REAL New Zealand Festival Road Trips

So you’ve arrived in New Zealand armed with your Rugby World Cup 2011 tickets, and a map, guidebooks and a plan of where you’d like to go. The REAL New Zealand Festival is a nationwide celebration taking place during Rugby World Cup 2011 to help you make the most of your ‘trip of a lifetime’.

With more than 1,000 events and experiences throughout the country, the REAL New Zealand Festival will get you closer to real New Zealanders and help make your time here unforgettable.

Taste delicious seafood and award-winning wines; hear stories of New Zealand by New Zealanders; throw yourself into recreation over mountains, sea, and the forest floor; and view visual and performing arts at festivals, galleries, and farmers’ markets. It’s a festival of rugby and a festival of a country.

Creating your personalised itinerary is easy using the REAL New Zealand Festival Experience Planner on the website www.realnzfestival.com. Choose to create a road trip and enter your destinations and travel dates, or which Rugby team you are following, and the planner will suggest events and activities to see and do while you travel the country. Alternatively, text REAL to 3211 to receive events suggestions. (NZ SIM cards only. Texts cost 20 cents.) www.realnzfestival.com

Touring the ‘Stadium of Four Million’

They’re calling New Zealand the ‘Stadium of Four Million’. Hit the road and experience the passion for rugby in every corner of the nation. Along the way, you’ll find REAL New Zealand Festival events that range from indulgent food tasting through to exciting cultural experiences and thrilling sports action. Get ready for the road trip of a lifetime.

Auckland & Northland

Auckland’s where a lot of the matches are happening so you’re probably going to spend a bit of time here. Make the most of it.

If you’re not at a match, head down to Queens Wharf where events and entertainment are happening every day – or you can watch matches on the big screen.

If you’re looking for arts and culture, Q Theatre has a New Zealand theatre and dance programme or you could go to the classic New Zealand play, The End of the Golden Weather. And for some top contemporary dance, you really can’t miss Black Grace.

But, heading out of Auckland, this is the perfect time to take a trip around the beautiful twin coasts of Northland. Plan it perhaps around the matches in Whangarei, Tonga vs Canada and Tonga vs Japan. While you’re there, visit the Whangarei Growers’ Market, where you can buy the freshest and best local food.

And if you like good food, head up to the Bay of Islands for the Russell Oyster Festival, Catch “it” Bay of Islands Seafood Tournament and Bay of Islands Wine and Food Festival. Visit the birthplace of New Zealand at Waitangi and watch Waitangi Welcomes the World – The Festival. Head up to the spectacular northernmost point of the country and sample the culture and cuisine in Flavours of the Far North – Gateway to Cape Reinga and then, on your way back down the west coast, stop off for a bit of real home-grown local rugby at the Kawakawa Steam Sevens and a visit to the Kauri Museum at Matakohe.

Back in Auckland you’ll find there’s plenty more happening. Go to Style Pasifika and see the best of Pasifika New Zealand presented through music, fashion, film and entertainment. The Rugby Comedy Festival shows the lighter side of the sport while Rural Sport 2011 presents the traditional rural sports of wood chopping, sheepdog trialling and shearing. And if you’ve ever wondered why New Zealand has adopted black as its colour, have a look at the pop-up exhibition Black in Fashion.

• “it” Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival (22 Oct) Paihia. The “it” Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival has a relaxed Bay of Islands atmosphere and visitors are encouraged to take it easy while enjoying fresh local fare and Kiwi entertainment on the Village Green.
• Style Pasifika – Best of Pasifika New Zealand (18 & 19 Oct) Vector Arena. Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.nz An entertainment spectacular that shows music, fashion, film, entertainers, designers and technology through Pacific eyes.

Beyond the Big City

So, you’ve landed in Auckland. You’ll need more than a couple of days to explore New Zealand’s largest city. Don’t forget that beyond the bustle of the inner city there are lots of other things to see and do in the Auckland region. Head out west, to the Waitakere Ranges, and go hiking through pristine rainforest or visit stunning surf beaches, head north to Matakana Wine Country and sample the local wines, or jump on a ferry and explore a few of the many islands dotting the Hauraki Gulf.

Rugby in the Heart of the North Island

Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central Plateau, Eastland, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu.

If you’re a die-hard Rugby follower, Rugby World Cup 2011 is the event of your dreams and you’ll find Rugby at the heart of many of the events in the REAL New Zealand Festival.

In Hamilton, which hosts the New Zealand vs Japan, Wales vs Samoa and Wales vs Fiji games, the interactive Red, Yellow and (All) Black exhibition looks at the country’s ‘national religion’, or time it right and celebrate contemporary New Zealand music at KIWI Cream – The Great New Zealand Music Gig. Head south to Rotorua (Ireland vs Russia and Fiji vs Namibia) and experience the Tribal Rugby Festival, three days of entertainment, food, wine, Maori culture and friendly competition.

While in the Bay of Plenty, take a side trip to Tauranga for GRACE: The Exhibition – a unique collaboration between acclaimed Rugby photographer Peter Bush and top New Zealand choreographer Raewyn Hill as part of Tauranga Arts Festival.

