW shows are theatrical spectaculars.

The WOW show selects around 150 garment entries designed by a national and international array of artists, designers and inventors, and celebrates them in a totally unique environment.
Each year the performance combines unique sections into a distinctive two hour theatrical extravaganza showcasing incredible garments, stunning sets, dance, music, lighting and choreography.

The 2009 WOW Season:

The 2009 WOW season runs from September 24th until October 4th, with the Awards night held on Friday September 25th. The venue is the TSB Bank Arena at Queens Wharf.

For tickets and further information visit www.worldofwearableart.com.

Vila of the Forest by Rosie Horsley

WearableArt and WOW are registered trademarks owned by World of WearableArt Limited.

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