Good as gold

Waiheke Island is a prime growing spot for olive trees and each year, in November, the Waiheke Olive Festival takes place on the estate of one of the local producers. Toronto Star freelance travel writer Cleo Paskal describes the set-up: “In front of each stand are more bowls of locally, lovingly produced olive oil. There are international award winners, organic oils and oils grown in groves where the alpacas roam free. There are also stands for the local wine producers, fresh local oysters and beer. The atmosphere is what the 195s 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.”