Am interested in seeing horse racing in New Zealand. There is a meet at Ellerslie on Dec. 26 and at Rotorua on Dec. 27. I believe both of these are throroughbred horse racing (flat) and I assume they are both day racing.

If I go to the racing on Dec. 26 then will I have enough time to drive from the Ellerslie R.C. to AKL for a 7:15PM flight to Rotorua?

If you had to choose one of those two race dates, which would you choose? Consider the quality of racing, the ambience, and to some extent the ease of access (that is getting to the race course from town).

The Ellerslie course is right in Auckland, it is the Auckland Racing Club's headquarters and one of the most attractive courses in Australasia. Dec 26th is a major meeting. It would take about 40 minutes to drive to Auckland Airport from the course. Rotorua is a small racing club, if you want to see better quality horses and higher stakes then Ellerslie is the place to be. If you stayed until the last race you would be cutting it fine to catch a 7.15pm flight.

As Kathy says it might be a bit tight to leave your travel to the airport untill after the last race at Ellerlsie.

I live next door to Ellerslie racecourse and travel to the airport relatively frequently, by private car and cab. It takes at a minimum 20 minutes to get to the domestic terminal. With traffic (Though unlikely on boxing day) it takes up to 50 minutes.

I see Ellerslie has not set the times for the boxing day meet but from memory and from hearing the call from the course while sitting in the back garden the races can run into the early evening.

Have you considered flying down to Rotorua on the morning of the 27th? as an alternative travel plan. That way you can enjoy Ellerslie with out feeling you have to rush off afterwards. Especially if you are in with the members there.

By the way, there is a Novotel and an Ibis next to the gate into the racecourse (off Greenlane) if you are looking for close by accomodation. (walking distance).

They are flat races, steeplechase here is winter time.

As an aside (If you do not stay at a local hotel and walk), do what everyone else does and save yourself money on parking, just park in one of the side streets not in the race course carpark. Our street fills with cars on major race days and it is all free parking around there. Local residents do not mind as a rule, after all we knew the race course was there when we bought into the area.

Thanks both of you, that is great info. Am planning now for Ellerslie on the 26th. I've decided to adjust my itinerary so that I will fly out of Auckland on the 27th - to Blenheim I think it will be. And go to Rotorua at the end of our trip on Jan 3-5. Appreciate the tip on the Novotel. Sounds like we might not need a car at all.

Well, if you are only here for the race meeting and nothing else in Auckland then suggest you take a shuttle van from the airport direct to Novatel or where you will stay near the course. It will cost you $29 one way or around $32 for two people. Then you will not need a car. There are a few nice restaurants in Remuera which would be a five minute taxi ride or Newmarket which would be about 15 minutes or less depending on traffic.

We arrive AKL at 11:30PM on the 24th, Christmas Day in Auckland, then race day. Planning to go to Sky Tower on the 25th.

If you are planning Christmas dinner at the Skytower, may I suggest you book now as it is a popular venue for Christmas dinner. It would be a shame to miss out.

I am unsure of what taxi availablity is like at Christmas (Considering a lot of the drivers are Hindu and Moslem you may well be fine). Cost of a cab from say, Novotel to the Skytower would be around $15. It is only about 7-10 minutes by motorway from the racecourse/Novotel to the CBD. Save you the need for a rental car.

Oh really, Christmas dinner at the tower is a big thing? Thought it might be quiet, get in a couple of hands of blackjack.

Yes, avoiding driving at least for the first few days is a good idea. Otherwise, y'all might see me coming at you head-on in your lane.

I hope not Mrwunrfl, as I mentioned I live round there LOL. I might be out driving ha ha.