Most of us live within half an hour’s drive of the coast, so swimming, boating, diving and fishing are almost national pastimes. We also have 14 national parks and reserves where you can enjoy some of the world’s most breathtaking bush walks. In winter, our 10 commercial ski fields and numerous club fields provide inexpensive yet challenging skiing, heli-skiing and snowboarding.
We’ve got more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world, and the average green fees are around NZ$30. Our city and regional councils provide extensive, well-kept playgrounds, swimming pools and other recreational facilities. On Saturdays, parks throughout the country host organised team sports like, rugby, netball, soccer, cricket and hockey.
The game they play in heaven
New Zealand’s obsession with rugby union borders on the religious. Our national team is called the All Blacks and the feats of past and current All Blacks have become folklore. Even the greatness of our own rugby careers takes on a biblical proportion when we get together over a few drinks!