Orienteering is an outdoor adventure sport that's great for the mind and body. The aim is to navigate (by foot or mountain bike) between points marked on a highly detailed orienteering map while deciding the best route to complete the course quickly. Orienteering can be a highly competitive individual sport or, when family or friends do a course together, a fun time. All ages, fitness and experience levels, can give it a go. No special equipment is needed to start with, just comfortable shoes and clothing. Compasses are not essential for beginners and most folk can easily use the maps. For some great orienteering places, check the website.
Slip 'n' slide
Get more slick on the snow at Snow Planet. It's holding a school holiday programme for learner skiiers (5-16 years) or snowboarders (from 8 years). Week One is from September 29-October 3, and Week Two is October 6-10. Times are 9.30am-11.30am or 1pm-3pm. Price is $299 per child for five days, which includes a two-hour lesson daily with an instructor, rental equipment (includes skis, boots, poles or snowboard and a helmet, excludes clothing), a small snack at break times and an awards meal on the Friday.
Pedal Power
Cambridge's Avantidrome is about two hours' drive from Auckland where children (aged 10 and above) can have a go at riding around on a wooden velodrome track with steep and speedy corners. Kids can learn about the sport and practise track cycling during the daily two-hour school holiday workshops. One hour of the workshop is spent on the velodrome track, where it's warm and dry, and another hour will be dedicated to mastering road skills outside on a dirt track, wooden board track and a cycleway. Sessions will be held daily (Mon-Fri) through the holidays. Kids will be grouped according to ability and the cost per child is $25, which includes the use of a track bike, helmet and the time of instructors. Children can bring their own outside bikes too for some skills development work. "You can often see gold medalists and world champions wandering around, too," says spokesman Dean Forman.
Art attack
An adaptation of Betty and Alan Gilderdale's book The Little Yellow Digger is being brought to the stage by Tim Bray Productions at the PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna, during the school holidays.
Theatre producer Tim Bray says set designer Rachael Walker has created a construction site on stage that youngsters will love. "It's almost like a giant playground, with all sorts of cool road signs and construction equipment," he says. He reckons most kindergartens and childcare centres have a copy of The Little Yellow Digger and kids will enjoy seeing the popular book come to life.
There are two shows daily (except Sunday) from tomorrow until Saturday, October 11.
Nature trail
Visit farm animals, see birds and enjoy the outdoors at Ambury Regional Park by the Manukau Harbour. The Foreshore Walk takes about 45 minutes through farmland - or do a mountain bike ride over designated tracks.
