Auckland

Star Kiwi snowboarder Rebecca ‘Bex’ Sinclair is a young athlete at the pinnacle of her sport.

List of New Zealand art galleries and museums, from small local collections to the impressive National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa, in Wellington.

Away from the television cameras, Masterchef judge Simon Gault is an entrepreneurial chef whose name is associated with a string of top New Zealand restaurants.

The vision of All Black coach Graham Henry relaxing on the beach or fishing at one of his favourite island haunts is hard to imagine - given the pressure of Rugby World Cup 2011.

Passionate rugby fans and hospitable Kiwi hosts all over New Zealand are throwing down the Rugby World Cup 2011 welcome mat – nowhere more so than in the 24 communities that will officially host rugby teams.

Talented Kiwi chefs, innovative cuisine, top wines, and a growing list of high-end destinations and food events are helping New Zealand develop a reputation in the world of fine cuisine.

New Zealand has laid down the welcome mat with a new campaign to assure travellers that the country is very much open for business, while bloggers throughout the world are extolling the virtues of the destination.

New Zealand has a long history of brewing – from Captain Cook who brewed up the first beer in the 1770s to the establishment of the earliest pubs and breweries during 19th century colonial times.

New Zealand might be best known for its award-winning wines, but Kiwis are also beer drinkers and have developed a discerning palate that has prompted a boutique brewery boom.

Rugby is an integral part of being a Kiwi and Rugby World Cup 2011 is destined to turn New Zealand into a non-stop party zone called the REAL New Zealand Festival.