Summer

Summer

Summer in New Zealand means sizzling barbecues and salads, sauvignon blanc, swimming at the beach, and long lazy days at the bach or crib - Kiwi for a holiday home.

Christmas is celebrated in shorts and T-shirt style, as the bright crimson blooms of the pohutukawa - New Zealand's native Christmas tree - line the coasts with festive colour.

From December to February, New Zealand is alive with the sound of crickets, and not just the insect variety. As soon as the weather warms up, Kiwis vacate the cities and head to baches, campgrounds and holiday resorts up and down the country.

Outdoor events
New Zealand celebrates at this time of year and there's a party to suit just about everyone.

Summer is the season for outdoor food and wine events. The famous Wine Marlborough Festival - in northern South Island - is a wine connoisseur's dream, while the effervescent 'Rhythm and Vines' music festival - in the Eastland city of Gisborne - hums with a chic bohemian feel.

Iconic Kiwi bands travel the country on their summer pilgrimages to coastal towns and lakeside villages. Cultural festivals like Te Matatini - the national kapa haka traditional Maori performance competitions - and the Pacifika Festival celebrate the arts, and New Zealand's unique tapestry of cultures.

For those with a sense of adventure, New Zealand's doors are thrown wide open. Land, sea, sky and mountains are teeming with activities for all ages and abilities, from extreme adventure to total relaxation. Summer is the perfect time to try river surfing, gliding and scuba diving or, for those who like their feet firmly on the ground, a hike in thousands of acres of National Parks.

There are many beautiful beach campsites in the Abel Tasman National Park. The Department of Conservation issues camping passes that allow sea kayakers to choose any camp that catches their eye. Each camp site has basic facilities, which may include a water supply, fireplaces and toilets. Not all campsites have fireplaces, so campers are wise to bring a cooking stove. ©: Graham Charles   マタウリ・ベイの長く伸びた美しいビーチではあまり観光客を見ることもありません。ここからは、カバリ諸島までを見渡すことができます。		ワンガヌイ周辺のビーチは、砂鉄を含んだ黒い砂浜に流木がごろごろと転がる西海岸ならではの野趣溢れるビーチです。キャッスルクリフ・ビーチとカイ・イウィ・ビーチでは海水浴も楽しめます。どちらにも子ども用のプレイエリアがあり、夏にはピクニックをする家族連れで賑わいます。 キャッスルクリフ・ビーチからカイ・イウィ・ビーチ（所要2～3時間）、カイ・イウィ・ビーチからオケフ川（所要2時間）へのウォーキングが人気です。干潮時にしか通れない箇所もあるので、事前に確認しておきましょう。   Away from the hustle of downtown Auckland, the Waitemata Harbour offers blue skies and open spaces for the solo yachtsman. Or enjoy the harbour on one of the many chartered yachts or ferries available year round.