It's not just Mr Wilkinson and his fellow Lions who will be working up a sweat on the tour of New Zealand, which kicks off with today's game against Rotorua. The Barmy Army (0845 0610612), which has expanded its repertoire to include tour organisation and merchandising alongside its more traditional boozy singing, is opening a central Auckland base later this week at Alinghi where several sporting activities have been arranged for fans.
Unlikely to feature in the next Olympics, events include a rugby match against the local North Shore Dad's Army XV. "I don't expect us to be too young and athletic either," said a Barmy Army spokesperson. "The Red Cross will be standing by." There will also be tug of war between Lions and New Zealand fans, sail races and a golf, darts and pool triathlon which the spokesperson described as "possibly more alcoholic than your usual triathlon."
There are also the usual Kiwi suspects of bungee jumping, white-water rafting, zorbing and tandem skydiving. The fishing and wine-tasting cannot, according to the he Barmy Army spokesperson, be rated as serious athletic endeavour.
Should fans be able to tear themselves away from the three rugby Tests, this month also sees the opening of the New Zealand ski season, with positive forecasts after early snow in April. Coronet Peak, near Queenstown, expects to open its lifts on June 11. Cardrona Alpine Resort on June 24, The Remarkables, near Queenstown, on June 25, and Treble Cone, near Wanaka around the same time.
Healthy high notes
Swimming, saunas, healthy Scandinavian nosh and regular light rambles are part of an unusual Finnish break that fuses high culture with the great outdoors. Based around Savonlinna's midsummer opera festival with performances of Aida and Turandot in a medieval castle, followed by four chamber concerts at Kuhmo on the Russian border, the trip from Kudu Travel also includes several two- to four-hour walks through the evocative landscape of silver birch trees and lakes.
Hotels are based next to the Baltic Sea or inland lakeshores, and the local food is natural Atkins with salmon, arctic char and caviar as well as low-fat, low-cholesterol reindeer meat, wild mushrooms and cloudberries.
As well as exploring the local forests, there will be opportunities to walk at Punkaharju esker, an ice-age sand ridge and Finnish natural treasure.
· kudutravel.com (01722 716167). Nine days (between July 24-Aug 1) £1,750pp including accommodation, full board, wine and train journeys, but not flights.
Free kids!
Two current offers provide the perfect formula of free accommodation for the kids along with activities that will leave them exhausted in time for you to hit the cocktail bar. Curtain Bluff in Antigua lets two under-12s stay in their parents' room, eat and exercise - rainforest and plantation treks and fishing - for zero cost.
· azurecollection.com (01244 322770). A week at Curtain Bluff (between July 1-24) costs £4,925 all-inclusive for family of four, inc BA flights and transfers.
Slightly less exotic, is a similar offer for under-12s (including breakfast and evening meal) at the Noel Arms Hotel (01386 840317) in Chipping Camden. You'll have to shell out for their cycle hire and horse riding, but a walk on the bracing Cotswold Way won't cost a penny.
· Two nights is £400 per family half-board, June-August.
Swelling spas
Two more super-sized pamper palaces have come to our attention. The Qi, Australia's largest and latest day spa, will open this November in Melbourne's revamped GPO building, with 25 treatment suites covering 1,000 square metres.
Back in Spain, the Marina D'Or resort in Oropesa del Mar, claims to have Europe's largest seawater spa with more than 3,000 sq m of briny, a medical centre and a staggering number of health and beauty treatments.
Let us know if you're aware of any bigger spas and you could win a free Brazilian wax performed by our investigative reporter.
Devon dudes
Despite its name, you don't have to travel to Australia to catch the adrenaline buzz of the Gold Coast Oceanfest 2005. From June 17-19, Devon's north coast plays host to surfing, surf skiing, kite surfing, Aussie surf boats (in fact any activity with surf in its title). Held on Croyde and Woolacombe beaches, there's also a slightly alarming event called the Big Boy Paddle. Expect unfeasibly loud music, logos galore, dreadlocks and moody middle-distance stares from tanned men wearing Oakley sunglasses.
In the canyons of your mind...
A new archaeology, photography and adventure break in Utah's Canyonlands is organised by Crow Canyon Archaeology Center (001 970 565 8975). Led by snapper Brian Hucko, it includes camping and hikes to ancient sites of the Pueblo and Ute Indians.
· Oct 16-22, $1,595 pp including camping, all meals, tuition and local transport but not flights.
And finally...
Here's your chance to sup a few drops of the amber nectar and work it off at a decent price. All this month, Wye Lea Country Manor (01989 562880), a 17-acre Herefordshire estate with heated pool, steam room, fitness centre, floodlit tennis courts, private fishing and spa treatments, is offering four nights for the price of three.
That's highly convenient for the Beer on Wye Festival, held at the Hereford Rowing Club from June 24-26, which features over 50 beers and ciders, and offers activities "around the water and riverbank". No one was available to explain further, but we're pretty sure they won't involve six-packs or elegant triple salkas.
· Four nights in a two-person, self-catering apartment costs £285.
