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Sport In New Zealand, it is popularly held that sport has taken the place of religion at the weekends. Frankly, Kiwi sports fans have a lot to be proud of on the fields of sporting endeavour. This small nation is, by comparison, very successful on an international scale at several sports, notably rugby, cricket and netball. The Rugby League season is April to September and the local team is the Vodafone Warriors (website: www.warriors.co.nz), who play at the Ericsson Stadium, Maurice Road, Penrose (tel: (09) 526 0888). The New Zealand Rugby Football League (tel: (09) 524 4013) provides further information. The Rugby Union season is also April to September and the national team, the All Blacks (website: www.allblacks.com), play either at Eden Park, Reimers Avenue, Kingsland (tel: (09) 849 5555) or the Ericsson Stadium (see above), when they are in Auckland, although they also play in Wellington, Chrsitchurch and Dunedin. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (tel: (04) 499 4995; website: www.nzrugby.co.nz) provides further information. Six cricket grounds reflect the city’s interest in this game – the most famous is Eden Park, which has staged 225 first-class games since 1913. Tickets to sporting events are available for purchase through Ticketek (tel: (09) 307 5000). The Visitor Information Centre (tel: (09) 979 2333) provides details of all sporting events. Fitness centres: The Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre (tel: (09) 522 4414), Broadway, Newmarket, is open to the public and has excellent facilities, as well as two swimming pools, spa and sauna. Visitors planning to use the gym will need to do an induction course, for insurance purposes. Admission is around NZ$15 Golf: There are several golf courses in and around Auckland, including the Chamberlain Park Public Golf Course, 46a Linwood Avenue, Western Springs (tel: (09) 846 6758), where 18 holes costs around NZ$25, and the Gulf Harbour Country Club, on the Hibiscus Coast (tel: (09) 424 5450), where 18 holes costs NZ$70 weekdays and from NZ$80 weekends. Visiting golfers can play guest rounds for a nominal fee at public courses and annual membership at other clubs are usually low by European standards. Equestrian sports: There are several racecourses in Auckland, with night trotting each Friday and Saturday, at the Alexandra Park Raceway in Epsom. Visitors should contact the Recorded Racing Information Service (tel: (09) 520 7507). Horseriding is also very popular in New Zealand and there are several stables within easy reach of the city. Most offer lessons, independent or guided rides, with horses for all levels of ability. Stables include Horse Riding Warkworth (tel: (09) 425 8517), Montgomerie Farm (tel: (09) 292 8724), Pakiri Beach Horse Riding (tel: (09) 422 6275) and Shepherds Point Horse Riding (tel: (09) 372 8194). Costs starts from approximately NZ$25 per hour. Closer to the city centre are is the Muriwai Riding Centre, Muriwai (tel: (09) 411 8480), which organises treks on the beach and in the forest, providing excellent views of the local gannet colony, costing NZ$45 for two hours. Swimming: The best swimming is 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 ten major swimming pools in the city, notably the Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre, Broadway, Newmarket (tel: (09) 522 4414). This was built for the 1950 Empire Games and, in addition to the main 50m (164ft) pool, there is a smaller pool, fitness centre, sauna and spa. The Visitor Information Centre (tel: (09) 979 2333) provides a booklet listing the city’s pools and recreation centres. Tennis: The country’s main international tennis venue is in Auckland, the ASB Bank Tennis Centre, 72 Stanley Street (tel: (09) 373 3623). There are five indoor and seven floodlit outdoor courts, with equipment hire and coaching facilities available. Court hire costs from NZ$20 per hour. More courts are available at the Vodafone Tennis Park, 69 Merton Road, Glen Innes (tel: (09) 528 9782), with six indoor and 17 outdoor courts, equipment hire and coaching available. Watersports: Needless to say, the city is a prime watersports destination. It is claimed that roughly one in six Aucklanders owns a boat, while one in three goes boating on a regular basis. The city’s world profile was increased even further by the Americas Cup – the finals were held here in February 2000, when New Zealand retained the cup – and it is now the venue for the next battle for the ‘old mug’, running from 2002 to the summer of 2003. Kayaking can be arranged through Outdoor Recreations and Challenges, in the Birkenhead Leisure Centre, Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead (tel: (09) 418 4109), and through Fergs Kayaks, 12 Tamaki Drive (tel: (09) 529 2230). Hire starts from approximately NZ$12 per hour or NZ$30 per half-day, with guided tours from NZ$60 per half-day. Windsurfing can be arranged at several of the beaches along Tamaki Drive, while jet skiing is available from Jet Ski Tours (tel: (09) 486 088). The chance to sail an Americas Cup yacht is available from Viking Cruises (tel: (0800) 724 569), costing around NZ$85 for two hours. |
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