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Rugby World Cup in 2011

Tourism New Zealand says the announcement of venues for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 is good news for tourism in New Zealand. Thirteen venues were chosen for games, with a geographical spread from Invercargill to Whangarei. This reflects the Rugby Union’s ‘New Zealand is a Stadium of Four Million’ approach, encouraging all New Zealanders to support the event. All venues will host at least two games.

"We are delighted that the Rugby World Cup game draw shows such great regional spread," says George Hickton, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive. "We are expecting tens of thousands of visitors for the event. This draw means that the benefits of those visitors will be shared by a large part of New Zealand."

"Tourism New Zealand will be working hard to encourage visitors to see as much of the country as possible. We already have our ‘Front Row Rugby Club’ that enables us to target rugby fans around the world and feed them information on the Cup and New Zealand’s tourism activities. By this we are aiming to convert a love of rugby and an interest in New Zealand into a trip here for the 2011 Rugby World Cup." "Our giant rugby ball venue has also already been used twice in an international setting. Now that the games have been announced, there is an opportunity for the regions to be involved in profiling themselves in this unique venue."

"Once we’ve convinced the fans to come, we are working on them to come early, stay longer, and do more in our country while they are here." He adds that there is still also the opportunity to get players, management and supporters out to other regions that have missed out on games. "Many of those that come over to New Zealand will travel further afield than the locations of the games," he says. "They’ll be here to take a look around, and in-between games will likely visit regions that don’t actually have scheduled games."

The IRB Rugby World Cup is the third-largest sports event in the world. The inaugural tournament took place in 1987 and it is held every four years. The 2011 tournament will take place in New Zealand from 9 September to 23 October 2011.

www.tourismnewzealand.com
www.rugbyworldcup.com

Move over Bordeaux

Marlborough - New Zealand's premier wine-growing region - has been ranked among the world's top 10 wine destinations by online travel community TripAdvisor.com.

That puts Marlborough, the only New Zealand wine region in the list, up there with Bordeaux, Napa and Barossa. Listed as 'Blanc Stare', Marlborough is described as New Zealand's birthplace of winemaking, famous for its white wine varietals and best known for its "delectable" sauvignon blancs.

Top destinations
TripAdvisor's list of top destinations is based on feedback from travellers' personal experiences. Other top destinations listed were: Bordeaux and Champagne-Ardenne, France; Napa and Sonoma valleys, California; Tuscany, Italy; Barossa Valley, Australia; La Rioja, Spain; Valle Central, Chile; Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Stunning achievement
Marcus Pickens, Wine Marlborough's marketing manager, said the region's appearance on the list was a stunning achievement for Marlborough. "I wasn't surprised when I looked through the list and saw Marlborough ... It should be on that list." He hoped the listing would help strengthen the tourism industry and Marlborough would continue to be recognised as a top wine region.

Holiday passion TripAdvisor says wine lovers increasingly follow their passion on holiday by heading for wine regions, many of which now boast top hotels, restaurants and tours.

Marlborough, at the northern end of the South Island, is famous for its picturesque rolling vineyard landscapes and the stunning coastal scenery of the Marlborough Sounds. Protected by the Southern Alps to the west and the coast on the east, the dry sunny climate and free draining stony soil is ideally suited to viticulture.

Now the largest wine producing area in the country with around 11,000 hectares in production, the region is responsible for 62 percent of New Zealand's wine production. Regional production has more than quadrupled in the past 10 years, mainly fuelled by growing international acclaim for the local sauvignon blanc.

Marlborough Wine Festival
The region is also home to New Zealand's oldest food and wine festival. Now in its 26th year, the iconic three-day Marlborough Wine Festival kicks off on February 14 2009. Set amongst the vines at the Montana Brancott Estate, the wine festival showcases the best of New Zealand wine, food and music to thousands of visitors. The unique selection of world famous wine and cuisine is topped off with a fashion contest and music from top New Zealand performers.

Geriatric penguins produce baby blue

Only 16-days-old and as yet un-named, a little blue penguin has everyone clucking at the Penguin Encounter in Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre.

