An open casting call has gone out to anyone in the Wellington area to go and audition for parts in the upcoming two part epic The Hobbit, the prequel to the phenomenally successful The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Featuring the Sherlock Holmes star Martin Freeman (and a nice cameo from his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch), filming of the long awaited adaptation of one of the most children's books of all time is now well underway in New Zealand.

With such a massive scale of production, more and more people are being drafted in to be dressed up and made up as any one of the many races featured in the books.

What they're looking for

Those with "character faces" are particularly being encouraged to go along but almost anyone qualifies; men must be under 163cm and women under 155cm is the only criteria.

Along with "character faces", men with large biceps or slim athletic bodies are also sought while women between 165 and 203cm tall could be in with a great shot.

A cautionary tale

If you're a fan of the series, no doubt you'll already be on your way down there but make sure you've got your New Zealand Working Holiday visa handy as only those who are eligible to work in the country will be allowed to audition

Remember you need to be over 16, and have a working visa. You don't want to end up like one ineligible fan, who has to resort to smearing his face with green boot polish and smashing around town wearing old dustbins to get attention.

Where to go

The casting call is at The Belmont Hall on Saturday 28th January between 1 and 4pm and anyone over 16 can audition so grab your Elven bow or your Goblin axe or whatever other medieval deadly weapon is your personal preference and head down there. Who knows, we might be seeing you an IMAX screen by Christmas!

Good luck!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

If you missed the New Year celebrations in New Zealand, don't worry as there's still plenty of things to do across the country in January, from comedy to cuisine and plenty in between, you'll be hard pressed to find nothing to do in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

If you can't quite make it to Melbourne for the Australian Open, the Heineken Open in Auckland is the premier men's tennis event in New Zealand. Held from the 9th to the 14th of the month, some of the biggest names in tennis grace the hardcourts. Current world number 5 David Ferrer is the reigning champion after beating Argentine David Nalbandian in straight sets in the 2011 final.

If you're looking for a little exhilaration and exercise this January, (possibly part of a faltering New Year's Resolution) the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series comes to Wellington on the 29th of January. The State Capital Classic Wellington takes places on Freyberg Beach and Oriental Bay Beach and features a new 'I'm Going Long' swim which takes swimmers out to a lighthouse in the bay while the 'Step It Up' swim for the more advanced swimmer takes you out around a giant fountain. If you're not the most confident swimmer, you can take part in the 'Give it a Go' swim or alternatively, not swim at all and instead participate in some of the more relaxing spectators' walks around the area.

If just the thought of watching sport tires you out, let alone taking part and you prefer the tastier things in life, the Auckland Seafood Festival held right in the end of the month should be more than enough with not just the best seafood but also musical acts and competitions set in the heart of Auckland's fishing industry.

Slowing things down a little, the incredible rise to fame of New Zealand folk-comedy duo the Flight of the Conchords has seen the New Zealand folk music scene explode in popularity. The Auckland Folk Festival takes place between the 27th and the 30th of January at the Kumeu Showground, a large flat camping area which makes for the ideal festival site. Folk acts from around the world come to the festival and, with tickets only on advanced sale until January 13th, fans need to move quick to secure their place.

- Dominic Ladden-Powell is Online Editor with the New Zealand Visa Bureau, an independent migration consultancy specialising in helping people lodge applications for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Rugby World Cup may be over but all reports suggest the party is continuing. You may wish to spend your time in New Zealand joining the Kiwis in celebration and re-watching matches, but for those of you who need a break from rugby (or were barracking for a different team) there's plenty going on this November to take your mind off the All Blacks.

And what better way to forget about rugby than get stuck into some domestic Kiwi cricket? The Plunket Shield domestic competition kicks off on November 7-10, with the Central Stags taking on the Wellington Firebirds in Napier, the Northern Knights play the Auckland Aces in a North Island derby in Whangerei and the Canterbury Wizards facing the Otago Volts in Rangiora. Get a picnic together and get down to any of these Round 1 matches and see New Zealand's best cricketers in action!

If you prefer games of a less strenuous kind, Auckland's Cock and Bull English Pubs host subtly-named 'Wii at the Cock' nights on Mondays in November, where punters can try their hand at Nintendo Wii games. Plenty of good British pub food on offer to stave off the homesickness.

Keeping with the British theme, come listen to two of the greatest British rock albums of all time as the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium in Auckland play Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' and 'The Wall' accompanied by a psychedelic light show and the wonder of the Southern sky! The Pink Floyd Double Header is showing from November 8-13 with tickets at $35. Sure to be a romantic one with two free glasses of wine upon entry. 

