>> HI.

I'M RUDY MAXA.

PICTURE A LANDSCAPE SO EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL THAT EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL THAT IT TAKES EVEN EXPERIENCED TRAVELERS BY SURPRISE; A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SCALE MOUNTAINS IN THE MORNING, SEA-KAYAK IN THE AFTERNOON, AND STILL SAVOR A GOURMET MEAL AT NIGHT.

NEXT UP, IT'S NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH ISLAND ON "SMART TRAVELS."

>> MAJOR CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR "SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS PROVIDED BY... >> OVER THE YEARS, PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS SHOWN YOU THE WORLD, EDUCATED YOU ABOUT IT, AND INSPIRED YOU TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

EXPEDIA CAN HELP YOU GET THERE WITH FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND VACATION PACKAGES.

"SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY THE PEOPLE AT EXPEDIA.

>> ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM MEDJETASSIST.COM.

MEDICAL EVACUATION MEMBERSHIP PROTECTION FOR TRAVELERS.

TAKE TRIPS, NOT CHANCES.

"SMART TRAVELS" IS A GRAND TOUR OF THE WORLD'S GREAT DESTINATIONS--THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND UNIQUE LOCAL FLAVORS.

NOW TIPS, TRIPS, AND SECRET PLACES ON "SMART TRAVELS-- PACIFIC RIM."

>> [GRUNTING] >> THE POLYNESIAN PEOPLE NAMED IT "THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD," A SPECTACULAR COUNTRY MOLDED BY CATACLYSMIC EVENTS AND VEILED IN MYSTERY.

FOR CENTURIES, NEW ZEALAND WAS COMPLETELY ISOLATED FROM OTHER LAND MASSES.

IT EVOLVED PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

IT'S A PLACE THAT INSPIRES REVERENCE IN NATIVES AND VISITORS ALIKE, A REVERENCE FOR THE LAND AND THIS COUNTRY'S ANCIENT ROOTS.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SO MUCH SCENIC LOVELINESS CAN BE CONCENTRATED INTO SUCH A SMALL COUNTRY.

NEW ZEALAND IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF BRITAIN, YET IT HAS AN AMAZINGLY DIVERSE CLIMATE THAT RANGES FROM GLACIAL TO TEMPERATE TO TROPICAL.

THIS TRIP, WE'RE VEERING OFF THE TOURIST TRACK INTO THE RURAL REACHES OF NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH ISLAND.

NEW ZEALAND IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC MORE THAN 1,200 MILES FROM THE MAINLAND OF AUSTRALIA.

AFTER LANDING IN AUCKLAND, WE'LL HEAD TO THE BREATHTAKING BAY OF ISLANDS AND THE TOWNS OF PAIHIA AND RUSSELL.

THEN WE'LL TRAVEL SOUTH TO THE PASTURELANDS OF HAWKE'S BAY.

MOST TRAVELERS TO NEW ZEALAND ARRIVE BY AIR, LANDING HERE AT AUCKLAND'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

OUR FLIGHT FROM NORTH AMERICA TOOK ABOUT 12 HOURS, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.

NEW ZEALANDERS, NICKNAMED "KIWIS," ARE PROUD OF AUCKLAND, THEIR BIGGEST CITY.

IT'S GREEN, CLEAN, AND SOPHISTICATED.

BUT I HAVEN'T COME TO NEW ZEALAND FOR THE CITY SIGHTS.

I'M OFF IN SEARCH OF THIS COUNTRY'S BEST SCENIC BEAUTY.

WE'RE TRAVELING TO THE NORTHLAND, A PART OF NEW ZEALAND THAT'S RICH IN MAORI AND EUROPEAN HISTORY.

WE ARRIVE IN PAIHIA, A SCENIC TOURIST TOWN AND GATEWAY TO THE AREA KNOWN AS THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST GLORIOUS COASTLINE CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE.

THIS MARITIME AREA ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN 140 ISLANDS ABUNDANT WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE.

FIRST ON MY LIST OF ACTIVITIES: KAYAKING TRIP.

THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO ENJOY THE BAY OF ISLANDS' SUBTROPICAL COASTLINE THAN BY SEA KAYAK.

