Nawty November - Things to do in New Zealand

by Dominic - 13/11/2012 13:39:00

November in New Zealand is a great time when the weather is warming up, the breathtaking scenery comes alive, you can jump in the lakes, head to the beach and wear shorts without looking like a freak.

In the UK it's dark by half 4 and people have got their Christmas trees up already, enough said.

So if you're in New Zealand this month, let's look at some awesome stuff you can do.

Image: Max Vadukul, Amy
Winehouse, Miami, May 18, 2007,
gelatin silver print, courtesy of
Max Vadukul.

Pictures you wish you took - Auckland - all month

Nobody leaves the house anymore without at least one camera on them thanks to the ubiquity of the camera phone, you'd think this would mean that our every moment could be documented in all its glory when in reality everyone just takes pictures either of their food or them and their mates looking ridiculous on a night out.

Who Shot Rock & Roll is an exhibition of 173 works from photographers as famous as Annie Leibovitz, Linda McCartney and Dennis Hopper and includes some of the most candid pictures of iconic musicians that have never been published before.

Curated by the Brooklyn Museum, Who Shot Rock & Roll heads out on tour for the first time, displaying to the world some of the coolest moments in music, acknowledging photography's influence on music and putting 1 billion Facebook users and their 2,000 pictures each to shame.

Fab Four - Nationwide - until the 24th

And speaking of the most iconic moments in music history, you don't get much bigger than the Beatles. What more can possibly be said about four scousers, some instruments and lots of drugs? We don't know but the band that's sold more than any other, influenced more than any other and set standards in music that are as inherent now as Mozart are still so popular that tribute bands sell out shows.

The Beatles Experience is a nationwide tour of live shows using all original equipment and clothing as everything from the hairdos to Ringo's Thomas the Tank Engine voice is recreated.

If you're a human being, chances are you're a Beatles fan, so check out the tour dates and head on down there.

We doubt they'll be as many drugs involved.

Get Shorty - Wellington - until the 18th

Short films are dismissed as not really worthy of attention by millions of people, the same millions who then go and sit on YouTube for hours upon hours completely oblivious to the fact that the video they're watching of a cat getting a divorce is a short film, and not a particularly good one either.

To see what the format is truly capable of, head on down to the Paramount Theatre before the 18th for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival when around 40 of the best short films made in New Zealand and the world in the past year will be shown.

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Peter Jackson and all his pesky CGI -
what? Oh right.

The Hobbit - Wellington - 28th

Before The Lord of the Rings trilogy was released, New Zealand was Australia's equivalent of Wales, a kooky, hilly cousin with a slightly different accent and not really much to note.

Then the films came out and had everyone disappointed at the extensive use of CGI and green screen to make some ridiculously unrealistic hills and mountains and whatnot.

But then rumours sprang up that they weren't CGI'd, the hills actually look like that.

Since the original trilogy's release, tourism to New Zealand has skyrocketed and the country is deservedly recognised as one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on Earth.

And now we're here again. Peter Jackson's latest instalment in JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth masterpiece: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premieres this month in Wellington.

While we highly doubt you'll be able to secure tickets to one of the most eagerly awaited film events since Harry Potter's voice dropped, the whole of Waitangi Park will be dressed up Middle Earth style and there will be free public screenings of the first three films.

And then there's the premiere itself when the films' stars and creators will be out in full flow, signing autographs and doing what people do on red carpets: be awesome.

Christmas, say no more - Christchurch - 24th

As a child, Christmas approaches like a wounded walrus crawling up the beach to die. However, once you get past about 19 and the balance between how much you get and how much you have to give shifts, Christmas suddenly loses all its charm and, before you've finished paying for the last one, arrives with an estranged uncle in tow reminding you exactly why you're estranged.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself, get into the Christmas spirit a bit. If you're abroad it won't be so tortuous.

And to help you get in the mood, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park is one of the biggest outdoor concerts of the year featuring plenty of big names as well as dancers, performances, choirs and much more Christmassy stuff to enjoy.

Head on down, ho hum.

