Cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge to
the North Shore for brunch at Takapuna
Beach Café (takapunabeachcafe.co.nz).
Inside a stolid old beach tea room on the
promenade you will find what is possibly
the world’s best doughnut, made of a
uniquely light dough, dipped in salted
caramel and topped with large bits of
chopped macadamia. It’s also renowned
for its home-made, award winning gelato.
At the base of Auckland’s touristy Sky
Tower lies celebrity chef Al Brown’s Depot
(eatatdepot.nz), a warmly lit and bustling
oyster bar and eatery. Here Kiwi comfort
food with a perfectionist’s twist is served
up in tapas-sized portions. It’s obligatory
to try the locally sourced Mahurangi and
Te Matuku Bay oysters. Next sample the
snapper sliders with preserved lemon mayo
and watercress, southern fried snapper
wings (as weird as they are delicious)A 40-minute ferry ride will take you
across the Hauraki Gulf to one of New
Zealand’s natural gems: Waiheke Island.
It’s all about pristine beaches and Bordeaux
style wines here. Waiheke’s rolling hills are
also home to numerous artists including
Maori artist Paora Toi Te Rangiuaia
(ikonz.co.nz), who has just completed a
commission to create a 10-metre-high
Maori carving in Bordeaux, France.
One of the best ways to experience the
island is to join proud Waihekian Wayne
Eagleton as he conducts a wine tour
(waihekeislandwinetours.co.nz), which is
as much about the island, its history and its
rivalry with the mainland as it is about the
wine. Waiheke’s volcanic soil is similar to
the terroir of Bordeaux, resulting in bold
wines with strong mineral characteristics.
The tour takes in larger vineyards such
as Mudbrick (mudbrick.co.nz) and boutiquewineries such as Te Motu (temotu.co.nz)
and Peacock Sky (peacocksky.co.nz). UK
owner Rob Meredith gives an authoritative
introduction to wine tasting.WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
New Zealand’s hosting of the 2011 Rugby
World Cup was the impetus for what
can only be described as a Kiwi cuisine
revolution. With its great local ingredients,
proximity to Asia and returning
internationally trained chefs, the country
is set to burst onto the global scene as a
food destination.
A great way to begin your exploration of
this rapidly evolving culinary landscape is
to take a food tour with the knowledgeable
Elle-Armon Jones (thebigfoody.com). She
shepherds clients from around the world –
including South Africa – to Auckland’s top
eating spots.1015_HL_120_125_Travel_NZ_RFO.indd 122 2015/09/04 9:58 AM