IT WAS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT NEW ZEALAND'S EARLIEST SETTLERS FIRST LANDED.

EASTERN POLYNESIAN IMMIGRANTS, WHOSE DESCENDANTS ARE KNOWN AS THE MAORI, ARRIVED HERE ABOUT 1,000 YEARS AGO.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO LINGER AT THE SPECTACULAR HARURU FALLS.

HARURU MEANS "BIG NOISE," AND THE WATER HERE CASCADES OVER THE CLIFF IN AN UNUSUAL HORSESHOE SHAPE.

ACCORDING TO MAORI LEGEND, A WATER MONSTER LIVES IN THE LAGOON BELOW THE FALLS.

I DIDN'T THINK I'D SEE THE FALLS THIS CLOSE UP.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

MANY SPECIES OF FLIGHTLESS BIRDS ONCE THRIVED IN NEW ZEALAND BECAUSE THEY HAD NO NATURAL PREDATORS.

THE MAORI MADE THE MOST OF THIS EASY PREY AND HUNTED SEVERAL BIRD SPECIES TO NEAR EXTINCTION.

THE ISLANDERS THEN TURNED TO FISHING AND AGRICULTURE.

A DUTCH EXPLORER NAMED ABEL TASMAN WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO ARRIVE IN NEW ZEALAND, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE LEGENDARY BRITISH CAPTAIN JAMES COOK LANDED IN THE NORTH ISLAND IN 1769 THAT EUROPEANS BEGAN COMING IN DROVES.

WHALERS, TRADERS, MISSIONARIES-- THEY DESCENDED ON THE ISLANDS.

NEW ZEALAND BECAME A COLONY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN 1840.

>> [PEOPLE CHANTING] >> WE'RE STOPPING BY NEW ZEALAND'S MOST HISTORIC SITE.

THE WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE "BIRTHPLACE OF THE NATION."

IT WAS HERE THAT A FAMOUS TREATY WAS SIGNED BETWEEN MAORI CHIEFS AND BRITAIN.

THE EXPLOSION OF EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND MEANT THAT SOME KIND OF POLICY WAS NEEDED FOR LAND DEALS.

WITH THE TREATY OF WAITANGI, THE MAORI CHIEFS ACCEPTED BRITISH PRESENCE IN EXCHANGE FOR PROTECTION AND GUARANTEED OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LAND.

>> [GRUNTING] >> BUT BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES, THE MAORI ALMOST CERTAINLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TREATY'S FINE PRINT, WHICH GAVE GREAT ADVANTAGE TO THE BRITS.

FIGHTING QUICKLY BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE NATIVES AND THE NEW SETTLERS.

TO THIS DAY, THE TREATY HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR UNREST BETWEEN MAORI AND PAKEHA--THE NAME GIVEN TO EUROPEANS SETTLERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.

THESE GROUNDS ARE CONSIDERED A SPIRITUAL SITE BY THE MAORI PEOPLE, AND CERTAIN PROTOCOLS MUST BE OBSERVED WHEN VISITING HERE.

THIS CHALLENGE CEREMONY WAS TRADITIONALLY PERFORMED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT VISITORS CAME IN PEACE.

YOU CAN EXPLORE THE TREATY GROUNDS BY YOURSELF OR TAKE A GUIDED TOUR DEPARTING DAILY FROM THE VISITORS CENTER.

>> THIS BUILDING WAS OPENED IN 1940 TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

IT WAS BUILT AS A CELEBRATION OF OUR PEOPLE AND WAS BUILT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT MAORI HAD BEEN HERE DURING THE TIME OF THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

AND IT'S THE ONE AND ONLY TIME THAT THE TRIBES HAVE EVER UNITED TOGETHER TO BUILD ANYTHING.

>> [PEOPLE SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> THE MEETING HOUSE CONTAINS CARVINGS THAT TRACE THE GENEALOGY OF DIFFERENT TRIBES, AND HOLDS IMPORTANT SYMBOLS FROM MAORI CULTURE.

>> DOWN HERE, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE STAIRWAYS TO HEAVEN.

