By Kath
April 6 2011

England will soon be off once again to the Antipodes and I am sure many of the Barmy Army will be following them again, in full Crusader gear.  So I thought I would start putting together some essential information for you all.Rugby World Cup Accommodation, things to do, cultural information and links

 RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 

NEW ZEALAND

Land of the Silver Fern

ACCOMMODATION:    Over the past year a number of local residents have contacted us offering their homes for accommodation to the fans who will be travelling to this year's Rugby World Cup.   Although many of these residents lived in Christchurch, I am happy to report that those who contacted us are safe and well after that horrendous earthquake.

The games of course have now been moved from Christchurch but a couple of our contacts have said they live near to the airport and it just might still be an alternative for fans to consider especially with costs rising.  We also had some residents offering to show fans the sights etc.,

So listed here are contacts fans might want to pursue and we will add any others to this list as and when we get them.  Please note you must contact the residents directly and arrange details and costs etc., privately.  Unofficial England Rugby & Sportnetwork.net take no responsibility or control over these arrangements.

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1)    Robert and Sharon Harvey:  We are very close to our brand new airport people may wish to use it as a destination between games.  Quarter final games are to be held in Auckland and accommodation will be tight. The airport here is still the gateway to the South Island.  

Please download the pdf  here  RWC PosterHarvey1 or Here to see the poster better.    Cheers Robert & Sharon  

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2)      Hi. My wife and I are (BIG Canterbury and Crusaders supporters) live 50k north west of Christchurch at Eyrewell near Oxford in North Canterbury NZ.   

We have a 3 bedroom plus office, 2 bathroom, new home on a ten acre block. The surrounding area is great for fishing, skiing, tramping, horse-riding (we have at least two rideable hacks on the property) mountain biking, Hanmer hotpools are only 1.25 hours away and generally enjoying the outdoors, as well as the peace and quiet. We have a 50inch surround-sound TV as well as flat-screen in the main bedroom, and two Sky boxes.    We are looking to rent our place out during the tournament.

Contact on vancoach@xtra.co.nz for further information and photos. As you can guess, the longer the period the better. We'll need references and a solid deposit and prefer a family group.

Cheers Keith and Vee

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ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS 

For those who have secured tickets to Rugby World Cup 2011 and are looking for accommodation, New Zealand offers a huge range of options - from luxury accommodation for those who want to enjoy the Tournament in style, backpackers for fans on a budget, to campervans for visitors with a more adventurous spirit. 

A dedicated web page, www.newzealand.com/rugbyaccommodation has been developed by Tourism New Zealand in conjunction with the New Zealand accommodation industry to assist visitors with their accommodation needs for the Tournament.

Source: IRB RWC2011 Website

New Zealand Helpdesk for Rugby World Cup 2011 Visitors

Get the most out of your Auckland trip with the help of Auckland's i-SITE visitor centres. They can search for and book accommodation on your behalf, give you great suggestions on places to go, things to see and ways to get around, plus their services are free! Click here to learn more, send an email to reservations@aucklandnz.com   or call 0800 AUCKLAND and book your rugby holiday now.

There are five official Auckland i-SITEs in convenient locations, from the airport to downtown and even on Waiheke Island. Make sure to visit one during your stay, and look out for the Auckland 'WiSE Guides' around the place during Rugby World Cup 2011. These knowledgeable, helpful volunteers have been specifically trained to help you get around and make the most of what's happening.

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PLACES TO VISIT:  

Things to see and do in Dunedin:

Taieri Gorge Railway : This scenic and historic rail journey travels from Dunedin along the Taieri River, taking in the region's goldmining history along the way. A commentary is provided, with photo stops en route. 
Otago Museum : Maori, South Pacific and Asian collections, a maritime hall and a hands-on Discovery World science centre. The museum's new attraction, the Discovery World Tropical Forest, brings visitors face to face with some of nature's most beautiful butterflies. The forest is home to around 1,000 imported tropical butterflies, live tarantulas, turtles, finches and a myriad of lush tropical plants. 
Otago Settlers Museum : Founded in 1898, Dunedin's social history museum contains exhibits on the many people who have contributed to the city's heritage, including Maori, Scottish emigrants and Chinese goldminers. 
Wildlife Cruises : Monarch Wildlife Cruises offer tours of Otago Harbour with the chance to see royal albatrosses, penguins, seals, shags and wading birds. Elm Wildlife Tours also offer close encounters with nature, including yellow-eyed penguins, Hooker's sea lions, albatross, blue penguins and New Zealand fur seals. 
Dunedin Casino :The city's historic casino is open daily until the small hours. 
Source: Jasons

Things to se and do in Auckland:

50 Must Dos in Auckland These activities and adventures are just some of Auckland's highlights
Here is our list of the 50 top things to do in Auckland.

Source: Auckland, New Zealand | Official visitor information

History and Culture

Maori women perform the traditional poi dance - New Zealand Tourism

New Zealand's indigenous people, the Maori, called this land "Tamaki Makau Rau", a maiden with 100 lovers. It was a place desired by many and fought over for its riches, including its forested hills, productive volcanic soils and harbours full of seafood.

The first sailors to settle here were the Maori, and in later years migrants from the Pacific Islands have contributed to the Polynesian population. You can take a walk through the city with a guide from the local iwi (tribe), visit the Auckland Museum, or wander through the weekend markets at Otara and Avondale for the flavours, sounds and sights of the South Pacific. In the city centre, Auckland has seen an explosion of ethnic restaurants and shops, especially Asian-style eateries.

Maori legend of the origin of Auckland -  Legend has it that long ago, the land that lay between the Hunua and Waitakere Ranges was flat. There were no volcanoes as there are today. The people living in this land were the Patupaiarehe, a fairy people. The Patupaiarehe didn't get along well, so to avoid trouble, groups of them lived apart. One iwi (tribe) lived in the Waitakere forest on Auckland's west coast, and another in the Hunua forest in the south. This meant they kept out of each other's way. Most of the time.

Source Official Visitor Information: