Things to do in New Zealand in October

by Dominic - 05/10/2012 10:37:00

While coats are being dusted off and last year's fashions are being goggled at in British wardrobes this month, on the other side of the world in New Zealand spring is just getting underway.

And when New Zealand does a season, it's not quite like anywhere else. Spring in the UK consists of more weeds popping up and more pigeons having a go as the rain gets slightly warmer.

In New Zealand it's an explosion of colour, of activity, of breathtaking scenery emerging from clouds, of dreamlike lakes thawing and when the kiwis come out to play.

So if you're in New Zealand this October, you'll be looking for some stuff to do:

Definition: bad ass.

Roller-skating - Auckland - until the 13th

You may have thought roller-skating's popularity died a death a long time ago and was strictly the domain of greased up guys in thongs and not much else skimming the beach sides of California, but you'd be wrong.

The World Roller Figure Skating Championships is the best example of a sport so graceful it makes swans blush. If you're having a post-Olympic Games crash that the new football season and whatnot is failing to abate, this could be ideal.

South Island Masters Games - Canterbury 6th - 14th

And keeping things in a sporty frame of mind, the South Islands Masters Games offers a week-long festival ram packed full of professionals tearing each other to pieces in all sorts of different sports and even more amateurs taking even sports far too seriously.

Head down there to watch some blood, sweat and tears, not necessarily in that order and probably all three from some individuals.

Poker - Nationwide - All month

If you like the idea of a bit of healthy competition, but aren't into the healthy part of sports and outdoors, perhaps a bit of gambling is for you.

The National Pub Poker League gets into full flow in October and matches can be found in pubs across New Zealand.

The Visa Bureau strictly advocates a purely gamesmanship, in-it-for-the-lark innocent approach to gambling so if you want to go all in with a pair of 2's and face losing your flight home, or perhaps a finger or two to the knuckle, you can't blame us.

"No really, it was funny, you
probably had to be there"

Comedy - Auckland - 8th, 15th and 29th

If the prospect of a friendly night in the local playing cards genuinely does present a threat of either bankruptcy or grievous bodily harm to you, perhaps another alcohol infused pursuit is for you.

Throughout October, every Monday will be the Mocktober Raw Comedy Night where comedy's old guard mixes with as many as 10 new faces sweating, panicking and dry hurling their way through two minute routines about wobbly trolley wheels and Facebook pokes.

Nelson Arts Festival - Nelson - 12th - 28th

For the past 18 years, the Nelson Arts Festival has been putting on hundreds of plays, musicals, bands, comedians and everything else you can think of on a not-for-profit basis.

The festival also includes the Nelson Masked Parade when thousands of people hit the streets masked up, creating a mugger's dream scenario and a nightmare like state for the fuzz.

What doesn't sound fun about that?

Auckland Marathon - Auckland - 28th

And finally we have one of the biggest and best events in New Zealand throughout the entire year: the Auckland Marathon.

It doesn't matter if you've not spent the last six months getting up at four, forcing down some raw eggs and pounding the pavement in training every day, get down to the route with some sugar and salt-laden foods and shout encouragement at the thousands upon thousands of runners as they pass to try a bit harder.


- 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 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.

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