IN MY CULTURE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE 12 HEAVENS.

EACH ONE OF THESE IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

SO WHEN YOU DIE, YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> [SINGING CONTINUES] [APPLAUSE] >> IN THE EVENING, A LIVE SHOW ABOUT MAORI HISTORY TAKES PLACE IN THE MEETING HOUSE.

THE STORY BEGINS WITH THE GREAT MIGRATION, A LONG OCEAN JOURNEY FROM EASTERN POLYNESIA TO NEW ZEALAND.

THE ISLANDERS BRING WITH THEM A RICH CULTURE WHICH, OVER TIME AND IN ISOLATION, BECOMES UNIQUELY MAORI.

FREQUENT INTERTRIBAL WARFARE PUNCTUATES DAILY LIFE.

EVENTUALLY THE ANCIENT MAORI TRADITIONS COLLIDE WITH EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT.

TODAY, THE MAORI PEOPLE STILL REPRESENT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE POPULATION HERE IN THE NORTHLAND.

[APPLAUSE] A LITTLE CAR FERRY AT THE PORT OF OPUA WILL TAKE US ACROSS THE WATER TO RUSSELL.

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A BOATER'S PARADISE.

THE BAY IS FILLED WITH MOTORBOATS, SAILBOATS, AND YACHTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.

WITH ITS CHARMING WATERFRONT WALKWAY AND TIMBER HOUSES, THE TOWN OF RUSSELL IS A PLEASURE TO STROLL.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS ONCE KNOWN AS "THE HELL HOLE OF THE PACIFIC."

IT STARTED OUT AS A QUIET MAORI VILLAGE, BUT AS EUROPEANS BEGAN POURING INTO THE NORTH ISLAND, RUSSELL EVOLVED INTO A LAWLESS FRONTIER TOWN.

RIFE WITH SHIP DESERTERS AND EX-CONVICTS, IT BECAME INFAMOUS FOR PROSTITUTION, GUNFIGHTS, AND STREET BRAWLS.

RUSSELL'S REPUTATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLAYED UP A BIT BY LOCAL MISSIONARIES HOPING TO GET A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT FROM MOTHER ENGLAND.

BUT THE TOWN CERTAINLY INCLUDED SOME UNSAVORY CHARACTERS.

AN EARLY BRITISH SURVEYOR REPORTED THAT THIS WAS "A VILE HOLE, FULL OF IMPUDENT, HALF-DRUNKEN PEOPLE."

THESE DAYS, THOUGH, IT'S AN ATTRACTIVE FISHING TOWN WITH A TEMPTING SELECTION OF RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, AND GALLERIES.

IT MAKES A GOOD BASE FOR EXPLORING THE AREA.

A SHORT DRIVE TAKES US AWAY FROM TOWN TO THE PRIMEVAL MAJESTY OF A KAURI FOREST.

THE KAURI IS THE LARGEST SPECIES OF TREE IN NEW ZEALAND.

AT ONE TIME, THESE GIANT TREES COVERED THE ISLAND.

THE SIZE AND STRENGTH OF KAURI TIMBER MADE IT A POPULAR WOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION AND SHIPBUILDING, PARTICULARLY FOR MASTS OF SAILING SHIPS.

>> HERE'S A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF A BEAUTIFUL KAURI TREE.

THIS ONE HERE IS PROBABLY IN EXCESS OF 4--BETWEEN 400 AND 500 YEARS OLD.

SO A LOVELY EXAMPLE.

THE BARK, AS YOU CAN SEE, PRETTY UNIQUE.

IT'S LIKE SOMEONE HAMMERED IT.

FALLS AWAY IN BIG CHUNKS LIKE THIS.

SO THIS IS THE KAURI GUM.

THIS IS THE TREE ACTUALLY BLEEDING ITSELF.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE CANDLE WAX.

>> YEAH, BUT IT'S VERY HARD.

IT'S VERY HARD.

AND IT WAS USED--KAURI GUM WAS USED FOR OTHER REASONS-- VARNISHES, LINOLEUM, EVEN SETTING FOR FALSE TEETH.