It's the centre's first successful hatching since opening two years ago, and made even more amazing considering the parentage - an old, fat, lazy father and a mother who was thought to be a male. The smallest species of penguin does not tend to breed easily in captivity, and incubating the eggs in the past had failed. But nature took over, and now the centre staff are thrilled with the unexpected arrival.

Big feet
"At the moment it's just an eating machine," said penguin ranger Sally Rogers. "It's a third the size of its parents already. It's like a giant butt with a head ... and some big feet."

Old parents
'Baby blue', whose sex is so far unknown, was born to father 'Fats' - described as the centre's "fattest and laziest" penguin, and mother Zane - who keepers thought was a male until she "hooked up with Fats and laid an egg". Because the reproductive organs of the penguins are all internal, DNA is normally used to identify the gender. "They are both pretty old as well, so it's quite an unusual combination," Rogers said. Fats is 16 years old and Zane is 12. Most penguins in the wild live to about seven or eight.

Cabbage patch
The happy couple created a nest out of cabbage tree leaves and took turns sitting on two eggs for 36 days. The centre has had six more eggs laid, and expects up to four more births in the coming weeks. It is hoped the new arrival will remain at the centre, but because its parents are originally from the North Island, 'baby blue' will require a permit from the Department of Conservation. The little blue penguin lives in the wild throughout New Zealand, and thrives in areas that are predator-free.

New Zealand Penguin Encounter
The Penguin Encounter is New Zealand's first combined indoor - outdoor penguin viewing area. Modelled on the local Banks Peninsula area, the natural themed environment is focused around a penguin life support area and an 80,000-litre pool, and allows visitors to see the population of up to 26 penguins from two levels.

Encounter penguins have all been rescued for reasons such as physical disabilities that would normally prevent them from surviving on their own, and many have been cared for since they were chicks.

Little blue penguins
The smallest penguin in the world, the little blue stands just 25cm tall and weighs about 1kg. Its plumage is slate-blue with a bright white belly, and it lacks any type of crest. Little blue penguins (korora-) come ashore under the cover of darkness and live underground in burrows, natural holes, or under human structures and buildings. They remain around their colony all year, although they may make foraging trips of more than 70km during the non-breeding period. At risk from disturbance by humans, dogs, cats and other predators, little blue penguins mostly no longer breed near towns and cities, though there are still colonies near Oamaru, on the South Island's eastern coast, and Wellington, in south of the North Island. Where predator control is in place, populations have been stable or increasing. Although they are the most abundant and widespread of the three penguin species breeding on the New Zealand mainland, little blue penguins illustrate important messages about seabird conservation in New Zealand and the risks faced by foreshore ecosystems.

Brewery to build national park - for beer!

Brewery company Tui, is turning its sights from beer to the environment … "Yeah Right."

The brewery has announced it is building a "Tui National Park" at Tui Breweries in the small North Island town of Mangatainoka. It is restoring the iconic Tui building and is spending half a million dollars on creating 4000 square metres of lawn, planting 2000 native trees, establishing a museum and revamping surrounding buildings. The refurbishments will create a playground-type space for visitors to enjoy, with management brainstorming creative ideas including running a flying fox from the top of the building across the Mangatainoka River. "I want people to be able to lie on the grass in the sun in front of the building, or kick a ball around. It's a big boys' playground," says DB Breweries Commercial Manager Nick Rogers. Currently the site’s iconic art deco building is surrounded by drab iron sheds, a disappointment for current visitors familiar with building’s depiction in Tui ads. However, DB Breweries Commercial Manager Nick Rogers said the public did realize that the ‘gorgeous women’ in the commercials did not really work at the brewery - although the head brewer is in fact a woman. The revamp is expected to be finished by Christmas.

