Continuing with our focus on the upcoming Rugby World Cup, the city stadium we will be covering is Dunedin.
Forsyth Barr Stadium – Dunedin
The Forsyth Barr Stadium is the largest on the Southern Islands and the newest, only opening in August 2011, it will be known by a non-commercial name during the World Cup of the Otago Stadium and will host England’s opening game of the tournament against Argentina.
As the World Cup is being held in the winter time in New Zealand, you can expect the nights to get a little chilly, but this is where the Forsyth Barr stadium comes into its own. The 30,000 fans watching the game will be treated to an indoor stadium at the height of stadium technology. Whilst the players can be protected from what may get to be particularly cold evenings out on a field.
The Forsyth Barr Stadium
The English team will be playing three of their pool matches in the stadium, so get used to seeing English team playing indoors for the group stage of the tournament.
Forsyth Barr Stadium World Cup Matches
The English team will be playing three of their pool matches in the stadium, so get used to seeing English team playing indoors for the group stage of the tournament. Here are the games being held in the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
- New Zealand v Tonga – 09/09/2011
- Australia v Ireland – 17/09/2011
- New Zealand v France – 24/09/2011
- Fiji v Samoa – 25/09/2011
Some games will be played on the Southern Island but the more high profile clashes, semi finals and finals will be held in the northern regions as covered in the Westpac Stadium and Eden Park posts. But Dunedin is where the first few England clashes will take place.
Heritage and Wildlife in Dunedin
Dunedin is also one of the very best locations in New Zealand to see some of the most incredible wildlife with penguins, albatross’, sea lions and seals.
With the great wildlife tours that are available to those travelling to Dunedin, there is also a chance to see the heritage of the city with the various stately homes and industrial heritage, the likes of Speight’s Brewery and Taieri Gorge Railway are must see locations around the city.
Located in Dunedin the rolling hills and natural harbour is steeped in an industrial heritage of New Zealand also has many of the countries best preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture around.
You can really see some of the fantastic sights that the South Island has to offer, but you can at the same time quite easily travel to the Northern Island to experience the atmosphere around Auckland for the finals which should in no doubt be electric.
New Zealand South Island holidays have many more cultural destinations to visit, especially if you are interested in seeing the sites of heritage and distilleries around the area.
