What's on this weekend

John Rowles

Rock and roll yourself into retirement with the legend himself, John Rowles. Rowles performs at the Auckland Retirement Lifestyle and Travel Expo. Also performing are "Operatunity", and there will be vital intel from a variety of expert speakers on stage throughout the day.

The Auckland Retirement Lifestyle & Travel Expo brings together the latest Products and Services in Travel, Food, Health Care, Leisure activities, Lifestyle choices, Retirement Planning and much more. Cafe on site.

Today and tomorrow, 10am-4pm both days, at Ellerslie Event Centre (Ellerslie Racecourse), Auckland

Crankworx Rotorua

There's more downhill mountain bike action with the Skyline Sprint Warrior returning by popular demand. The all-day event will use some of the dramatic and technical downhill trails at the Skyline Gravity Park - Sprint Warrior, Moss Piglet and Hipster. Riders will gondola up to the start. The HUKKIT Sick Trick is also returning, with 10 hand-picked competitors attempting their biggest tricks for a cash prize.

The Mountain Bike Rotorua Fundy Hundy is a new feature of the Warrior and is for the 'bigger-boned' - riders over 100kg.

Today, 9am-6.30pm, Rotorua Skyline, on Mt Ngongotaha. Spectators free.

Horse trials

The Kihikihi International Horse Trial is a major event on the New Zealand equestrian calendar. The event includes three International classes (CIC 3-star, 2-star, and 1-star) which bring together Australasia's top eventing riders. You can witness the challenge of the Cross Country, where a course of natural obstacles has to be jumped inside the optimum time. And the show-jumping phase consists of one round of jumping, the objective being to jump all the fences clear inside the time.

Today, Cross Country, from 11.30am. Tomorrow, Show Jumping, from 12.15pm. Kihikihi Domain, Te Awamutu.

Music and oysters

The Annual All-You-Can-Eat Oyster Day at Clevedon also features New Zealand artist, Riqi Harawira, who performs at the festival and is launching his new album Sound of the Long White Cloud. There'll also be wine tasting - and so you can enjoy without driving, there's a "party bus" leaving Ponsonby at 11.30am.

Tomorrow, from midday, Clevedon Hotel, Kawakawa Rd, 09 292 8783. Bus and oysters, $65; oysters, $50 p/p.

Air travel nostalgia

There are only six weeks left to visit Air New Zealand's 75th Anniversary Exhibition at Auckland Museum. Air New Zealand 75 Years: Our Nation. The World features the tales, technology and glamour of flying. The exhibition explores Air New Zealand's 75 years of growth and innovation and tells the story of New Zealand's national airline through the experiences of the people: airline staff and passengers. During the upcoming school holidays visitors can meet the "High Flyers", two actors who interact with in the exhibition: "Vivian Walsh" from the New Zealand Flying School and "Barbara", a glamorous frequent flyer from the replica TEAL Solent flying boat from the 1950s. "Pose with the Nose" in the Air New Zealand Boeing 737 cockpit nose, which sits just outside the Museum's front doors. Meet The High Flyers runs during the school holidays in the Air New Zealand 75 Years Exhibition at Auckland Museum, April 18-29, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm. Free with Museum Entry.

Air New Zealand 75 Years: Our Nation. The World, now, till May 22, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland Domain, Parnell

Plan ahead

Next week: Free Fun

Is your child a nature-lover or budding scientist? Westfield shopping centres around the country have entertainment sorted for the school hols. Whether it's creating their own personalised herb garden, conducting a science experiment or making a lava lamp, there's something for every kid.

Westfield school holiday activities are free and perfect for school-aged children from 5 to 10. Keep an eye out for Monty, who will be making special appearances throughout the school holidays too.

This month: Let's Get Crafty

Whether you're looking to pick up a new winter hobby, or you're already an avid crafter, you can weave through a diverse range of exhibitors to pick up some great tips and all the crafty supplies you could ever need at the Stitches and Craft show. A highlight this year is the Flower Power exhibition, a visually impressive 10-metre long piece of work to celebrate 50 years of the flower power theme. A must-see, this work has been created by 207 contributors from more than 24 different countries.

Head to www.craftevents.co.nz to start planning your visit and to get the best priced tickets. April 28-30, ASB Showgrounds.

This month: Tom Sawyer

's production of

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

is perfectly timed for the school holidays and is a reminder of the joys of a simple childhood, pre-ipods and tablets. Mark Twain's immortal classic about growing up in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi is a joyous leap into the great river of time and memory. Conjuring all the mystery and magic of childhood, this famous coming-of-age story is full of twists and turns and adventures the whole family will treasure.

April 21-27, Selwyn Theatre. Phone: (09) 309 0390

Next month: Docu-Fest

The festival that captures the hearts and minds of New Zealanders is back. The 11th Documentary Edge International Film Festival (Doc Edge) launches at Auckland's Q Theatre with a selection of international and home-grown documentaries curated to provide a range of styles and stories. Ahead of the full programme the festival is offering a sneak peek at the first five feature-length films from Israel, Afghanistan and South Africa, among others.

May 18-29 - Doc Edge Festival: Auckland, Q Theatre, Auckland.