Bear's assessment of the situation

It's getting dark, best drink my own... - Wellington - 30th

Millions of TV watchers are incapable of knowing how to cook a meal more sophisticated than weetabix without the use of four friends, an iPhone app and a hissy fit but they know what to do when stranded on the Arctic shelf with only a Sharpie, the Yellow Pages and a bag of miscellaneous screws - thanks to one man.

The amount of suffering Bear Grylls has endured on TV - purportedly to teach us something but really for our own entertainment - can surely only be matched by the combined embarrassment of the early stages of any talent based reality show.

Bear Grylls has eaten scorpions, climbed in carcasses and most frequently of all, drank his own urine at the first sign of danger.

And now you can meet him!

The TSB Bank Arena in Wellington will play host to A Wild Night with Bear Grylls - The Stories, The Danger, The Man on the 30th giving you the chance to ask the man himself all the questions you must be bursting with like "why do you always insist on drinking your own pee" "which animal has the worst smelling bowels to sleep in" and "you think you're well hard you do".


- 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.

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.

Seasonal September - Things to do this month in New Zealand

by Dominic - 03/09/2012 16:20:00

So while winter edges its icy fingers around the corner in the UK, it's only just beginning to recede in New Zealand, meaning that thanks to a landscape with more beaches and mountains and fields and lakes than Peter Jackson could swing a camera at, there's all sorts of cross-seasonal fun to be had in New Zealand this September.

Who can tell whether this guy is
having the time of his life or is
right now regretting not stopping
to smell the roses once in a while?

Freeskiing - Wanaka - until the 8th

If watching idiots hurtling down a giant rock strapped to two pieces of lubricated plastic while protected only by a thin layer of Lycra doesn't quite promise enough danger for you, try freeskiing.

The purpose in regular skiing is to stay on the ground with your skis kept parallel to each other; the purpose of freeskiing is to spend as little time on the ground as possible with your skis going all over the shop.

The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand is one of the largest events of its kind in the world and is now in its eighth year.

While the event is open to amateur skiers, we recommend that you simply stand under the ramps and 'oooh' and 'aaah' as some crazy people contort themselves over your heads.

There's also bound to be some pretty spectacular crashes.

Ice Skating - Napier - 13th to the 17th

While New Zealand might be easing its way into a spring mood with longer nights and warmer mornings, if you're British, you know what September really means. It means get the heating turned on, the kettle boiled and the Christmas tree up.

It could be hard for you to fight your Northern Hemisphere roots while all the Kiwis around you start whipping out the flip-flops, so don't. Embrace the change and head down to the Harcourts Winter Wonderland Ice Rink later this month to get all your nostalgic homesickness out of you so you can just appreciate not being at home, where it's almost definitely raining.

Gig time

Old school gigs are the best: a chance to revisit your youth, pluck out some old albums, dress like it's 1982 and get some body poppin' done.

OK, so you might not want to embarrass yourself that much but if you're up for some old school flavours this month and you're in Auckland, head on down to the Bacco Room on the 7th to see Photek, one of the pioneers of the Drum n Bass genre, tear it up like these young whippersnappers wouldn't believe.

Alternatively, Bone Thugs N Harmony will be playing Studio on the 28th. One of Hip Hop's original and best duos, get down there for some ultra high speed rapping fun.

Fringe fever - Hamilton - 20th to the 6th October

Fringe festivals are where it's at. You might not see any big names or famous shows, but there's always plenty of names and shows of the future on offer, giving you ample opportunity to get on your future high horse about how you 'saw them when they were good'. The 16 day Hamilton 2012 Fringe is no exception.

With plenty of comedy, music, film and theatre shows, as well as just abundant opportunity to get drunk, what more could you want?

People will tell you you'll never
be able to afford one of these,
but don't let anyone ever tell
you you can't ruin a party on one.

Ships Ahoy - Auckland - 27th to the 30th

And speaking of opportunities to get drunk, where else better, or cooler even, to get drunk than on a boat? The Auckland On Water 2012 Boat Show held in Viaduct Harbour will be so full of rich people boasting about how rich they are that it seems almost insulting not go to down there and drunkenly insult them. What's the point in them having ill informed stereotypes about the 'youth of today' if you're not going to go and reinforce them every now and then?

Or if you're rich enough you could just buy a boat and change teams. Bring your own beer (and cotton Dockers). Unfortunately it's not likely that there'll be any spectacular crashes.

