A month before our arrival, this area was hit by a major cyclone.  Touring we can see great damage and debris=a long recovery.  Not their first taste of devastation.  2/3/1931 a 7.8 earthquake , epicenter at sea, rocked this town.  Sixteen structures survived.  For the rebuild, they looked to the largest remaining structure- reinforced concrete was its base.  Hence, their choice, Art Deco for the style.The other art deco Mecca, Miami, sent a thousand royal palms as a gift.

    Along their Marine Parade is a boardwalk by the sea, dotted with beautiful gardens- they host a fest of classic cars- cancelled this year, a fragment gather to greet us at the gangway.

    Fertile soil and a dry summer create a perfect blend for orchards and grape vine.  70 wineries scattered in the countryside.  Apple trees about- 5 billion are exported yearly to Australia.  “Pacific Rose” is the juicy favorite.  The nickname “fruit bowl of NZ “ applies.

    Our ride takes us past hills with English names, Shakespeare, Dickens, Emerson…. .etc.  But there is a movement to incorporate more native names.  We stop at Spirits in Stone, a store,sweet shop, sculpture garden, farm called Birdwoods.  We swing past Perfume Point.  Head half way up to Hawkes Bay and Te Mata Point.  Views are so clear and beautiful on this sunny day.We “merge like a zip” on our return.

   On the Parade, we are told the story of a settler who had six daughters.  His wife pleaded to her husband to build them their own places and he did - 6 identical homes in a row (they survived the quake)

    Title was donated by our tour guide, who told us he  learned of the phrase from migrants heading home after months of harvesting.  The men call their return’BIG BANANA TIME” -(USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!!)

Q What group opened the first winery in 1851.

A Four seasons in one day.