Welcome to the City Of Sails and the beginning of your inspired New Zealand Middle Earth experience.

05.30am – At the moment we have made the assumption that you will land in Auckland International Airport on an early flight. Obviously this would need to be confirmed as soon as possible to avoid a day being wasted in the potential of your activities you can enjoy. If travelling with Air NZ, we anticipate that you may board your coaches after coming through customs around 07.30 to 08.00 am.

07.30am – Your Love My New Zealand hosts including Sharon (Director) will be there to greet you personally in the arrivals location. Prior to your arrival, luggage tags will have been sent to you so that all guest luggage is named as well as illustrating the glamping village tent location for each member and the group that the individual belongs to so that the cultural competition can begin straight away. This means that each piece of luggage can be then loaded into our behind the scenes concierge vans and taken directly to the glamping village. Guests arriving in Group 1 and later in Group 2, know their luggage is ready to open and fresh towels awaiting them so that long awaited hot shower can happen to soothe the jet lag!

08.00am – Step on-board one of the two luxury coaches with on board bathrooms. Plenty of room to depart Auckland city to Middle Earth for a nourishing and sustaining food gathering journey en route. Each guest will board with a cold, fresh artisan drink bottle filled with iced water as well as kept for the duration of their visit so that we remain as sustainable as possible to our beautiful country. Fresh, iced pure drinking water will be available at all stages of the journey through your whole week to keep refilling your bottle, so please make sure you keep it safe.

08.30 – Depart Auckland International Airport tracking to Clevedon. A typical early settler village en route that holds some of the best kept secrets when it comes to fresh cuisine. Clevedon Valley is the ideal place to experience the very best of New Zealand’s genuine country charm whilst a glimpse your first view of the Hauraki Gulf before sampling fresh oysters, honey and wine.

09.00 – – First port of call is coffee! Stop in our stunning small Kiwi town of Clevedon for a classic Kiwi Flat White coffee or of course a sustaining tea to have with your freshly baked muffin. Also a time to stretch those legs and experience the taste of real New Zealand coffee.

09.30 – – Group Coach 1 – Now it is time to discover New Zealand honey in Clevedon with Cammell’s Honey. They have been supplying quality bee products from New Zealand to New Zealanders and the world since 1974. Meet the family who are two generations taking an in depth look into the factory watching how the honey comes in from the hive to the end result in your mouth. Group Coach 1 to experience first

09.30 – – Group Coach 2 – How about discovering a little of our New Zealand wine in Clevedon with John Hill Wine Estate, who within their two hectares of planted vineyards grow Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Gris. They hand harvest their fruit from March to May. An easy drinking Merlot and Syrah are both light in style but driven with full fruit flavour, and a Bordeaux style Cabernet Franc is rare to be bottled as a single variety, and proud that this signature variety loves to be grown in Hunua. Their oak aged port is smooth and velvety, made with real French brandy and then aged for 12 months in oak barrels. It’s absolutely more-ish and popular all year round. I do believe we will take several bottles with us on our journey to middle earth – port is so much more lively than the hobbits mead!

The above experiences are carried out in reverse for both groups.

11.30 – – The entire group now moves to our gorgeous oyster farm that harvests the freshest of oysters. Try oysters freshly presented in the finest tempura batter or simply as they were harvested and shucked with a squidge of local lemon or lime.

12.30 – Step onto Kawakawa Bay and hand pick cockles right off the beach for everyone to enjoy set against the stunning backdrop of the first ocean view as we track around the Thames coastline overlooking the world famous Coromandel peninsula.

13.00 – Depart KawaKawa Bay and enjoy the diverse scenes from the coach windows as we pass from ocean views along the coastline opposite the Coromandel. Pass through native rain-forest to open sweeping hills before we descend into Kaiaua for freshly cut award winning hot chips with lashings of tomato sauce which you can eat on the stunning shell beach overlooking the peninsula with panoramic ocean views.

14.00 – Depart sated from hot chips and ocean as guests now have a chance to put their heads back and relax with a little shut eye as your coaches head for middle earth and your gorgeous glamping, luxurious village styled ready and waiting.

15.30pm – When you arrive to your middle earth glamping village for check in, the head of the group will take center stage on the drive as you are all welcomed onto this land by the local Maori who will ensure culturally you are all welcomed correctly with the protocols required.

Group coach 1 then can take a moment to gather belongings and a quick change into clothing suitable for kayaking with the glow worms whilst Group coach 2 take those well needed hot showers before a cultural evening with your fellow Maori guides. A relaxed evening with stories, kai (food) and getting to know your sense of place.

Grazing tables incorporating our food gather.

Group Coach 2 split off to kayak with glow worms armed with snack packs before returning in the evening to a hot shower and a get together around the brazier for those still awake!