THE MAORI USED IT TO CHEW ON THE SOFT GUM, LIKE IT WAS AN EARLY VERSION OF CHEWING GUM, TO HELP CLEAN THEIR TEETH.

>> UNTIL THE 1940s, A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY THAT EXPLOITED KAURI GUM SEVERELY DAMAGED THE TREES HERE.

NEW ZEALAND'S FORESTS ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER.

THE FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND HAS A DISTINCTIVE LOOK BECAUSE IT EVOLVED IN ISOLATION FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

MORE THAN 3/4 OF THE NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES GROW HERE AND NOWHERE ELSE.

NEW ZEALAND IS HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON FARMING AND AQUACULTURE, AND IT TEMPTS VISITORS WITH A RANGE OF GOURMET DELICACIES.

THE BAY OF ISLANDS IN PARTICULAR IS KNOWN AS A TOP OYSTER FARMING LOCATION.

AS A DEVOTED MOLLUSK FAN, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY FILL.

>> OH, WELL, I CAN DO 40 DOZEN NOW.

SO YOU'D BETTER KEEP UP WITH IT.

>> HA HA HA!

HERE AT CHELWOOD OYSTER FARM, WE LEARNED A BIT ABOUT HOW OYSTERS ARE GROWN AND HARVESTED.

>> THOSE STICKS ARE BEING PUT OUT AS CATCHING MATERIALS, AND THE OYSTERS WILL STACK ONTO THOSE, AND WHEN THEY'RE A CERTAIN SIZE, THEY'LL BE HARVESTED.

>> WHAT ARE THESE OYSTERS CALLED?

>> THESE OYSTERS ARE ORONGO BAY.

>> ORONGO BAY OYSTERS?

>> YEP.

THEY'RE IN PRIME CONDITION AT THE MOMENT.

>> ORONGO BAY OYSTERS ARE RECOGNIZED AS TOP CLASS AND EXPORTED AROUND THE WORLD.

MMM.

TANG OF THE SEAS, WE CALL IT IN THE STATES.

MMM.

WONDERFUL.

>> YES, THEY'RE VERY GOOD, AREN'T THEY?

>> OH, THESE ARE WONDERFUL.

>> THE MAORIS LOVE THEM.

THE FATTER AND THE JUICIER, THE BETTER.

THEY LOVE THEM LIKE THAT.

>> DO YOU MIND IF I HAVE ANOTHER?

>> NO.

NO, HELP YOURSELF.

>> WE'LL HAVE OUR OYSTERS SERVED UP IN STYLE AT THE ORONGO BAY HOMESTEAD.

ENJOYING A COMMANDING VIEW OVER GRAND LAWNS AND BAY WATERS, THIS HISTORIC RESIDENCE WAS BUILT IN THE 1860s FOR THE FIRST AMERICAN CONSULAR AGENT IN NEW ZEALAND.

NOW THE RESTORED HOMESTEAD IS AN EXCLUSIVE COUNTRY INN OFFERING FINE WINE AND RENOWNED CUISINE.

>> BASICALLY, THE OYSTERS OF THE BAY, JUST SPLASHED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OUR OWN CHILI-- HOMEMADE ORGANIC CHILI SAUCE, A LITTLE BIT OF BALSAMIC VINEGAR, AND THEN SOME HOMEMADE HOLLANDAISE OVER TOP OF THAT, A LITTLE DUSTING OF BREAD CRUMBS WITH A BIT OF PARMESANO ON THE TOP OF THAT.

[INDISTINCT] ON THE GRILL JUST FOR A SECOND OR TWO, AND HERE WE ARE.

>> MANY KIWIS ARE EMBRACING A MOVEMENT TOWARD ORGANIC FOOD AND GREEN LIVING, AND THE HERBS AND GARNISHES SERVED HERE ARE GROWN RIGHT ON THE PROPERTY.

TO WORK OFF ALL THAT FOOD, A DAY TRIP TO THE CAPE BRETT LIGHTHOUSE IS JUST THE THING.

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE A CHALLENGE, YOU CAN MAKE THE JOURNEY ON FOOT, AN INVIGORATING 8-HOUR HIKE.

