Holiday Guide - 11 January 2023

Greenacres Golf Club

Set in the beautiful Waimea Inlet, with magnificent parkland scenery and stunning water views, it is easy to see why Greenacres Golf Club is a NZ Top 40-rated course.

A friendly and relaxed club, Greenacres Golf Club ensures that golf is affordable for everyone,” says manager Brendon

Whitley. “Over the summer break we’re a popular destination for visitors of all abilities and ages.

Our mission is to provide every golfer with a positive, enjoyable, and memorable golfing experience. Our experienced team ensure that everyone receives a genuinely warm welcome.”

The club has a vibrant membership and there’s some great summer and longer-term membership options to suit everyone,

says Brendon. “We also have a very good special running at the moment; join now to March 2024 and pay for only 12 months. That’s over 3 months free. Early next year we also have a series of free workshops planned for those who want to try golf in a social and fun setting. This includes She Loves Golf for women, and Futures Golf for juniors. Keep an eye out in the New Year for more information. Golf’s popularity is

booming in NZ, it’s a game for all ages and is one of the world’s healthiest sports,” says Brendon.

“It’s a great way to stay active in a beautiful outdoor setting, boost physical and mental health, and to socialise and meet people.”

The café at Greenacres Golf Club has a delicious range of food available for players and visitors.

“We’re also Friends of the Great Taste Cycle Trail which runs close by, a number of cyclists drop in to

enjoy the tranquil surroundings”, says Brendon. “The Waimea Inlet is beautiful backdrop for the island course”. Greenacres Golf Club offers everything required for a great day of golf. A toprated course, spectacular scenery, affordable prices, friendly atmosphere, and great facilities. The club is conveniently located on Best Island, on the outskirts of Richmond. Visit www.greenacresgolfclub.co.nz

Cinch up

bowyangs and fill

boots with the true West Coast story

An experience like no other, the replica gold-mining village of Shantytown Heritage Park, located near Greymouth, offers award-winning historical attractions and relics of yesteryear.

Handbuilt in 1971 to preserve the West Coasts’ 19th-century gold, timber, and steam-powered pioneer history, Shantytown Heritage Park has been an international icon ever since.

The park is ideal for spending a few hours with your family. You will gain an understanding of the wider environment and mindset that sculpts what we know as

‘Coasters’ to this day. With the discovery of gold in 1864, settlers soon flooded the rivers and creeks of ‘The Coast’ faster than a downpour of that famous rain ever could. Various nationalities merged over their shared mineral pursuit, which in turn led to a flourishing timber industry for building better infrastructure. To claim these resources and survive, you had to be hardy through and through. Come ride one of Shantytown’s Heritage Trains through the native rain forest along the Infants Creek Tram line, following an original sawmill tram track of the 1800s. Disembark at the Infants Creek Sawmill, where you can take a short walk to the sluice area. Here you can catch the mighty sluice gun

in operation twice daily, blasting gold-bearing gravel from the cliff face. Then follow the flow of water races down to the gold claim, where the team will tutor you to find your own gold. On your way back through the forest to the heart of Shantytown, there are plenty of historical tidbits to soak up on the informative Timeline Trail. Once you arrive back on the main streets, it’s time to grab a snack from King Dick’s Cafe and enjoy browsing the broader township. Each building operates as part of an open-air museum experience, showcasing the West Coast pioneer story. Featuring

some 10,000 objects, 2,000 photographs and 1,000 ar chives across the total col lection, plenty of the items will stir up memories and conversations for you to enjoy. It’s a nearly forgot ten world to explore at Shantytown Heritage Park, so set aside enough time for a proper visit. The rest of your jour ney around ‘The Coast’ will be much more intriguing for it. From the gold that brought people here and transformed the landscape to the steam engines hauling people, products and timber through

hazardous environments. You will leave with plenty to ponder and an understanding of the true West Coast story.

GATES OPENAT 5PM, RACING STARTSAT 6PM LANSDOWNE RD,APPLEBY WWW.NELSONSPEEDWAY.CO.NZ

Enjoy the outdoors with high quality performance

Cycling is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors, reduce your carbon footprint, decrease stress levels and increase cardio fitness, muscle strength and joint mobility. “We also stock easy, low-step frames and adjustable dropper seats to assist in getting on and off the bike, for people with limited mobility. We’re all about inspiring riders as they prepare their equipment and their bodies, for the next

leg-burning adventure.” From beginner cyclists through to experts, the professional team are keen to help with advice, maintenance, cycling apparel, bike gear, tips, tricks, tubes and grips!