Come with us, share our waka and feel our strength and passion. For this is a place beyond the expected, which constantly surprises with natural beauty, powerful history and out-of-this-world experiences. Here, our kaitiaki runs deep, our mana inspires whilst unforgettable discoveries are just around the bend.

Arrive to the peace and tranquility of middle earth. Enter your Village with a traditional Maori Welcome and blessing of the land.

With your luggage already in your accommodation, simply familiarize yourself with the stunning farm location, refresh and get ready for a evening of culture.

Take part in the gentle immersive first night Maori journey with singing, traditional Maori storytelling and a sharing of culture. Be taken on a journey through history and begin to learn traditional dance in anticipation of the grand finale, the Joey’s Group Haka.

Your private chef will combine our food gathering journey on site to present your arrival “Kiwi” tastings feast.

Incorporating all the food gathered en route from the local honey, balsamic oils, locally grown Avocado and Kiwifruits, the oysters, the English settler inspired dainty sandwich topped with the dates and local balsamic glazes with fresh raspberry and blueberry from the area and finish with lashings of Kiwi pavlova (even though the Australians insist it was their idea.)

Settle in, replenish your soul and get ready for an evening of culture before topping off that first day with us in the might Waikato with a choice of the perfect Irish coffee or a Bailey’s Hot Chocolate and of course if you wish for the non alcoholic versions just ask!

Night bar also available.

Our lovely group 2 will travel directly to the Karapiro lake and arrive to a good coffee / hot chocolate and sample thier snack bags before putting on top of clothing the kayak waterproofs. Don’t worry yet about a shower as you may get slightly damp on your kayak and a hot shower awaits you back at your glamping village. Instead just take some time to put the provided set of waterproofs on and to warm up with the extra woolen socks, beanies and gloves that have been provided for your comfort.

Paddle slowly up the Pokaiwhenua Stream and through the canyon carved out by water over many hundreds of years. Native ferns & trees drape over you, bird life is all around. When darkness falls, float silently back downstream being guided by the glow worms on either side sparkling like Christmas lights

Once off the water, all guests can warm up in specially created facilities with hot drinks, energy nibbles and straight onto a warm coach for travel back to your glamping middle earth village for those hot showers, well earned grazing tables and either an Irish Coffee or a Baileys hot chocolate or two before bed!

Oh and don’t forget to sign up for which is your preferred farm experience or the lifting of Eels from the Hīnaki nets each of those mornings at 7.00am. Each group each morning holds 30 guests so everyone has a chance to do both if desired.

Gather at the middle earth lounge tent just before 7am for cup of coffee and bacon butty before we depart.

7.00 AM – Gather in the middle earth lounge tent for that very necessary first coffee or tea along with something small to keep the hunger pangs at bay. That is, until you return for breakfast from herding in the cows and going through the milking process. This farm is one of only five in the whole country that have world leading technology when it comes to the milking process and the well being of the herd. Get down and dirty in a pair of gum boots and a overall provided to enable you to experience this fresh and invigorating life with the farm team. There is an extra bacon buttie in it for you when you return before your shower after breakfast!

The other guests who have chosen to life the eels then off we go…

Tuna
The Māori word tuna means eels and some other fish that look like eels.
In one tradition, a giant eel called Tuna frightened the demigod Māui’s wives. To punish Tuna, Māui cut him in half. One half turned into the conger eel, which lives in the sea. The other half fell in a river and became a freshwater eel.

Pā tuna – eel weirs
Māori built weirs to catch eels. These were fences in a river or stream, lined with brush or ferns so the water could get through but eels could not. Eels swam along the fence, which led into a net and then a trap.

Hīnaki – eel pots
Hīnaki (eel pots) were woven from plant stems. They were put in rivers or streams, with bait inside – worms, insects or even birds. Inside a hīnaki’s opening there was a circle of pointed sticks or a special net, so eels could get in but not get out again.

Cooking and preserving
You will experience the lifting of eels yourself and the wrapping of eels in leaves and roasting and smoking them for one of the dishes on the final wine festival night.

For the rest of our guests who have to chosen to sleep, awaken to the smell of Manuka smoked bacon sandwiches in your glamping village as you rise to the sights and sounds of a New Zealand diary farm. Enjoy the view as you munch your way through breakfast. May we ask those who have not signed up for the early morning farm experience or eel experience to shower first before breakfast so that hot water can be evenly distributed to all and that the dirty and smelly farm worker group have the opportunity to be after you last so as not to dirty your lovely, luxury showers.

Chef will take the gorgeous milk from the early group and prepare it for use in our gorgeous home made porridge for breakfast with Clevedon honey drizzle and blueberries, bacon butties, good coffee, fruit and local yoghurt.

