Close to home: Hollyford heli-hike

Pyke River Swingbridge on the Hollyford Track. Photo / Supplied

The new one-day heli-hike adventure offered by Hollyford Track Guided Walks includes a scenic flight over the Southern Alps, the Hollyford Valley and Milford Sound, and opportunity to walk part of the Hollyford Track. It also features jet boating on the Hollyford River, a glacier landing, morning tea at Pyke River Lodge and a gourmet lunch at a scenic alpine or coastal location.

Contact: 0800 832 226

Down on the farm

The New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton keep the rural sector up with trends and innovations. There's a huge range of food and entertainment including an Ag Art Wear show, demonstrations of old west style stock handling on horseback, parades of vintage machinery, extreme motorcycle stunts, cooking demonstrations, helicopter rides and much more.

From war to weird

New Plymouth's Puke Ariki has an interesting mix of exhibitions throughout June and July. War Brides: Leap of Faith reflects on the joys and sorrows of wartime romance, while Stranger than Fiction features uncommon adornments, peculiar plants and unusual tools. Also on show is the evocative rugby exhibition Hard on the Heels, Peter Bush - which features more than 100 photos of All Black legends, special sporting moments and social history.

Starry skies

Astronomy experts at Stardome Observatory will host a Matariki Breakfast on June 18, and the planetarium show Matariki Dawn will run at 7pm daily, June 15-19.

Contact: (09) 624 1246

Time for tartan

Kilts will be normal attire in Waipu when the town celebrates its Scottish heritage during Tartan Week, July 1-16. Events include the Art'nTartan Wearable Art Awards, whisky tasting, a Men in Kilts Rugby Challenge, Highland dancing, a ceilidh, a mid-winter swim and more.