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
I am planning on visiting New Zealand this summer. I am glad to have come across this site. Lots of information.
Wow,NZ olive oil is one of the best olive oil in the world! I must try it! The olive oil festival sounds really interesting as well!
Hello.This post was really interesting, especially since I was browsing for thoughts on this matter last Sunday.
Food here looks so good! The setting is really relaxing and awesome
There is nothing like a good place full of good food and good company! I would love to go to the festival! Consider it added to my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!