After enjoying a hearty yet healthy breakfast, relax into your new surroundings while enjoying one of the below activities:

After breakfast we go the small distance to the traditional meeting place of our Māori leaders who will with you prepare to lower the Hāngi which is a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, also called an umu. This feast will form your evening dinner as both groups come back together.

Central to Māori culture and community activities is the marae. They are the venues for tangihanga (ceremonies of mourning) and gatherings to mark significant occasions such as birthdays and marriages and the full expression of Māori culture and hospitality. A place to stand and express their cultural identity with you.

After our return choose to relax from on farm activities :

Take a dip into the onsite saltwater pool.
Anyone for tennis?
Fancy a hot tub dip?
Discover the farmland on a short but stunning hike over the land.
Simply relax in our Whānau lounge with a coffee, hot chocolate or freshly pressed juice,
Or instead sign up the previous day for the bike to the blueberry farm.

Lunch – Classic Kiwi Grazer – New Zealand has some amazing produce and as our international guests, we show case it all with our Classic Kiwi Grazer table. Items include Free-range Rewarewa honey glazed roast ham, Manuka smoked salmon, Roast Kumara rosemary salad, 4 iconic New Zealand cheeses and locally grown fruits such as Black Doris Plums, Cherries and Feijoas (subject to seasonality)

Our lovely group 1 will in the afternoon from 4pm travel directly to the Karapiro lake and arrive to something fresh to nibble on and a good coffee before putting on the waterproof clothing. Don’t worry yet about a shower as you may get slightly damp on your kayak (just saying) plus a hot shower awaits you back at your glamping village. Instead just take some time to put the provided set of waterproofs on and to warm up with the extra woolen socks, beanies and gloves that have been provided for your comfort.

Paddle slowly up the Pokaiwhenua Stream and through the canyon carved out by water over many hundreds of years. Native ferns & trees drape over you, bird life is all around. When darkness falls, float silently back downstream being guided by the glow worms on either side sparkling like Christmas lights

Once off the water, all guests can warm up in specially created facilities with hot drinks, energy nibbles and straight onto a warm coach for travel back to your glamping middle earth village for those hot showers.

Night two however is a sumptuous feast for the whole group to come together for. Remember how we lowered the Hāngi the traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food? Well now as it is raised, enjoy the smells and flavours of it all coming together in bliss for your taste buds incorporating traditional methods with up to date contemporary cooking styles today.

Enjoy the evening with a range of specially designed New Zealand cocktails using traditional ingredients as well as a Canadian surprise cocktail hidden in there too!

While away the evening in middle earth with twinkling lights, music and the company of locals before another great night’s sleep under the stars.

Oh and don’t forget to sign up for which is your preferred farm experience or eel lifting experience the following morning at 7.00am. It is the last chance to experience something very New Zealand and very unique. Ever fancied tasting smoked eel? Well Friday evening we will do just that.

Take part in the immersive Maori journey with singing, traditional Maori storytelling and a sharing of culture. Be taken on a journey through history and begin to learn traditional dance in anticipation of the grand finale, the Joey’s Group Haka

Night two however is a sumptuous feast for the whole group to come together for. Remember how we lowered the Hāngi which is a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, also called an umu. Well as it has been raised, enjoy the smells and flavours of it all coming together in bliss for your taste buds incorporating traditional methods with up to date contemporary cooking styles today.

Enjoy the evening with a range of specially designed New Zealand cocktails using traditional ingredients as well as a Canadian surprise cocktail hidden in there too!

While away the evening in middle earth with twinkling lights, music and the company of locals before another great night’s sleep under the stars.

Oh and don’t forget to sign up for which is your preferred farm experience or eel lifting experience the following morning at 7.00am. It is the last chance to experience something very New Zealand and very unique. Ever fancied tasting smoked eel? Well Friday evening we will do just that.

Begin your third day at leisure enjoying a gorgeous breakfast before taking a swim or enjoying the rural surrounds

After a filling breakfast, we will split the group into 4 x 15 guests and take them on the following experiences. While separated, each group will learn an element of Maori culture which will then be performed on the final night at the Festival in your competitive Joey Haka off!

Traditional Medicinal Medicine Making – Learn to make salves, creams and oils from the land as you gather them together to make something just for you. At the same time, this group will learn specifically about pūkana meaning to stare wildly, dilate the eyes – done by both genders when performing haka and waiata to emphasise particular words and to add excitement to the performance.

Te Waihou (Blue Springs) Hike – Walk one of the most stunning natural landscapes in The Waikato whilst you learn and paint the traditional traditional Ta Moko (Tattoos) on faces and arms. A moko on the face is the ultimate statement of one’s identity as a Māori. The head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body. To wear the moko on the face is to bear an undeniable declaration of who you are. Women wear moko on the face also and today is the day to make your statement in advance of the group haka off!

