Winston Aldworth flies in a Strikemaster jet

Elisabeth Easther straps on her helmet, hops on a mountain bike and lets gravity take its course.

If you want to branch out from Woodhill or Riverhead, try some closer to town.

Kiwi tells of cruise ship helping refugees in rubber dinghy.

Taupo is a great playground for thrillseekers, finds Shandelle Battersby.

First-timers are full of the joys of spring on the slopes of Happy Valley, writes Dionne Christian.

Sarah Marshall becomes a jungle animal herself on a walking safari in Zambia.

Sometimes work is just work ... even on a beach, with beautiful people, and never-ending surf, writes Elisabeth Easther.

As Disney unveils plans for two huge Star Wars theme parks alongside its existing sites in Florida and California, here are some other travel options for fans.

Non-stop excitement for children of all ages is the hallmark of a Rotorua holiday.

With his backside almost touching the ground, Andrew Louis pretends he's a racing driver.

James Russell is amazed during a trip to Queenstown to discover that since he last grasped poles, Kiwi skifields have lifted their game higher than the Matterhorn.

From castles to quaint ski villages, here's our list of places around the world where you'll find communities that make the most of the colours of the rainbow.

Andrew Louis gets a taste of life as a superhero with the help of a water-propelled jet pack.

A Rotorua couple's retreat is full of surprises, finds Rebecca Barry Hill.

Dave Watts and Chris Gill pick their favourite resorts in the US and Canada for beginners, experts and those in between.

Michael Brown and his family test-drive some of the city's 21st century attractions.

Kelly Lynch outlines what's happening at the largest ski resorts around the country.

If perfect ski snow is your passion this is the Japanese destination for you, but don't count on admiring the scenery, writes David Lewis.

Lions and cheetahs roar and hippos bellow while Michele Crawshaw and her son try to sleep just metres away.

Paul Charman spent last week in the Auckland Islands, where only a few people get to go. DOC, the Navy and universities send people down a few times a year, while a few specialist technicians preform tasks such as eradicating pests, or fixing-up heritage buildings. Common mortals seeking a sub-Antarctic adventure must shell-out for a ticket aboard one of the few eco-tourist boats which ply the Southern Ocean.

Rosalie France explores National Park without snow.

Catherine Smith checks out waterfront activities celebrating the Volvo Ocean Race.

Twenty-six years ago, Nicholas Jones' father tested his youthful stamina on the mountainsides of Nepal. Recently, he returned to the roof of the world with his sons to relive his trekking adventure.

A year-long global ed-venture (education adventure) is giving a mother and her young son a year of discovery they will never forget.

Lace up your hiking boots and discover north-east Spain by foot. P.K. Stowers pays homage to Catalonia.

New cruise line's winning formula puts creatures before home comforts, write Anne Z Cooke and Steve Haggerty.

A snowmobile is an unwieldy beast, with handling a far cry from his 250cc motorbike, finds Andrew Louis.

In the adventure sports world, dangerous and unsafe have different meanings, writes Diana Balham.