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.
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I did not know the New Zealand made quality olive oil. I just learned something. I thought that Italy was the quality olive oil producer. Now, I know that Italy is not the only producer.
You have just inspired a Californian to visit Kiwi land
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Nice video to show us around the place.. Thanks!
I have always wanted to visit New Zealand for the sheer beauty of its landscapes… but now I want to visit their food and wine events!
An Olive Oil festival? How original! Go Kiwis!
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wow..someday i want to NZ..it’s really beatiful
I was just browsing this site’s pages then came up here and got so curious about the food stuffs and got me here commenting. New Zealand is very great as to the calm ambiance and great places to travel. I have recently commented on the travel page a while ago and I got curious here. I do want to go back there on New Zealand this time on my Honeymoon with my new and my first and the last beautiful wife. We want to rediscover the place. Thank you!
Food and wine festival n New Zealand is a momentous event. It is like a celebration of life and bounty harvest. It is celebrated for almost 20 years and has brought both the natives and tourists the great taste of food and beverages. Nice post you got.
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.
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Its great that your city holds a regular food fest. This brings families closer and its also a perfect way to meet other people. They are surely having a great time there. Plus olive oils are a really healthy form of fat. They are good for the heart. You surely know how to party in a healthy way
I always imagined New Zealand to be a perfect place for a family bonding during holidays. And this post makes me crave more on getting my feet on the ground of New Zealand. Wine Festivals excittes me more. Thanks for the post!
Wow. NZ looks beautiful. We are planning a trip and hope to visit Martinborough.
I am fascinated with your travels around NZ. I am becoming increasingly disheartened with the upheavals here in the US, and New Zealand seems like such a pleasant alternative. Am I wrong?
And they say happiness is hard to obtain. Always the simplest things
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As of now, I’ve never been there to celebrate food and wine festival. Looks like that would be a great way to relax a bit from work. Also, the celebration may attract tourists to come over to the place.
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In my point of view New zealand is a beautiful place to travel. It has beautiful bay areas and something special in the wines and food of country.
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