Recommended holiday activities

Event


Derby Day, Ellerslie Racecourse: The horse-racing is almost an excuse. The real competition will be the Mercedes-sponsored Fashions in the Field and a $65,000 Mercedes Benz C180K for the overall winner. There are four main categories including Most Outrageous Outfit, which should be a good spectator sport.

Beach

Cheltenham Beach, Cheltenham Rd, Devonport: For swimming with a view, this beach comes complete with a close-up of Rangitoto Island. High tide is good for safe swimming but low tide means a bit of a hike to get to the water. If that's not exercise enough, there's always a scramble up North Head.

Children

The Puppet Show, Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain: The Puppet Show opens today. There's everything from Punch and Judy's traditional satire to shadow puppetry. Today's show is Jonathon Acorn's The Sausage King. Performances are 11.45am, 1.45pm and 3.45pm. Puppet mania continues for kids, who can then make their own animal finger puppets from 10am-noon and 1.30pm-3pm.

Tramp/walk

Kitekite Falls, Piha: At the end of Glen Esk Rd, follow the path to the Kitekite Falls. Your efforts will be rewarded when you get to the swimming hole. It takes about an hour there and back.

Fishing

Thames coast: Dozens of spots beside the coast road between Waikawau and Wilsons Bay yield snapper, kahawai and kingfish. The horseshoe-shaped bay at the start of Coromandel Hill Road is both pretty and productive on an incoming tide. Use a running sinker rig, or a strayline, with a light sinker. If no bites, try a variety of baits - pilchards, squid, bonito, mullet, fresh kahawai and piper - or a shop-bought beaky flasher rig.

Joke

One day a miserable toothbrush sits down and says, "I feel like I have the worst job in the world". Then the toilet paper comes and replies, "Yeah right". - submitted by Grace Goodwin, Whitford.

Send us a family-friendly joke. Email with your name and details to newsdesk.