Tag Archives: New Zealand

Annandale, New Zealand

Posted on by

The Annandale concept is unique, offering high-end luxury villas for couples, families and groups of friends who want to explore rural New Zealand with total freedom.

The New Zealand born owner, Mark Palmer, originally bought the land as a working farm and holiday home. Realising the potential he has invested millions of pounds into the project, modernising the two existing properties (The Homestead and Shepherd’s Cottage) and building two new, architecturally exceptional villas (Seascape and Scrubby Bay) for guests desiring something more contemporary. Wealthy and full of love for this part of the country, Annandale is Mark’s passion project and continues to develop as his imagination grows.

Annandale farm

Isolated in the rugged lush green hills of Pigeon Bay, it is an hour drive South of Christchurch, but many guests opt for a helicopter transfer from the airport. The 4000-acre farm is in full working order and is found along 10km of treacherous coastline. The properties are therefore completely remote and private, and the views from every angle are spectacular. I spent one night at Annandale, and it truly wasn’t long enough to experience all this magical place has to offer.

Scrubby Bay

Each of the four villas has its own character and purpose, to suit the needs of different guests, and architect Andrew Patterson was responsible for the design and restoration of all four. Shepherd’s Cottage is the smallest and most affordable, a cosy refurbished farmhouse with just one bedroom that feels authentic but luxurious. For couples visiting for a special occasion Seascape is the perfect retreat… a classy, modern glass structure overlooking the bay with every technological amenity you could ever wish for. Scrubby Bay is the furthest from civilisation, located in a secluded bay. It is the newest villa, having been open just a year ago, but it has already received many awards. With four bedrooms and bathrooms, a swimming pool and two kitchens it can accommodate up to 14 people.

I stayed in The Homestead, the most accessible of the four properties, as it is found at the entrance to the farm. This grand house can sleep 12, with four master en-suite bedrooms and a fifth room with bunk beds, ideal for kids. The facilities are impressive with a private swimming pool, tennis court, gym and outdoor gardens. Inside, the villa has been designed and decorated with great attention to detail to create a homely but lavish environment. The sitting room alone could have kept me entertained for hours; artwork on the walls, books on the shelves and games in the cupboard. A log fire and blankets are ready for use in the chillier months. Upstairs the bedrooms each have their own colour theme and layout. I slept in a gorgeous canary yellow room, with a big four poster bed, views over the garden and a spacious bathroom complete with freestanding bath tub and Nellie Tier toiletries.

The Annandale staff are always on call to help with any arrangements, should you wish to hold an event in your villa they can make it happen. They can also organise a range of activities including fishing, kayaking, scenic boat trips, hiking, cooking classes, biking, spa treatments, farm tours and clay bird shooting. Experienced and innovative cook Paul Jobin is the executive chef at the property and is in charge of everything food related. Along with the rest of the team he has developed the ‘we create, you serve’ programme which provides guests with pre-prepared dishes and instructions for assembling and cooking, so everyone can enjoy restaurant-quality meals in their own privacy. I enjoyed this concept for breakfast and it was easy and delicious. The dining table was a feast of eggs benedict, granola, crumpets, poached rhubarb, yoghurt, fruit and cakes… all homemade with local ingredients.

Many guests choose to have one of the Annandale private chefs for some or all of their meals. Based on your dietary requirements and preferences the chefs will design a menu to suit the occasion, from casual lunches of wood fired pizzas to sophisticated seven course degustation dinners with matching wines. Paul cooked and served us an exquisite three-course dinner of carefully composed recipes with an Asian influence, proudly explaining that all the produce is either from the farm itself or from within 50 miles. A highlight was the velvety-smooth venison with cauliflower, dehydrated grapes, couscous and carrot curry; a delicious combination of textures and tastes.

Annandale provides a genuine but luxurious New Zealand farm experience where guests can tailor their stay to create the perfect escape.

More information and book a stay at Annandale here: www.annandale.com

Best Food in Queenstown, New Zealand

Posted on by

Queenstown is the tourist capital of New Zealand and consequently has some of the best dining experiences in the country. From high-quality fast food to reasonably priced fine dining, there is a restaurant to suit every budget and occasion in this beautiful, buzzing town.

rata

Rata by Josh Emett

I recommend heading to this special restaurant at lunchtime when it is less busy and you can choose from the bargain set lunch menu. I enjoyed a refined three-course meal, with complimentary additions from the chef, for just $38 (about £17). Particularly memorable was the delicate white onion velouté with mushroom tortellini and crispy pancetta.

sherwood

Sherwood

This new venue is a great hotel for design-conscious travellers, but locals know it for its destination restaurant. Creative chef Ainsley Thompson presents inventive comfort food with a twist. Opt for their Tantric Dining menu with matching wines, to sample the best dishes. I loved the addictive creamy polenta with smoked tomato salsa, and the beautifully light rosé wine from Central Otago, which they buy by the barrel and bottle inhouse.

sasso

Sasso

Chef Rob Essenburg has recently taken over the kitchen at Italian restaurant Sasso and will soon be refreshing the menu of classics. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is vibrant and tasty. The stand out dish was the comforting homemade spinach & ricotta ravioli with pancetta, pine nuts, parmesan and butter sauce. To accompany your meal choose a local wine like the Mount Edward Riesling.

