Recommended holiday activities

Event
Beach Day Out, Soundshell, Napier: Assorted musicians have packed their bags for a quick trip of various holiday spots. Today Scribe, Nesian Mystik, Zed, Goldenhorse, Augustino and WBC are playing in Napier from 3pm. Door sales $35. No food or drink allowed because concert-goers are expected to buy from the food and beverage vendors on-site. Organisers also prohibit glass, bottles, pets - and nanas.

Beach

Pt Chevalier, Pt Chevalier Rd and Harbour View Rd: This is a quick drive from inner-city Auckland. Perfect for a quick dip, although it seems a shame not to stop awhile and use the picnic areas.

Tramp/Walk

Old Devonport: This is a one-hour historic walk, not counting coffee stops. Start in King Edward Reserve near the ferry wharf for examples of colonial buildings with columned verandas and wooden fretwork. Pass the Devonport Yacht Club, past the Masonic Hotel built in 1860. Head down Church St for a look at the Holy Trinity Church and examples of simple cottages built in the 1880s. Head along Albert St, past the Devonport cemetery and on to Victoria St.

Fishing

Mahurangi East: Drive through Algies Bay along Ridge Rd to Scotts Landing. Walk around the shore to a quiet pozzie, or fish from the shelter of your car. The Mahurangi Harbour channel swings in close, so you never know whether it will be a fat oyster-fed snapper or a boisterous kahawai. Two hours either side of high tide is best. Mullet and pilchards fish well on a 5kg line with No 5 hooks to avoiding hooking the small stuff.

Joke

A horse-float driver is pulled over by a traffic cop for speeding.

"Have you got an explanation for driving so fast?" the policeman asks the driver.

"Officer, I've got to get to Ellerslie for the first race. It's on in 30 minutes!" replies the float driver.

"But this float is empty," says the policeman.

"Yes I know, I've got the scratchings!"

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