As promised, here is my New Zealand/holiday themed weekly love list. These are places I went to, where I ate and drank, where I shopped, and what I wore.
explore marlborough wine tours – marlborough district
There are over 140 wineries in the Marlborough district of New Zealand, far too many to visit in one day (for me, anyway). Only having limited time in the area, and not wanting to miss any gems I thought a tour would be the best way to properly experience the district, given the time allotted. That’s where Explore Marlborough Wine Tours comes in.
Explore Marlborough specialises in intimate wine experiences at local wineries. Their mission is simple: to take their combined experience of Marlborough’s wine and culture and turn it into an unforgettable day for their guests. They have been featured in many publications including the New Zealand Herald, Women’s Day magazine, and the Toronto Star, and have won multiple awards with Tripadvisor, Viator and Experience Oz.
Why I booked a bike tour, I’m not sure, as they offer van tours as well, but it turned out to be an enjoyable day. The day started out by being picked up from the cruise ship port and taken to the Vines Village, where we were kitted up and paired with our bikes. The tour includes a ride to three wineries and a lunch, all individually selected by Explore Marlborough. And with their experience, their selections were well considered and focused on quality rather than big name wineries.
The tour group was on the larger side, with 19 guests, but it didn’t feel crowded. Our guides Andy and Taylor did a great job of making sure everyone was ok. I am not a regular bike rider, and I didn’t find the trip too arduous. We did run a little off schedule, but it was because we were having such a great time. New friends were being made, you can’t interrupt these opportunities.
If you are in the Marlborough area, I would thoroughly recommend taking a tour with Explore Marlborough Tours. You can book through their website at exploremarlborough.co.nz
mexico – wellington
While in Wellington, I was really looking forward to experiencing some of their vibrant food scene, and came across a restaurant called Mexico. From the outside, it looks like an authentic Mexican cantina, with a strong Día de los Muertos vibes. I thought I had found a really cool, hole in the wall, local hotspot, but later on I found out that this is actually a chain restaurant, with nine locations across New Zealand. Nevertheless, the food was great. They offer typical Mexican plates, such as guacamole, ceviche, stuffed jalapenos, chargrilled corn and fried seasoned chicken and cauliflower, but are elevated above your average Taco Bell or Mad Mex.
I went with the $24 Lunch Time Degustation, which included chips and guac, your choice of fried chicken or cauliflower, and a taco, and for an additional $11, you could get a margarita. For $35, that’s a pretty solid deal. The chips and guac, and the fried chicken were nicely seasoned, but the taco was the real star. I had the Beef Arrachera taco, with slow cooked beef, Negra mole, chipotle mayo, pineapple and a battered onion ring. It was probably one of the best tacos I’ve ever had. The margarita was pretty tasty as well, while not very strong.
The service was friendly, while not terribly prompt, but I wasn’t in a hurry. I would eat here again, if I come back to New Zealand.
wellington apothecary
When strolling down Cuba Street in Wellington, I was approached by someone to sign a petition. After some deft footwork to avoid the activist, I found myself inside a charming shop, welcomed by a table of perfectly rustic dinnerware and fragrant teas. After a further look around, there were products ranging from candle making kits, to herbal skin care offerings, to dream journals, to glass planters. The store is beautifully presented, looking perfectly plucked from the pages of Instagram and Pinterest.
Wellington Apothecary was opened in 2014 by three friends, who have a love for natural remedies and sustainability. They work with qualified herbalists, naturopaths, nutritionists, anthropologists, and a host of other natural wellbeing specialists, taking advantage of ancient herbal medicinal practices to enrich their customers’ health experience. They are not just a shop, they also provide services like massage, holistic facials, naturopathy, Ayurveda (an ancient Indian medicine system), as well as perfumery, tea blending, and water colour painting workshops.
In the hustle and bustle of Cuba Street, Wellington Apothecary is a retreat.
vacation pants – Tussah ‘cait’ pants
To embrace the cruise vibe, I wanted to find clothing that was bright and flowy. But with the destination being on the cooler side, I needed to find pieces with a thicker fabric. These Tussah Cait pants fit the bill perfectly. These pants are the perfect combination of vacation comfort and smart corporate. The colour is so striking, and this style comes in four colours, magenta (pictured), white, black and emerald. The wide leg design is flattering for many body types, and are nice and comfortable. The gold detail around the waist is just enough detail to make them stand out without being gaudy. The fabric has a nice weight to it, to feel substantial, but not heavy. Plus, these have pockets. These retail for around $110, but with a quick google search, you can find these for cheaper on sites like TheIconic or Catch.com.au
Tussah is an Australian label with a commitment to not only providing women with beautiful, affordable designs and garments, but improving the ethics associated with the fashion industry. They are committed to supporting ethical supply chain, and using facilities who have humane labour standards and positive health and safety practices. To offset their carbon emissions, they plant 187 native Australian trees per month. So you can feel good about shopping spree.
pina colada
Is there a cocktail out there that screams ‘vacation’ louder than a pina colada? I don’t think so. During my holiday I drank my fair share of pina coladas. And while my holiday may have come to an end, the pina coladas don’t have to.
On a wet Saturday evening, in an attempt to beat the post-holiday blues, I tested a couple of different variations on the classic pina colada recipe. What type of rum do I use? Sweetened or unsweetened pineapple juice? Coconut milk or cream? After a number of trials, here is my ideal recipe for the perfect pina colada.
pina colada – claire’s way
Serves 2
- 1 cup sweetened pineapple juice, chilled
- ¼ cup Malibu coconut rum
- ¼ cup coconut cream
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ cup crushed ice
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth
- Drink immediately, what are you waiting for?
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