Holidays are all about getting away from it all, and recharging your batteries. And one of the best ways to do that is to sit under the shade of a tree, preferably a broad-canopied coastal Pohutukawa, with a sketchbook and pencils.

Many art shops sell stylish pocket-sized drawing sets: we love the sets from Cretacolor, a quality brand distributed by the French Art Shop in Auckland (09-376 0610).

For recording idle thoughts or idyllic landscapes, try Lama Li Travel Journals from Nepal. They are widely available over the Internet from overseas art suppliers and contain Lokta paper, handcrafted from the bark of a bush that grows in the Himalayas at altitudes of 6500 to 9500 feet. The acid-free paper is notable for its texture and strength.

On a more conventional note, Moleskine also make superb sketchbooks in the style of their regular journals. And anything by stationery specialists Clairefontaine, G. Lalo, Sennelier or Cavallini & Co. (pictured) will be of excellent quality.

The rest is up to you: but rest assured, there are few activities more relaxing.