Issue 22 November / December
A Place in the Country
WORDS: Jane Avery PHOTOGRAPHS: Aaron McLean
LEAD STORY: A hard-working couple has proved that environmental sustainability and DIY effort can go hand-in-hand with luxurious comfort. PLUS, our web-exclusive Weekender on Waihi.
Back to the Land
TASTE: Eggs – free-range of course – are the heroes of Annabel Langbein’s gifts from the kitchen.
Web Exclusive!
ONLINE ONLY!: Our editors provide the ultimate insiders' Xmas gift guide, helping to make present-choosing easy.
The Miller & His Wife
FEATURE: Mike and Bridget Parker eschewed chemicals in favour of living and working with nature.
Web Exclusive!
ONLINE ONLY: Bring our story on Mike and Bridget Parker to life with recipes based on the grains they grow.
Life's the Berries
FEATURE: A cross-cultural alliance has created blueberry farm offering far more than pick-your-own.
Web Exclusive!
ONLINE ONLY: Love blueberries? Bet you didn't realize just how good they are for you?
IT’S HARDLY FAIR to label this the country lifestyle – there’s altogether too much elegance and luxurious comfort at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers to call it simply a place in the country. It’s certainly in the country – 2428 hectares of perfect Hawke’s Bay pastoral landscapes with views to the sea – and it is a working sheep and cattle farm, but the five-star accommodation is not what you’d find in the average farm homestead. Rooms and suites have the feel of a private, very stylish home that blends rustic materials with modern amenities. Lavish bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes, high-speed internet connections and private outdoor spaces that embrace the views can all be taken for granted.
The communal lodge is the place to gather with dining options such as the loggia, the intimate snug or the wine cellar. Spaces for relaxing include a comfortable living room with fireplace, a library, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a computer room. Adventures await in the form of farm tours by 4WD or quad bike, a visit to the world’s largest gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers, a round of golf at the world-class Cape Kidnappers course or a hot-air balloon ride over the early-morning countryside. The Farm is surrounded by vineyards and rivers that teem with trout.
If all this seems too energetic, opt for a session at the blissful Day Spa or just a soak in the heated infinity pool with its Jacuzzi and cabana bar. Go for the weekend and pretend you never have to leave.
The prize is valued at more than $5,500, and includes two nights' accommodation at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers; daily breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and dinner; a round of golf; a treatment in The Farm's Day Spa; plus $1000 worth of travel vouchers.
Other fantastic web-exclusive prizes to be won! To find out more, see our competition pages.