Amisfield winery

Amisfield Winery

A little out of town, this boutique winery produces some of the best wine in the region. Once you have tasted the variety of reds, whites, sparklings and rosés, head through to the dining room for lunch. We tried a few exquisite seasonal dishes, my highlights included: Wild Nettle Tortellini with fresh cheese mousse, sage, lemon & garden spring tendrils; and the Organic Chicken with verjus, parsley & Hogan’s gully miners lettuce. The strikingly simple dessert of Brulée poached pear, pinot gris, yoghurt ice cream & hokey pokey was sensational, a perfect mix of tart and sweet tastes. The knowledgeable waiters will assist with the ideal wine to have with your food, my favourites were the light white Fumé Sauvignon Blanc 2014; and the Lake Hayes Noble 2013 dessert wine, though the vineyard is most known for its Pinot Noir.

fergburger

Fergburger

This burger venue is an institution in Queenstown and recently they even extended the pavement to accommodate the huge Ferg queues! Made with high quality local beef and freshly baked buns (Ferg bakery is next door) surprisingly the burgers do live up to the hype. Order the classic Fergburger with cheddar, or a slightly more exotic Swine Burger with avocado and bacon. Fries are delicious too, served with creamy aioli.

madam woo

Madam Woo

This trendy Malaysian eatery is a great evening hang-out when groups of friends visit to enjoy the cocktails and flavoursome cuisine. Order the turmeric chicken grilled satay with peanut sauce and pickled cucumber, or the Woo family favourite – Malaysian beef Rendang curry served with Nasi Lemak and an assortment of traditional condiments.

Kiwi Experience, New Zealand

Posted on by

kiwi experience

Kiwi Experience has been running for 26 years, providing travellers who wish to explore New Zealand with efficient and fun routes around the country. I joined the big green bus in Auckland for three weeks discovering the best of the North and South islands.

There are numerous routes to suit all requirements. I took the Sheepdog tour from Auckland to Christchurch with a day trip to world-famous Milford Sound added on. Kiwi Experience encourages you to create your own journey, providing amazing flexibility with their hop-on and hop-off service, so you can spend one night or one month in a destination, and after starting your trip the pass will be valid for 12 months, to use as you please. The buses have a sociable feel and are particularly good for solo travellers hoping to find some like-minded comrades. Often on longer driving stints the bus will stop off for scenic group walks and important photo opportunities. It is a stress-free way of ticking off all the must-see tourist sights and natural wonders of New Zealand.

The bus drivers seem to have an impossible job, juggling a long list of responsibilities each day whilst also ensuring the 55 people on the bus are well looked after. At times it did feel like a school trip! I was lucky to spend most of my trip on Dallas’ bus, an experienced Kiwi Experience driver who was knowledgeable, fun and organised. We also had fun with new driver Marcanui – a keen, enthusiastic and passionate Kiwi, who shared ancient stories and tales about his country.

Over the years Kiwi Experience has built relationships with some of the most exciting and unique businesses across the country. Many of these companies will offer exclusive discounts on activities to Kiwi Experience visitors. Most of my bus seemed keen on extreme sports such as black water rafting, sky-diving and bungy jumping. I preferred the less daunting options like glow worm caves in Waitomo and Greenstone carving at Lake Mahinapua Hotel. Often though, there is no need for adrenaline activities, as the natural scenery provides plenty to explore for free. I loved walking around Lake Tekapo and cycling around the city of Queenstown.

Discounted rates at hostels are always available through Kiwi Experience though travellers are also free to organise accommodation independently, just using the buses for transport between destinations. Of the hostels I tried I was impressed with the standard of cleanliness and most were quiet and cheap. Often in the smaller towns there is limited choice with Base and Nomad being the hostel chains you are most likely to come across. But my favourite accommodations were the family-run, characterful River Valley Lodge, the scenic Lake Tekapo Lakefront Lodge and the lovely Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, where you can opt to stay in a private cabin.

The most memorable experience for me was visiting the Tamaki Maori Village – where guests are able to fully immerse in the Maori culture, learning about their traditions and customs. Kiwi Experience visitors are also offered the exclusive opportunity to stay overnight at the Marae village. I would also recommend spending a few extra days in each of the cities, so you have enough time to visit the museums and sample the best New Zealand cuisine.

The Kiwi Experience is best suited and most popular with 18-25s, but welcomes guests of all ages and interests. Though I often wished for more independence I cannot deny that it was the most efficient and easy way to explore this beautiful country.

More information about Kiwi Experience and book a trip here.