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I think the next place we headed for was Napier.  The guide book spoke of an Art Deco city and so it was – in the centre – but all the buildings, give or take a few, were quite flimsily built and getting shabby. 

Nevertheless they had great charm and besides some fine Art Deco there was also the “Spanish Mission” style.  It must have been still early in the season because there was nowhere open to dine.  We wandered around for a bit and found a posh looking place but there was only one other table occupied and I think they lived there.  Amazingly the food was top quality shellfish and meats and very good wine – chosen by my boy.

The following day, we booked a winery tour - with Vunce.  Actually his name was Vince but that is how everyone pronounced his name.  Vunce was at pains to instill the excellence of New Zealand wines into our obviously uneducated brains.  What a salesman!  He just about bludgeoned you into agreeing with him. 

We went to several vineyards and they were in lovely settings and with nice wines but not a patch on the Australians.  There was a Japanese man and his tiny wife, who batted her eyelids at Jason and made signs to me about his height and giggled girlishly behind her hand.  I don’t think she had seen many like him.  Poor lady, she just didn’t get wine tasting at all.  However, it was an amusing way to while away the afternoon. 

The beach across the road from our gorgeous two bedroom apartment was disappointing, sort of rough, sharp stony.  From our balcony it looked so good, viewed through the branches of an enormous palm tree with a trunk like a woody pineapple but you could not go and lie on it (the beach that is).  Still, the interior of the island has quite the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.  Next morning, after a delicious breakfast of tropical fruit and eggs and bacon delivered to our apartment, we headed for Wellington.

Jason adds: Where are the worlds best Burgundy wines from?

Not France - no no no... New Zealand. That is, according to the New Zealand Burgundy wine growing association... Now, this underlines a bit of a running joke - all New Zealand attractions have won a tourist award and most restaurants have awards for 'beef and lamb cooking' - regardless of how crass, or crap they are...

Mum, you get a gold medal for writing this one!.

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