The Week's Itinerary.
DAY 1:
Sunday February 17th
Early morning arrival in Auckland (6:30am if on Air New Zealand nonstop 13.5 hr flight from Vancouver). You will be met at the airport by your Personal Chef, Judie Owens, co-owner of the Golden Kiwi Pub & Grill in Cambridge, Ontario. A private coach from the airport takes you to the Waitakere Ranges bordering the Tasman Sea directly west of Auckland. Experience your first ‘Taste of New Zealand’ with a leisurely Scenic Drive to the stunning coastal village of Piha. Enroute stop off at Titirangi (the village just before Piha) and enjoy a delicious ‘pick-me-up’ cup of coffee at the local café. Take some time to do your banking and shopping to acquire sundries that you may need for your stay – perhaps pick up some world renowned New Zealand wines. Enjoy the Scenic Drive of Piha before settling in to your B&B. Go out for a nice leisurely bush walk, explore the area and experience the beautiful waterfalls before an informal dinner with your B&B owner, Jacquie Clarke.
Accommodation - Jacquie Clarke’s B&B 692 West Coast Rd, Waiatarua.
DAY 2:
Monday
Breakfast and then were off to explore Karekare beach where The Piano was filmed south of Piha. Take a hike of the area, bring hiking boots if you want to experience the true New Zealand. Visit artist Michelle Stuart in Piha to see her unique painted seaweed sculptures, Maori carvings etc… Go on a shopping tour and a local market visit with Judie to help fill her ‘Chilly Bin’ with fresh seasonal produce for dinner. Afternoon at leisure to golf, hike, relax …
Cooking class with Judie and dinner at your B&B in the heart of the Waitakere Ranges.
Accommodation - Jacquie Clarke’s B&B 692 West Coast Rd, Waiatarua.
DAY 3:
Tuesday
Breakfast and bid adieu to Jacquie Clarke then enroute to Auckland we visit BeesOnline to sample the most exceptional and world renowned NZ honey (with incredible healing properties) and feel good about having an exceptional indigenous lunch at the well-known Honey Café. Afternoon options include relaxing, shopping with Judie, golf and/or a pub visit with Len. Judie will have her ‘Chilly Bin’ out again by late afternoon as we prepare for our Evening cooking class/dinner at Auckland’s Fish Market from 6.30-8.30pm. Spend your free time after the class exploring Queen St. and its night life!
Accommodation – our ‘home away from home’ for the next 4 nights is Hastings Hall B&B on Western Springs Road.
 DAY 4:
Wednesday
Breakfast and then we spend the day at the picturesque Waiheke Island, just a short 35 minute ferry ride into the Hauraki Gulf from Auckland’s Half Moon Bay.
Take a cooking class and introduction to Waiheke wine at Clifftops and enjoy lunch with famous restaurateur, Chef and author Chris Canning. After lunch you are at your leisure. Explore the studios, shops, art galleries, numerous cafes, wineries and olive groves of the island. Visit the Goldwater Estate to taste their famous wines from both their Waiheke and Marlborough/Hawkes Bay vineyards. Explore the Waiheke Island Brewery and learn the story of Baroona Beer. Catch the passenger ferry back to America’s Cup Harbour for pick-up and transfer back to your deluxe B&B.
Accommodation – Hastings Hall.
 DAY 5:
Thursday
Breakfast and after our full day on Waiheke Island, today is yours until we gather in the late afternoon. Deciding what to do will be the most stressful element! Len (Judie’s husband and the real ‘Kiwi’) & Judie will be available for consultation regarding the myriad of available options. The coach departs at 4 pm for our private tour of the Simunovich Olive Estate that has been operated by the same family for over two centuries! Dinner follows at either The Chef’s Table or The Rare Wine Library at Bracu Restaurant, named after Brac Island in the Adriatic where the Simunovich family started their olive growing tradition.
Accommodation – Hastings Hall.
DAY 6:
Friday
Breakfast and the morning is at your leisure. An option is to go shopping at a local Farmer’s Market for indigenous foods for tonight’s BBQ with Judie and her ‘Chilly Bin’. We have an optional Pub lunch with Len at Galbraith’s Alehouse the 2007 Pub of the Year! After lunch we head west for a wine tasting and New Zealand Barbeque Cooking Class featuring shrimp on the ‘barbie’ at John & Di’s, Woodland Park – Titirangi.
Accommodation – Hastings Hall.
 DAY 7:
Saturday
Final day/night of the Gourmet Safari ‘Taste of New Zealand’. After breakfast we travel to Port Waikato, a 1 hour drive south of Auckland. Spend the day at John Carr’s waterfront property with a stunning view overlooking the river and beach. Options include fishing/fly fishing on the river; visit the nearby artist studio for beautiful sculptures and jewellery; explore the sand dunes on an ATV or go swimming, body surfing, kayaking, biking … or ... just relax and take in the view…
Your final cooking class will have a seafood focus, savour freshly caught fish grilled fresh on the barbie.
Accommodation – John Carr’s beach houses.
DAY 8:
Sunday
Breakfast & depart the beach house back to Auckland for a final day at your leisure to enjoy the ‘City of Sails’.
Come along for a taste...Fresh Coconut Ceviche.
To make this delicious dish yourself, click here for the recipe and to watch a demo...simple to make in your own kitchen (of course it tastes better in New Zealand though)!
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