They stock all your favourite brands and accessories under the one roof. As they say, ‘We don’t just sell bikes, we sell freedom’.

Mike and his team are always receiving new shipments of topquality, new season e-bikes and

full suspension mountainbikes. Stocking all things bike-related - whether you are wanting to go off-road, or looking for low-impact aerobic exercise - their experienced staff have your needs covered. The My Ride team encourages people to call in and have a chat about their cycling needs and even take a bike for a test ride. “We’re there to fuel the relentless pursuit of dreams and excellence that creates ever

lasting memories. We want to change lives for the better, ours and yours, whether you’re a be ginner or a professional athlete.” Offering servicing on any brand, make or model, My Ride Rich mond can ensure your bike is ‘good to go’ for your next sum mer adventure, fixed up if you’ve taken a bad turn, or cleaned up after an epic ride. Make sure to book ahead. Talk to a profession al today. Visit MY RIDE RICH

Pack a picnic and get up close with wildlife in Tahunanui

Fun for all the family, Natureland Wildlife conservation and education centre is the region’s only animal park to offer up close and personal experiences with native, exotic and domestic animals in a fun and familyfriendly environment.

Located opposite the Beach Café in Tahunanui, the community-focused charitable trust work hard to be a safe, affordable, and accessible place for families to engage with animals and bring the wild into Nelson.

Featuring a plethora of animals including porcupine, meerkats, dragons and monkeys, Natureland is also home to range of interesting domestic animals including alpacas, kunekune and goats, and unique New Zealand natives like tuatara and kea.

Currently holidaying at Natureland is Momo and Koshi, two adorable baby Nepalese yaks.

They will be residing for the summer and love to show off their zoomie skills to visitors.

For the summer calendar, recent new arrival Orisa, one of the Nigerian mini goats, is due to give birth in January, and the team are running their conservation and education project; the breed and release of monarch butterflies in the purpose-built tunnel house.

The Natureland wildlife park is the perfect spot for a summer picnic. Providing a safe, child-friendly space, it’s an ideal location to connect with animals and learn about the natural environment.

Chairman of the Trust, Glenn Turner, says the tuatara enclosure is one of few in the country where tuatara can be easily spotted.

“People can walk through the repurposed aquarium into the tuatara experience. We have terrariums with five juvenile tuatara. If you have never seen one before it is an amazing opportunity to visit them.”

The large volunteer team are committed to ensuring that Natureland is

accessible to everyone because they strongly believe that connecting with nature is vital for physical, emotional and mental well-being.

“We strive to do the very best that we can at Natureland, and we encourage families to pack a lunch, lay out the blanket and let the kids run around and enjoy what we have to have to offer.”

Natureland’s everyday prices are in credibly reasonable: $15 an adult and $7 for children aged 2-13 years. Un der two’s are free and group passes are available.

Pop down and enjoy a little slice of nature in the heart of Tāhunanui, and don’t forget to visit Natureland’s ‘New to You’ second-hand store on Hardy Street for great bargains, too. Every donation or sale goes directly to supporting the well-being, nutrition and ongoing care of Natureland’s resident animals and Natureland’s vital conservation work.

Visit www.natureland.nz

Attractions

Experience life high amongst the West Coast rainforest

A must-do treetop adventure, West Coast Treetop Walkway is an exhilarating encounter amongst temperate rainforest giants. Built in 2012, the steel platform is set 20m above the ground and spans over 450m in length.

Parking at the Café, enjoy a leisurely 45-minute to one-hour stroll through native bush, encounter life with the birds high in the ancient rimu and kamahi tree canopy, overlook the stunningly beautiful Lake Mahināpua and Tasman Sea, and enjoy the mountain vistas of the Southern Alps. Feel your heart pump and the adrenalin rush of climbing 106 steps to the top of the spiralled Hokitika Tower sited 47m above the forest floor, or feel the gentle sway of the cantilevered Mahinapua Springboard.

Recently completed, the team

opened West Coast’s first dual zipline, spanning 425m and bringing a speed in excess of 60km/h. Sitting at 15 storeys high, the Tower Zipline is a must-do for everyone aged 6 to 106! “Hook up with a friend and be prepared to have your breath taken away as you step off into the sky 45m above the ground,’ says site manager Vonnie Cherry. “Fly through the rimu treetops at speed before landing right back where you started. Catch your breath, relax at the al fresco café with a wide range of seasonal options available or take your time and explore

the Tree Top Walk and surrounding rimu rain forest at your own leisurely pace. It is an exciting, educational and must do attraction for any traveller.”