OR YOU CAN TAKE AN EASIER ROUTE, LIKE US, AND MAKE PART OF THE TRIP BY WATER.

WE CLIMB ABOARD KIWI ECOTOURS FOR THE VOYAGE TO CAPE BRETT.

>> [SPEAKING MAORI] >> OUR GUIDE WELCOMES US WITH A TRADITIONAL MAORI PRAYER.

>> I STAND HERE HUMBLED BEFORE YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO ENDORSE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY.

[SPEAKING MAORI] >> THIS RUGGED STRETCH OF COASTLINE IS SITUATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

THE 7 DISTINCTIVE PEAKS THAT MARK THE PENINSULA'S SPINE ARE SAID TO REPRESENT THE 7 CANOES THAT CARRIED THE MAORI SETTLERS ON THEIR GREAT MIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

A PLACE OF WILD BEAUTY, THE COASTLINE IS SCULPTED WITH DRAMATIC ROCK FORMATIONS, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS "HOLE IN THE ROCK."

NEARBY CATHEDRAL CAVE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME WITH A GRAND INTERIOR AND COLORFUL ROCK WALLS.

A SHORT BUT STEEP HIKE TAKES YOU UP TO THE CAPE BRETT LIGHTHOUSE.

WHEN BRITISH CAPTAIN JAMES COOK FIRST ARRIVED HERE, HE CHRISTENED THE SPOT IN HONOR OF A LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY, SIR PIERCY BRETT.

LATER, IT WAS THE SITE OF ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S EARLY SHIPWRECKS.

A BRITISH CREW CONTRACTED WITH LOCAL MAORI TO LOAD A SCHOONER.

THE CREW THEN DOUBLE-CROSSED THE MAORI, THROWING THEM OVERBOARD.

BUT THE SAILORS GOT THEIR COMEUPPANCE.

THE SHIP ENCOUNTERED BAD WEATHER, AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T DROWN WERE KILLED BY THE MAORI.

THE BAY OF ISLANDS IS SO GORGEOUS AND RELAXING, I COULD STAY FOREVER.

BUT, AS THEY SAY HERE IN NEW ZEALAND, I BETTER RATTLE MY DAGS.

IT'S TIME TO GET MOVING TO OUR NEXT DESTINATION.

WE'RE OFF TO HAWKE'S BAY, LOCATED ON THE CENTRAL EAST COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND.

THIS AREA IS FONDLY KNOWN AS "THE FRUIT BOWL OF NEW ZEALAND."

IT ROLLS OUT A ROYAL CARPET OF PASTURELAND, ORCHARDS, AND VINEYARDS.

ACRES UPON ACRES OF PARK-LIKE FARMLAND ARE RIMMED BY DRAMATIC SEA CLIFFS AND COASTAL BAYS.

THE AREA IS KNOWN FOR ITS MEDITERRANEAN-LIKE CLIMATE; SUNNY, DRY, AND IDEAL FOR VACATION GETAWAYS.

SITTING HANDSOMELY ON THE BAY, THE TOWN OF NAPIER IS A BLAST FROM THE ART DECO PAST.

BACK IN 1931, A HORRIFIC EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATED THIS CITY, DESTROYING MOST OF THE BUILDINGS.

SO WHAT DID THE PEOPLE HERE DO?

PICKED THEMSELVES UP, BRUSHED THEMSELVES OFF, AND SET ABOUT REBUILDING, IN STYLE.

AS IT HAPPENED, ART DECO ARCHITECTURE WAS THE FASHION OF THE DAY.

LOCAL ART DECO EXPERT AND ALL-AROUND CHARACTER BERTIE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT NAPIER.

>> OH, THAT'S VERY GENTEEL.

>> HA HA HA!

>> THE EARTHQUAKE: 7.8 ON THE RICHTER SCALE, 2 1/2 MINUTES LONG--WHICH IS ACTUALLY INCREDIBLY LONG FOR AN EARTHQUAKE--LIFTED THE WHOLE OF THE TOWN 2 METERS, 7 FEET.

AND ALL THE BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN CENTER WERE DESTROYED.