Mountain biking - Taupo - 15th

You never forget how to ride a bike, that's what they say. Let's see how quickly you forget when you're flying down hills scattered with very solid trees, in the dark.

That's right, the Jamis Bicycles Day-Night Thriller's main event - the Rocky Mountain relay - is a 12 hour relay event where teams of up to five take it in turns to ride down hills as fast as possible without becoming a kerplunk ball.

While we would love it if some of our lovely Visa Bureau clients managed to win, we think watching again is the safer option.

Pretty awesome crashes are almost a guarantee here.


- 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.

New Zealand MAY be the best place to play

by Dominic - 02/05/2012 15:20:00
Britain must be the only country in the world where you can stand wearing wellingtons, under an umbrella in the pouring rain, for a bus to splash past you with a sign on the side saying 'We're in a drought'.

As summer is on its way, and by on its way we mean way out, we Brits begin dreaming of barbecues, of balmy nights on balconies and lazy days and cool nights. It's not likely that we're the only nation of people that do this when summer rolls round, but we must be the only one that dreams of having all those things, anywhere else but here.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world, New Zealand is slowly rotating its way through autumn, the difference being, when it's supposed to be autumn in New Zealand, it's autumn. That means beautiful hues and shades and tones and tints of green, red, orange and brown and lovely smells of bonfires while crispy dry leaves crunch underfoot.

In other countries, seasons keep their promises.

So, if you happen to be lucky enough to be in New Zealand this May, then you'll need some stuff to do. Here's a look at some of the best things going on this month.

New Zealand Music Month

May in New Zealand is Music Month, what originally started as a neatly written letter to the local radio station asking them to play a few nice ditties has grown into an entire month of gigs, festivals and more gigs.

With a myriad of performances from a range of musical styles and influences, no matter what your particular forte is, you'll definitely be able to find it during NZ Music Month. Head on over to the site to scrawl through the pages and pages of top class performances across New Zealand, you won't be disappointed.

If this is all you've seen so far in NZ,
you should get out more.

Food Show - Wellington - 11th to 13th

If you're working holiday has so far consisted of drinking, a bit of drinking, looking at some scenery and then just generally getting a bit of drinking done then two things are pretty clear, one you already know that New Zealand has some decent booze and two, you probably haven't eaten all that well.

Well NZ might have some of the best wine but if you're just engorging yourself on cheap takeaway simply to mop up the booze once in a while then you're missing out.

Head on down to Wellington between the 11th and 13th to engorge yourself on some decent food at the Food Show instead. It also happens to be a wine show too so if you're really adamant about the drinking thing then you won't be missing out.

This was seriously the least rude picture
of people covered in UV paint we could
find.
(c) houseofrave.com

Paint Party - Wellington - 19th

What can possibly go wrong with copious amounts of vodka, a couple of strobing UV lights and enough UV paint to cover an Airbus?

Nothing right?

That's why the Vodka Cruiser Illuminate party might just be the party to be at this month. So if you're in Wellington make sure you head down there to end up causing panicked calls to UFOwatch.com as you drunkenly stumble down the road at 3am whilst glowing luminous pink.

Normally if you missed a party of this magnitude you'd have no other choice but to live in shame for the rest of your life, constantly retreating into a little cell of loneliness every time your friends brought it up.

Thankfully, there will be another party in Hawkes Bay on the 26th of the month which promises to be just as insane, go crazy now otherwise you might do later.

Comedy Festival - across NZ until the 20th May

New Zealand was never traditionally associated with comedy, but then it was never really associated but a scary dance and a furry fruit until Peter Jackson and his 17 friends all called Oscar had their say; now we're finding out plenty about New Zealand.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy showed the world that it had scenery like the English countryside, but good, as well as mountains to rival the Alps and plains that the Americans would never get tired of chasing Indians off of.

And then the Flight of the Conchords got here and showed us the Kiwis know how to have a laugh as well, that just left us wondering why they were so keen on the fruit and the dancing for all these years.

So if you're in New Zealand, no doubt you'll already be blown away by the natural beauty and if you tear yourself away from the scenery for just a minute, you can catch some of the best comedy in the country right now with the New Zealand Comedy Festival.

