KEY POINTS:
Wairere Boulders near Horeke in the Far North is a valley filled with thousands of huge basalt boulders stacked on top of each other, sometimes rising to a height of 30m. The site resembles a river of rocks running seawards and visitors can follow the flow along a
network of walking tracks, bridges and lookouts.
Contact: (09) 401 9935
On the web: www.wairereboulders.co.nz
An apple a day
Hawkes Bay's first AppleFest will be held on Saturday, May 10. The harvest festival is full of fun for families, including an apple toss, an apple-packing competition and a Great Granny Smith Apple Pie Bake open to grannies with the surname Smith. Organisers are aiming to make the longest apple strudel in the world and there'll be food stalls, plus cider and wine samples. In the evening, the Apple Hop features a great line-up of entertainment.
On the web: www.applefest.co.nz
A regal walk
Queen Charlotte Sound and Track are named after the queen who was a respected amateur botanist. She was born in May 1744 and, to celebrate the woman, the wonderful walking track and its spectacular location, the Portage Resort is having a Queen's Birthday Weekend bash, May 31-June 2. Activity options range from a cocktail evening, cruising and walking to biking, kayaking, a gourmet barbecue and a party with blazing fires and mulled wine. Special package deals online.
Contact: 0800 762 442.
On the web: www.portage.co.nz
Big bite of fun
Jaw-dropping holiday fun at Kelly Tarlton's Shark School includes Ferocious Feedings in the Shark Tank, a Shark Trail where you can check out heaps of sharky stuff, and stories and songs by StarFish Magic. One special new attraction is four live, unhatched baby carpet shark cases. The programme runs daily until May 4.
Contact: 0800 80 50 50
On the web: www.kellytarltons.co.nz
Makes you think
This year is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the New Zealand Human Rights Film Festival celebrates this milestone with a programme of documentaries from around the world. Screenings are followed by a discussion forum. It runs in Wellington May 8-16, Auckland May 15-23, Christchurch May 22-30 and Dunedin May 29-June 6.
On the web: www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz
Outing with a purpose
Have a rewarding day out on a Hauraki Gulf island by volunteering for the Motuihe Project, which aims to restore the ecological and historical environment of Motuihe Island. This time of year is especially busy with tree planting in full swing. Just turn up on Volunteer Days, which are listed online.
Contact: 0800 668844
On the web: www.motuihe.org.nz