But then again you may be seeking an authentically Kiwi experience. If so, there's none better than the Toast Martinborough festival on Sunday November 20.  This famous food and wine festival will showcase New Zealand's best proudce. Tickets are quite steep at $70 a head but you can win free tickets just by picking out your favourite Toast Martinborough promo poster. Find out more here.

The World Cup will be a distant memory before you know it.

- Aleks Vickovich is Online Editor with the New Zealand Visa Bureau, an independent migration consultancy specialising in helping people lodge applications for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Doubtful Sound is the deepest (421 metres) and second longest (40 kilometres) of the South Island's fjords. It is quite untouched by the modern world – with rare corals, plants and sea animals calling the fjord their home. It is not as accessible as Milford Sound, but joining an overnight excursion onboard a boat will see you dine on fresh crayfish scouped out of the water in front of your eyes while passing ancient glacier carved valleys, high mountain peaks and spectacular waterfalls. 

According to Maori legend, the sounds in Fiordland in New Zealand were created by the god Tu-Te-Raki-Whanoa as a safe place from the stormy seas.

When he split open the earth to form Patea (Doubtful Sound) four young sea gods helped him by using their adzes to cut the four arms of the sound – Deep Cove, Hall Arm, Crooked Arm and First Arm. Doubtful Sound is 10 times the area of the more well-known Milford Sound, and is the playing ground of bottlenose dolphins, fat New Zealand fur seals and the Fiordland crested penguin to name a few.

The fiord was originally named Doubtful Harbour by Captain James Cook, who sailed past it in 1770. He didn’t sail into the inlet because he though it looked a bit tight for safe manoeuvring (hence the name). It was later named Doubtful Sound by whalers and sealers, although technically it is a fjord.

Like other fjords in the area, Doubtful Sound contains two distinct layers of water that don't mix: the top few meters is fresh water, fed by runoff from the mountains, and below is a layer of salt water from the sea.

The top layer is darkened by the forest tannins, which makes it difficult for light to penetrate. So many deep-sea species such as red and black coral, colourful sponges and sub-tropical fish live in quite shallow depths in the sound. The rare corals can be found 10 metres deep here instead of the usual 30 metres that you will find elsewhere.

Some 10,000 years ago a mighty ice-age glacier extended over the region, and its grinding power as it slid towards the sea sculpted the landscape’s deep valleys. As a consequence there are some amazing waterfalls in Doubtful Sound as rains on the piecing mountains plunge down to the sound, particularly during the wetter seasons. In the Hall Arm, the Browne Falls cascades 619 metres; Helena Falls at Deep Cove tumbles 220 metres.

Tours to Doubtful Sound depart from Manapouri and involve a very scenic bus trip across Wilmot Pass. When you reach the fjord, you can explore in a sea kayak or join a water cruise with one of the local operators.

-  Learn more about getting a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Just twenty three kilometres off New Zealand’s Tutukaka Coast are a cluster of islands that are a top international site for diving as well as snorkelling and kayaking. Despite their name, the Poor Knights Islands are anything but, and should be on every keen divers' to-do list.  

The islands are washed by warm currents swept south from the Coral Sea and are part of a complete marine and nature reserve - and pending World Heritage Site. The islands have an astounding Maori history and their 11 million year old volcanic origins provide spectacular drop offs, walls, caves, arches and tunnels to explore. 

The whole area is full of unique plant and animal life both above and below the waterline. Over 125 species of fish can be found in the waters off the islands along with soft corals, sponges, vibrant anemones, large kelp forests, sting rays, gorgonian fans and many others. The islands’ famous arches are fascinating to explore, with countless animals competing for space on the walls and in the warmer months, squadrons of stingrays can be seen in the waters of the archways.

Diving the Poor Knights can truly be called a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the area is very different to other diving coral reefs or even the nearby New Zealand coast. Many of the subtropical fish living in the marine reserve are found nowhere else in New Zealand.

Nursery Cove and some of the shallower parts of South Harbour are great venues for novice divers but experienced divers can find spectacular and challenging dives all around the islands.

If you are not a diver there are still plenty of ways to explore islands, including a simple sightseeing cruise or a combination cruise of sightseeing along with snorkelling and cave explorations. A number of charter dive boats operate from Tutukaka Harbour, which is 30 kilometres from Whangarei.

The Whangarei Official Tourism Website can help with more information. Visit: http://www.whangareinz.com/

- Get started on your gap year by applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

New Year’s in the UK will be freezing, so why not head to New Zealand where the summer is already in full swing and temperature will be a soothing 25 degrees Celsius for New Year’s night! The city of Gisborne on the North Island of New Zealand (together with the island nation of Kiribati) is the first place on the globe to greet the New Year, so head over there to be ahead of the world. But there are many celebrations and festivals over their summer months and to ring in the New Year with some serious gusto!

