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Home - City Guide - Auckland - Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sport New Zealanders are sports fans in the fullest sense of the word - fanatics; and Kiwis have lots to be fanatical, and proud, about. This small nation is hugely successful on an international scale at several sports, notably rugby union, rugby league, cricket and netball. The rugby league season is April to September and the local team is the Auckland Warriors, who are the only New Zealand team to play in the Australian Superleague, at the Ericsson Stadium, Maurice Road, Penrose (tel: (09) 526 0888). The New Zealand Rugby Football League (tel: (09) 524 4013) can provide further information. The rugby union season is also April to September and the All Blacks play either at Eden Park, Reimers Avenue, Kingsland (tel: (09) 849 5555) or the Ericsson Stadium (see above). The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (tel: (04) 499 4995) can provide further information. Six cricket grounds reflect the city's interest in the game - the most famous is Eden Park, which has staged 225 first-class games since 1913. The Visitor Information Centre can provide details of all sports events. Needless to say the city is a prime watersports destination too. It is claimed that roughly one Aucklander in six owns a boat, and one in three goes boating on a regular basis. The city's world profile was increased even further by the Americas Cup, whose finals were held here in February 2000. Fitness centres: The Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre (tel: (09) 522 4414), Broadway, Newmarket, is open to the public (admission: NZ$12) and has excellent facilities, as well as two swimming pools, spa and sauna. Golf: There are several golf courses in Auckland and nearby, including the Chamberlain Park Public Golf Course (tel: (09) 846 6758), 46a Linwood Avenue, Western Springs, where 18 holes costs NZ$18, and the Gulf Harbour Country Club (tel: (09) 424 5450), on the Hibiscus Coast, where 18 holes costs NZ$65 weekdays and NZ$75 weekends. Horseracing: There are several courses in Auckland, with night trotting too each Friday and Saturday at the Alexandra Park Raceway in Epsom. Visitors should contact the Recorded Racing Information Service (tel: (09) 520 7507). Horseriding: Horseriding is 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); Shepherds Point Horse Riding (tel: (09) 372 8194). Cost starts from about NZ$20 per hour. Swimming: The best swimming is off the beaches 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 (tel: (09) 522 4414), Broadway, Newmarket. 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 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 (tel: (09) 373 3623), 72 Stanley Street. There are five indoor and seven floodlit outdoor courts, with equipment hire and coaching facilities available. Court hire costs from NZ$16 per hour. More courts are available at the Vodafone Tennis Park (tel: (09) 528 9782), 69 Merton Road, Glen Innes, with six indoor and 17 outdoor courts, equipment hire and coaching available. Watersports: Kayaking can be arranged through Outdoor Recreations and Challenges (tel: (09) 418 4109) in the Birkenhead Leisure Centre, Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead and through Fergs Kayaks (tel: (09) 529 2230), 12 Tamaki Drive. Hire starts from about NZ$7 per hour or NZ$30 per half-day, with guided tours from NZ$50 per half-day. Windsurfing can be arranged at several of the beaches along Tamaki Drive. 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 NZ$75 for two hours. |
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