- 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.

April activities in New Zealand - Jazz! Easter! Comedy!

by Dominic - 26/03/2012 15:59:00
While Spring once again shines bright in the UK, taunting everyone that for once maybe it won't chuck it down all summer, on the other side of the world where the weather keeps its promises, New Zealand is cooling down for autumn.

British Summer:
"D'you wanna flake in that love?"
"Ta"
 

The brief appearance of a warm sun in the UK might mean you can go and sit on the patch of grass in the park in the UK, using the blanket your dog sleeps on to cover up the broken glass, but we all know it won't last.

The average Briton's wait for summer is the same as the average 5 year old's wait for Christmas, a permanent state excitement. However, like Christmas, it lasts for just one day and then your dog drops dead on Boxing Day for sleeping in too much broken glass.

However, around the world in New Zealand, the weather is like a favourite grandparent, always waiting with a giant box of chocolates which you can never get sick of.

New Zealand is a land of astonishing beauty and when the summer wraps up, the colours come out to play, leaves turn from green to some slightly reddish shade of green (I think it's called 'gred'), to some slightly greenish shade of red and then brown.

While that description may not have done it quite justice, the kaleidoscope of colours which brings out the intrinsic beauty of New Zealand's incredible landscape really needs to be seen to be believed.

ANYWAY, now you've got the idea - your dog's not dead, you know what gred is and you're in New Zealand looking for some stuff to do this April. Here's some of the best things going on across NZ this April.

Royal Easter Show - Auckland - 5th - 9th.

Nobody knows how we got from Jesus on a cross to an egg laying rabbit and that's because when there's chocolate involved, you can get away with anything if you've got a couple of Milky Ways handy:

"Did you kill my wife?"
"Well, I could tell you, or you can have this Crème Egg"
"I never liked her anyway."

So, in line with that, if you're in Auckland over the Easter weekend, head on over to the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane for the Coca Cola Royal Easter Show. Taking place across the Easter weekend, there's plenty to do including a Carnival, a Circus, fireworks AND '100% Kylie', the world's most FAMOUS Kylie Minogue tribute act (although how much better would the name Kylie Min-faux-gue been?).

That towel was to stop the trumpet from
shattering at his ice cold touch.

The New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival - Christchurch 11th - 15th

The word 'jazz' meant cool before 'cool' did. Jazz is so cool it even has an age named after it, the Jazz Age, which lasted from the booming '20s (when J Edgar Hoover was running the FBI in a dress and Gatsby was getting his Great on) right up until the 30s, when the Great Depression struck and ruined EVERYTHING.

However, the spirit lived on and Jazz remains one of the most popular genres of music today (right behind pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, rap, soul, folk, metal, nu-metal, classical and polka).

If you're a fan, or even if you're not but need to prove to some cooler kids you're cool (or to some jazzier kids you're jazz, right?) then the New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival takes place between the 11th and 15th when a new generation of jazz talent will show off their talents as 21st century (or Teeny-Bop Age, no?) updates mix with tributes to Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong.

Gred sky at night, traffic light's delight

Arrowtown Autumn Festival - Arrowtown - 20th - 29th

Thanks in large part to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand's landscape is now almost as famous as New York's skyline, Sydney's harbour or Paris' Shomps Elle-E-zay. Of course, the difference is that New Zealand's is 100% natural and, just like nose jobs, fake tans and wonder bras, we all know natural is better.

So if you want to see the best of New Zealand's landscape, at its best, the Arrowtown Autumn Festival could be for you.

While just standing around trying to see how many different colours you can apply the description "sort of brownish" to might be enough, the festival has a plethora of events to get involved in, everything from 'Arrow Ambles' walking tour with guides Ray, Rupert, Rita and Russell (yes, really) to a stone carving workshop and Blues shows.

There's also a Pint & Pie Festival and a fancy dress pub crawl. Sold? Thought so.

International Comedy Festival - Auckland, Wellington, nationwide - 27th April - 20th May

The Flight of the Conchords did wonders for New Zealand's comedy scene and everyone is waiting with baited breath for the arrival of comedy's next best thing.

