Great Gatsby Swagger

After a three hour, grey and stormy drive North, I grow tired of the rain and so decide to head East through "Lamb Country". The road meanders through this untouristed area until, in the middle of nowhere, I pass a nondescript hill which is worth a brief stop.

The place with the World's longest name is good for a photo opportunity. Believe it or not, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu is the abbreviated form of 'The Brow of the Hill where Tamatea, the Man with the Big Knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed Mountains, known as Land Eater, played his Flute to his Brother'.

A few more kilometres of winding North through grassy farmlands, I find sunshine on the East Coast. Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's second largest wine-producing region, is the perfect place to stop and enjoy the relaxed, rustic vibes.

At the northern end of the Bay lies the charismatic, art-deco city of Napier. I spend the rest of the day on the streets of this sunny city, looking up at the 1930s facades and streetscapes through a rosé-tinted wineglass.