New Zealand - Winter 2009 highlights
Winter has come early to New Zealand this year delighting skiers and snowboarders, and lifting the spirits of the tourist industry with the promise of a bumper season ahead.
With unseasonably early, heavy snow falls throughout both islands -earliest in decades for some regions - the country's main ski fields are opening with an already greater number of bookings than last year.
Off-piste the forecast is also bright with discounted holiday deals, favourable exchange rates and a wide variety of winter events making New Zealand an attractive option for visitors.
Year-round appeal
While New Zealand’s world-class ski fields make it an obvious winter destination, the country’s physical attributes, climate and exhilarating recreational pursuits can be enjoyed year-round - as can the culture and world renowned wines and food.
Soaking in an outdoor hot tub with a glass of local, award-winning wine is a winter-enhanced experience when the outlook is a dramatic snow-clad mountain range and crystal clear lake, as is dining in an eco-lodge in front of a roaring fire after a brisk walk on a deserted beach.
International visitors face a variety of options whether snow sports orientated or not, and every New Zealand region offers seasonal attractions as well as a wide variety of major national and international events.
NZ winter events
Lake Tekapo Mountain Bike Pursuit (The Run 79)
31 May 2009
New Zealand’s most scenic adventure mountain bike race - individuals or two-person teams cover 90km over shingle roads, farm tracks and across rivers renowned for freezing temperatures.
Mountain Bike Pursuit
Matariki - nationwide
24 June - 24 July 2009
Matariki is the Māori name for the group of stars - also known as the ‘Pleiades’ cluster or The Seven Sisters - and is celebrated as the traditional Māori New Year. The dawning of the new year has special significance in terms of food and hospitality with celebrations timed to fall at the end of a harvest when food stores are full.
The official 2009 Matariki festival runs from 24 June - 24 July and, as well as public events throughout the country, New Zealanders mark the event by making a new year wish, getting together for a feast with family and friends, planting native shrubs or traditional Māori food, gathering food from their garden to share with others, flying a kite and taking part in a concert.
2009 Matariki Events
American Express Winter Festival - Queenstown
26 June - 5 July 2009
Celebrating 35 years as the southern hemisphere’s biggest winter party, with a reputation for outrageous and unique events, the Winter Festival attracts more than 60,000 people. As well as a strong comedy theme (2009 star attraction is Rhys Darby of Flight of the Conchords) and fun which sees strangely attired people leap into the freezing waters of Lake Wakatipu and dogs accompanying their owners on the ski slopes, the festival includes 60-plus events including sport, art, music, comedy, food and wine.
Queenstown Winter Festival
FIBA U19 World Championships for Men - Auckland
2 - 12 July 2009
For the first time in the history of basketball, the championship is leaving the northern hemisphere and heading to Auckland where basketball is a popular sport played by 16% of the population. New Zealand’s national men’s team The Tall Blacks are currently ranked 14th in the world.
2009 FIBA U19 - New Zealand
Christchurch Arts Festival Winter Garden
23 July - August 9 2009
A giant temporary ice rink will be set up in Cathedral Square in the heart of Christchurch city and become centre stage for an 18-day festival of art and performance. Guests include singer/songwriter Paul Kelly with A to Z, NZ’s Dave Dobbyn, alt-cabaret trio The Tiger Lillies, and Irish blues - jazz diva Mary Coughlan. The Sydney Dance Company will also perform during the festival.
Christchurch Arts Festival
Whitianga Scallop Festival - Coromandel
26 - 30 August 2009
Foodies flock to Whitianga - a North Island coastal town on the Coromandel Peninsula - to feast on the popular seafood delicacy and enjoy live entertainment. The laid-back atmosphere in this popular holiday town and its proximity to one of New Zealand’s best scallop fishing grounds has contributed to the success of the annual festival. Scallops are served up in every imaginable way with more than 60 food and wine stalls centred on the town’s marina, and local restaurants and cafes hosting special events like cooking demonstrations, competitions and live entertainment.
Whitianga Scallop Festival
Winter Games NZ - Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona, Snow Farm, Naseby, Dunedin
22 - 30 August 2009
The largest winter sports event outside the Olympics with 24 action-packed activities including alpine skiing, free skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, curling, ice skating, adaptive snow sports, winter triathlon and natural luge. The event is designed to give athletes competition experience in an elite environment before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The free ski competition has attracted a list of the world’s top names and will also act as a qualifier for ESPN Winter X Games.
Winter Games NZ 2009
Gay Ski Week - Queenstown
29 August - 6 September 2009
Gay Ski Week is has become an international event and this year’s 7th edition is already showing a 20% increase in bookings. New features include snow ‘gaymes’, a cowboy-themed dinner, skyline dinner and show, after-ski party and night skiing on Coronet Peak.
NZ Gay Ski Week
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