New Zealand - Spring 2009 highlights
As New Zealand bursts into spring colour, an event-filled calendar and the forecast of a long hot summer promise to banish winter blues.
In spring, New Zealand's landscape is at its most picturesque as trees break into blossom, gardens and country paddocks fill with spring flowers and lambs.
Spring skiing
New Zealand's snow-capped mountains and milder temperatures offer great spring skiing. On the heels of exceptionally good winter snow conditions, spring value snow deals - some with lift passes and accommodation for as little as NZ$76 per day - continue to attract skiers and snowboarders.
Golf packages, walking and cycling tours, fishing trips and outdoor excursions also become a spring attraction as the weather warms and days lengthen.
Daylight saving begins on 27 September, boosting daylight hours for tourists wanting to make the most of events, experiences and exploring the country.
With fresh produce filling farmers markets and New Zealand’s world renowned vineyards celebrating the release of new season’s wine, spring is also the perfect time to travel the many food and wine trails.
Art and cultural highlights like the World of WearableArt (WOW) show in Wellington, New Zealand Fashion Week in Auckland, international sporting events, garden festivals and seasonal celebrations are other big attractions.
New Zealand 2009 spring events
Spring skiing - New Zealand-wide
Until early October 2009
Depending on weather conditions, spring skiing is likely to continue into October at major New Zealand ski resorts. Deals on offer until 30 September at Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and The Remarkables include family packages from NZ$76 per day for lift passes and accommodation. A combined skiing / golf package starts at NZ$125 per person per day.
New Zealand Ski
World Heli Challenge - Southern Alps
28 August - 12 September 2009
The unique World Heli Challenge sees 50 leading ski and snowboard athletes compete in three days of heli-skiing and heli-boarding - high adrenalin adventures including base jumping, ‘wing suit’ flying, surfing and downhill mountain biking.
World Heli Challenge
Hastings Blossom Festival - Hawke’s Bay
11 - 20 September 2009
Spring, when orchards are in full bloom, is an ideal time to visit Hawke's Bay to sample its many award-winning wineries and gourmet food. The 10-day festival includes dance, music and theatre, plus a favourite spring event - the Hastings Blossom parade that’s been around since the 1950s. The Hawke’s Bay Olive Festival on 19 September is another festival highlight.
Hastings Blossom Festival
Alexandra Blossom Festival - Central Otago
25 September - 3 October 2009
Alexandra’s annual celebration of spring has a unique history spanning more than 50 years. The festival was born out of community spirit and recognition of the special character of Alexandra, and reflects the town’s contribution to New Zealand’s stone fruit and wool industries.
Alexandra Blossom Festival
Conservation Week - New Zealand-wide
13 - 20 September 2009
Conservation week celebrates New Zealand’s unique wildlife, natural areas and historic places. New Zealanders are encouraged to get out into the environment, enjoy their natural surroundings, learn more about rare native flora and fauna, and participate in conservation projects at home, school and in the community.
NZ Conservation Week 2009
International rugby: 2009 Tri Nations series
- All Blacks v South Africa - Hamilton
12 September 2009
- All Blacks v Australia - Wellington
19 September 2009
New Zealand’s All Blacks play the Springboks at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton (12.09.09), and the Wallabies at Westpac Stadium, Wellington (19.09.09) as part of the 2009 Tri Nations Series.
Tri Nations is an international rugby union series contested by Australia (Wallabies), New Zealand (All Blacks) and South Africa (Springboks). Teams play each other three times with points awarded for a win or draw. New Zealand is the current Tri Nations series champions.
All Blacks
Air New Zealand Fashion Week - Auckland
21 - 26 September 2009
New Zealand fashion talent takes centre stage as international and local buyers, media, and public view Autumn / Winter 2010 collections at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour. The 2009 event includes two public days of designer selections and retail fashion ranges season previews. Celebrity guests will include former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson presenting her new eco-friendly ‘Muse’ clothing range, and MTV Asia / Discovery Channel presenter and former model Denise Keller.
Air NZ Fashion Week
International netball: Silver Ferns v Diamonds - Auckland
23 September 2009
Netball is New Zealand’s most popular women’s sport. The national team Silver Ferns is ranked second in the world, so there will be some strong trans-Tasman rivalry when the ‘Ferns’ take on the current world champions, the Australian Diamonds in the 2009 New World International Netball series.
Netball New Zealand
Montana World of WearableArt - Wellington
25 September - 4 October 2009
Creativity blooms on stage in Wellington at WOW - Montana World of Wearable Art - a montage of theatre, dance, colour, movement and art in an internationally acclaimed show that attracts artists from all over the world. WOW began in 1987 as a promotion for a rural art gallery when Nelson sculptor Suzie Moncrieff conceived the idea of exhibiting art in a live theatrical show. The annual event is now held in Wellington.
Montana World of WearableArt
Kakapo Encounter 2009 - Stewart Island
26 September - 26 October 2009
Guided tours to Ulva Island eco sanctuary give visitors a close-up view of Sirocco - the world famous kakapo who is one of an elite group of rare native parrots. The endangered kakapo made international headlines this year with a spectacular breeding season that boosted total species numbers to 125.