Biking Leamington to The Karapiro Lake – Forage for feathers on route to create your own Kahu huruhuru (feather cloak). Kiwi feather cloaks (Kahu kiwi) were made to represent prestige and mana (status and authority)

Waka across Lake Karapiro with Waikato Tainui our revered iwi – While enjoying pristine waters join in the waka experience, fish for materials to make traditional Māori weapons; this includes wood, whalebone, fish bones and stone and choose also to try paddle boarding and kayaks around this traditional waka event

Artisan Lunch Bags will be provided to the group to enjoy during their above experiences

Everyone is returned to the village where they can refresh, relax, exchange stories and get ready for an evening with Hobbits…

The evening banquet allows you to experience Hobbiton Movie Set as you have never seen it before through The Shire at dusk

Journey through the 12 acre site with your private guide, recounting fascinating stories and anecdotes about the trilogies

Quench your thirst with a complimentary beverage from the exclusive Hobbit South Farthing Range at The Green Dragon Inn

Be treated to a banquet feast fit for a Hobbit where the table will be heaving with traditional Hobbit fare and, as is the tradition in the Shire, second helpings are encouraged

To conclude this premium Hobbiton Movie Set experience, after dinner you will wind your way back through the wandering paths of The Shire

The trails will be illuminated by path lighting and handheld lanterns will be provided to light the way. This stunning journey under moonlight will travel through the village breathtakingly lit up with Hobbit hole chimneys smoking and lanterns glowing in the darkness

After such an adventure we will return you to your accommodation for a night cap and rest

Awake to the smells of freshly made Pancakes with Manuka smoked bacon and artisan syrup, complimented with a roast coffee hot off the stove

Immerse yourself into a geothermal area of New Zealand and travel with us to Rotorua where 4 groups will be individually separated to experience the following:

4 WD Bush Safari
The ultimate 4 WD adventure that you drive yourself. Pick a car and drive the rugged and remote trails that disappears into thick native NZ forest. Prepare for a journey that is full of unknowns. The terrain is like nothing you’ve encountered before and the challenges come thick and fast!

Monster 4X4 Thrill Ride and Clay Shooting
This group will be split into two and swap activities so that everyone gets to enjoy the thrills. From strapping into a V6 Powered vehicle and holding tight for the ultimate ride to finding the ‘best shot’ in your team with this test of accuracy and skill, using real shotguns and live ammunition

Raceline Karting
This groups courage and driving ability will be tested like never before when you race New Zealand’s newest and longest KartSport circuit. Tyres squeal and G-forces pull as you take on hairpin corners, flowing curves and long straights that demand intense concentration and skill… while all around you, other competitors rival for your position

After an adrenaline infused morning we will take you for a sumptuous lunch at one of the towns iconic restaurants

Fueled and ready for some fun we head back to the village and let the festival begin!

In returning to your glamping village we welcome you in true New Zealand style to your own Wine, Food and Music Festival.

THE JOEY GROUP HAKA – In cultural protocol before any alcohol is consumed we enter into sacred space and form into our four groups. Each group will have through the course of the week had personal training on delivering the best of themselves in their haka together as a small group showcasing their particular learning from the facial expression pukana, to clothing of grandeur, to weapons of choice, to Ta Moko (tattoos) representing your tribe, your sense of person, your place in this world right now!

Afterwards, the group who represented themselves in the most authentic way in haka will be given the opportunity to have their photographic portrait taken and presented before you leave as a memory of your warrior spirit and joy as we journey together through this land over the course of the five days. Now the experience is complete and now it is time to celebrate.

With local musicians playing in the background let the party begin. Join your sommelier to taste a selection of stunning award winning wines. In between tastings journey over to one of our 3 bespoke food stations samples good wholesome Kiwi amd Maori foods throughout the evening from our specially set up food stations.

Dance the evening away with festoon lighting, the stars and great wines.

A final Haka will also be performed just for your group – a powerful ending to your journey that will leave everyone with goosebumps over the flesh of their arms as you ready yourselves for your final sleep in the mighty Waikato.

Watch the night skies change overhead and celebrate the ending to your Unexpected New Zealand Journey.

Enjoy a relaxed, lazy morning on the farm, enjoy a last swim and take in the surroundings

Come together and share tales from your last four days over a fulfilling Kiwi hot breakfast with every item you can imagine from free range pasture fed eggs, salmon, bacon, creme fraiche, blueberries, maple cured ham, french toast, potato patties, Maori bread to rip and share and fresh juices.

As we travel through the rolling hills and ranges backdrop …….ponder on your experience and lock the memory in of New Zealand and it’s people.

Your love My New Zealand hosts (and now friends) will meet you at your Auckland accommodation and escort you to the International Departures terminal.

As we bid you farewell we hope you take with you a small piece of New Zealand in your heart and that as new guardians of this precious land you have become distant whānau (family).