Waiheke

It was a lovely sunny morning, and we set out in search of breakfast. We didn’t have to search very far, as our studio is just off the top of the main Ocean View Road in Waiheke, and it was but five minutes’ walk to Wai Kitchen, for avocado on toast, eggs benedict etc.

After breakfast we did a quick shop at Four Square for future breakfasts, then set out in our car. We’d rented a RAV4 with the specific purpose of visiting one of the vineyards we’d not been to on any of our previous visits to Waiheke: Man O War vineyard, in Man O War Bay. There are two ways to get to this: over miles of unmade road (hence the SUV) or by sea.

We arrived around midday, to find the place was pretty full. There were a lot of boats moored offshore, and RIBs and similar tied to the beach. Clearly, arriving by sea is a popular option. 

We went to the tasting room first and I tried all the wines on offer (Nicola stuck to the whites). We were particularly taken with the riesling, and I also liked the syrah, so we got some of those to take back with us. How would we manage that? I hear you ask…well, this time, even though we’re only away for five nights, we’d brought a suitcase! So we’ll be able to pack some wine in to take home.

We stopped for lunch there as well. The lunch offering is more pub than fine dining, but they have extensive grounds with picnic tables, and a wide selection of pizzas, breads, olives, etc. I opted for fish and chips and then wished I hadn’t, as they clearly weren’t produced on the premises. You live, you learn. Nicola had a caprese salad which looked way yummier.

Vehicular visitors are enjoined not to drive back the way they came, but to continue on Cowes Bay Road to get back on the surfaced road network. Given the narrowness of the road in some places, this is a good idea. We stopped off along the way at Little Oneroa beach, almost home, for a swim in the bay there. The water is like bathwater compared to our usual Scorching Bay.

In the evening we went out to Fenice, Oneroa’s favourite Italian restaurant.