Here's to surf, with love

There's not much doubt about what New Zealanders see as the ingredients for a great summer. Almost all the entries in our "Summer Break" competition involved a mix of sun, sand, sea and surf, plus the crimson flowers of the pohutukawa, usually with good food, cold beer or fine wine, and good friends thrown in.

There were dozens of great recipes for a fantastic summer break, but the winner was sent in by Joy Mickleson of Paeroa.

Ingredients: One bunch of close friends, carefully picked. Skewers made with juicy mussels, wrapped in ham, enough to go around. Icy cold champagne. Method: Arrange the friends on a sandy base around a driftwood fire. Marinate in champagne. Cook the mussels on the embers as the sun goes down. Simple.

Joy, who is community facilities manager for Hauraki District Council, will get the chance to sample all those ingredients, plus some great jazz, at this year's Coromandel Pohutukawa festival.

Mercury Energy, sponsor of the festival, is sending her a prize package of two tickets to the festival's Jazz Brunch at Puka Park on December 12, two nights' accommodation at the Mercure Grand Puka Park Lodge and a Christmas hamper.

The festival, which got under way on Friday, still has nearly two weeks to go.

For details of the programme visit www.pohutukawafestival.com.

Meanwhile, for those who won't get to enjoy that particular recipe, here are the best of the other entries:

It's simple. A campsite near a grove of trees. A good bed of hot embers to cover the camp oven. The aroma of baking bread and a glass of white wine cooled in the creek. Heaven to a 64-year-old.

- Anthea Johnson


Travel to Hahei camping ground in our VW combi-van. Swim. Lazy brunch. Great book. Boozy lunch. Afternoon beach walk. Swim. Sun lounging. Swim. Antipasto platter. Champagne. Barbecue dinner. Live jazz. Sleep.

- Carly Kirkwood


In 1975 we had a fabulous stay in Pauanui. But it was in the wrong house. Well, how were we to know the people 2km down the road built exactly the same house and left the key in the same place? Two weeks, five kids, four adults, and not where we were meant to be. We haven't been able to hold our heads up in Pauanui since. Please can we go back?

- Del Emerali


Take off in a camper van, or hire a bach, and visit the favourite holiday place of your childhood - in my case Kawhia. Do all those things you used to do - ride a horse on the beach, dige your own hot bath at Te Puia Springs, crank up the tilly lamp and spearing flounder at night, walking the coast at Te Maika, gathering pipis at low tide and fishing for herrings off the wharf with your grandchildren. Then perhaps a quiet ale as the sun goes down.

- Bob Manson


Twelve weeks of sun. Cricket on the beach. Dad cooking the barbie. Warm, blue rolling waves. Bikinis and board shorts. Sand between the toes. A beer in hand. And nowhere to go

- Marco Di Cesare


Take two work-weary Kiwis. Marinate in clear seawater. Stuff with summer fruits, fresh seafood and lots of bubbles. Bake slowly on fine-grained white sand, turning frequently. Finish by steaming lightly close to fully laden barbecue. Leave to rest, preferably overnight. Repeat procedure.

- Gayle Johnson


This recipe is a sure-fire way to please family and friends. Dissolve a cup of caster sugar in a cup of water on low heat, then boil for 1 minute. Cool, then add two cups of chopped fresh strawberries and a cup of lime juice. Cover and freeze for 1 hour, then beat and return to freezer. Repeat three times at hourly intervals until thick and smooth.

- Victoria Meys

A great holiday resembles a good recipe. It has equal portions of a good surf beach, sunshine, family, friends, fun and laughter, barbecues, fishing, swimming, playing tennis (if available), great food and great music. What more could one ask for.

- Elizabeth Stevens


Travel with my daughter in her van. She always stops for lunch or dinner where there is a beautiful view. Folding chairs out, book and glass of wine in hand, it is heaven.

- Valmai Shearer

Our father taught us that the ability to sit and do nothing is a gift. Sitting doing nothing on a beach we've known since childhood is truly a holiday. Tranquility and rest. No planes to catch. No frantic timetable to keep. That's a gift that's really kept on giving.

- Jackie O'Neill

Bach at a secluded beach, fishing boat, rods and dive gear for crayfish and scallops, barbecue and well-stocked wine cellar and a hammock under the spreading pohutukawa trees in full bloom festooned in fairy lights at night.

- Sandy Caley


Take one Hahei Beach. Add one caravan, one tent and a gran and pop. Prepare well. Sift in eight grandchildren. Sprinkle sunshine daily. Toss in simple food and barbecues. Combine swims, walks and games. Fold in a pinch of fishing. Dust with bedtime stories. Leave to stand for six weeks then remove to own homes.

- Marg McLean

Lock the office door with glee in your heart and mix it up with happy expectation. Ahead, stretch blue-sky lazy days, maple syrup pancakes with crunchy bacon, smooth lattes, sand between the toes and snoozing in the hammock. Add the call of the tui and the lapping waves.

- Suzanne Mexted-Dykes


A generous dash of sunshine. A pinch of sea breeze or lake zephyr. A dessertspoon of good food and wine. A tablespoon of fine company. Lightly brown (don't overcook) and present with a relaxing location garnish. Serve on a cool platter for two.

- Jim Hubbard


Rent a two-bedroom house in Pauanui in Coromandel with my wife and three pre-school children. Ten days of waking at 7am, heading to the beach for body surfing and sand castles before returning home for breakfast. Off for a bike ride and a play on the swings. Then to the baker's for lunch. A swim in the afternoon, a game of petanque and a barbecue and drinks with friends. Yeah, sounds like me.

- Gregory Knight