Spectator Sports

For information on current events, contact the Auckland i-SITE Visitor Centre (tel. 09/367-6009; reservations@aucklandnz.com), or check out the events listings at www.aucklandnz.com.

Horse Racing -- Auckland Cup Week (tel. 09/524-4069; www.ellerslieracedays.co.nz) usually takes place over 3 party-filled days in late February to early March at Ellerslie Race Course. It's the biggest day in New Zealand thoroughbred racing, with over 30,000 spectators.

Alexandra Park Raceway, Greenlane West Road, Epsom (tel. 09/630-6164; www.alexandrapark.co.nz), mounts the Lion Red Auckland Trotting Cup Carnival, an extravaganza that includes the NZ$100,000 Great Northern Derby for 3-year-olds and the NZ$250,000 Lion Red Trotting Cup. Regular Night Trotting meets are on Friday and Saturday nights.

For more information on horse racing, call the Recorded Racing Information Service (tel. 09/520-7507).

Marathon -- The Round the Bays fun run (tel. 09/525-2166; www.roundthebays.co.nz) follows the contours of Auckland's Waitemata harbor; an estimated 70,000 participants are attracted to the 8.4km (5-mile) run, held each March.

Rugby -- Check with the visitor center for current schedules of All Blacks and fiercely fought provincial rugby games nationwide. The rugby season runs from April to September. For rugby and league match information, contact New Zealand Rugby Football Union (tel. 04/499-4995; www.nzrugby.co.nz) or New Zealand Rugby Football League, Inc. (tel. 09/524-4013; www.rugbyleague.co.nz).

Tennis -- The ASB Bank Classic (www.asbclassic.co.nz), in January, attracts women tennis players from around the world; the Heineken Open (www.heinekenopen.co.nz), the men's event, generally follows the women's event, also in January. Call tel. 09/373-3623 or fax 09/373-3625 for details.