The walkways are wheelchair and pram-friendly, and parents can let their children roam freely, whilst under direct supervision, as the walkways are completely

enclosed to ensure their safety. “We have a golf cart for people with mobility issues or those who prefer a more relaxing experience, and motorised wheelchairs are able to access the entire walkway.”An experience to remember, the friendly team at West Coast Treetop Walkways work hard to conserve the prop-

erty and help to protect agriculture, wildlife and private property from destruction and disease caused by introduced predators. For more information, phone: 03 755 5052. Or email: bookings@ treetopsnz.com

West Coast Treetop Walkway and Café: 1128 Woodstock-Rimu Road Hokitika, West Coast

Loads of family fun to be had at Nelson summer races

Join the Nelson Harness Racing Club for Summer Festival Race meeting fun at Richmond Park Showgrounds on Friday 13th and Sunday 15th.

Proud to host their annual summer harness race meets this coming January, catch all the action on and off the track, family fun and entertainment, with the first race kicking off at 2.30pm on Friday and Sunday’s races starting at 12.20pm. There are plenty of fun activities for both children and adults to enjoy. This annual event will feature the Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Cup on Friday, and then Sunday is Magic Mile Day with all the races happening over one mile, providing super exciting action. A popular event on the local calendar, the Nelson Harness Races Summer Festival attracts around 5,000 people over two days. With full TAB facilities

available, people can back their winning horse, go for the crowd favourite or pick the underdog. You’ll love the atmosphere at the races with live music throughout the day, fantastic local food and beverages, fun competitions and stylishly-dressed people everywhere. ‘Fashion in the Field’ is held on Sunday at the summer race meet each year and ladies and gents are encouraged to dress up and strut their stuff on the catwalk for the chance to win some great prizes. There will also be free children’s entertainment including bouncy castles, pony rides and the chance to meet the Canterbury Kidz Kartz Ponies which will be racing on track during the day. MoreFM and the Club will provide plenty of games and activities during the day to entertain the kids. Celebrating over 130 years, the Nelson Harness Racing Club (then known as the Nelson Trotting Club) was formed in Nelson in April 1890.

Today the Nelson Harness Racing Club is an innovative and dynamic feature of the Nelson community. The club’s race meetings are community events that cater for all sectors of the community - from families, young children and the elderly to businesspeople. The race days are all about people having a lot of fun and enjoying themselves and the Club is very grateful to its many generous sponsors for their support of these great events.

The gates will be open from 11am on Friday and from 9.30 am on Sunday. There is plenty of parking available on-site. Admission charge is $10 per adult and under 18’s are free.

For up-to-date information on the race meeting and marquee bookings, visit www.nhrc.co.nz or Nelson Harness Racing on Facebook.

Marchfest 2023

Brewers and musicians from around the country will join homegrown stars as preparations kick into gear for Marchfest 2023.

The popular craft beer and music celebration held in New Zealand’s main hop-growing region is back. This year’s event – the 15th in its history - will once again be held at Founders Heritage Park, on Saturday March 4th, 2023, from noon to 9.30pm. All the beers available at Marchfest have been specially commissioned for the event and have never previously been tasted by the public. Every year around 15 craft breweries produce a new beer for the event. These beers all make their world debut at Marchfest. PLUS there are ‘Brew Talks’ with a range of commercial craft brewers taking turns on the microphone, ready to answer all of your questions about their approach to making great craft beer. All of this is FREE as part of your entry ticket. Back by popular demand is the Tasting Bar. This

means that all you festival-goers can sample a paddle of 5 tastersized brews!

Come sit at a table, sample a few beers before going on to the main bars to enjoy your favourites. But Marchfest is not just about beer. Great live music is always a big feature of the event - this year’s lineup includes 12-piece Newtown Rocksteady with their all brass, all party, big band, big dance, chant down MASH UPexpect a generous dose of soul and a solid helping of skank, as well as Grump Monkey from Marlborough, and more.

Last but not least, Marchfest also showcases local cider & wine, plenty of local cuisine and there is heaps of cool stuff for kids to do in the dedicated Kids Zone. This year for the first time Marchfest has a Zero% ticket option for non-drinkers. Come join us in Nelson for ‘NZ’s Big Little Craft Beer Festival’! Earlybird tickets on sale now.

Tickets and more event information can be found at www.marchfest.com.