BUT ACTUALLY FIRE WAS THE MAJOR DESTROYER BECAUSE FIRES SWEPT THROUGH TOWN-- WE THINK FROM PHARMACIES, WHERE THEY HAD BUNSEN BURNERS AND STARTED FIRES, AND THOSE FIRES SWEPT RIGHT THROUGH TOWN, AND WE COULDN'T PUT THE FIRES OUT BECAUSE THE WATER MAINS HAD BEEN BROKEN IN THE LIFT OF THE EARTH.

>> ART DECO'S FUTURE-LOOKING STYLE APPEALED TO THE IDEALISM AND ESCAPISM OF THE 1930s DEPRESSION ERA.

NEW ZEALAND IS FAMOUS FOR ITS MANY LUXURY LODGES OFFERING TRANQUIL RETREATS IN WILDERNESS SETTINGS.

GREENHILL THE LODGE, DATING TO THE LATE 19th CENTURY, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

ABOUT A HALF-HOUR OUTSIDE NAPIER, GREENHILL FEATURES PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE.

THE LODGE'S MOMENT OF FAME CAME IN 1958, WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER STAYED HERE AT THE HOMESTEAD.

WHILE TOURING THE COUNTRY, SHE WANTED A FEW DAYS' REST AND ASKED TO STAY IN A HOME TYPICAL OF EARLY PIONEERING DAYS.

THIS IS WINE COUNTRY, AND I THINK THE BEST WAY TO TOUR THE AREA'S MANY VINEYARDS IS BY BICYCLE.

YOU CAN SPEND THE DAY SAMPLING SOME OF HAWKE'S BAY'S FINEST FOODS AND WINES, ALL WHILE GETTING AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT OLIVE GROVES, OSTRICH FARMS, AND COUNTRY INNS.

FOR HELP WITH A SELF-GUIDED TOUR, ON YER BIKE WINERY TOURS OFFERS 3 ROUTES CATERING TO ALL FITNESS LEVELS.

YOU CAN VISIT UP TO 6 DIFFERENT WINERIES USING THE MAPS PROVIDED.

WE'RE STOPPING AT THE NGATARAWA WINERY TO SAMPLE THE AREA'S FAMOUS CHARDONNAY.

>> HAWKE'S BAY HAS GOT A LONG HISTORY OF WINE.

IT GOES BACK 150 YEARS NOW.

IT'S NEW ZEALAND'S OLDEST WINE REGION, AND IT'S ALSO NEW ZEALAND'S MOST DIVERSE WINE REGION.

>> WITH ITS WARM WEATHER AND GRAVELLY SOIL, THE AREA'S BEEN DUBBED THE "TUSCANY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC."

SO YOU'VE GOT CLIMATE, YOU'VE GOT SOIL.

PERFECT.

>> WE'VE GOT GRAPES.

>> AND YOU'VE GOT GRAPES.

>> AND WE'VE GOT WINEMAKERS.

>> HA HA HA!

CHEERS.

>> CHEERS.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT INTO WINE, ANOTHER FUN ACTIVITY IS THE SELF-GUIDED FOOD TRAIL.

ARMED WITH THIS LOCAL MAP, YOU CAN VISIT VARIOUS PRODUCERS IN THE REGION.

THE POPULAR TRAIL LEADS TO DOZENS OF FRESH LOCAL SPECIALTIES.

EACH FOOD TRAIL DESTINATION IS WELL-MARKED AT THE GATE OR ENTRANCEWAY, WITH A CORRESPONDING NUMBER ON THE FOOD TRAIL MAP.

AT ARATAKI HONEY, WE FOUND SOME VERY BUSY BEES AND LOTS OF SWEET STUFF TO SAMPLE.

THIS IS A LOCAL MANUKA, THE FAMOUS HONEY, THE HEALING HONEY.

THAT WAS A VERY STRONG, VERY STRONG TASTE-- AUTHORITATIVE HONEY.

NEXT STOP, STRAWBERRY FIELDS THAT GO ON FOREVER.

NOW, ARE YOUR OTHER 20 ACRES STRAWBERRIES AS WELL?

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.

>> TEMATA CHEESE LURES US WITH AN ARRAY OF ARTISAN CHEESES.

