Recreation and sports

Sports in New Zealand

New Zealanders are generally very active people who enjoy spending time outdoors, participating in leisure activities or playing sports.

Rugby and netball are the national sports and you will undoubtedly be asked to pass comment on them sometime during your stay. Other popular sports in New Zealand are cricket, football, hockey, tennis, golf and skiing.

There are many sports fields around and most are open to the public when games are not being played. You can either organise a game with your friends or join an official club. Joining a club is a good way to meet New Zealanders. Most of the large education institutes have a range of sports and interest clubs that you can join. Many of them may also have gyms and recreational facilities.

For information on local sports clubs go to: www.sparc.org.nz and locate the Regional Sports Trust for your area.

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Tourism

New Zealand is regarded as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. For its size, it is hugely diverse in its geography. There are volcanoes, high snow- covered mountains, glacial valleys, beautiful lakes and rivers, fiords and white sandy beaches. You may find the New Zealand landscape completely different to what you are used to and in many places spectacular. Some of the highlights to see in New Zealand are: the Southern Alps, Queenstown, Fiordland, Waitomo Caves, Tongariro National Park, the Bay of Islands and the mud pools in Rotorua.

New Zealand has a well developed tourism sector and you will find many tourist activities throughout the country. Some are extreme, such as bungy jumping and white water rafting, while others are more leisurely eg. walking and fishing.

Visit your local i-SITE Visitor Centre for information about museums, art galleries, libraries, cinemas and zoos in your area. These official Visitor Information Centres are located in most towns and cities in New Zealand and are sources of good local knowledge, including events, tourist information and holiday accommodation.

Look in your local telephone book under: i-SITE Visitor Information for the location and phone number or go to www.i-SITE.org.

There are also free local newspapers and student magazines that list upcoming events in your area. These are usually found outside large supermarkets and libraries.

Some other useful sites are:
www.newzealandnz.co.nz  
www.jasons.co.nz
www.tourism.net.nz

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Bush walking or tramping

New Zealand is famous for its beautiful outdoor environment and bush-walking and tramping (walking through forest areas) are enjoyable ways of experiencing it.

Your local Department of Conservation (DoC) office will have information about local walks and tramps, go to their website at www.doc.govt.nz.

The Department of Conservation is responsible for maintaining and protecting parks and reserves.

New Zealand weather can change very quickly, especially in mountainous areas. It is important to be prepared for all types of weather, no matter what the weather is like when you leave. Warm, waterproof clothing is essential. It is unwise to tramp alone in the bush. Always inform someone of where you are going and when you expect to return. Always keep to the track and make sure you know the way out of the bush at all times. Be prepared for emergencies as well as weather changes (eg. take a first aid kit, extra food and water and a mobile phone).

You can hear a weather report every hour on most radio stations or phone 0900 999, then enter your phone area code, for weather updates.

Also see our section on Health for information on sandflies, mosquitoes and giardia.

Information under this title has been sourced from: www.niwa.cri.nz, Zealand MetService http://metservice.co.nz and www.experiencenz.com.

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Being safe around water

Because of the nature of the country, many recreational activities are based around water and you need to be careful when swimming or learning water sports or activities.

Many of New Zealand’s most popular beaches are patrolled by Surf Life Savers. These are people qualified to advise the public on safety at the beach and they are available to help those who are having trouble in the water. The Surf Life Savers put up two flags when they are on duty. The area between these flags is the zone that they will be watching closely. Always swim between these flags.

If you want to enjoy New Zealand’s lakes, rivers, swimming pools and beaches or participate in any water-based activity, you should:

• learn to swim (contact your local city council swimming pool for details about lessons)
• always swim, kayak or go fishing with someone else. Never go alone
• swim between the flags at the beach
• always wear a life jacket when going out on a boat.

Information under this title has been sourced from: www.letsgo.co.nz.

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Protection from the sun

As you will learn, New Zealand is a great country to experience the outdoors, but it is important to protect yourself against the harmful effects of the sun. As a country in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand is exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Because of the decreasing ozone layer and the lower levels of air pollution, New Zealand receives higher degrees of UV radiation than many other countries.

The UV radiation is responsible for burning and damaging skin. It is not related to the temperature (how hot you may consider the sun to be), so you can burn even when you feel cool on a cloudy day.

Avoiding sunburn and tanning can help to prevent melanomas and other skin cancers. To avoid sunburn:

• wear a hat and clothing that covers your skin
• apply sunscreen
• wear wrap around sunglasses to protect your eyes.

It is important to note that:

• no sunscreen will completely shield you from the effects of UV radiation. You can still burn, especially if you have sensitive skin 
• avoiding the sun between the hottest times (11.00am to 3.00pm in summer) and staying in the shade are additional forms of sun protection.

Information under this title has been sourced from: www.cancernz.org.nz.