Embrace the autumn season and stomp grapes at Soljans Estate. Photo / Richard Robinson
Rain or shine, we're still happy to have four days of holiday. Easter is like that. Indoors or outdoors, there's plenty to do.
Jazz hands
Jazz aficionados choose between the traditions of the Tauranga Jazz Festival and Waiheke's smaller scale jaunt. Tauranga's crowds and five waterfront stages vs Waiheke's Jazzabout Bus circling the island (bus and ferry combo passes available).
www.jazz.org.nz
www.waihekejazzfestival.co.nz
www.fullers.co.nz
Fair go
An Auckland tradition since 1911, the Coca Cola Easter Show has not always had an easy-to-find app, free Wi-Fi, a wicked circus and rides to make you scream. The fluoro candyfloss and saucy hot dogs on sticks probably date from then, and the animals at the A & P Show are a city-slicker's favourite.
ASB Showgrounds. Until Monday, 10am-10pm. Free entry, rides are extra.
Slam Bam
Waikaraka Park's Easter Speedway Spectacular has demolition derby, sprintcars and midgets. Mud, madness - what more do you need?
Today, 6-10pm. Waikaraka Family Speedway, Onehunga.
http://waikarakafamilyspeedway.co.nz
Wine out west
An autumn harvest celebration at Soljans Estate in Kumeu will give you grape stamping, folk dance and live music, just like the old country.
Today to Monday, 9am-5pm. 366 State Highway 16, Kumeu.
http://www.soljans.co.nz/berba-croatian-harvest-celebration
Groovy baby
A new old tradition, Real Groovy's Record Store Day joins record stores around the world celebrating vinyl with live in-store DJs, exclusive vinyl releases.
438 Queen Street. Today, 9am-7pm.
Eggy Weggy
Spot 15 of the 100 artist-decorated giant eggs in the Whittaker's Big Egg Hunt, raising funds for Starship, around Auckland Museum's Events Centre. There are egg hunts at Amazing Maze (more than 35,000 to find, all weekend) and the Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens (Sunday 10am-3pm) and Easter carnivals at Waipu (today) and Leigh (tomorrow).
NY Times: Heatwaves impair cognition, increase aggression, and disrupt self-control.