In This Issue:
A Kiwi Summer

Experience outdoor adventure

While most of New Zealand takes a vacation at some time during January, it's also a great time for tourists to experience the laid-back nature of New Zealand life at its best.

Experiencing opposite seasons to the northern hemisphere, New Zealand is entering the height of summer when Canadians are strapping on their skis.

Traditionally, kiwi summer vacations take place in the great outdoors and - in a country with almost endless coastline, a myriad of inland lakes, rivers and mountain streams - that's usually somewhere near water where water-based activities provide the best place to enjoy the summer sun.

There's a destination with the pace to suit every style - from busy beach resorts to tranquil lakesides, easily accessed wilderness campsites or remote wayside spots for high energy hikers.

The festive holiday season brings extended families together, many gathering at campsites or in the family vacation home - called either a bach or a crib depending on the region.

Travellers can rent a motor home and select popular driving routes to explore - such as Auckland to Waitomo, Taupo to Wellington, or a South Island adventure to Queenstown - and customize the journey to suit by adding points of interest along the way.

Camping grounds are also popular spots, and a good place to meet the locals. Generations of campers return year-after-year with their tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes to the same camping sites where they're 'at home' in a regular vacation neighbourhood.

Many family beaches and cottages are available for rent over the holiday period, and there are extensive networks of campsites throughout the country. The Department of Conservation (DOC) is a good place to start to find a campsite in many national parks.

Summer activities typically involve swimming, boating, fishing, snorkelling, surfing, waterskiing, kayaking, beach cricket, sandcastle or dam building, hiking or tramping, and getting together with friends and family at picnics and barbecues.

Auckland is known as the 'city of sails' for good reason, and there, as well as in many other centres throughout the country, yachting regattas are a regular feature of the summer seascape.

The New Zealand passion for water and sports has even seen the development of new thrills - jet boats and blokarting (a form of windsurfing on wheels) are two examples of what happens when kiwi ingenuity gets into gear.

No true kiwi vacation would be complete without its share of picnics, barbecues, and casual summer meals. It's a great time of the year for foodies because vegetables and fruit are at their freshest and best.

Otherwise, there's usually a food store or outdoor cafe somewhere nearby. Fare such as lamb, cervena (venison), crayfish (lobster), fresh fish and shellfish is plentiful. Choose a world-class sauvignon blanc or chardonnay from one of the country's 376 wineries, and you have the perfect complement.

It's also the season of wine festivals, town and country agricultural shows, race meetings, and when many local pubs and parks feature live music and entertainment as well known New Zealand artists take to the road on extensive summer road tours.

New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to celebrate New Year - head to Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island and you can be the first in the world to see the sun come up on New Year's day.

What's more, Gisborne stages New Zealand's largest New Year festival. Known as 'Rhythm & Vines' the three-day event is held in the vineyard at Waiohika Estate, attracting more than 20,000 people eager to hear acts from all over the world and enjoy this uniquely Kiwi event.

With Air New Zealand's convenient non-stop flight from Vancouver to Auckland, there's no better time to escape the Canadian winter and head to New Zealand.

To find the best fares and to find out more information about New Zealand, call a Flight Centre travel consultant at 1-866-317-4794.

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