Whether or not this will happen is another matter, so no whining for a refund if they're all rubbish. However, with shows in Auckland and Wellington as well as spread across the rest of the country, a trip to the NZ International Comedy Festival could easily land you with a chance of seeing what could be the next big world star in comedy.

This will then allow you to rave to all your friends about the hot new comedy act you discovered, brag when they get big and then be the first to turn on them when they get too successful.

- 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.

New Zealand's Midsummer March Madness

by Dominic - 02/03/2012 11:03:00
While the British sun is still trying to make its first feeble appearance, peeking out behind a rain cloud before being blown back in by a bitter wind, New Zealand's summer is still keeping the days long and the nights warm.

While summer may be starting to wind down, there's still plenty to do across the country, here's a couple of things going on this month:

 

"Funny, it didn't seem that painful when you
did it to the horse."

Gee-Gees

Chances are you're a fan of fashion, horses, posh stuff or money so why not head on down to Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland this weekend and indulge in all four? Auckland's most popular racing site hosts three of the poshest, most stylish and most lucrative races south of Hong Kong during March, and you could be there to stick a dollar or two on each way.

First up this Saturday (the 3rd) is Derby Day which features three races, including the NZ$750,000 (£400,000) Telecom New Zealand Derby. Next up is one of New Zealand's most prestigious events: the Auckland Cup Day on the 7, March. The Auckland Cup hosts more people with more money than most countries' deficits, although there are still plenty of general tickets still on sale for us commoners.

Lastly is the Diamond Day which needs no explanation as it couldn't sound more ridiculously exclusive if it was called the You'll Never Be Good Enough to Get in Here Day. The advertised tickets range in price from NZ$10 (£5), for people with two jets or less, to NZ$200 (£105) for those who get to eat the horse if it doesn't win.

Hee-Hees

Everyone likes a laugh, whether it's a joke you just told or a person you hate getting punched repeatedly in the face, it always brightens your day. If you want 11 days brightened this March, head on down to Dunedin on the South Island for the Dunedin Fringe Festival between the 15th and 25th.

Spread across the city the festival takes in everything from internationally renowned comedy acts to bizarre experimental stuff which could cause you to have an epiphany and change your life for the better by moving to the underside of a bridge somewhere and asking everyone to call you 'Whelp'. Or it could just be something worth seeing for its weirdness.

Row-rows

If you're British, rowing is the sport of people who aren't rich enough to do nothing at all with their lives but too rich to risk ruining their coif with a contact sport. Everywhere else however, rowing is a fun, team sport where you don't need to be Oxford educated to know how to put a stick in some water.

The Wellington Dragon Boat Festival is the perfect example of this egalitarian event which everyone can enjoy and not just wish they'd worked harder in school at. Taking place over the weekend of the 17th and 18th, the festival not only involves races with up to 75 participants but includes plenty of things to do on shore including food stalls, games and music.

 

Criticise him and we're gonna have words.

Top Shows

Show me a person who doesn't love David Attenborough and I'll show you a liar or a freak (but most likely just a lying freak), the man could explain to you the subtleties of paint drying while a supermodel narrowly escapes a six car pileup in the background and you'd still come out listing the fascinating differences between the viscosities of emulsion and gloss.

So now we've established that you're a diehard Attenborough fan, if you're in Auckland on the 8th, head on over to Henderson for a documentary entitled 'Death of the Oceans' which, as David Attenborough is narrating, will leave you in no doubt the errors of humanity's ways.

Rock shows

Festivals are to family camping holidays what unrestricted internet access is to the Beano; an unadulterated and uncontrolled weekend of craze where no one sleeps, everyone is best friends and no one remembers anything - you DON'T remember right?

So, if it's been a while since you got your last festival fix, WOMAD New Zealand could be just the dose you need. Taking place from the 16th to the 18th in Taranaki, WOMAD has acts from all over New Zealand and Australia as well as Europe, Africa, the UK and America.

Nose goes

If you're one of the poor unfortunate souls who are permanently bunged up then not only are you missing out on the most evocative of sense, but everybody hates you for your continuous sniffing as well. If you know your bouquets from your buckets though, your lemon zests from your orange zests and your Shiraz from your chardonnays then New Zealand is the place for you.

