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Join our Matakana Itinerary – and experience Jason’s own backyard
‘Matakana’ in Maori can be translated as ‘intent on finding something’. And what a find it is. A 50 minute drive north of Auckland lands you at Matakana Village, centre of this fabulous wine region boasting over 30 boutique vineyards and olive groves and blessed with unnumbered sandy beaches bordering the clear ocean waters of the Hauraki Gulf.
It is not untrue to state that Matakana is a mecca for locals and visitors from all over the world. They come together to enjoy the taste of local produce and experience the Farmers Market each Saturday. There is accommodation and dining to suit all budgets, vineyards and groves for visiting and tasting and boutique retail outlets that are simply a joy to browse and buy. All services are catered for along with arts and entertainment.
When you want a break from all the village has to offer, you can head out to the many sparkling east coast beaches, the scattered fishing villages, the delightful artisans workshops and the regional parks that make up this most desirable part of New Zealand.
And to complete the picture, Matakana finds itself just a 45 minute drive from eight fabulous golf courses. Three of these, Omaha Beach, Mangawhai and Waipu, are spectacular costal championship courses rated among the top 50 golf courses in New Zealand.
Matakana – a rare find. Settled in the 1840’s the village has a proud history and strong sense of community. It is where your tour curator, Jason Best, lives.
Meet your Golf in New Zealand host for the transfer to your Matakana accommodation, your home for the next six days.
After check in it will be time to relax and enjoy the amenities at your accommodation.
Jason will showcase one his favourite Matakana restaurants for your evening meal. Matakana Market Kitchen is all about the simple pleasures of relaxed dining. The menu is seasonal, creative and thoughtful, with carefully sourced ingredients from local growers, suppliers and traders.
Rise in a relaxed mood for a refreshing breakfast before heading off to Omaha Beach Golf Club for a morning round of golf.
The 18 hole, par 70 championship golf course is a links style resort course, crafted by its designers to make the most of its enthralling seaside location. Just to be here will be enough to improve your swing!
After the golf you head to Brick Bay Vineyard for lunch and a little wine tasting before we take a leisurely stroll around the sculpture trail where you walk among 45 sculptures by leading New Zealand artists.
Breakfast this morning will set you in good stead for a morning round of golf at Mangawhai Golf Club.
Mangawhai (translated as “the estuary of the Stingray”) is a superb, sand-based course with a true sting in its tail. Tight fairways wind through an array of natural hazards and open out onto large undulating greens that possess unvaryingly quick pace and are considered to be among the best in New Zealand.The course is internationally rated as a “must play” course.
Mangawhai’s wonderful, natural layout demands golf that favours finesse over raw power. It is truly unbeatable and will challenge and reward golfers of every level.
This evening we enjoy a meal at The Sawmill Brewery and enjoy its range of locally crafted beer.
After breakfast you are free to set off and experience the best sights and experiences Matakana has to offer.
There is a whole range to choose from. A single day won’t give you time to fit it all all in so choose carefully to make the most of what you like to do. You will need to book these tours by calling the Golf in New Zealand tour office.
You may prefer a wine tasting tour or an arts tour that takes in some of the very creative artisan workshops in the region. Maybe a fishing charter out in the stunning Hauraki Gulf is more to your liking.
Or you could spend a day relaxing at one of the area’s pristine white sand beaches or take a walk on the trails at Tawharanui Regional Park.
Goat Island Marine reserve is a superb place to go snorkelling or scuba diving or observe the abundant marine life from a glass-bottom tour boat.
You may like to stay close to town, have a massage or beauty treatment at one of the local Health Spas or browse the boutique village shops and enjoy an ice cream down the road at Charlies - home to over 30 flavours of hom emade gelato and sorbet ice cream.
The day and evening are yours so make the most of everything!
Breakfast first of course and then it is off to play golf at the Waipu Golf Club.
Set on the waters edge of Bream Bay, Waipu is a links style golf course with spectacular ocean panoramas from all tees and greens. It has a reputation for some of the best greens in New Zealand and the natural, sand-based course presents the golfer with a rewarding challenge.
After breakfast you won’t have too far to go to mix with the convival throng gathering for the weekly Matakana Farmers Market. You have got to experience this! A veritable array of artisans, growers and farmers in the Matakana region who have a passion for what they do and produce. There’s always live music and a mouthwatering selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, delicious artisan baking, Italian sausages, organic chocolate, flowers, honey fine wines, olive oil, craft beer and the all-important freshly brewed morning coffee with locally roasted beans.
Come the afternoon it will be time to head back to the ever changing Omaha Beach Golf Club layout for a second crack at this beautiful course.
After the 18th you will be hosted at the Omaha Beach Golf Clubhouse for an evening meal and a drink with the members.
It’s time to say haere ra, goodbye, as you sit down for breakfast before transferring back to Auckland Airport and embarking on your homeward journey.