Then continue on to the East Coast. In Gisborne, Te Unga Mai commemorates the meeting between Maori, the tangata whenua, and Captain James Cook in October 1769 and events include a concert by top New Zealand band Opshop.

Time it right and you’ll catch a real Heartland game (East Coast vs Poverty Bay on 17 Sep), Ki-o-Rahi (the Rugby style, pre-European traditional game) kapa haka (Maori performance) and kai (food) at rugbyRUCKus. And look out for the five Rugby, Haka, Hangi Festivals spanning the eastern regions, where locals will treat you to a friendly game of Rugby, a lesson in how to do the haka and some traditional Maori food.

Further down the coast at Wairoa, visit the George Nepia exhibition, the story of the local son and international Rugby legend. In Napier, you can catch France vs Canada or Canada vs Japan and take in Art Deco experiences in the city, or travel to Taupo and plant a tree with ‘Living Legend’ Sir Colin Meads. To complete your rugby experience, drive south to Palmerston North and visit the revamped New Zealand Rugby Museum, which boasts some of the world’s rarest Rugby memorabilia.

• Red, Yellow and (All) Black (To 30 Jan) Waikato Museum, Hamilton. Free. An energetic, dynamic exhibition focusing on the ‘national religion’ – a local look at our national game incorporating an exciting blend of interactive elements, memorabilia and history to appeal to family groups and fans.

Wellington & Top of the South Island

Wellington is the home of cafés, theatre, arts, culture and film. It’s also just a short hop away from the spectacular beauty and attractions of the Wairarapa, Marlborough and Nelson regions.

There are so many things to see and do in Wellington. If you like art and design, the World of WearableArt™ Awards Show is a fashion extravaganza, the likes of which you’ve never seen before. Visit Te Papa and the City Gallery in Wellington to see Oceania – an exhibition of the lives, dreams and histories of Pacific peoples. Odes to Joy has the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra playing a new work by acclaimed New Zealand composer Gareth Farr alongside Beethoven’s Ninth, while Footnote Dance – Best of Made in New Zealand showcases one of the country’s best contemporary dance groups.

For followers of rugby – and who isn’t! – go and see I, George Nepia, a one-man play about one of New Zealand’s most loved rugby icons or, for a taste of grassroots rugby, Poneke Pies – Masters Rugby Festival. And in the city that brought you The Lord of the Rings, immerse yourself in the Weta Cave.

While you’re in the Capital, you can’t miss the chance to pop across the Cook Strait. Nelson’s hosting Italy vs Russia, Italy vs USA and Australia vs Russia so plan your trip around those matches.

Marlborough and Nelson are famous for their world-class wines so go to Marlborough Wine and Cuisine at Brancott Vineyard and Indulge Marlborough – a fusion of food and wine, music and fashion. 

Dunedin, Canterbury and Marlborough

Start your trip in Dunedin, where there are a number of matches including Argentina vs England, England vs Georgia, England vs Romania and Ireland vs Italy.

Dunedin, that most Scottish of New Zealand cities, is where you can enjoy the Dunedin Celtic Arts Festival, Southern Sinfonia’s Last Night of the Proms and Celebrate Dunedin. And if you haven’t already indulged in enough fine food, there’s the Port Chalmers Seafood Festival, where you can sit on the wharf and sample fresh-cooked fish straight off the boat.

When the big matches are finished, head north from Dunedin for a refresher of what rugby’s all about in this country with the Waitaki Golden Oldies Rugby Festival. Take a side trip or two on the way to see Te Ana Ngai Tahu Maori Rock Art Centre and, for the stargazers, the Mt John Observatory. Time it right and you can be in Ashburton for the Best of Mid Canterbury Festival, where they’re celebrating their hosting of Romania during Rugby World Cup 2011.

For something completely different, there’s the Methven Rodeo, or head up to Mount Hutt and watch the physical spectacle of a unique triathlon in the mountains with the Peak to Pub Race or the equally challenging Frost Buster 2011 multisport event.

And you can’t forget Christchurch. Christchurch has had its troubles this year but the city’s sporting and cultural heart beats strong. The Christchurch Arts Festival and the Body Festival of Dance and Physical Theatre warm the spirits with top New Zealand artists, musicians and ideas. If you like to indulge in good, locally grown food, pop along to Out Standing in Their Fields or Presenting Canterbury where you can meet local food producers in a market setting and sample food cooked by New Zealand chefs.

Driving north, stop in at the town of Kaikoura for the finest and freshest seafood at the Kaikoura Seafest and take a trip with the world famous Whale Watch Kaikoura, then to the celebrated Marlborough Wine and Cuisine at Brancott Vineyard before you head by ferry to Wellington or on to Auckland for the Quarter Finals.

• Kaikoura Seafest (1 Oct) Takahanga Domain, Kaikoura. Bookings essential. Kaikoura Seafest is an annual festival of local wine and food, and a celebration of the abundance of the ocean and all it represents for the Kaikoura region.
• Christchurch Arts Festival (To 2 Oct) Various locations around Christchurch. Tickets available at: www.artsfestival.co.nz  A showcase of the best theatre, dance and music from Canterbury, from around New Zealand and overseas.

