With the success of "Pick Your Own" farms of other fruits, Hugh Rose from the Tropical Fruit Growers of New Zealand (TFGNZ) wants to show off the locally grown bananas and highlight the produce that can be grown in that region.

"Guests can wander round and have a picnic, because we have got a 10-acre lake on the place, and then buy some fruit on the way out," Mr Rose said. "That will be our market, because I am pretty sure we will be popular given we are only 15 minutes from our CBD. We are hoping to be open by February, people can get a taste and have a look at it because I will have some fruit available then. Apart from that it's just a nice place to go for a wander."

The property is reputed to be a former American tank training ground, which is scrub land but sheltered from the strong winds, with volcanic soil and natural springwater, creating its own ecosystem. Mr Rose also plans to grow pineapples, cherimoya (similar to a custard apple) and avocado, while he has an experimental crop of paw paw . . . . . >