29 DECEMBER 2010 - 1 JANUARY 2011: RHYTHM AND VINES MUSIC FESTIVAL, GISBORNE A three-day festival experience of a lifetime with some of the finest music from New Zealand and to world. This is definitely an important New Zealand’s festival to tick off your list! Nestled within rural Gisborne's rolling hills amongst the lush vines of Waiohika Estate, the Rhythm and Vines festival also has a number of camping options on Gisborne’s beaches or within the vines on the festival site. See: http://www.rhythmandvines.co.nz/2010/ 31 DECEMBER 2010 - 1 JANUARY 2011: COROMANDEL GOLD, WHITIANGA Whitianga is host to Coromandel Gold - New Zealand’s hottest New Year’s Eve festival, which last year saw 10,000 tickets sell out in less than three weeks. Coromandel Gold is three kilometres from Whitianga town centre and a stone's throw from Buffalo Beach (pictured). Plenty of camping will be available and buses will be running from Whitianga and local beaches. New Zealand’s favourite live acts, including The Black Seeds, Trinity Roots, Tiki Tane, Shapeshifter, Ladi6 and Katchafire will be there to welcome in the New Year. See: http://coromandelgold.co.nz/page/5-Home

- We can help you make your New Zealand working holiday visa appliation to the New Zealand immigration department.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The first of New Zealand’s ‘Great Rides’ - a national cycle trail showcasing some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes – is now open. The St James Cycle Trail passes through an iconic South Island backcountry conservation area, near the tourist town of Hanmer Springs, in Canterbury's Southern Alps. So grab your bikes peeps, there are some awesome stuff to see just off the beaten track.

NOT FOR THE FEINT HEARTED The 64km St James Trail offers iconic scenery and a mix of trail standards, down spectacular river valleys, past high-country lakes, through beech forest and grassland valleys in an important conservation area. Of the 18 nationally promoted cycle trails, it requires the greatest level of experience to complete. Experienced mountain bikers are expected to complete the full trail in roughly 10 hours, but if you prefer to take your time and break up the trip into a number of days there are four huts along the way that you can book a space in. You can also camp beside the river. A good soak in the Hanmer Springs hot pools on the way home wouldn’t go astray either. The cycleway mainly follows the Waiau River, and the full trip is designed for experienced mountain bikers but the entry tracks to the Waiau River along Edwards valley or over Maling Pass (and to Lake Guyon) are suitable for intermediate level cyclists. Local native vegetation includes red, mountain and silver beech / tawhairauriki / tawhairaunui forests, mānuka / kānuka and matagouri scrublands, alpine and tussock species, and a vast expanse of native grasslands. Some 430 indigenous species of flora and 30 native bird species have been identified – so keep an eye out for some pretties. Check out more details about the St James trail here.

- Get started on your gap year by applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

A series of concerts over the next few months will celebrate two of New Zealand’s popular island conservation projects with some great music acts performing in amazing locations.

The Live at the Islands concerts will be held at Urupukapuka in the Bay of Islands and Motutapu in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Thousands of volunteers have worked on these islands over recent years to restore natural vegetation, removing introduced predators and releasing rare native birds back into the wild. Now you can salute their hard work with great music against a backdrop of South Pacific marine scenery!

Take the short ferry ride and arrive as early as you like to swim at the beach and explore the idyllic island. By the afternoon things will start to kick off with refreshments available at the bars, and some of New Zealand’s leading musicians will be taking to the stage. As the sun sets across the water you can slip back to the mainland or party on with an after party on the beach until the last ferry leaves.

URUPUKAPUKA ISLAND - 28 December to 22 January Urupukapuka is the largest island in the Bay of Islands and with sheltered white sand beaches along its western coast and towering ocean cliffs to the east, it’s pretty amazing. You can take a close look by hiring a kayak for a guided tour of the bays or follow trails over rolling hills to discover secluded beaches, archaeological sites and 360-degree cliff-top views. The ‘Live at the Islands’ events on Urupukapuka Island will benefit Project Island Song, a major local conservation effort to restore native wildlife to the Bay of Islands. THE DETAILS 28 and 31 December 2010. Plus 3, 5, 7 and 22 January 2011 Ferries will shuttle from Paihia and Russell to the island and back Bookings are essential For details and to buy your tickets visit www.arkpresents.co.nz

- Get started on your gap year by applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Middle Earth isn’t of course a real place, but if it was then New Zealand certainly has an uncanny resemblance to JRR Tolkien’s created land.

Tolkien’s famous books were turned into famous movies by New Zealander Sir Peter Jackson, who considered New Zealand "the perfect Middle Earth".