AND THEN THERE'S MY PERSONAL FAVORITE: HOMEMADE ICE CREAM!

>> YOU'VE GOT SOME TRADITIONAL NEW ZEALAND ICE CREAM.

IT'S GOT HOKEY POKEY.

>> HOKEY POKEY?

>> HOKEY POKEY.

IT'S A TRADITIONAL NEW ZEALAND FLAVOR.

IT'S A VANILLA-BASED ICE CREAM WITH BITS OF TOFFEE IN IT.

>> VERY NICE.

LOADED WITH VITAMIN C IS GOOD FOR YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHEREVER VINEYARDS THRIVE, OLIVES DO JUST AS WELL.

IT'S UNUSUAL TO HAVE VARIETIES.

DON'T MOST OLIVE OIL MANUFACTURERS BLEND THE OILS?

>> YES, THEY DO.

WE TRY TO DRAW ON THE STRENGTH OF THE NEW ZEALAND WINE INDUSTRY AND JUST LIKE--YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE A WHITE WINE AND A RED WINE.

YOU PUT ALL YOUR [INDISTINCT] IN THERE.

SO PART OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS WE LIKE TO GO THROUGH IS DRAW ON THAT WINE EXPERIENCE HERE.

>> THE VILLAGE PRESS USES OLD-STYLE METHODS TO EXTRACT FOR MAXIMUM TASTE AND PURITY.

>> THIS IS LOVELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC SIGHTS ON HAWKE'S BAY IS CAPE KIDNAPPERS.

IT'S HOME TO A MASSIVE COLONY OF GANNET BIRDS.

THIS COASTAL PRESERVE CAN BE REACHED OVERLAND BY 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR BY HIKING ALONG THE BEACH, TIDE PERMITTING.

THESE BIRDS USUALLY NEST ON INACCESSIBLE ISLANDS.

SO THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AN UP-CLOSE LOOK.

GANNETS PERFORM ELABORATE GREETING RITUALS, STRETCHING THEIR NECKS UPWARDS AND TAPPING BILLS TOGETHER.

THE BIRDS ARE SUPERB FISHERS, PLUNGING INTO THE OCEAN FULL SPEED AHEAD.

AT ABOUT 15 WEEKS OF AGE, THE YOUNG GANNETS MAKE A HARROWING FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

THEY STAY THERE FOR 3 TO 5 YEARS AND THEN RETURN HERE TO NEW ZEALAND TO NEST.

>> [PEOPLE SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> NEW ZEALAND'S ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND UNIQUE BEAUTY GIVE IT AN ALMOST ETHEREAL QUALITY.

TO THE MAORI, IT CONTINUES TO BE "THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD."

TO ADVENTURE SEEKERS, IT'S A TRAVEL DREAM COME TRUE.

FROM THE LAND OF THE KIWIS, I'M RUDY MAXA, BIDDING YOU A FOND FAREWELL.

CHEERIO!

>> TO ORDER THE TWO-EPISODE DVD OR VHS ON NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS, OR ANY OTHER "SMART TRAVELS" DESTINATIONS, PLEASE VISIT US ON-LINE AT SMARTTRAVELS.TV OR CALL 800-866-7425.

DVDs AND VIDEOS ARE $24.95 EACH PLUS SHIPPING.

EACH DVD INCLUDES MORE THAN AN HOUR OF EXCLUSIVE BONUS CLIPS AND RUDY'S TRAVEL TIPS.

ORDER AT THIS TOLL-FREE NUMBER OR ON-LINE.

>> MAJOR CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR "SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS PROVIDED BY... OVER THE YEARS, PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS SHOWN YOU THE WORLD, EDUCATED YOU ABOUT IT, AND INSPIRED YOU TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

EXPEDIA CAN HELP YOU GET THERE WITH FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND VACATION PACKAGES.

"SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY THE PEOPLE AT EXPEDIA.

>> ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM MEDJETASSIST.COM.

MEDICAL EVACUATION MEMBERSHIP PROTECTION FOR TRAVELERS.

TAKE TRIPS, NOT CHANCES.