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Sports |
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In New Zealand, it
is often known that sport has taken the place of religion
at the weekend. Kiwi sport fans have a lot to be proud of on the
fields of sporting endeavor. This small nation is, by comparison,
very successful on an international scale, and at several sports,
mainly cricket, rugby and netball.
Rugby has vast
appeal in Auckland and throughout New Zealand. The Rugby
League season is April to September and the local team is the Vodafone
Warriors, who play at the Ericsson Stadium, Maurice Road, Penrose
(telephone: (09) 526 0888). The New
Zealand Rugby Football League (telephone: (09) 524 4013) can
provide further information.
The Rugby Union season is also April to September and the All
Blacks, the national team, play either at Eden Park, Reimers
Avenue, Kingsland (telephone: (09) 849 5555), or the Ericsson Stadium,
when they are in Auckland. They also play in Wellington, Dunedin
and Christchurch. The New
Zealand Rugby Football Union (telephone: (04) 499 4995) can
provide further information.
There are 6 cricket grounds in Auckland, which
somewhat reflect the city’s interest in this colonial game.
The most famous is Eden Park, which has held 225 first class games
since 1913.
Tickets to sporting events are available for purchase through Ticketek
(telephone: (09) 307 5000).
The Visitor Information Centre (telephone: (09) 979 2333) can
provide details of all sporting events.
Equestrian
Sports
There are many racecourses in Auckland, with night
trotting each Friday and Saturday, at the Alexandra Park Raceway,
in Epsom. Visitors can contact the Recorded Racing Information Service
(telephone: (09) 520 7507) for further details.
Horse
riding is also very popular in New Zealand, there are numerous
stables within easy reach of the city. Most offer lessons, guided
or independent rides, with horses for all levels of ability.
Stables include:
Horse Riding Warkworth
Telephone: (09) 425 8517
Email address: horseriding@xtra.co.nz
Website address: www.smallfarmer.org.nz
Ti Tree Hills Horse Treks
Telephone: (09) 426 7003
Email address: rides@titreehills.co.nz
Website address: www.titreehills.co.nz
Pakiri Beach Horse Riding
Telephone: (09) 422 6275
Email address: pakirihorse@xtra.co.nz
Website address: www.horseride-nz.co.nz
Shepherds Point Horse Riding
Telephone: (09) 372 8104
Prices start at approximately NZ $35 to $50 per hour.
Riding centres closer to the city include:
Muriwai Beach Riding Centre
Telephone: (09) 411 7111
Email address: wairimu1@ihug.co.nz
Website address: www.farmstayauckland.co.nz
This centre organises treks in the forest and on the beach, providing
beautiful views of the local gannet colony and costing NZ $70 for
2 hours.
Fitness Centres
One fitness centre in Auckland:
The Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre, Broadway, Newmarket
Telephone: (09) 522 4414
Email address: info@olympicpools.co.nz
Website address: www.olympicpools.co.nz
This is open to the public and has brilliant facilities,
as well as 2 swimming pools, a sauna and a spa. Visitors planning
to use the gym will need to do an induction course, for insurance
purposes, and admission is NZ $6 for casual entrance.
Golf
There are many golf courses in and around Auckland, including:
The Chamberlain Park Public Golf Course
Address: 46a Linwood Avenue, Western Springs
Telephone: (09) 815 4999
Cost: 18 holes costs around NZ $35
The Gulf Harbour Country Club (on the Hibiscus Coast)
Telephone: (09) 424 0971
Website address: www.gulfharbour.nzgolf.net
Cost: 18 holes costs about NZ $80 to $90, a set of hire clubs costs
NZ $30 and shoes cost NZ $10.
Visiting golfers can play guest rounds for reasonable fees
at public courses and annual membership costs at other clubs are
usually low by European standards.
Swimming
The best places to swim are off the beaches that
are easily reached from central Auckland, including several along
Tamaki Drive and Cheltenham Beach in Northshore, on the east coast
of the Devonport peninsula.
There are also 10 main swimming pools in the city, the most notable
being the Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre, Broadway, Newmarket (telephone:
(09) 522 4414). This was built for the 1950 Empire Games and, in
addition to the main 50 metre (164 feet) pool, there is a smaller
pool, sauna, spa and fitness centre.
The Visitor Information Centre (telephone: (09) 979 2333) provides
a booklet listing Auckland's pools and recreation centres.
Tennis
New Zealand’s main international tennis venue is in Auckland:
The ASB Tennis Centre
Address: 72 Stanley Street
Telephone: (09) 274 4577 or 373 3623
Website address: www.aucklandtennis.co.nz
There are 5 indoor and 7 floodlit outdoor courts, with equipment
hire and coaching facilities available. Court hire costs from NZ
$30 per hour.
More courts are available at the Vodafone Tennis Park, 69 Merton
Road, Glen Innes (telephone: (09) 528 9782). This has 6 indoor and
17 outdoor courts, equipment hire and coaching available. However,
many public parks boast adequate courts for as little as NZ $10
an hour, though you will need your own tennis equipment.
Watersports
Auckland is a prime watersports destination. It
is claimed that roughly 1 in 6 Aucklanders owns a boat, while 1
in 3 goes boating on a regular basis.
The city’s world profile was increased even further by the
America’s Cup, the finals were held in Auckland in February
2000, when New Zealand secured the cup and in the summer of 2003,
when a kiwi team won it for Switzerland.
The chance to crew on an America’s Cup yacht is available
from Sail New Zealand (telephone: (0800) 724 569, or see Boat Tours
for more details) who own 2 bona fide challengers NZ40 and NZ41
as well as Peter Blake’s Round The World Maxi Yacht.
2 hours on an America’s cup racer costs NZ $125, however prices
then rise steeply the longer you are on board and depending upon
whether you choose the America’s Cup or Maxi Yacht.
Kayaking can be arranged through:
Outdoor Recreations and Challenges
Address: Birkenhead Leisure Centre, Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead
Telephone: (09) 418 4109
Fergs Kayaks
Address: 12 Tamaki Drive
Telephone: (09) 529 2230
Email address: ak@fergskayaks.co.nz
Website address: www.fergskayaks.co.nz
Hire is approximately NZ $15 per hour for a single, plastic sea
kayak, or NZ $45 per day, with guided tours from NZ $65 for a 4
hour trip.
Windsurfing can be arranged
at many of the beaches along Tamaki Drive, while jet skiing is available
from Jet Ski Tours (telephone: (09) 486 088). |
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