West Coast, Central Otago and Southland

The South Island is a land of amazing contrasts; stunning mountains, rugged coasts and vast patchwork plains. There is so much to see and explore.

Plan your trip around the matches. Nelson has Italy vs Russia, Italy vs USA and Australia vs Russia while Invercargill has Scotland vs Romania, Scotland vs Georgia and Argentina vs Romania.

Start your journey in Blenheim with food, wine, music and fashion at Indulge Marlborough, or in Nelson with a refreshing ale at the RugBeer HopFest then (no drinking and driving, please) hop in the car and wind your way down the wild West Coast where you can indulge in one of New Zealand’s real delicacies, whitebait, at the West Coast Whitebait Festival.

Head south to Queenstown where you can enjoy old rugby rivalries revisited with Classic All Blacks vs French Classics. Experience the many and varied attractions of Central Otago including the Central Otago Pinot Experience and the Alexandra Blossom Festival.

Further south still, you can head down The People’s Republic of State Highway 94 – an arts and heritage trail focusing on the quirky and endearing elements of heartland Southland. And while you’re in Southland, join in A Taste of Southland, showcasing the region, its theatre, music, markets and its finest foods, including the famous Bluff oyster.

The Life, Loves and Lore of Maori

You cannot visit New Zealand without, in one form or another, coming across the unique culture and heritage of Maori.

Maori are the tangata whenua (first people) of New Zealand. Their culture permeates every part of our society. Throughout the country you’ll find events celebrating the stories, traditions, contemporary arts and culture of Maori. And with only a couple of hours or so between match cities in the North Island, there’s much to grab your attention.

In Wellington, there’s the Oceania exhibition at Te Papa and the City Gallery, where you can witness the lives, dreams and histories of Pacific peoples while, half an hour north, in Porirua, the MAORI ART MARKet has New Zealand’s largest collection and sale of contemporary Maori art.

If you’re in Auckland towards the end of the Tournament, visit Waka Maori in the Viaduct or take a day trip to Rotorua to experience Te Puia and see the Tribal Rugby Festival – three fun-filled days of entertainment, food, wine, Maori culture and friendly competition.

While in the Bay of Plenty, there’s the unique Mataatua Iwi Challenge where local Maori get together for a series of authentic and unrehearsed challenges in 19 different sports and activities.

If you’re heading through Hamilton, check out Haka – The New Zealand Challenge, where you can see the haka alongside Maori arts and cultural experiences by the Waikato River.

If you’re in Taranaki (Ireland vs USA, Russia vs USA, Wales vs Namibia), visit Puke Ariki museum or the Taranaki International Village for the stories of the local people and their home at the foot of beautiful Mount Taranaki.

The East Coast is a place where Maori culture is at the heart of the community. Go and see Te Unga Mai which commemorates the first formal meeting between the tangata whenua and Captain James Cook in October 1769. Time it right to catch rugbyRUCKus (17 Sep) at Tolaga Bay with local Rugby, the rugby-style, pre-European traditional game Ki-o-Rahi, kapa haka (Maori performance) and kai (food).

Look out for Rugby, Haka and Hangi Festivals spanning the eastern regions, where locals will treat you to a friendly game of rugby, a lesson in how to do the haka and some traditional Maori food.

• Taranaki International Village (9 – 11, 15 – 18, 24 – 26 Sep) Puke Ariki Landing. Free. Experience the legendary hospitality and culture of Taranaki Maori and local food, arts and crafts, performances, workshops, traditional ceremonies and local tourism activities.

The REAL Rugby Fan's Road Trip

If you’re a die-hard rugby follower, Rugby World Cup 2011 is the event of your dreams.

New Zealand is the spiritual home of Rugby and where better to indulge in the sport than here? There are all the RWC 2011 matches, but there’s also much more. We’ve put together a trip for you that’ll take you on the road for a week where you can watch Rugby, soak up the history of Rugby and its greats, and get up close and personal with the locals that play it.

Make your way up the east coast to Tolaga Bay for 17 Sep and experience a Heartland game (East Coast vs Poverty Bay) at rugbyRUCKus, before heading south, to Wairoa, to visit the George Nepia Exhibition, the story of the local son, Rugby legend and icon. Next day (18 Sep), there’s France vs Canada in Napier.

Then it’s time to head inland to Palmerston North and the revamped New Zealand Rugby Museum that has some of the world’s rarest Rugby memorabilia, before heading south.

Head to Blenheim and see the Knights of the Sky Exhibition, a collection of original and replica World War One aircraft at Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, and featuring the former All Blacks who served in that war. Then go to Nelson to see the re-enactment of the first Rugby game in New Zealand (20 Sep) at the Birthplace of Rugby in New Zealand – 1870 before heading off to the Italy vs Russia match. Finish your journey by planting a native tree with Todd Blackadder (24 Sep) at the Nelson Great Living Legends Muck-in.