The Symphony of Busy Happiness
One of the characteristics of summer time in New Zealand is the celebration of food and wine with all things outdoors. The festival is the weapon of choice. This is where hundreds, if not thousands of kiwis are bused, biked or boated in to a wine growing area, such as Waiheke, Blenheim, The Bay of Plenty and Martinborough, and a plied with an over-indulgence of life. Cleo Pascal calls it the symphony of busy happiness.
Food and Wine Festivals in New Zealand have been a staple of the landscape for the last 20 years, the Toast Martinborough is in it’s 21st year and sells over 10,000 tickets for each festival. Although they vary in size and style, they all accommodate the key ingredients of sun, music, food and wine. Each one emphasis one particular ingredient that makes the festival unique and compelling.
Although not unique to New Zealand, it is one of the Kiwi experiences that speaks to travelers:
The atmosphere is what the 1950s pretended to be. Outside, families are picnicking on the grassy slope, watching a cheerful jazz band playing old standards. Older kids are sledding down the grass on sheets of cardboard. Gingerbread cookies and lemonade are for sale. And the teens are flirting in a not-that-I-care-or-anything way.
Uploaded on Flickr by juliatenney
The Waiheke Island Olive Oil festival this year is on November 20th and 21st. The promoters characterize it as a mixture of Olive oils, jazz, food, wine and song. With 13 different Olive growers on the Island, it promises to be a palate watering experience.
Waiheke olive oils are recognised as some of the best in the world. Try the free tastings & buy at festival prices. The island’s olive harvest has high recognition from New Zealand awards to international acclaim.
Waiheke Island is in the middle of the Auckland Harbour, a 40 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It is the Sausalito of Auckland. An encave of weathly winegrowers, bankers and artists. There are 8000 residents but swell to over 50,000 during the summer.
The festival will be held at Rangihoua Estate Olive Grove - 1 Gordons Rd, Rocky Bay, 20th and 21st November 2010. Toast Martinborough will be held on the 21st 2010 in Martinborough in the Wairarapa Valley, north of Wellington.
We don't use the nofollow tag out of principle, you are welcome to comment, but please respect it or it could disappear. If you want to understand what this means please read my 
new zealand
flight of the conchords
Peter Jackson
Kiwi
Kiwifruit
Moblog
Travel and Places
is it similar to octoberfest, sounds like it will be a lot of fun . i have been to germany but i have since cut back on beer and switched to wine
36threads´s last [type] ..RETRO AND POP CULTURE T-SHIRT GALLERY
Wow, seems like a great festivity. In my country we don’t have wine festivals, but we have similar festivals all over the summer. The topics are usually flowers, cattle, or even oranges.
This sounds like a great place to take a girlfriend or significant other. A bunch of happy people I’m sure with all that wine!
sounds and it is great! photos are beautiful, decorated in the same spirit. thanks for the article)
Although I’m not a fan of such festivals, it is worth attending, I think.
I love festivals! I especially miss the kind that we had back when I was small years and years ago. You don’t see that anymore today. Especially when you’re in a big city.
Robert´s last [type] ..How to play Razz Poker
I’m there in New Zealand this Summer Holidays.
Very interesting.
besser´s last [type] ..Holt Bing jetzt auf
This is surely a perfect place for a vacation. I would tell a family vacation.
I think everyone needs to enjoy an “over-indulgence of life” once in awhile. It sounds like great times are to be had at these festivals.
I can’t wait to go there! The Food and Wine Festivals in New Zealand seems to be a wonderful occasion to bond with everyone. Drink, be merry, and share the entire day laughing
I desired to thank you for this exceptional read!! I absolutely enjoyed every single small little bit of it. I’ve you bookmarked your internet site to look at out the new stuff you post.
I never knew New Zealand produced world famous olive oil. Reading about the festival made me wish I could be there in November. Sounds absolutely wonderful. I lived in Western Australia for several years in Exmouth, but never got to spend much time in Kiwi land.
I suddenly missed joining festivals, thanks to you!lol Kidding aside, I love it when there are festivals near our area. Everyone is enjoying like there’s no tomorrow; everyone unites in celebrating the festivities, etc.
I’ll look forward for your post about your experience in joining the festival. I’m sure you already blocked November 20th and 21st. Well have fun!
Funny Pictures, inspirational images are creating my happiness.
PixPow´s last [type] ..The Deadliest Bite In The World
I can’t wait til november hehehe.