Labour weekend guide

By ALEXIS GRANT

Staying home for the holiday? Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy your day off.

RELAX

Read a good book. Three books released at Whitcoulls this week are: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett; The Instant Cook by Donna Hay; and Himalaya by Michael Palin. Or pick up one of the bookstores' most popular selections, which include Sir Peter Blake: An Amazing Life by Alan Sefton and The Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King.

Catch a movie. Opening this weekend in Auckland is The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Collateral, and Coffee and Cigarettes. If you'd rather watch a movie at home, pick up one of Blockbuster's newly released films: Troy, Wonderland, 13, and Plain Dirty.

Hit the mall. Enjoy the Labour Day sales.

LEARN

Visit one of Auckland's museums. Motat and the Auckland Museum are open from 10am-5pm on Labour Day.

Stroll around the Auckland Art Gallery. Take a free tour at 2pm or walk through the gallery between 9am and 5pm. Thru the eyes of Shirin Neshat, an exhibition by the American-based Iranian photographer, is on show, as well as The Walter's Prize, which features four contemporary NZ artists.

Visit the Auckland Zoo. It's open from 9.30am-5.30pm on Labour Day.

GET OUTSIDE

Service your boat. Run a pre-season check.

Show off your golf skills. Public golf courses such as Waiheke Island Country Club, Great Barrier Island Golf Club and Chamberlain Park in Mt Albert are open for the holiday.

Rock out for free. Bands Goldenhorse and 48May will give a free performance at Takapuna Beach from 1-5pm on Monday.

Go tramping. Climb Rangitoto. Fullers Cruises runs ferries to and from the island three times each day.

DON'T FORGET

Starting tomorrow dogs on leashes are allowed on city beaches only between 7pm and 9am. At Mission Bay Beach, dogs have on-leash access from 9pm to 9am. The new hours apply until Easter.