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SURF LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Some of the world’s buffest surf to battle it out on Scarborough Beach,
lifesavers will gather in Western nine miles from Perth. The champion-
TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
Australia on March 17-22, 2009, for ships are nationally televised and have
the annual Australian Surf Life Saving become a much-anticipated event on
Championships. Rescue teams, boat the Australian sporting calendar.
crews, iron men and swimmers are set www.aussies2009.com
MICHAEL HILL OPEN
Watch pro-golfers teeing off in the
shadow of South Island’s Remarkables
range. The Michael Hill New Zealand
Golf Open takes place at Hills Golf
Club, Arrowtown on March 12-15,
2009. www.nzgolf.org.nz
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
TE MATATINI
TAHITI TOURISME
Every two years, hundreds of Maori
TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
performers and thousands of supporters
gather at Te Matatini – New Zealand’s
national Kapa Haka (Maori performing
arts) competition. Teams arrive at
Te Matatini by way of a series of
regional heats, and the crowned
HEIVA I TAHITI
champions can lay claim to being the
best Kapa Haka troupe in the world. Tahiti’s most flamboyant festival is
The festival also features arts and Heiva i Tahiti, which is held every July.
crafts stalls, exhibitions and family Heiva is the Tahititan word for festival
entertainment. The 2009 Te Matatini and visitors enjoy traditional cultural
will take place on February 19-22. performances. The festival opens at the
www.tematatini.org.nz end of June to coincide with French
Polynesia’s Autonomy Celebrations and
continues throughout most of July,
TOAST MARTINBOROUGH
incorporating Bastille Day on July 14.
www.tahite-tourisme.co.uk
The town of Martinborough in New
Zealand boasts more than 50 wineries.
TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
Its annual Toast Martinborough festival
showcases the best of local food and
wines. A free bus takes visitors between
vineyards, and live music contributes to
TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
the festival atmosphere. Next year’s
event takes place on November 15.
www.toastmartinborough.co.nz
MELBOURNE CUP
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s Grand
NELSON ARTS FESTIVAL
TOURISM AUSTRALIA
National – billed as the horse race that
stops a nation. In 2000 it was estimated The streets of Nelson will be buzzing
that 80% of Australia’s adult population during October 15-26, 2009, when the
placed a bet on the race that year. It is Nelson Arts Festival comes around
held on the first Tuesday in November again. The city is located on the shores
by the Victoria Racing Club on the of Tasman Bay, at the northern end of
Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. South Island. The festival opens with
It’s one of the country’s most popular the Port Nelson Masked Parade, and
sporting events. Spectators parade in continues for 10 days with theatre,
all their finery and prizes are awarded dance, comedy, music, literary
for best-dressed male and female lunches, sculpture and workshops.
race-goers. www.melbournecup.com www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz
11
TTG Knowledge AUSTRALASIA December 2008
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