Rural adventures are reviving small-town New Zealand, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Elisabeth Easther enjoys the puns and good humour in a small town like no udder.

This King Country town will make you feel right at home, writes Elisabeth Easther.

New Zealanders will still have free access to Tongariro National Park and its surrounds despite a report confirming his people's belief its peaks were never gifted to the Crown, says paramount chief.

On a rail trip from the capital, Pamela Wade is enraptured by the North Island's emerald green beauty and looming mountains.

Chill out where high adventure and relaxation go hand in hand, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Levin has produced plenty of superstars, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Donna McIntyre feels her fear of heights and does the Tongariro Crossing anyway.

Three volcanoes, a castle and a train make for magical holiday ingredients, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Elisabeth Easther finds timber trails, waterways and mountainsides in the Ruapehu District.

The Civil Aviation Authority has been told it needs to keep better records on flight training incidents after an investigation found insufficient evidence to link an increase in fatalities to a decline in training safety.

Rachel Grunwell visits Ruapehu in summer for a weekend of adventure.

Elisabeth Easther finds comfort in New Zealand's gumboot capital.

Wanganui residents are fed up with the "disgusting" foul stench coming from the city's water treatment plant, but know it will be a while before the problem is fixed.

The Whanganui River Rd has more tourists than last year, including an increasing number of cyclists.

A ramble through forest near Ohakune is a pleasant diversion for the whole family, finds Libby Nicholson-Moon.

Lydia Jenkin drops the shops and experiences a Ladies' Weekend with a difference - caving, climbing and trekking in Tongariro National Park.

Paul Rush tackles foaming rapids on a six-day journey down the Whanganui River.

Cliff Taylor dodges missiles and fickle weather on the Tongariro Crossing.

A moonlit weekend gives Fraser Crichton an opportunity to find out more about Project Tongariro's high-tech Tongariro Alpine Crossing experience.