If you're looking for a relaxed way of spending the Christmas holidays with family and friends and some entertainment why not head to the Arawa Racecourse this Sunday.
The Rotorua racecourse, on Fenton St, is gearing up for a day of family picnics, live music and fun at the Interislander Summer Festival event.
The festival is taking place across the country at different racecourses with 39 events.
Another bumper crowd is expected at the Rotorua club. If you want to get your extended family together in the same spot you can guarantee a prime location by booking a Home Straight gazebo lawn spot for $125 a person. This package, which doesn't include admission, includes a reserved space of 3m x 3m to erect your own gazebo, a wooden barbecue table and 10 race books.
There are BYO limits of one bottle of wine or six stubbies - no spirits, RTDs, kegs, crates or cask wine are permitted.