Background

Tui beer was founded in 1889 by Henry Wagstaff, with the brand now being DB Breweries biggest selling beer in the central North Island. Tui beer is an East India Pale Ale with a strong, smooth taste. Since the launch of its well-recognised advertising campaign in the 1990s, sales have skyrocketed. The campaign promotes the Tui brand using hard-case kiwi humour, resulting in a loyal following of beer drinkers. The on-site art deco brick brewing tower was built in 1931 but because the builders failed to install stairs or a lift, it wasn’t put to use until 1938. Though no longer in use, the building remains one of New Zealand’s notable industrial buildings and is a prime marketing tool for the Tui advertising campaign. The building is currently protected by the Historic Places Trust. The brewery and café in Mangatainoka attracts more than 27,000 people per year, some who pray to the building, aping a commercial that ran in 1999 suggesting the tower has a semi-religious power to inspire devotion from Tui drinkers. Mangatainoka is a small settlement in the Tararua district of the North Island. The town is located between Pahiatua to the south and Woodville to the north.

http://www.tui.co.nz/
http://www.dbbreweries.co.nz/

Visiting New Zealand

Plan your visit and get to know New Zealand on www.newzealand.com - the official site for destination New Zealand. Information about New Zealand, how to get here, attractions to see, activities to do, accommodation and transport, as well as spectacular scenic images, travel journals and kiwi souvenirs.

Find Hotels in Auckland, New Zealand - Surrounded by dormant volcanic hills, these Auckland hotels showcase sparkling beaches on an isthmus between two natural harbors.

New Zealand offers good value for skiers
The ski season in NZ is July-November.

Skiing in New Zealand has become an even more attractive option for international visitors this year with the exchange rate making ticket prices up to 40% cheaper for the 2009 season than last winter. A study that looks at pricing at ski resorts worldwide says New Zealand has become good value particularly for international travellers from North America and Europe.

Price comparison

The Skiinfo.com World Ski Lift Ticket Price Report 2009 is the eighth edition of a study which compares the prices of a six-day high season lift ticket at more than 600 ski resorts in 40 countries around the world. It converts the ticket prices to euros, US dollars and British pounds. The report says ski lift tickets in New Zealand have dropped from about €204.25 to an average of €149.62, and although prices in the ski resorts may have increased by small amounts, the stronger euro and US dollar makes costs far lower for skiers arriving from the northern hemisphere this season.

Big savings for skiers

For US residents the savings of skiing in New Zealand are even greater than for Europeans, down from an average of just over US$302 for six days in the 2008 report to US$190 in the latest report - a saving of almost 40% thanks to a strong US dollar. For British skiers in New Zealand, the weak pound means savings are somewhat less but still offer 14% cuts with average prices down from £153.20 to £131.55 for six days. This compares favourably with increased prices to almost all other ski destinations for UK citizens, the report says.

The report also found that 19 of the world’s 20 most expensive lift tickets were in the USA, and eight of the world’s top 10 most expensive tickets are offered by Colorado ski resorts. The tiny principality of Andorra, once famous as a budget destination, now has Europe’s highest average lift ticket price at US$245.

Skiing New Zealand - New Zealand has a number of world class ski resorts in both the North and South Islands.

A cruise down under reveals exotic wildlife, outback spirit, and sacred Aboriginal sites in Australia. In New Zealand, you may recognize the spectacular landscapes from the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

European influences on New Zealand wines

Begun by European migrants, New Zealand's wine industry has grown rapidly, achieving great international success and a fine reputation in a relatively short time. A premier new world wine country, New Zealand produces award-winning wines that reflect a unique combination of soil, climate and water, and the pioneering 'can-do' Kiwi attitude that thrives on hard work, experimentation and innovation.

Early vineyards
Early European arrivals planted vineyards from cuttings they had brought from their homelands, but it was not until the latter part of the 20th century that the industry really began to develop. New Zealand's oldest winery, Mission Vineyards - in Hawke's Bay, on the North Island's east coast - was established in 1865 by French missionaries from a Roman Catholic order. In the South Island, other French settlers planted small vineyards at Akaroa, a little seaside settlement near Christchurch. German settlers in the Nelson region, at the western tip of the South Island, were among the first to introduce commercial winemaking - as well as cultivation of hops for beer - into New Zealand. The areas they settled are still known for their orchards, vineyards and horticulture. By the close of the 19th century small commercial vineyards had also been established in Hawke's Bay, west Auckland and Northland regions by Dalmatian immigrants. Many Dalmatian family names are still linked with the modern wine industry, and read like a who's who of New Zealand wine. The Dalmatians introduced single varieties that produced higher quality wines. They also helped form the Viticulture Association, which lobbied successive governments to deregulate the wine industry.

