Surf’s Up At Womad New Zealand 2005

NEWS RELEASE – 21 JANUARY 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Surf’s Up At Womad New Zealand 2005

WOMAD New Zealand 2005 event organisers have today announced exciting news for surfers.

Due to unprecedented demand for festival camping, WOMAD has secured an idyllic beachside location at Fitzroy Beach, one of Taranaki’s premier surf spots.
The WOMAD Beachside Campground will operate for the duration of the festival from 11-13 March 2005.

Festival director Roger King said: “It’s fantastic that we have been able to expand our camping capacity to a site that really showcases the best of New Plymouth and its foreshore.”

The new campground will be serviced by a free shuttle bus, which will ferry patrons to and from the festival site during operating hours.

The WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) festival takes place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl and features more than 400 performers from 20 countries.

“Camping at festivals only adds to the experience and has a positive vibe all of its own created by being surrounded by lots of happy, like-minded people.”

The Fitzroy Beach site is ideal for surfers with a beach break that is best surfed on mid to high tide. The beach is well known for good barrels and recently hosted the World Masters Surfing Champs. It will also be the base for the postponed Triple Seven Championships in 2006, which will bring the world’s top 44 boardriders to the region.

Keen surfer and WOMAD co-event organiser Wharehoka Wano said: “With one of Taranaki’s best surf beaches just seconds away, WOMAD is now an awesome choice for festival-loving boardriders everywhere.”

And while accommodation throughout Taranaki is filling up fast for the WOMAD festival, there are still motels, hotels, B&Bs, homestays and campground sites available.

“There will be a real festival atmosphere throughout the whole of New Plymouth during WOMAD. We are preparing to welcome a huge influx of people to the region, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that their visit is hassle-free,” Roger said.

Three-day tickets to WOMAD, including three nights camping at the WOMAD Beachside Campground are only available through Ticketek. Camping only vouchers are also available for those who have already purchased a three-day ticket to WOMAD.

WOMAD NEW ZEALAND 2005 IS SUPPORTED & FUNDED BY THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS;
Core Funders: New Plymouth District Council; The TSB Community Trust
Event Partners: Shell NZ Ltd; Todd Energy
Programme Partners: The Radio Network; Tui Ora
Event Sponsors: Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Team Architecture; Kawaroa Consultancy Ltd; Robert Angus Real Estate
Event Supporter: Creative New Zealand

ENDS
“WOMAD hit New Plymouth with world-class music … drawing big crowds and an atmosphere likened to Woodstock without the rain.” The Dominion-Post

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