Considered New Zealand's café and culture capital, Wellington (surprisingly perhaps) has more cafés and restaurants per head of population than New York. From tiny coffee shops to stylish urban cafés and harbourside relaxation, Wellington buzzes on its daily caffeine fix.

Wellington's food mirrors its development. Early Italian and Greek immigrants set up the local seafood industry. There are more excellent Malaysian and Indian restaurants here than other major centres. Traditional European cuisine flourishes alongside the zingy flavours of Asia. Traditional Maori and Polynesian staples are adopted by all. Our creative chefs and café owners respond to the city's cosmopolitan, competitive culinary energy.

The rural Wairarapa region - just over an hour from Wellington - is a world away in style. Climate and soils combine to create excellent growing conditions for a wonderful array of fine foods and beverages, and Zest tours are dedicated to exploring them. We meet people whose dedication to the good things of life have created a lively gourmet destination.

The boutique Martinborough Wine District is known internationally for its Pinot Noir wines, made with passion by small-scale wine companies and vineyards. Throughout the region olive and citrus groves supply tangy fruit for a range of oils and specialist culinary products, local seafood and prime meats abound, and the range of winery cafés, restaurants and speciality food outlets in Martinborough and Greytown is a food-lovers treat. The historic town of Greytown is appealing with its boutique stores amid pretty colonial buildings and lovely mature trees.