Changing attitudes
Europeans also significantly influenced New Zealand's social culture preparing the way for development of the wine and food industries. In the 1950s when New Zealand's young melting-pot culture was still a work in progress, a wave of post-war Dutch migrants brought new ideas and ways of doing things. Their influence helped set the scene for the country's contemporary hospitality scene. Their influence also challenged the core of the nation's social drinking culture. When young Dutchman Otto Groen arrived in 1952, he was amazed to find that since the bars closed at 6pm, the European custom of drinking wine with meals in restaurants was impossible. Destined to become the doyen of the Auckland hospitality scene, Groen campaigned for seven years before his restaurant, the Gourmet, became the first New Zealand restaurant granted a liquor licence. The change in licensing laws was a key factor in the development of the hospitality industry, especially wine production which until then had been limited to a few small regional producers.

Top quality wines
These days top quality New Zealand wines are exported worldwide. Sauvignon blanc from the Marlborough region is rated internationally as the definitive benchmark for this varietal. There's also growing recognition for Central Otago pinot noir, and New Zealand pinots have received top awards in several major international contests. Additional varietals including chardonnay, méthode traditionelle, riesling, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and merlot blends are also receiving acclaim. And, in tune with New Zealand’s 'clean green' image, many winemakers are embracing innovative practices that deliver quality in a sustainable and environmental manner.

Land of physical contrast
New Zealand is a country of physical contrast from dense native forest to snow-capped mountains, and spectacular coastline. With wine growing regions spanning 36 - 45 degrees latitude and 1600km of landscape, grapes grow in a vast range of climates and soil types, producing a diverse array of styles. New Zealand's temperate, maritime climate has a strong influence on the country's predominantly coastal vineyards. Vines are warmed by strong, clear sunlight during the day and cooled at night by sea breezes. The long, slow ripening period helps to retain the vibrant varietal flavours that make New Zealand wine so distinctive. The major grape growing areas are in the dry, sunny eastern regions. Leading wine producing regions include West Auckland, Gisborne, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay in the North Island, and Marlborough, Central Otago and Canterbury in the South Island.

Wine culture
Nowadays visitors can experience the growing wine culture by visiting one of the many cellar doors or vineyard restaurants that are common in major wine regions. Several established wine trails and many guided tours exist, and regional food and wine festivals are a permanent fixture on New Zealand's event calendar.

Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail - from Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa in the North Island to Marlborough in the South Island - is a gourmet self-drive holiday. As well as fantastic food and wine, it serves up cultural and adventure experiences in five of New Zealand’s most scenic regions, including three major wine-growing areas.

A cruise down under reveals exotic wildlife, outback spirit, and sacred Aboriginal sites in Australia. In New Zealand, you may recognize the spectacular landscapes from the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

New Zealand makes Lonely Planet's bluelist

A giant kiwifruit, a backpackers inside a prison and a boutique brewery where possum tails can be exchanged for beer are just a few New Zealand quirks rated highly in the 2008 edition of the Lonely Planet’s Bluelist. Compiled annually, the Bluelist is a collection of the world's best destinations, journeys, experiences and trends. This year several New Zealand destinations featured highly amongst the Bluelist's 30 categories.

Giant kiwifruit

In the Bay of Plenty region, Te Puke's giant kiwifruit rated as one of the world’s "best big things". Described as a "giant, green, circular sculpture sticking out of the ground", the giant icon in the self proclaimed 'Kiwifruit Capital of the World' left the Bluelist in no doubt where lies the world's best kiwifruit: "OK we get it - Te Puke’s kiwifruit rules".

Backpackers in a prison

The Napier Prison backpackers ranks as one of the "best places to sleep behind bars". Now a backpackers, guests can tour the hanging yard - where locals used to pay a shilling to watch executions take place - before getting a mug shot taken to remember their time in New Zealand’s oldest prison. They can then rest their heavy heads in converted cells which used to house gang members, mass murderers and the criminally insane.

