Well, at least you can’t fall off… Bryn gets ready for the race
Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Who would pass up on the opportunity to give an old university mate a hiding (in the spirit of friendly competition) pedalling enclosed, in an aerodynamic Perspex bubble, suspended from a monorail? Thinking about it, that’s probably what crossed Eli’s mind when I suggested to him that we meet at Rotorua’s Velocity Valley for a duel on the Shweeb Racer.
Emerging stiff-legged after a two-and-a-half hour drive on the road south from Auckland, I found my confidence reduced. Eli is a “Rotovegas” local and arrived looking altogether too fresh and lively and with a mountain bike in the back of his pickup. My confidence dwindled some more.
What s it really like to be on stage at the Sydney Opera House? I found out – with a walk-on role
An exclusive experience gives ordinary (deep-pocketed) people the chance to have a walk-on part on one of the world s most legendary stages
20 February 2021 • 8:00am
James limbers up for his big night in La Bohème, by taking centre stage on the steps of the Opera House
Credit: Keith Saunders
From New York’s Chrysler Building to London’s Tower Bridge, most cities have a signature – but few come close to Sydney’s Opera House. The sail-topped structure is of course a must-see when travelling Down Under; simply gazing upon it is special. Watching an opera here? Even more so. But unless you’re a professional singer, only a very privileged few can claim to have trodden its boards in an actual performance.
Can I rewild myself in a weekend?
Aisling O’Leary learns to disconnect with screens and reconnect with nature on a weekend of wild swimming and fire making in Cornwall
30 January 2021 • 8:00am
A brave soul plunges into the River Fal
I am floating in the river Fal on a crisp morning in Cornwall, eyes full of bluish-pink sky. The lush vegetation on either side of the water is tinged with yellow and orange and a fishing boat quietly makes its way downstream. I have been in so long at this point that I might have turned into Seamus, the local seal – but never have I felt so enlivened by nature.