New Zealand is almost as famous for its wines as it is for its rugby team, its Lord of the Rings scenery and its citizens' annoyance at people always assuming they're from Australia so why not indulge in New Zealand's most sophisticated of exports at the Hilltop Wines Sunset Concert?

Held at the Hilltop Vineyard in Hamilton on the 24th of March, the concert not only offers the chance to sample some of New Zealand's most delectable delights but also enjoy some relaxing jazz and blues music while the sun goes down. What else do you want from an evening sniffy?

Swimming-oes

If you've indulged perhaps a little too much on your travels, the backpacker diet of nothing and beer hasn't quite taken its toll just yet then maybe a little exercise is just what you need.

The New Zealand Ocean Swim series holds its next event on Saturday 10th March in Mount Maugnaui, one of the most idyllic places in the world to push yourself to the physical limit and swallow too much saltwater, or just have a nice relaxing swim round one of the country's most beautiful bays.

The State Sand to Surf includes the 'I'm Going Long' event which is over 2.5km long and is for the most competitive while the 'Give it a Go' 300m course is for those who quite fancy taking a stab at ocean swimming.

- 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.

New Zealand February fun - that doesn't involve Valentines Day!

by Dominic - 09/02/2012 13:23:00
What's the point in February? The shortest month of the year, still cold and broke from Christmas, the only thing of note in February is Valentines Day, and that's hardly great. If you're in a relationship you have to spend more money for a Hallmark holiday on soppy pink stuff that won't see March and if you're single you have to stomach couples rubbing their happiness in your face everywhere you look.

So just what is the point? Well, if you happen to find yourself in New Zealand during February then, single and lonely or involved and bored, there's plenty to do this month. 

Here's a look at some of the best things going on. 

The guy at the other end of this
picture just yelled "Go on then,
I DARE you to shoot!"

Taking place until the 12th of February, New Zealand's largest sporting event with over 6,000 participants, the New Zealand Masters Games has already been underway for a few days but there are still plenty of events left in the biennial event including archery, basketball, snooker, ice hockey and clay pigeon shooting as well as the closing ceremony on the last Sunday.

If you're in Auckland on the 15th then you can get involved with a bit of beer tasting, that's right, you heard correctly - beer tasting. 

Auckland's newest brewery, located right in the heart of the city, offers you the chance to come and enjoy beers for a range of tastes and styles and learn how to sound like a massive show off as you explain to people the subtle differences between Carlsberg and Carlsberg Export.

This isn't really up for debate sorry.

If you like beer but you can't make it to Auckland, or if you REALLY like beer and are prepared to get to Christchurch by the 19th of February then the Belgium Beer Festival should be plenty to getting on with.

While the range of Belgian beers on tap might be enough to lure most people, the festival also has plenty of Belgian chocolate, fritters and the king of food full stop, Belgian waffles (yes they are).

Fringe Festivals are known for
their very traditional performances,
nothing out of the ordinary by
stable, well balanced performers.
Honest

Just because you may be about as far away from the Edinburgh Fringe as it's possible to get, that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy everything the festival represents in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Fringe Festival between the 10th February and 3rd March offers punters the chance to enjoy everything from to experimental dance, theatre to jungle music; the only rule is, there are no rules.

Well, there are plenty of rules, including no wearing bowler hats, no combining socks and sandals and no sideways looks at other people's food, but any SHOW can be put on at the Fringe, that's the whole point - it's on the fringe!

If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere in your leisure time, perhaps a more refined way of life then Devonport Food, Wine and Music Festival in Auckland between the 18th and 19th is definitely for you.

Held on the edge of Waitemata Harbour in Devonport, north of Auckland's centre, the festival boasts wines from over 20 New Zealand wineries as well as a plethora of different foods. And while you're enjoying your delicious cuisine and looking out over Auckland's CBD, you can be entertained by some of New Zealand's top music and comedy acts.

- 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.

Doubtful Sound – New Zealand’s deepest fjord

by Stephanie - 03/03/2011 13:52:00

Watch out for dolphins in Doubtful Sound.

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 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.

Poor Knights Islands: top dive site in New Zealand

by Stephanie - 11/01/2011 14:30:00

Two clown nudibranch in the coral reef off
Poor Knights Islands. Photo: Jon Radoff

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 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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