Jackson will be following up his Lord of the Rings trilogy with the prequel movie The Hobbit, which starts shooting early next year - so that could be perfect timing if you are over there for a working holiday to snag yourself a roll as an extra! 

More than 150 different locations throughout New Zealand were used to film the ‘Lord of the Rings’: the rolling hills of Matamata became Hobbiton, while the volcanic region of Mt Ruapehu became the fiery Mt. Doom where Sauron forged 'The Ring', and Queenstown - New Zealand's adventure capital - was the setting for numerous scenes including Eregion Hills and the Pillars of Argonath. So here are some tips for where you can find you own perfect part of Middle Earth in New Zealand.

SOUTH ISLAND LOCATIONS Specialised Lord of The Ring tours on the South Island will take you by 4WD into the remote back country of Canterbury and the Rangitata Valley to Mt Sunday and Mt Potts high country station that was transformed into Edoras, the capital of the Rohan people. Many of the locations that provided the most dramatic scenery in the movies can be found near Queenstown, such as The Remarkables mountain range, nearby lakes, vast valleys, forests and fiords - which movie-goers would know as Isengard, the Misty Mountains and the Ford of Bruinen. This southern region is home to rare wildlife, ice-age glaciers, rugged mountains, deep lakes, meandering rivers and native forests - yet all within a short distance of adventure sports and city life. Other Middle Earth tours on the South Island cover the Nelson region which provided locations for Chetwood Forest, Rivendell and Dimrill Dale.

In virtually every region of New Zealand, you will be reminded of Middle Earth and the movie trilogy.

The numerous conservation areas that provided locations for Lord of the Rinds are also listed on the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) website, where you can find detailed information of which scenes were shot where, GPS coordinates, Google map links, access roads, parks and reserves, and ideas for short walks in the vicinity.

- Got any tips for New Zealand working holiday makers on Lord of the Ring locations? Let us know in the comments!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Let’s face it; a gap year overseas is a wonderful adventure but not always easy on the back pocket. Here is a list of ten of the great things New Zealand has to offer that will give your wallet a break. Sometimes, the best things in life are free.

1. WALK TO THE SUMMIT OF MAUAO – BAY OF PLENTY Grab your rucksack, it’s time for a hike. Mauao is a dormant volcano standing 232 metres above the white sand beaches of Mount Maunganui and the Tauranga Harbour. Mauao is pretty special to the Māori tribes of the Bay of Plenty region, and it is full of native flora and fauna, including the red blooming Pohutukawa tree. The views from the top out towards White Island and the Pacific Ocean are breathtaking. 2. VIEW THE GANNET COLONY AT MURIWAI BEACH – AUCKLAND Muriwai Beach, on Auckland’s west coast, is home to the most accessible gannet colony in New Zealand. Gannets are large black and white seabirds that dive into the water from a height of about 30 metres to catch fish. The gannets return to Muriwai in July to re-establish contact with their lifelong mates and by December their chicks are clamouring for food, so it is a perfect time to watch the parents nosediving into the water at up to 145km per hour in search of fish for greedy chicks. Fur seals can also be seen in spring sunbathing on the rocks below the gannet colony.

5. DRIVE THE SOUTHERN SCENIC ROUTE – SOUTHLAND The Southern Scenic Route stretches around the bottom of the South Island, beginning (or endings) in Dunedin and working through the Catlins region to Invercargill and then meandering up to Te Anau. The route really is a road less travelled and takes in some of the most spectacular scenery New Zealand has to offer. The route passes by towering rainforests, rolling fertile farmlands and golden beaches stretching as far as the eye can see. Along the way is Curio Bay Petrified Forest, one of only two Jurassic forests in the world. Plus you can see Hooker sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, Yellow-Eyed penguins and Hector’s dolphins. 6. SELF GUIDED WINE TOUR – MARLBOROUGH Marlborough means wine in New Zealand, and the region has over 100 vineyards. Most of the wineries have open cellar doors that offer complimentary wine tastings, although no doubt you’ll want to walk away with a few bottles! Located at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, the main city of Blenheim can be reached by car in four and a half hours from Christchurch or within half an hourafter crossing from Wellington on the ferry.

9. FOX & FRANZ JOSEPH GLACIERS - WEST COAST The Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers are among the most accessible in the world to visit. You can easily walk to the foot of these enormous moving ice masses on the West Coast of the South Island. The glaciers descend from the Southern Alps down into the temperate rainforest just 300 metres above sea level. 10. BBQ AT A BEACH OR RESERVE Many parks and beaches all over New Zealand, such as Muriwai Beach, have BBQs to use. Most only charge a $2 ignition fee, so it’s as good as free!

- Want to explore New Zealand? Take the first step and apply for a New Zealand working holiday visa.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.