REAL New Zealand Festival – Natural NZ

“Me hema koe ka tuoho, meinga ki te maunga te tei” – If you should bow to greatness, let it be to a lofty mountain.

With its charming coastlines juxtaposing vast forests and snowy mountains, tourists make the trek to this end of the world just to experience the captivating New Zealand landscapes. Within the REAL New Zealand Festival you’ll find some special encounters with nature and the outdoors – join former All Blacks planting trees in The Great Living Legends ‘Muck In’, take in the stunning scenery on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, or go whale watching in Kaikoura.

Nationwide

• The Great Living Legends ‘Muck In’ 17 Locations throughout New Zealand. Join this native tree-planting project around New Zealand during Rugby World Cup 2011. Each planting site is dedicated to a New Zealand rugby icon or Living Legend from that region – and we’re talking about some of the biggest names in New Zealand rugby, including Sir Colin Meads, Christian Cullen, Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford and Todd Blackadder.

Taupo & Ruapehu

• Tongariro Alpine Crossing Guided Winter Walks (Daily, weather-dependant) Tongariro National Park. Experience New Zealand’s rugged landscape and see some of the most spectacular scenery in the country during Tongariro Alpine Crossing Guided Winter Walks in the dual World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park.

Hawke's Bay

• Waimarama Maori Tours – An Indigenous Eco-Tourism Experience (Daily) Waimarama, Napier. An unforgettable boutique Maori cultural experience on Hakikino Reserve at Waimarama, a 15th Century Maori heritage site and working farm which is relatively untouched, untamed and natural. Maori guides lead visitors around the site and tell stories of the people and history, teach about the ancient ways and demonstrate the skills and crafts of ancestors.

Taranaki

• Light by Night – Pukekura Park Light Trail (10 – 30 Sep, daily 6pm – 9pm) New Plymouth. New Plymouth’s iconic Pukekura Park is transformed after dark as the Light by Night – Pukekura Park Light Trail showcases the Park’s waterfalls, lakes, trees and paths shine with colourful lighting effects.

Wellington & Wairarapa

• ZEALANDIA – The Karori Sanctuary Experience (Daily 10am – 5pm) Karori Sanctuary, Wellington. A world-first wildlife refuge and conservation attraction right in the heart of Wellington!
• Wellington Botanic Garden Spring Festival (17 Sep – 2 Oct) Wellington Botanic Garden. Celebrate the end of winter and arrival of spring at Wellington’s annual Spring Festival! There will be spring flowers, workshops, walks, talks and entertainment in the Botanic Garden, Otari-Wilton’s Bush and around Wellington City.

Kaikoura & Hanmer Springs

• Whale Watch Kaikoura (Daily) An incredible opportunity to see whales, Whale Watch Kaikoura is a magnet for those travelling up the South Island’s east coast.

West Coast

• WHITEBAIT! The Story of New Zealand’s Favourite Fish (9 Sep – 14 Nov, daily 9:30am – 5pm) Hokitika Museum, Hokitika. Hokitika – the whitebait capital of New Zealand – will be hosting a high quality, innovative and vibrant exhibition about this diminutive fish and its effect on West Coast culture.
• Shantytown Heritage Park (Open daily) West Coast. The West Coast gold-rush village of Shantytown and surrounding Heritage Park gives you a true sense of pioneering New Zealand through a fascinating mix of stories, displays and experiences.

Dunedin & Otago

• Dunedin Chinese Garden Moon Festival (12 Sep) Dunedin Chinese Garden. Otago’s Dunedin Chinese Garden Moon Festival is an annual event celebrating the full moon.

Southland & Stewart Island

• The People’s Republic of State Highway 94 (1 Aug – 23 Oct) Gore to Queenstown. The People’s Republic of State Highway 94 is an arts and heritage trail through Southland.