Te Mata Peak, in the Hawke's Bay. The view from the top takes in a tremendous expanse of land, river and sea. And there's the clue to the food treasures around here. Sheep, beef and dairy farming. A lot of produce, especially orchard fruit. Not to mention the famous vineyards. Time to leave the peak, and explore.....
Read MoreExtra virgin olive oil - for all the tastes of New Zealand
These days, on a journey from the bottom to the top of New Zealand, you will be hard pressed (excuse the pun) not to find a bottle of local extra virgin olive oil from just about every region you visit. Olive trees, which are hardy and known for growing as somewhat of a weed, have happily taken hold throughout the country, as backyard specimens, in very small hobby groves, right through to the rather large commercial groves. The best thing about all this, of course, is that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to sampling some fine local extra virgin olive oils.
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