Gift An Experience This Festive Season
Forgot to get someone a Christmas Present?
Or perhaps you have one of those family members who are just so darn hard to buy for!
Looking for an experience to remember this summer? Why not treat your loved ones to a Matakana wine tour or kiwi spotting in the wild at Tāwharanui Regional Park. Take New Zealand’s only oyster shucking tour up the Mahurangi River, book a mystery picnic, or kayak the Puhoi River or Goat Island Marine Reserve. Enjoy art and wine at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, or at Sculptureum.
And for a local favourite combination, how about a Matakana Cinemas voucher paired with a voucher from the Vintry wine bar next door? Watching a big screen movie in a boutique cinema with a glass of local wine to match – what’s not to love?
Here is a selection of Experiences on the Matakana Coast where you can do that last minute shopping.
Blue Adventures
ADVENTURE, FUN AND MEMORABLE
Blue Adventures owned and run by local Tony and Nina offer the only IKO-affiliated Kite Centre in the Auckland region and they provide a safe and fun way to learn a variety of water sports in either small groups or individual lessons. A great gift for that person who is always looking for the next challenge whether it be kitesurfing, foilboarding, SUP or surf their dedicated team will help them achieve their goals even helping to polish up on their techniques.
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail
TASTE, EXPLORE, DINE
Taste our boutique wine in a spectacular vineyard setting. Explore the Sculpture Trail, an open-air gallery showcasing over 60 sculptures from New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists meandering through lakes, pasture, and native forest.
Dine in the Glass House Restaurant overlooking the lily filled lake where our menu features fresh seasonal cuisine inspired by our farm produce, orchards, and gardens. There’s something for everyone at Brick Bay, so a gift voucher is the perfect gift for that special someone.
Choose either an E-Voucher which is emailed to you or the recipient and can be used instantly. Or a Physical Voucher which can be couriered or picked up from Brick Bay. Our gift cards can now be used on our online store; however, shipping is charged separately.
Sculptureum & Rothko
A PLACE TO ENCHANT AND INSPIRE PEOPLE
At Sculptureum you can visit the Six Galleries – displaying works from around the world or visit the Gardens bursting with colourful plantings changing with the season and delight in the sculptures on display. Sculptureum also offers the children an opportunity to get up close and personal with a few their furry friends during their Sculptureum Animal Encounters.
Or perhaps it’s a dining experience at award-winning Rothko Restaurant providing a relaxed dining experience with attentive service or a casual drink and food at Freddie’s Lawn Bar overlooking the beautiful gardens. Whatever the choice a E-Voucher makes a perfect gift to give to your family and friends giving them the opportunity to have a memorable experience.
Mystery Picnics with Village Picnic
CAREFULLY CURATED AND LOADS OF FUN
Mystery Picnic is a new experience, offering a unique artisan adventure taking in the sites and tastes of the Matakana Coast. A self-drive day out solving clues and puzzles along the way connecting you to your final picnic destination.
These amazing experiences can be done as a Mystery Picnic Date for a couple, or as a Mystery Picnic family adventure. Lots of fun and ideal for those family and friends that can be hard to buy for.
Kiwiness Tours
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, LOCAL PASSION = A GREAT ADVENTURE
A great option for a christmas present is a gift voucher with Kiwiness Tours that can be used for one of their tours, hosted by a friendly knowledgeable local. With a variety of great of tours available for everyone.
Give the gift to a friend so they can enjoy gourmet local produce from the Matakana Coast including top-tier wineries, and hidden gems, guided by a true Matakana local. You can also choose to explore local markets, sculpture and ceramics, gelato, chocolate boutiques, and craft beer among the natural landscape just one hour north of downtown Auckland.
Matakana River Tours
JOIN OUR LOCAL SKIPPER ON THE KOTITI VESSEL FOR A FUN FILLED HOUR
The Matakana River was a vital route not only for local Māori but also in early European occupancy. The fertile surrounding lands of Matakana brought settlers as early as 1849, and a variety of businesses all relied on the river to take their goods back to the masses of Auckland. As the village prospered roads were paved and the once busy waterway slowed. Step onboard and enjoy this one-hour scenic cruise travelling on the sheltered safe waters. Travel though a tidal wonderland showcasing New Zealand’s diverse landscape. We even have local beers and wines that will be sure to help you relax!
NZ’s Only Oyster Farm Tour
90 MINUTE FULL SHUCKING EXPERIENCE
Taking guests to the centre of the oyster farm, seeing the ‘racks’ exposed you will be taught the way these salty bivalves are caught, grown, and ultimately eaten!