Possum tails for beer

Under the category of 'Best Brews - The World's Finest Beer Headquarters' is the South Island's Mussel Inn. Situated two hours from Nelson in Golden Bay, the Mussel Inn is a boutique brewery and restaurant famous for its steamed mussels and other fresh local fare. When their local countryside was threatened by possums (a pest in New Zealand), the Mussel Inn offered its punters a "beer bounty" in which a free handle of beer was offered in exchange for every possum tail brought in. The motivation for the Mussel Inn's delicious beer was so strong 5000 possums were duly eradicated.

The Bluelists's other New Zealand must-do's:

Great River Trips: Jetboating the Shotover River

"For high-octane thrills in a high-octane city, head for Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island, where one of the signature activities (among a smorgasbord of adventures) is jetboating the Shotover River. Through the river's steep-sided canyons, jetboats skim past the rock walls, fishtailing and throwing themselves into 360-degree spins. It's 30 minutes that's like a drug-induced dance on water, deep in the mighty Middle-Earth scenery of the Southern Alps. Tolkien geeks may recognise the Shotover as the Ford of Bruinen, if they can look beyond the spinning bow of the jetboat, that is."

Explorers and their Journeys: James Cook, Queen Charlotte Sound

"To see James Cook's hometown, visit Whitby on the Yorkshire coast. To see the place where he felt most at home, visit Queen Charlotte Sound on the frayed north coast of New Zealand's South Island. In suitably titled Ship Cove, Cook anchored five times, staying a total of around 100 days (and where he is celebrated today with an elephantine monument). Offshore you can climb to the summit of Motuara Island and a plaque commemorating the spot where Cook raised the Union Jack to claim British sovereignty over New Zealand. Nearby there's accommodation in Endeavour and Resolution Bays, named for Cook's ships."

Best Volcanoes: Whakaari (White Island)

"White by name, but black by nature, White Island has been in almost constant eruption for the last three decades. Sitting in the Bay of Plenty, the island marks one end of the highly active Taupo Volcanic Zone, which also includes the volatile Mt Ruapehu and the geothermal fields of Rotorua, and though the latter is one of New Zealand's premier tourist attractions, the ever changing colours and fury of White Island are arguably more impressive. The island can be visited by boat or helicopter from Whakatane, and once ashore at Crater Bay you'll witness an array of volcanic features."

World's best golf course in New Zealand

Cape Kidnappers golf course on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island has been rated as the best in the world by Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper. The golf course's dramatic location put it ahead of world famous others such as Royal County Down in Northern Ireland, Pebble Beach in the United States and Leopard Creek in South Africa. Further down the top 10 were: Green Monkey, Barbados; Domaine de Sperone, Corsica; Turnberry, Scotland; Canouan, The Grenadines; Doonbeg, Ireland; and Royal Melbourne.

Sheep farm site
The Cape Kidnappers course is built on a 2000-hectare sheep farm on the coast of New Zealand’s renowned Hawke's Bay wine region. The super luxury lodge attached to the golf course opened last year and is one of New Zealand’s most exclusive properties already winning high acclaim worldwide. The golf course has fairways that play out along a series of jagged ridges jutting out like fingers into the Pacific Ocean, before plunging to rocks below. Misdirected balls take a full 10 seconds to reach the water. Designed by the American architect Tom Doak, Cape Kidnappers has none of the sandy dunes that characterise true links courses but the harsh landscape is in keeping with the game. Players must contend with fearsome ravines, contoured fairways and fast tilted greens.

Kiwi Challenge
Later this month Cape Kidnappers and its sister property Kauri Cliffs nearly 600 kilometres away in Northland, will host the made-for-TV 36-hole Kiwi Challenge. The inaugural event, now part of the PGA Tour has attracted top international golfers Adam Scott from Australia and Americans Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker. Tiger Wood's caddie, New Zealander Steve Williams will make his television commentary debut at the Kiwi Challenge, becoming part of NBC's media team. Williams says he wants to support golf in his home country. "This is my first experience at this," Williams said. "I'm doing this because the Kiwi Challenge will bring great exposure for New Zealand and give New Zealanders the opportunity to see four of the world's best players in one group. Seldom would we have four players of this quality at a tournament." NBC Sports golf producer Tommy Roy said he felt the Kiwi Challenge was a recipe for a great golf event. "Four of the best young players in the world playing on two of the most beautiful and challenging courses anywhere in the world. It is going to be a terrific event," he said.