contact,watchingthesedolphins is
a life-changingexperience.
If thehighlifeis moreyourstyle,
a fancy-ashelicopterpicnicatopa nearby
mountain,pilotedbythecharmingDan
Stevenson(thePrinceHarryofthe
helicoptergame)in oneofhisSouthPacific
Helicopters,is themostimpressivewayto
spendanhourortwo.Sweepingup over
thecoastlineandovercraggy
mountaintops,it’sa crystallisingwayto
takein thesheermagnitudeofthe
landscape,cappedoffwitha bottleof
localfizzywineandsomeof Fiona’s
crackingsausagerolls.
SpeakingofFiona’scooking,thiswoman
cookswithallthesoulandstyleyoucould
hopeforin a high-endlodgeexperience.
Alloftheproducesheusescomesfrom
withina fewkilometresofHapuku,and
muchofit fromherownfarm.Her
generousapproachtoflavour,textureand
balanceis apparentin thesimplestof
dishes,andwhilethehelicoptersand
dolphinsaredazzling,sois heroffering,
albeitwhisperedhumbly.Whilein the
’hood,havea roundoffishandchipsand
whitebait fritters at Coopers Catch, and a
leave room for dinner.choose to explore it.CLOCKWISEFROMABOVERIGHT:
HapukuLodgeoffershelicopterrides
toyourmountaintoplunch;which
includeslocalsparklingwine(inset);
Duskydolphinsgreetvisitorsonthe
Kaikouracoast;theidyllicgroundsof
MarlboroughLodge;theperfectspot
for a nightcap at Hapuku Lodge.LOCAL TR AVEL.
188 delicious.com.au