Collecting fresh oysters straight from the water, it’s your turn to ‘shuck’. The skipper will teach you how to open, while you have a go yourself. They will even cook some on the BBQ! Once finished eating as many as you seem content with and with the tide flowing back in covering over the farm, we head back to Scott’s Landing cruising shallow sheltered bays spotting stingrays and enjoying the beauty of the harbour.
An experience that can be enjoyed by both adults and kids. Bring along a bottle of local wine or beer and enjoy the cruise.
Matakana Cinemas
BOUTIQUE EXPERIENCE IN THE HEART OF MATAKANA COAST
Buying a voucher for the movies at Matakana Cinema is not your average movie going experience. Matakana Cinemas is Matakana’s most-loved local business, enlivening the local culture of the area with carefully curated films and world-class guest experiences in their stunning three-theatre boutique cinema complex.
Puhoi Kayaks
A FUN ADVENTURE TO HAVE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Puhoi River Kayaks has been operating since 1995 and is an established tourist attraction in the historic settlement of Puhoi. Offering a safe leisurely un-guided paddle along the Puhoi River which meanders 8km from the Bohemian village of Puhoi through to the scenic Wenderholm Regional Park.
Your Kayaks, buoyancy aids, paddling instructions and of course local river knowledge is all supplied with a courtesy coach from Wenderholm back to Puhoi. A great experience to give to the family.
Clearyak Goat Island Marine Reserve
NEW ZEALAND’S ONLY CLEAR KAYAK EXPERIENCE – PURE AND PEACEFUL
A fun and educational activity for all ages from 5 – 70 you will have a great day out exploring the first marine reserve in New Zealand. As you paddle through the stunningly clear waters of the Goat Island Marine Reserve, you’re likely to see a variety of fish; Snapper (tāmure), Red Moki (nanua), Blue Maomao, and perhaps even some Eagle Rays (whai keo) and Stringrays (whai).
This unique experience is unlike any other kayaking adventure, allowing you to marvel at the marine life that swims just below your Clearyak.
DINING EXPERIENCES
Give your friends and family the opportunity to dine out on the Matakana Coast. Let them discover flavours to savour in the various restaurants listed below. Sharing good food with friends is one of life’s great pleasures – on the Matakana Coast we consider ourselves spoilt for choice.
Warkworth
Warkworth Hotel
Warkworth Hotel has been lovingly restored to house an exciting new bar and restaurant. A Warkworth Hotel voucher is the perfect way to share a fantastic dining experience in either one of the hotels two dining areas. A great gift for family and friends, treat someone special with a voucher!
Bam Boo Asian Canteen
The new kid on the block is a celebration of Asia, from the décor to the food and beverage you will experience an exciting journey of all things Asian, right in the heart of Warkworth overlooking the Mahurangi River. Enjoy delicious, fresh Asian inspired food, all designed to share.
Matakana Village
The Vintry & Matakana Market Kitchen
Matakana Market Kitchen launched in 2010 is a family run restaurant welcoming family and friends to enjoy only the freshest ingredients, including herbs from our very own gardens, as well as produce from many of the region’s local suppliers. Located just across from the famous Saturday Farmers Market.
Or perhaps a voucher to The Vintry where you can enjoy a wine tasting, wine by the glass or take your own taste of Matakana home with you from their cellar door wine list. You can also grab a glass of wine to take into the evening movie session at Matakana Cinemas.
Matakana
Plume Restaurant
Plume is a stunning vineyard restaurant, superbly situated offering glorious 180-degree views of vineyards, fields, valleys, and mountains. Plume strives to make sure every guest who walks through their doors has an excellent, sensory experience.
The menu is seasonal and is a celebration of New Zealand’s culturally diverse dining scene, complemented by fresh, local produce. As a vineyard restaurant, the wine list comes from their very own vineyard Runner Duck Estate.
The Stables and Smiths Bar
Honest and delicious country fare showcasing contemporary New Zealand dishes with fresh flavours plus the classics that locals love. Using the best local produce from the area, carefully prepared by their team of dedicated chefs.
A Stables Restaurant & Smiths voucher is the perfect way to share a fantastic dining experience in either of these two restaurants located in the Matakana Country Park. Treat someone special with a voucher this Christmas!
Sawmill Brewery & Smoko Room
World famous on the Matakana Coast a voucher for Sawmill Brewery or Smoko Room will not leave the receiver disappointed. Established in 2004 on a local timber mill in Leigh the brewery was moved in 2016 opening the doors not only to the brewery but also the Smoko Room. Generous hospitality, food with gumption and 14 beers on tap and a great wine list. Or perhaps just a voucher to redeem a selection of the Sawmill Beers.