Kakapo Encounter
Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival
30 October - 8 November 2009
Taranaki is famous for its rhododendron collections, and the Taranaki Rhododendron Festival is an international event. More than 50 private and public gardens, including nationally and internationally acclaimed ‘gardens of significance’ open their gates for a 10-day show of dramatic colour, landscape design and gardening excellence.
Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival
Māori Art Market - Poirirua, Wellington
9 - 11 October 2009
A prestigious contemporary Māori art exhibition featuring artist debates, presentations and an opening gala evening. Indigenous fashion designer Dorothy Grant’s latest collection, hot off the New York fashion week runway, will be stepping out each day. Nine guest artists include leading Native American, First Nations Canada, Pacific Islands and New Zealand artists.
Māori Art Market
Adidas Auckland Marathon
1 November 2009
More than 12,000 people take to the streets to run or walk the full, half or quarter marathon in Auckland’s premier road race. A 5km walk and kids marathon have been added to this year’s schedule. The event is open to anyone from elite to recreational runners, who want to achieve a personal fitness goal or finish time.
Adidas Auckland Marathon
Hunter's Garden Marlborough
4 - 9 November 2009
Sponsored by Hunter’s Wines in Marlborough, this five-day festival showcases the region’s finest gardens, and offers guided tours through private properties along the waterways of the Marlborough Sounds, and through secluded town and country gardens. A garden fete and workshops with New Zealand personalities are included in this premier garden event.
Hunter's Garden Marlborough
New Zealand Kiteboarding Wave Bash - Taranaki
5 - 8 November 2009
New Zealand’s first ever nationwide wave-riding kiteboard competition was such a success, it has become an international event. Competitors will join New Zealand’s best kiteboarders, carving up the waves on Taranaki’s coastline for four days of action to determine the best national and international kiteboard wave riding champions.
NZ Kiteboarding Wave Bash
New Zealand Cup and Show Week - Christchurch
7 - 14 November 2009
Christchurch promises to turn on its spring colours as New Zealand’s largest festival of racing, fashion, agriculture and entertainment takes over the garden city. There will be six major race meetings including New Zealand Cup trophies for all racing codes. Fashion and entertainment includes designer collections, and ‘Fashion on the Field’ competitions at Addington and Riccarton racetracks.
Show week also incorporates the Royal New Zealand Show, and the 2009 International Rodeo where 32 of the world’s best ride-em cowboys and cowgirls take on the bulls, broncs, and barrels.
NZ Cup & Show Week
Pacific Rose Bowl Festival - Hamilton
11 - 15 November 2009
Internationally acclaimed Hamilton Gardens show off an extensive array of rose blooms, with a programme of family-friendly free entertainment.
Pacific Rose Bowl Festival
Toast Martinborough - Wairarapa
15 November 2009
Toast Martinborough is a one-day degustation celebration of fine foods and newly released wines with live music in an historic village setting. Participating vineyards match their new and limited release wines to culinary delights from top restaurants in the Wellington and Wairarapa regions.
Toast Martinborough
Pohutukawa Festival - Coromandel
20 November - 6 December 2009
Coromandel Peninsula has a list of events to coincide with the flowering of the region’s many native pohutukawa trees - also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree. Events include the Whangamata Jazz Festival, Coromandel food and wine festival, jazz boat tours, art and craft exhibitions, dive festivals, garden tours and concerts.
Coromandel Pohutukawa Festival
Moa Beer Moa Hunt - Kaikoura
28 November 2009
Set beside the Pacific Ocean - in the picturesque Kekerengu region on the Kaikoura coast - the 40km Moa Hunt mountain bike course is a challenge to match experts like Olympian Robin Reid, who completed it in 1hr 48 seconds last year. A shorter, less demanding 21km course doubles as a half marathon mountain run.
Moa Beer Moa Hunt
Timaru Festival of Roses
21 - 29 November 2009
‘Four corners of the earth’ is the theme for this year’s Timaru Festival which features a diverse programme of events including horticultural shows, street parade, garden tours, rose shows and race meetings.
Timaru Festival of Roses
Burt Munro Challenge - Invercargill
26 - 29 November 2009
Established as a tribute event to Burt Munro and the ongoing success of the feature film The World’s Fastest Indian, the Burt Munro Challenge is one of the major events on New Zealand’s motorcycling calendar and includes a rally, hill climb, beach racing, sprints races, street racing and a speedway spectacular.
Burt Munro Challenge
7 in 7 challenge - New Zealand-wide
29 November - 5 December 2009
The ‘7 in 7 challenge’ is a world-first attempt to run New Zealand’s seven mainland ‘Great Walks’ in seven consecutive days. The 360km challenge will be the equivalent of running nine off-road marathons, and climbing Mt Cook (New Zealand’s highest mountain) twice. The run will take competitors through iconic New Zealand landscape, traversing the seven Great Walks - Lake Waikaremoana, Tongariro Northern Circuit, Abel Tasman, Heaphy, Routeburn and Milford, and Kepler tracks. Organiser Mal Law hopes to raise $50,000 for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation of NZ.
More information:
2009 New Zealand Garden Festivals
New Zealand Regions
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